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write your own review of the MFJ-269.
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N2GBT
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 6, 2009 07:48
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accurate BUT follow instructions
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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The MFJ-269 analyzer works as advertised and with a good degree of accuracy for most applications. It is important you follow the instructions for use on UHF or you WILL damage the unit. There is a reason MFJ puts this information in the owners manual with GREAT redundancy. There should be a better safeguard for UHF operation whereby you cannot inadvertantly damage the unit- but their no questions asked warranty is just that-
I had to send in a unit for warranty repair- and after being told they would try and have the unit repaired and retuened within a few weeks- it arrived back in a few DAYS- and with a spare battery holder.
The price/quality ratio isnt good as with most MFJ products-but most of their products do work and if you can forego workmanship for price you wont be disappointed.
If not for the ease in damaging ths unit I would rate this a 5 - all things taken into consideration.
Best 73 Joe N2GBT
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KF6NTE
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 28, 2009 14:55
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Happy with Unit
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've owned the 269Pro now for about two years and can say I've not had any issues with it. I've avoided using the batteries with it and instead only use the 12V input. The manual seems rather limited in its scope of explanations. This instrument is useful to get you in the right ballpark when making adjustments. Be aware that the transmission line and N-connector converters will alter the SWR readings from the true feedline SWR because of inherent impedance transformation reasons (I've seen even 6 feet of cable makess a difference). the advanced mode SWR mode where one sets the reference impedance too needs to be a value several ohms away from 50-ohms otherwise it reads SWR numbers that are too good to be true.
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N4NOO
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Rating: 2/5
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Jan 14, 2009 12:02
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Not sure. . .
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I opened the box and it came out with both meters "flopping around". After taking it apart and using a bit of super glue, I think it is ok. Like others have said "QC, what QC?" For a company that puts out products in this condition, I'm suprised thay are still around. I will not buy anything else from them.
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N0FPE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 2, 2009 06:28
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Just a great item
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Still going strong after 8 years. Only problem I have ever had was I blew out the biasing diode. My fault not an equipment problem. Of course the lack of 220mhz is STILL a big downer but the unit works fine.
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MAZZ1232002
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Rating: 5/5
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May 17, 2008 16:22
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Did not have any problems
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I cannot speak for anyone else but mine worked just fine, covers all of HF bands VHF and UHF, all worked FB. Always used external power supply and hooked up to long extension cords.
Pete
WB4CGA
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N7OQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 23, 2008 17:49
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Works like a champ
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I must have got a exceptional one because I have had no problems with mine at all. I installed NiMh batteries and the charger works well and I can use it for a long time between charges. It helped me find a bad trap on my vertical and discover I was getting to much RF feed back from my Buddipole. It's great for testing Balun's, unun's, coax and tuning antennas, and stubs. So far so good!
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W4BGN
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 16, 2007 12:56
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Good Analyzer
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Purchased a new 269 back a few months ago, it was DOA. I sent it back to MFJ and they promptly replaced it.
The new meter takes some getting used to, but so far has worked well. I was getting bad SWR readings on my new j-pole, only to find out the coax was junk(NEVER use mini 8).
So all in all, I have to give MFJ an A in customer service and a B in quality, could be better quality, but it is not made to be used for commercial work. so, you get what you pay for!!! 73.
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KK6AS
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 11, 2007 15:55
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kk6as
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought my mfj269@april2004. We have taken this unit overseas and used it for gov't antennas.
Also check out antenna's for field day. etc.
We really wish I could use it more often. But no need to,darn. Anyway the unit is good for general use and is accurate. i have used both recharable and alkalie batteries. Just wish it showed the negative or positive j operator symbol.
But over all it is goood unit in the advance mode where you can program inpedance 50 to 600Z.
This make for a nice peice of equipment to check out ladder line or tv twin lead. I used for professionaly and for ham uses. All in all it is a good unit I would like to test drive the 269 Pro. So all in it is a good unit.
