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Reviews For: MFJ-461 Morse Code Reader

Category: Decoders, multi-mode

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Review Summary For : MFJ-461 Morse Code Reader
Reviews: 59MSRP: 79.95
Description:
Place this tiny pocket size MFJ Morse Code Reader near your receiver's speaker. Then watch Morse code signals turn into solid text messages as they scroll across an LCD display. No cables to hook-up, no computer, no interface, no other equipment needed.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-461
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00593.2
N8EKA Rating: 2001-12-11
I'm happy with it. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
First two were DOA, but MFJ did a UPS pickup and replacement on each in succession at no obligation or expense to me. MFJ customer support seemed cordial, caring, and competent. Third time was the charm, and it works to my complete expectations and satisfaction. I'd do it again.
W3HND Rating: 2001-11-28
as good as you can expect Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
it likes to hear a good fist, no question about it!, but of course, so do i! and when tuning from any given speed to something slower, it takes a little while to realize that it is hearing a slower speed, and you get a series of Ts and Es until it locks in, as KA1UN pointed out. also, the very slight delay between what it (and you)hears and what it displays takes a little getting used to. my only real complaint is the very narrow frequency range that it can hear. my prefered pitch is out of it's range, but all in all, not a bad gadget.----------73.
KK7GV Rating: 2001-11-18
OK Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For the price and what it was intended for this is a dandy gadget. Although the first unit I received never functioned at all, the replacement did ok with serveral adjustments (input level and PLL frequency). Like other reviews, the battery compartment is very tight and difficult to place cover on. Currently using with on board mic only.
N2XE Rating: 2001-10-18
Too Cool! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This widget decodes CW pretty well. Does it do better than I can? No but it does handle some pretty sloppy code that I have trouble with. It likes good S/N and it wants the CW note tuned to its passband (user settable). It works better with line input vs. the internal microphone but all in all, it works pretty well.

The human brain is one phenominal signal processor, don't expect the MFJ-461 to compete with a good brain. If you don't know CW and you think this will allow you to converse in Morse, think again.

I bought it so my camping buddies wouldn't get bored while I di-dah away with my QRP rig in the outback. Mission accomplished.

God bless Martin F. Jue for continuing to design and produce really cool ham gadgets and accessories at affordable prices. I've never been disappointed with any MFJ product. I find they always work as advertised.
K5MGJ Rating: 2001-10-03
It can refresh your CW without the frustration! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've used other PC based CW decoders (including the MFJ 1214) in the past and all are very similar. The key is recognizing that garbage in, is garbage out. Don't expect much if you don't clean up the on-air signal without adjusting the RF gain (to the minimum needed), audio gain, VFO tuning and a narrow bandwidth filter. I tried this unit, out of the box, without fiddling with the settings on the back. Yes, the battery was a bit tight, which is better than banging around in the case. I did hook it directly to the audio jack of my FT-817 with a patch cable and a y-adapter so I could still hear with the headset. After cleaning the signal and tweaking the VFO, until the red led on the unit was brightest, I was able to supplement my listening to CW with 60%-80% accuracy from the unit. For fun I patched it directly into my MFJ pocket tutor (which I've listened to while commuting). The unit copied the tutor at 100%, which is no surprise. It'll help me, as I go long periods (becoming rusty) between operating code on-air. I obtained the unit to help get me back up to speed quicker, refreshed without the frustration. Don't expect this to be a substitute for knowing the code, it's a code elmer, helpful and useful, but with limitations that are to be expected in a real operating environment. Usual declaimations apply. I'd dis on MFJ if warranted, but not in this case.
KA1UN Rating: 2001-09-19
Works Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Typical of MFJ products, if you don't expect too much they don't disappoint you too badly. I experienced the same difficulties the other reviewers did. I found it difficult to insert the battery and had to fiddle with the 2 adjustments on the back to get it running. Holding it up to the speaker was really bad and I was going to take it back to HRO. I decided to give it a second chance and installed a "y" cable on my ICOM-746 and connected the unit directly to the audio output. By doing that I found I could tune by watching the LED. When the LED blinked the brightest it would start working. Unfortunately it takes awhile to lock on to the speed so you get strings of T's and E's until it settles down. Once it does it seems to work pretty well. It certainly isn't up to the performance you would expect from a computer interface but for a rusty CW operator like me it does help. I've been away from ham radio for too long so using this little unit helps me make a decent QSO without missing a lot. It's probably more a toy than serious ham gear but for $80 I think I'll keep it atleast until my speed is back up to par.
W6ABE Rating: 2001-09-19
Sent it Back Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had one whale of a time just getting the battery installed. The cover would not close. After getting all set up and trying to copy I could never get it to copy much of anything. Mostly gibberish. I even went to W1AW. Save your money on this rig. I am open to suggestions for something other than this rig.
K4ZNC Rating: 2001-09-17
Ditto Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I tried to use the code reader this weekend and found that it works perfectly well copying W1AW code practice. Static or a sloppy fist is garbage in, garbage out. Important to note that the advertising and literature does not overstate the capability of the unit; the advertising is very accurate. Sent mine back for a refund.
AD6WL Rating: 2001-09-17
IT DOSN'T WORK! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well the thing kind of works. If there is any static or the code is not perfect IT DOSN'T WORK. If the rst is 599 and the code is perfectly sent it works well. If the rst is 589 or code is a little sloppy then it may read as well as 50%. If the rst is 579 or the person is not that good at sending then forget it. I tried using it this past weekend on about 20 incoming stations and I got it to work well once and at about 50% copy once. So, I have to say save your money. Since it will work only under the very best of condition then I have to rate it a 1 and that is being generous........73, Jim