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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
W8JN Rating: 2002-02-17
OUTSTANDING GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
FIRST THE GOOD NEWS THIS IS AN AMAZING TOY.. ITS A MUST FOR EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO GET PAST THAT "WALL". I TAKE IT WITH ME EVERYWHERE, ESPECIALLY DRIVING, AND MAKE GOOD USE OF TRAFFIC JAMS. IT IS GREAT FOR THE "WORD MEMORY" LEARNING TECHNIQUE, AND YOU CAN THROW AWAY THE PENCIL AND PAPERS.
NOW THE BAD NEWS... AS GOOD AS THE MFJ-418 IS, I WOULD LIKE TO MEET THE KNUCKLEHEAD WHO DESIGNED THE LEATHER CASE... THE VELCRO IS ON THE BOTTOM, AND ITS GOING TO BE UNFORTUNATE WHEN YOU FIND YOUR MFJ-418 GONE BECAUSE THE VELCRO OPENED UP AND THE TOY FELL THRU THE BOTTOM... UNBELIEVABLE A DARWIN AWARD FOR THAT DUMMY. OK MFJ PLEASE PUBLICALLY IDENTIFY THE ROCKET SCIENTIST WHO PULLED THIS BLUNDER!!!!!!!!!!!
KG4PAI Rating: 2002-02-09
excellent Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is an excellent product. Just as advertized. Tom kg4pai
AH6RH Rating: 2002-02-03
It's a winner! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I finally upgraded to 20 WPM after many years thanks to the MFJ-418. With it's flexibility, I was able to select any speed, Farnsworth spacing and pitch that I felt like practicing at that moment. A really handy feature are the two buttons on the unit that allow you to "up" and "down" the speed on the fly while it's sending.

The LCD screen gives instant feedback on what letter is being sent, so you can check your copy on the spot and correct your learning.

One can choose between groups of letters, numbers, special characters, words, callsigns and QSOs. The sequence is completely random. There's no chance of memorizing upcoming text! Way better than tapes, records or CDs. If you really want to, you CAN repeat the practice session, just in case..

Since it's no larger than a pack of cigarettes, and comes with both an internal speaker and earphone jack, one can practice anytime and anyplace without disturbing others. Ten to fifteen minutes a day is a workable amount of time with the unit. I often listen to it while others around me are watching the TV. If anything really interesting comes on the TV set, I just press the RED "pause" button for a few moments and watch TV.

I still enjoy listening to the QSO mode occasionally...just to see where the band is open in the code-tutor world...HI HI.

It's a great unit, at a fair price.
KD6LM Rating: 2001-11-12
Invaluable Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have used both tapes and computer programs to learn CW. Until I bought the 418, I was never successful in developing my skill enough to start having QSO's on the air. While computer programs are fine, they require you to boot up your computer, and then sit in front of it. The beauty of the 418 is that it is so easy to practice, one has no problem practicing a few minutes here and a few minutes there. Because it is so easy to do, at least for me, I tend to practice more. By using a combination of the 418, the ARRL broadcasts, and using CW on the air (essential!), I am now able to have nice long QSO's at around 18 WPM after 7 months or so. Learning CW is work, no way around it, but it is really fun when you can finally use it on the air. The 418 takes all the hassle out of learning and practicing the code, and it works just great. That is why I give it 5, expensive yes, but compared to the fun and pride of being able to legitimately call yourself a CW operator, it is well worth it.
KG4OLK Rating: 2001-11-12
Excellent, but expensive Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I took my Tech class test last summer, and at the same time able to pass the General test, but I'm still learning CW. After trying those junky shareware deals on the Net, I decided to go over to MFJ, across town, to pick up this device. I must say, it works great. I'm using the Koch Method, and the 418 makes it easy to learn in this way. You can set all kinds of parameters to tailor your practice to your personal likings, and best of all you can take it anywhere. Also extremely simple to use. Two drawbacks: it's 80 bucks, which is pretty expensive as morse tutors go, and it does this weird thing where the custom memories get corrupted sometimes and you have to reprogram them. That may be a defect but i'm not worried about it enough to take it back to MFJ. Other than that, a wonderful product.