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Reviews For: MFJ-259B

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : MFJ-259B
Reviews: 238MSRP: 259.95
Description:
HF/VHF Antenna Analyser
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-259B
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
152384.2
AC6V Rating: 2007-05-04
Valuable Instrument Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a great portable instrument for tuning and troubleshooting antenna systems. I like the digital display of complex impedance, frequency, and SWR. Easily carried to a roof top or tower. I recently purchased the Nifty! Quick Reference Guide and can highly recommend it. Several months may pass before I use the MFJ Analyzer and the Nifty Reference Guide is invaluable. Well written and easy to use. See it at URL: http://www.niftyaccessories.com/MFJ_RefGuide.htm
F6IQA Rating: 2007-04-17
How could I stay without such an instrument ? Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I had my 259B direct from MFJ. Very fast shipping. I like very much the regular and advanced modes. Also like the manual tuning. Really the instrument you need to own. After you will not be able without it. Some measurements are manual (like distance to fault) and the item just make the calculation for you. The big plus of this is that you LEARN as you use it. I have not blown the diodes so far and I try to be careful to avoid this common issue. Definitely a keeper.
KI0Z Rating: 2007-04-05
Great unit. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Having had the mfj-259 for many years,I traded it for the new mfj-259-B. I liked Both units But there is a lot more you can do with the B.having a network analyzer at work to use HP8753E They both gave very close readings,and at the price point a real Bargin. The B modle has a better cabinet and the Battery container is a BIG improvement! Excellant for all the Ham Radio chore's . IM loving it ... HI HI 73 P.S. Burghardt takes trade in so the price won't be so much.
W0NGS Rating: 2007-02-08
Works great but... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used my MFJ-259 for a couple years and it works as advertised. I would like to see the J reactance read + or - not just the value. Other than that it has worked flawlessly and the other hams I have loaned it too really like using the unit.
W5EJ Rating: 2006-10-17
Works great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Been using mine for over a year mostly to tune and check SWR on various antennas, tuners etc. Read the directions and follow them and you will have no problems, don't and...oh well.

Had an issue with SWR readings on meter and LCD not matching, quick call to MFJ tech support and they told me how to re-cal the meter, simple and only took 10 minutes. Cool thing was I could do it at home and not have to ship the unit back. - Nice

OE3SGU Rating: 2006-10-15
Good and reliable Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have the MFJ-259B and the Palstar ZM-30. In comparison I found out that the MFJ model shows exactly the same measurements, so its quite accurate, both are solid finished (the Palstar a bit more) and worthwile additions to the hams and experimenters toolbox. If MFJ would offer a software update like the Palstar unit, it would be really perfect.
AC0DV Rating: 2006-09-11
Nice to have Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just picked up a MFJ-259B to test out my new Hy-Gain Hy-Tower JR. (Junior) and to help trim the fans in my fan dipole. It can also test my 2M J-Pole and will test the vehicle's antenna nicely also.

I looked at the MFJ-209 and 207... but it's 70% of the cost of the 259B and it doesn't have a lot of the other "nice to have" features. (Nice to test the coax... and also I can test the traps from my trap dipole... so I like that.)

I was pleased that it worked right out of the box.

I have an MFJ-1026 that was dead in the box... and they "fixed" it and sent me a new one which also doesn't work.

So I was hesitant at buying yet another MFJ item... especially one this expensive. But it does appear that they might take a little extra care to make sure these more expensive items work. (But then MFJ-1026 is not exactly "cheap".)
KI7M Rating: 2006-07-02
Hard to beat for the cost! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've used my MFJ-259B for years tunning quads, dipoles and vertical antennas, cutting coax to 1/2 or 1/4 wavelength, etc. and consider it an excellent tool for the price. A while back I picked up an Autek RF-1 and used it as well as the MFJ-259B and my palomar noise bridge working on my 4/5 element 10-20 meter 5 band quad. The MFJ basically showed what the others did, I got the same resonant dips and ended up just using the MFJ all the time because of the convenience and all the things it did. Quality (buttons) is a bit poor but if you keep care not to drop it, it will provide what you need. It is effected by strong AM broadcast stations near by on 160 meters.
NI0C Rating: 2006-04-28
Very helpful for antenna work Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Although I use commercially made vertical antennas (Butternut HF-2V and Force 12 Sigma 40XK), I find that I frequently have hands on these antennas, for various reasons.

For instance, during the darkest winter months, I take off the 30m coil from the HF-2V and install the 160m coil, and add some top-loading to improve efficiency of the antenna. I'm also constantly adding and lengthening the radials. The Sigma 40XK requires hands on adjustment to change bands.

All of this adjusting requires a good impedance measuring device. Simple SWR measurements are not enough.

My MFJ-259B is so handy, and I use it so much, that it has a place on my operating desk and is available for antenna measurements at the flip of a coax switch. If I'm worried about my antenna for any reason, I can quickly check its impedance at any frequency I choose. If I'm worried about the integrity of the nearly 200 ft. of coaxial cable that feeds the antenna, all I have to do is disconnect the far end of the coax and use the loss measurement feature of the analyzer.

I like the digital display of complex impedance, frequency, and SWR. I also like the analog SWR meter for quickly determining a resonance point.

So, what's not to like about the analyzer? Not much. However,as pointed out by at least one previous reviewer, the analog meters are installed in a rather cheesey manner (probably with glue) so they tend to drop down from the front panel into the box.
N0XMZ Rating: 2006-04-24
Amazing tool Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just bought this analyzer and it works like a dream. This is one amazing device. If you like to "roll your own" antennas like I do, it's invaluable. It's chock-full of features with lots of potential applications. I only wish I'd bought it years ago.