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Reviews For: MFJ-259

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : MFJ-259
Reviews: 41MSRP: 259
Description:
MFJ-259 HF/VHF SWR ANALYYZER
1.8-170 mhZ Invalid item - see MFJ-259B
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-259B
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00414.3
K6ITR Rating: 2022-01-25
Decent, reasonably accurate, I have the old MFJ-259. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have an older MFJ-259. It works well if you only need HF and VHF up to 2 meters or so. Like other reviewers, I noticed that the thing eats batteries. So, I found a converter cable online that converts 5 volts out of a rehargeable power bank to 12 volts that can power it. No more replacing batteries, just velcro the power bank to the back and you're good. Otherwise, it's been indispensable for tuning my HF and VHF antennas. I did notice that my NanoVNA reads a little higher than the MFJ-259, but I'm more inclined to believe a $300 MFJ device over a $50 no-name device.
K0RO Rating: 2021-04-08
ON/OFF push button problem Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Newer units have a molded ring around the button to reduce accidental activation. On my older unit, I put a snug rubber grommet around the red button. It works great to prevent unintended switching.
WB8VLC Rating: 2021-04-08
not bad for the price i got mine at Time Owned: more than 12 months.
N2AOO to stop the unit from turning on in a equipment bag I epoxied a small circular plastic extension around the switch. This plastic cover extends about 1/8 inch above the on/off switch and it requires the user to insert a finger inside this extension to turn the unit on/off, since this mod I never had an issue with the unit turning on accidentally.

On the review end I picked mine up for a good price and even though it doesn't go to 220 MHz it still works fine for what I need it for.

I am very protective so I make sure that nearby transmitters are off when making measurements.

I now have a nanoVna which I use most of the time but there are instances such as when I'm out in the field where I'll bring the MFJ unit and leave the nanoVNA desk queen at home.
N9EYL Rating: 2021-04-08
Eats Batteries by design even when you think it's off! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Never in the history of ham radio has such an evil device been designed to secretly destroy 10 AA batteries! The ON/OFF switch is a bad design in a bad location.

There is one way and one way only to keep this device from destroying your 10 AA batteries and that is to remove them after use before you put the device back in the box.

Other than that it does what it is supposed to do and is a pretty indispensable tool.
N2AOO Rating: 2021-04-08
On/Off Push Button is a Problem Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Am I the only one who has a problem with the push button on/off switch? I frequently package it in a duffle bag to take it along on trips. The unit is turned on inadvertently causing the batteries to be depleted. One inconvenient solution is to remove the batteries for transport.
W9MT Rating: 2019-10-02
An old standard... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my first 259 about 20 years ago when they were new and could be had for under $200.

It served me well on many HF antenna projects and as my signal source to pre-tune my doublet's antenna tuner. This way the barefoot transceiver or the Gonset GSB-101 (four 811A tube amp)that was pre-tuned into the dummy load could be switched directly into a matched 50 Ohm load without any tweaking, arcing, sparking, high current draw...whatever.

It saw most of its service in this latter mode, being switched in and out with a coaxial switch.

It died about 12 years later. It wasn't an accidental faux paus that did it in or a reversal of DC power polarity. It just stopped working upon a regular power up from my station's main regulated DC supply. So I sold it cheap as an as-is, non-working "tech special" so even if the buyer returned it to MFJ for service, they still got a good value overall.

I replaced it with a new 269, which at that time could be purchased new for under $300. I still have that 269, but I found another working 259 at a hamfest and snapped it up.

There are newer technology antenna analyzers out there (many, many choices) today in 2019. But the MFJ-259 is still very easy to use, and accurate enough for my own projects. I don't miss the 220 band not being on it, and it fit right into my older unit's windowed soft case (kept that when I sold the parts unit...and glad I did).
KC8Y Rating: 2014-08-30
old ones are made different Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I acquire my MFJ-259 (original unit) about 21-years ago, and it has never given me any problems [lucky me] Even now, it still works fine.

USE it to turn (with external tuner) windoms and dipoles, at low power ratings. I always get SWR-readings LOWER than 1.2 : 1

Don't think the units made now, work the same. Will buy another brand, when that time comes.

Ken KC8Y

If this unit goes bad, I'd ooonkers


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Earlier 5-star review posted by KC8Y on 2010-07-07

I've had the mfj-259 for about 17-years...Back then, when you purchased the item, you got the AC-Adapter with the unit...

I use mine to help me tune my antennas with my antenna tuner to give me the lowest/best SWR at the frequency I'm operating at...Surely this unit deserves a much higher rating than 5...

Have never had any problems using it, BUT don't know about what the NEW units are like...










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Earlier 5-star review posted by KC8Y on 2003-05-25

BOUGHT THIS UNIT-NEW, FROM HRO SOME YEARS AGO...
HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM, USE IN CONJUNCTION
WITH MY TUNER...AGAIN, IT'S ONE-OF-THE ORIGINALS
THAT WERE MANUFACTURED BACK THEN...DON'T THINK MFJ
BUILDS THEM LIKE THIS ANYMORE????
W7MY Rating: 2014-08-29
Analyzer great - MFJ BAD! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The 259 is the standard for antenna analysis and components; that's the good news.

the bad news is their service which is almost non-existent. I have had MFJ products for decades and their service was acceptable but that was then and now their repair service is awful!

I sent them my 259 with blown diodes in late January and its almost September,going on the eighth month!!

They were quick to charge me credit card (three months) but still no repair. I called them a month ago and the tech looked it up and said, "yea we have had it a while; I'll take a look at it today and get it out to you". Well guess what, nothing happened.

My latest attempt was to open a case on-line asking for a response and so far the same result, nothing.

If you have an alternative to MFJ products, I'd use it unless you can do your own repairs.


W0BBI Rating: 2014-03-31
Very good unit. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Purchased my unit new from HRO over 6 years ago. It has preformed flawlessly since day one. I have had none of the issues others have mentioned. Up the tower, in the rain, on the bench, regardless where it goes, it works well. If you need a super duper, do all unit that make graphs and talks to your computer, look elsewhere and have a fat check book. If you want a basic unit that has some nice additional features and accessories, look no further.
K2DCG Rating: 2014-03-03
It Just Works... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I acquired three MFJ-259's from my Elmer (KA3ZAR) before he passed. They work, as advertised, and none of them have bad solder joints. One is on my bench and the other is for outside use…the third is a future organ donor, when needed. I have built several antennas and baluns and they worked like a charm. Are they NASA-quality devices, no, but for what I do the accuracy/tolerance is fine.

Perhaps three units are not a true statistical sampling of quality control but there’s no junk here.