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Reviews For: MFJ-418 Morse Code Tutor

Category: Ham Radio Education & Exam Prep Materials

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Review Summary For : MFJ-418 Morse Code Tutor
Reviews: 45MSRP: 79.95
Description:
Pocket sized, computerized (hey that rhymes!) gadget for learning CW. Made in Mississippi, USA.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-418
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00454.1
LNXAUTHOR Rating: 2003-08-11
Highly Recommended! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
- there are lots of ways to learn CW...

- you should use whatever method is easiest for you, but my feeling is that the most important factor is the desire to learn and a motivation to succeed...

- that said, in my view (and for me personally) i would not have been able to learn CW in what i consider a short amount of time (four weeks) without the aid of the MFJ-418

- i ended up passing Element 1 two days ago - four weeks to the day after picking up this pocket-sized code tutor at a local HRO... i inserted a fresh 9V and it is still working great, even after all the practice sessions!

- the MFJ-418's manual is available through MFJ's Web site, so take a look at its capabilities... it has all the features you need to build a flexible training schedule, avoid tedium and memorization, and can be used for the Koch method of learning if you wish...

- the sound was more than adequate using its built-in speaker...

- be careful, however! if you use headphones, turn the volume down before you begin practice! there's no distortion whatsoever at greater volumes, but you only need a bit of a tweak for loud volume w/headphones...

- i used the external speaker, a set of headphones, and when out of the house with a free five minutes, a cheap $3 single-piece earphone...

- my MFJ-418 will be used long after my passing Element 1, as i plan to continue working on my code and upping my copy speed...

- and when i'm done with my MFJ-418, i will pass it on to a new Technician with a desire to learn the code...
KC2FPR Rating: 2003-04-13
Worth It Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Great little tool. I use it at work during down time (headphones) I've used it exclusively from zero code til 5wpm passed general, got me and confidence up to 10wpm, when I started actual on air qso's. Now I can copy about 22wpm, but don't enjoy that speed. Most of my major improvements were from the mahcine. Most of my fun was from FIST OPs (tnx)!! Seriously, I can tell you I've had this machine a long time. In the winter she rides in my winter coat, & when I bored waiting in line, or driving, I use it like a walkman and try my best to headcopy. You will learn to hear code as sound this way, and most people progress faster when this happens,... see you on the fun mode - Kc2fpr
KG6OSK Rating: 2003-04-13
Portable CW learning aid Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Read all the preceding reviews of the Tutor, most of which describe the unit pretty accurately, and I think you'll get the idea that this is an extremely useful and handy device with which to learn code and/or boost your speed. Its few minor faults really don't detract from its overall utility. The randomness of character presentation is indeed suspect, and after lots of use, certain patterns of character appearance are seen. This can be overcome by using the custom character set definition capability, and periodically changing the sequence of the characters within these sets. The rotary volume control rubbed against the plastic panel overlay, and the overlay had to be trimmed a bit with a razor knife. Perhaps three times in 5 weeks the unit hung up and had to be power cycled to return it to normal use. And, the way the unit senses button pushes of its configuration buttons was mildly annoying at times. But, these are minor complaints and I was generally very pleased with the device and feel that I've easily gotten my money's worth out of it. I used it almost exclusively in a 5-week effort to pass the 5 wpm code test and I continue to use it daily, wanting to boost my code speed.
NM0EJ Rating: 2003-01-20
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This tutor, combined with the Koch method (I bought Morse Code, Breaking the Barrier, which is also published by MFJ) allowed me to go from complete beginner to 15WPM+ in twenty minutes a day over a 5 month period. While that was still a pretty large commitment, it went very quickly and was rarely frustrating.

The MFJ-418 worked well. Yes, the speaker is not audiophile quality--or even audiophobe quality. Yes, the randomness of the random character generator is a bit predictable. Yes, it is a bit goofy to use. But for MFJ to provide something this good at this price at what cannot be a huge volume is outstanding.

