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You can
write your own review of the MFJ-259.
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AI4WM
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 2, 2009 08:10
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Handy tool
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Overall if you can pick one up used at a good price as I have it, or it's newer version MFJ-259B, is a handy device to have in your shack. I have had mine for about 2 years. All of these are expensive for the quality of components used in them, but they work. I would probably rated mine a 5 if it had better quality meters. These meters are indicators that will get you in the ballpark, but not accurate enough to give an accurate resistance and the unit will not give direct reactance readings as a GR bridge, but at quite a bit less cost than the GR. I'd rather use the GR, but the 259 is much handier.
I've found that these are quite dependable, but limited to measuring SWR with any kind of relable result. I have used the 259B and 269 and find the accuracy not much different between any of them when the same measurement is compared with my GR RF bridge.
The results I have found from attempting to check traps and resonant circuits ... I'll stay with my GR and HP products even if I must drag cables and or portable power to where I need to usthem.
Cost-wise the 259B or 269 are not worth the price when purchased new. If MFJ or their competition would at least use good Simpson or other USA made meters with good graduations and accuracy they would be worth what they sell for new.
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N0FPE
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 27, 2008 21:10
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259/269
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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works great.. handy ONE thing..be very careful abt using the thing around active transmitters. even if you dont have it hooked up a nearby transmitter can blow out the 0 ohm resister and it is $69 for MFJ to replace it. I found out the hard way when testing my mobile antennas and my APRS radio beaconed. Damn!!!
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N8ERM
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 27, 2008 19:09
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Wonderful test gear
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had mine for 6 years. It works great. Tune your tuner with it, tune your antenna. Then read the manual to see what it really can do.
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AD4C2006
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 22, 2008 21:25
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Its a MUST
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned mine for seven years now and it has never failed,I have tuned all my antennas with it,never has used with batteries,only with a wall transformer,every ham should have one of these at the shack to save time and not to bother neighboors tunning antennas with high power.When mine brake some day IF it does,with my eyes closed I will buy one more again.
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G7TPL
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 12, 2008 06:33
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excellent!!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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would not be without mine.
modified it to take 10 NIMH batteries (same 12v as 8xAA),never looked back.
absolutely invaluable to anyone playing with antenna's.
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KE4GRP
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 22, 2007 12:40
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Works Great
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Time owned: months
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I have owned mine for about 10 years. I always have hams asking me to use it to tune new antennas. There are some antennas where if it were not for the MFJ 259, it would be almost impossible to tune. The only problem I have had is going through batteries so quick.
Well worth the price and a real necessity around the shack.
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N7BEG
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 10, 2007 16:37
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5/5
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned my 269 for a few years now and have used it quit a lot. I never have had any problems with it as decribed in previous.
Worked right out of the box, no problems.
The famous UHF problem never ocurred.
I have pressed the UHF button at the wrong times
and nothing went wrong. The distance to fault works very well (when done properly) SWR and VSWR are right on. I have tuned and set up many antennas and antenna tuners. I have used it in rain, snow , and sleet. Tomarrow I will DTF the 7/8 coax that runs from 4 330 ft AM broadcast towers to the Transmitter building at a new AM station. I have, and use, equipment that is many times more exotic and expencive than my 269 and it holds it's own against them. It may not be as acurate and exacting but for the bucks it dose well. If I have any real complaint it is the cheap N connector. I have had to replace it due to the center pin failing.
The inside is clean and soldered well. Not the bad quality control problems I have been reading about.
Would I buy MFJ again ?? If I needed a low cost
means for measurment, You bet. If I were building a rocket, no.
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WR5D
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 19, 2007 11:03
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Nice little meter for the money
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've owned my MFJ-259 for about 4 years, and even with its few quirks, it's been a valuable tool. It seems to have a higher-than-needed current drain, and so the battery pack doesn't last as long as I'd like. The analog meters are great to have, tho, and the X and R readings are consistently accurate for my uses ,as I design antennas, and optimize existing systems.
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N3JBH
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 16, 2007 11:45
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you should get one
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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ok ok i know i dont like MFJ stuff. but i did get one these gizmo's and i must say i wish i had one 20 years ago. it may not be lab quality. but it is really useful to have. sure will take a lot of time out messing with antenna's.
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N6DXX
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 15, 2007 21:57
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Great instrument in the shack
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I bought mine used for $130 & am very pleased with it. It is very useful in tuning antennas & antenna tuners too while not putting a signal on the air. A great tool to have on "Field Day".
Tony, N6DXX
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