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Reviews For: MFJ 1278BT

Category: Packet TNCs & Digital Multi-mode Controllers

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Review Summary For : MFJ 1278BT
Reviews: 19MSRP: 310
Description:
it's mighty fine junk!!!!!!!
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-1278BT
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00192.1
KA2UUP Rating: 2008-07-11
5 years later Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The only problem is the lack of software for this TNC. Other than that, it works well for packet and RTTY. After I bought it in 2003, I ordered the MFJ-44 filter board so that I could use it for RTTY signal tuning. It works very well with my SM-220 scope. Now I have the option of FSK or AFSK for RTTY. Here in the MA area we also get the Coast Guard reports on NAVTEX and AMTOR. No problems in that area either.

As always, the important thing to do is to READ THE BOOK!!!!

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Earlier 4-star review posted by KA2UUP on 2004-04-01

I don't understand the problems people have with this thing. I don't use it for SSTV (I use a soundcard) or fax. However, I use it for AFSK RTTY (I use HamScope 1.54 in FSK mode for primary communications with a soundcard) once in a while, for PACTOR, VHF packet and NAVTEX reception. I use the HyperTerminal program from Windows XP to control it and it and works well. I checked the alignment of the tones before putting the thing to work and they were fine, not as steady as a sound card, but acceptable enough to do decent transmision and decoding.

The procedures outlined for alignment at http://www.qsl.net/ke4mob/ are a help to simplify things. I put to work the MFJ-44 oscilloscope adapter and this helps (after calibration, of course) in checking the alignement of the tones. It also helps in checking incoming RTTY signals, no matter the software you are using, which helps in tuning incoming signals even when using a soundcard for RTTY.

As to RFI, I have found that if you use the shielded cables as recommended by another poster RFI can be reduced. This is not a big problem. Best solution is to shut it off when you are not using the unit anyway.

Overall, it does what it is supposed to do.

Bert @ KA2UUP
AD5JN Rating: 2004-11-22
Works fine for VHF (not much good for Pactor HF) Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The LM-7812 gets way too hot and will burnout. This modem is junk for use with Pactor HF. Very hard to tune. Painful! Using anything else for HF would be better. For VHF it works fine. however, for the money, Use a TNC-X for VHF and save yourself the trouble of replacing Regs.
AD5JN
KC4IVG Rating: 2003-06-18
Avoid it like the Plague! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.

Dont even think about it....Tried two new ones and was disappointed both times. Not worth the Cardboard box they came in. Buy a KAM or AEA....I did!
KG4PFO Rating: 2003-05-23
Junk is my vote Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Noise and more noise....JUNK....Buy a KAM and get yourself a fine working pc. of equipment
V73GOD Rating: 2003-05-23
Disappointing Junk Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Owned this B model for a long time and finally sold it. After using a KAM and a PK-232 I see what I was missing .. ouch. The MFJ was hard to tune and the manual was poor at best. I sold it for dirt and still felt bad. Just too noisy to ever work right .. sound card RTTY is far superior to this monster.
KV3A Rating: 2003-05-15
Works Fine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have all the big name tnc's, the MFJ works as well and in some cases better than most (PK-232).
No RFI if you use shielded cables, and do not use the same power supply for tnc and radio. The ground loops created by using the same power supply are bad for any tnc. Nice full size tuning indicator, runs cool. More modes than most. All modes work fine. It's a keeper. If you buy a used tnc beware, as you may need to realign it. Seems many folks seem to feel the need to adjust everything, then give up and sell units. The MFJ tncs are easy to realign, with scope and freq counter. Only wish it would do pactor 2.
G4EDY Rating: 2003-03-18
EMC Problems Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Poor EMC performance, broadband HF noise using 1278 with a Toshiba laptop, no noise present when using a Tiny2 with the same laptop.

Bottom line is; if you need a TNC the 1278 is an expensive option. Best solution these days is a soundcard and let the software take the strain!!
N3MVF Rating: 2002-05-15
Sad Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had the MFJ 1278 for a few years. Always had problems with tuning, sensitivity etc. I didn't realize how bad it was until I bought a used PK-900. It's embarrasing that I spent the money on a new MFJ 1278 several years ago. Like others, I went with MFJ prices....live and learn.
N2JBP Rating: 2002-03-31
Average Modem at Best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Purchased many years ago. The thought of operating "mutimode", ten years ago was exciting. Getting on these modes, however was an excerciser of sheer frustration. I know that its not cool in the hobby to admit a lack of technical knowledge, but thats what I and thousands more hams have. The instruction manual of this thing must have been written by a PHD in engineering and was impossible to comprehend, adding to the frustration. VHF packet was fine. Self generating RFI did prevent any decent HF packet, although RTTY seemed to work above the "hash".
AB0TJ Rating: 2002-03-11
Ok, but not great. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received this a few weeks ago-- and I have a PK-900 coming to replace it already. Works good on VHF packet (but that's not hard to do at all) and works ok on other modes-- if you can hear the signal over this thing's horrible RFI. I wish I had kept my KPC-3 for VHF and just have gone with the PK-900 in the first place. And don't even bother with SSTV-- just use your soundcard. No need for a TNC for SSTV nowadays anyway. That was probably a good feature 10 years ago.