The real hero, however, is the Koch method. Not only did it help an impatient, short attention span guy like me learn morse, it also changed the way I think about some types of learning.

M3KCV Rating: 2002-06-20
The best tutor I've tried Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Apart from problem solving, I generally have a short attention span and have found morse code difficult to pick-up. Some characters just refused to 'stick'. I've tried various bits of software on the PC and listened to a number of morse tapes but must admit that I've never found anything that I was really happy with. A local HAM has been providing me with some on-air practise and he's very very patient. I've found that gradually my morse is beginning to take-shape. Unfortunately he's not often available, so when I saw this MFJ gadget I thought it was worth a try..
Well, it's absolutely amazing, extremely comprehensive and exactly what I needed. It took a few reads of the manual before I'd got what I wanted configured and now I take-it everywhere. It's terrific to just switch-it on and have ten minutes practise and I find that I'm now doing more than an hour a day when I add-up my short spells of use (exactly what I need!). Thoroughly recommended, the case quality isn't what you'd get from a Sony product, but the unit's firmware, programming and functionality is superb! Well done & thanks MFJ!!
VK2KZO Rating: 2002-05-16
GOOD PRODUCT-LOUSY SERVICE Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This little tutor is brilliant,just what I was after, easy to use,as portable as you can get, and,while it worked,I was going great!Unfortunately,it got temporarily lost in transit to VK, no fault of MFJ, and three weeks later the thing died on me.
I could still have recommended the MFJ418 even then but for the absolutely abysmal customer service from MFJ, who I had till now thought of as a reputable firm.Any number of ignored e-mails,ignored phone-calls, and meaningless apologies followed by meaningless promise.I'm still out of pocket and without a tutor.Good product BUT look elsewhere!!!
SWL1 Rating: 2002-02-24
Could be better Time Owned: more than 12 months.
A few additional comments :-)

I also found it very usefull in learning and,passing my general test in addition with an older version of "Code Quick" on tape.
I will continue using it to polish my CW skills in the future.
I found the operating manual very poorly written and,confusing when trying to set up the different menus!

As far a the operation here's a great hint to make it MUCH easier to hear / copy the code.
Plug in a good quailty external speaker!
The internal one really sucks it clips / distorts when you crank up the volume!
I used my Motorola speaker and,it improved the performance dramatically!
I always use it this way now.
Try it you'll like it!

Also....if you're planning on using it in a small class room enviourment this works great,no additional amplification needed super clear and, loud.

Best of 73 !
DE:Bob.
KG4NVV Rating: 2002-02-24
Passed Morse Test With It! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is a very handy device with which to learn Morse code. Frankly, I would have had much more difficulty learning the code to pass the 5 WPM exam without this Code Tutor. Being able to customize the characters being sent, sending speed, Farnsworth spacing, etc. was indispensable and, as a result, I passed my Element 1 exam the very first time! Yes, it is an expensive unit and, yes, it is somewhat cheaply made, but still worth it since it is so portable and user-friendly.

I plan now to use it to improve my command of the code and increase my speed before I make that first CW QSO.

All in all, highly recommended for hams studying for their General/Extra licenses!

73,
Raf
K4TIN Rating: 2002-02-18
Best 70 Bucks I Ever Spent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This handy item was responsible for my code speed (QSO and word recognition) increasing from 20 wpm to over 30. It features several modes and is simple to use and configure. It will fit in a T shirt pocket and will provide hours of practice from a 9 volt battery. Remember to turn it off when you put it down or it will consume the battery.
KC0KBL Rating: 2002-02-17
Almost Great Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I just could not let the perfect 5 continue based on the extra poor build quality of this unit. The first one I got quit after 2 weeks. Just quit. Other than that, the ON-Off Volume control scraped the case and rubbed off part of the label. The second one arrived about a month later. It too scrapped the case with the volume knob. And after a month, the ON-Off broke such that you could not turn it off. Getting frustrated, I just pulled the battery in & out and eventutualy passed my element 1 exam. Unit would be great if the parts and build didn't set new standards for cheapness.