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K7RFW
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 18, 2007 20:52
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It works
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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It appears that in the 18 months since I bought this, the ratings have slipped on the MFJ-269. I myself really wanted to rate it at 3.5, but gave it a 4 since it is working but the UHF is problematic (may be the way I am using it since some 70 cm antennas seem to have no issues). I mail ordered from HRO a fully kitted out unit, rechargeable batteries, case cover, dip coils, car adapter, and AC adapter. I leave it plugged in the AC all the time to keep the batteries charged and it is ready to go.
The optional case cover is mix of cheap and good and tends to trigger the mode button if you are not careful (I should cut holes for the gate and mode buttons). The pouch on the back holds my adapters (N to SMA, BNC, and SO-239) and the car adapter (not used yet). The 70 CM band worked for a few antenna designs, but a month or so ago, I could not get that band to work right on some new builds, but my mag mounts are still showing good. Kind of big and bulky, not a true portable unit but then again, the last analyzer I used (the 70's) was much bulkier and more limited.
I played with the coax tests a couple of times, and I think that if you need to ID an odd cable, that feature would be useful.
I use it today mainly for HF, 6 M and 2 M adjustments on my BuddyPole and for that purpose it works well, even if it does not sign Xs (Zs). I have occasionally seen abnormalities that could probably be traced to a KW pusher about a mile or two away (at least he was there when I finally got done tuning up), but over all it works fine and my FT897's SWR indicator likes what it sees (and I think most cheaper units do not like external RF feeding in).
MFJ does have a 'calibration' document on the web but I would give that a '1'. Some pages badly scanned, faded scribbled corrections, and very much looking like some 7 grader who did not care what kind of grade he got did it.
Would I buy it again today? Well, there are some units on EHAM reviews that are much nicer appearing, but you are paying 3X and more the price. There are some nice ones that are only a bit more or less, however most are only up to 30 MHz. I think without going to a store and playing with the various ones out there I would be hard pressed as to what I would get. While the common wisdom is that complainers write more often than non-complainers, I am still leery of getting another one, especially the way the calibration document looks. But outside of the UHF portion being strange (or maybe me goofing up), I really can not see why I would not go for the 269 if I could not get to a store to play with other units.
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N7CN
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 23, 2007 08:52
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Works well when working. Great customer service!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had my MFJ-269 for about 2 years. I read all about that terrifying UHF button that brought nothing but pain and sorrow if pressed at the wrong time. Well I’m sometimes more impulsive than careful and slipped up, for a couple seconds, a few times, but no problem, the meter kept working flawlessly. I had no problems with the N-connector either.
Everything in my world came crashing down however, during some Field Day measurements this year. The UHF portion of the meter started to do some crazy things when I tried to measure UHF SWR. 27 Volts and wacky SWR measurements. After a few attempts at powering up again… nothing. The UHF portion no longer had any response to power up. The non-UHF section worked fine as always.
Before arranging to send the thing in to MFJ, which I dreaded due to the time and expense anticipated, I called the tech support line to see if there was an alternative to their repairs. A gentleman answered promptly. I explained the symptoms and that I strongly suspected that my meter had gone where many before it had, to the ranks of the useless due to a poor design. I asked it there was a repair kit they had that would enable me to fix the unit myself since it happened so often. Or at least I wanted him to give me some hints as to what to look for since so many units had the same problem.
Fully anticipating an expensive repair bill, the answer shocked me! After the gentlemen verified that I was capable of doing SMD rework, he told me that he would send me some different transistors to replace for Q9, 11, 13, 19, and 22. I was amazed at the simple offering of a solution that would enable me to easily fix my problem – for free!
The teeny surface mount transistors arrived a few days later, and I replaced them by locating the positions on the board by their silk screen designators. After re-assembly, I powered up, switched to UHF, and was back in business!
Any company that offers an option to send out parts to take care of repairs due to design flaws rather than requiring it be sent in to them gets a “great customer service” award from me. What the design guys get from me is something else, but the problem was fixable without too much effort. OK, so you do need an SMD rework station, some experience, and an hour or so… But their solution worked very well for me. MFJ customer service rocks!
I just hope that this component specification change will make the UHF portion a bit more robust. Their new meters probably have this change and may not exhibit the problem quite as much. I don’t know. So far – an awesome meter (when it is working) and awesome customer support!
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