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Reviews For: MFJ-1270X

Category: Packet TNCs & Digital Multi-mode Controllers

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Review Summary For : MFJ-1270X
Reviews: 7MSRP: 129.95
Description:
KISS TNC similar to the TNC-X.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1270X
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0071.7
N7JPF Rating: 2019-03-02
The MFJ cable was the problem Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Winlink(Win-10)-MFJ-1270X-Kenwood TM-281; Like many other reviewers, this 1270 didn't work for me at first. I was frustrated, wanted to throw it away, and swear at it. I rebuilt the MFJ cable (it was junk) and it still didn't work. I am not a beginner when it comes to packet, so was totally frustrated. Then I ordered a cable from Ham Made Parts hammadeparts.com. Les, WY0GTR sent me the correct cable for the TM-281, and behold, the TNC worked immediately. Lesson learned, don't buy the cable from MFJ. Get a good quality one to start with. The MFJ-1270 didn't need to be opened, and no jumpers were every changed. It fired right up. No complaints now. I am now back on 2-meter packet.
KD4AFW Rating: 2017-11-08
No quality control and even less support Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
If you want plug n play, this isn't the TNC. Disappointed and out 130 bucks. If I had wanted to troubleshoot I would have bought the kit. Paid for p n p. Mfj is a joke. Wish I had went with Coastal Chipworks.
CRAZYHAMSALES Rating: 2017-10-12
So Far.. BAD.. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought to be used with the 1270DG board as a local Digi. The first unit powered up but did nothing else and there was no response for the 1270DG board as the manual shows. Contacted MFJ and they sent a replacement 1270X, the second one didn't power up, but after tearing it apart and fixing some bad solder joints on the bottom of the board i got it to power up and installed the 1270DG, only to find its still not responsive. Contacted them again for a replacement 1270DG and received that, installed it and received a response as the manual shows but its garbled text, doesn't respond to any commands, and won't save its settings, loses everything on a power cycle.

Contacted them again and currently waiting for yet another response to the issues. So far its been three weeks and still don't have a working setup!!

I will try giving them one last shot on making it work, if it doesn't then i will send it all back for a refund and find something else to replace it. FED UP...
W5RHR Rating: 2017-04-04
DOA Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Out of the box would not communicate with several terminal programs both via UBB or the serial port. Spent 20 minutes with MFJ tech support going over jumpers, settings, and the like.Board layout does not match schematic or manual, that's very poor.
Powers up but thats it.
Sent back to the retailer for return/swap.
K8DAV Rating: 2016-07-01
No change Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Recently purchased the 1270X and had some issues with the tx keying. Like in the previous review, the schematic and the parts diagram didn't come close to what is in the unit. The two phone calls were pleasant with a promise to send me a schematic and diagram. No email. For reference the board is 2012 date and a p/n 862-1270x rev. 4. Not sure if I could recommend this unit.
KD0SFY Rating: 2014-06-30
Not so good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought one of these for use as an APRS IGate. This is basically the MFJ version of the TNC-X and I wanted it for being USB powered and a direct USB connection instead of having to use a conversion dongle as I do with the KPC3+.

Right off the bat, I noticed that the manual supplied did not match the board. Even the online manual, which was different than the one that was shipped with the unit, was completely different than the board. Several of the jumpers were in different spots, making them a real pain to tell which was which. And the instructions on the jumpers said things like "(the end closest to Q1)" instead of being numbered and since the jumper was no longer near "Q1", it was hit or miss whether you put it in correctly. I even called MFJ and the tech guy I spoke to pulled a unit off the shelf, opened it up, and compared it to the manual and admitted they were completely different. It has been several months now and they STILL have not posted the correct manual.

I ended up emailing the original maker of the TNC-X, from whom MFJ got the license to make the 1270 and he was as helpful as he could be considering they completely changed his design.

The unit suffers from poor sensitivity on the receiver side -- the levels from the DIN port of the radio will probably not be sufficient to decode, and you will likely end up using the external speaker jack instead.

The 9V battery hook up can short out against the internal components and is especially a problem when a battery is attached, so I ended up taping it off.

Very dissatisfied with this product and the support I received.
WD0FIA Rating: 2013-09-09
Simple, easy to use! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use 3 of them on APRS. Connecting them is easy, they replaced MFJ-1278's and 1274 units and use the same 5 pin din.

Using UIView 32 in KISS mode, on a laptop / netbook, I can have APRS in a small, inexpensive package.

They are fully assembled MFJ versions of the TNC-X from Coastal Chipworks.