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Reviews For: MFJ-462B Multi-Reader

Category: Decoders, multi-mode

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Review Summary For : MFJ-462B Multi-Reader
Reviews: 21MSRP: 179.95
Description:
Reads CW, RTTY, ASCII, AMTOR FEC
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00212.5
KB4ZVM Rating: 2003-05-14
Really bad Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have tried to make it work for years.

If the CW is machine generated, if the signal is really strong, if the noise floor is really low, and if there is absolutely no QRM, it will copy about 85%. But what's the point in that?

This thing simply does not work!
WMBRADY Rating: 2002-08-22
Works Great with a Good Receiver Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have been able to easily decode CW with my 462B using the output of my Grundig M800 but not my ICF-2010 or Grundig Yacht Boy 400. Obviously, the unit requires a clean signal. I suspect the reason some folks have problems is the BFO offset of their radios.

The menu is a bit strange and hard to get used to.
WV4I Rating: 2002-02-09
Used on CW only... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have not used this unit on any mode but CW. At some point as, the target signal gets weaker relative to the noise, the quality of the sender's fist gets worse, the QRM gets worse, and/or other variables become less optimum, this unit will start to give it up. Computer generated, W1AW, and/or other high quality code produces the best, if not perfect, results, where the signal is at least even with the noise, and the code is at least properly spaced/formatted.
W8PCK Rating: 2002-02-09
Doesn't work as advertised Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this "thing" for at least two years and I have never gotten it to work with any consistency. I emailed MFJ and outlined the problems. I tried their sugestions and that didn't help either. It is either bad design or faulty equipment because it doesn't work as described in the manual or as stated in their email. I try it every so often just to assure myself that it is not me who doesn't work. I would love to get rid of it, but hate to stick someone else with a white elephant. I have other MFJ equipment that works as it is supposed to, but this is a lemon for sure.
N7VTS Rating: 2001-12-08
Depends on rcvr Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Tried 1st w/ Panasonic 2200.worked but hard to keep tuned. needed strong sig. Tried with Grundig YaughtBoy. No luck mostly. Then bought Yaesu FRG-100. Reader works great on cw . even most weak sigs.
WA2MGB Rating: 2001-11-28
Good but requires STRONG signal Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just picked up the older 462, the one with the slanted face. Easy to setup, though finicky when reading CW. Yes, it does work...just plan to fiddle with your tuning to keep a "sensible" message on the screen. A good buy used......
AA9WG Rating: 2001-11-21
Better than Hamcom! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As shipped CW is indeed hopeless! However the instrument works well on other digital modes as is!

RE CW: construction of a simple (external) audio BP filter renders far better performance than any Hamcom implementation I've seen...

Inclusion of a full schematic with the user documentation was a nice touch!

However, IMO, an audiotape or CD should have been included for both test purposes and familiarization of the user with the characteristic sounds of the various modes!

All in all well worth the money!

With regards
Dan Q.

KC5RJV Rating: 2001-11-18
Not worth the $ Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Well MFJ "mighty fine junk" lives up to its name, the multi reader copys 599+ signals 10% of the time. most always just gibberish I have thought about sending it with that sorry arcing MFJ antenna tuner back to the big boss of the company and make him toss it in the dumpster, but 5 minutes of his time bothering with this equipment hardly makes up for the hundreds of hours I have spent trying to make it work as advertised..
K2PJT Rating: 2001-10-03
Works well under ideal conditions Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Since I was away from ham radio for several years I purchased the Multi-Reader to assist my getting back to reasonable CW speed. CW is the only function I have tried. It does work on CW but it is easily disturbed by noise, is a bit difficult to tune, and works best with S9 signals under quiet conditions and when the sender has a perfect fist. Nuances in sending cause erroneous results. Possibly the other functions would make it worth while but the CW funtion is of limited use.
K3IVB Rating: 2001-08-11
NO PROBLEMS Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have the original one (462) with the black box and slanted face "which I prefer over the newer version". Bought it early 94, even had to wait on it as they were back ordered being they were just new back then. It receives even more modes than the newer version does. This little unit has never failed me and has been in use the entire time using all the modes. My unit still looks and preforms like brand new.