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Reviews For: MFJ-264 1.5Kw dry dummy load

Category: SWR & Wattmeters & Dummy Loads

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Review Summary For : MFJ-264 1.5Kw dry dummy load
Reviews: 16MSRP: 65.00
Description:
You get SWR below 1.3 to 650 MHz and 1.1 at 30 MHz. Handles 100 Watts for 10 minutes, 1500 Watts for 10 seconds. It has a strong lightweight aluminum construction. The MFJ-264 Dry Dummy Load measures 3Wx3Hx9D inches and comes with MFJ's famous No Matter What one year limited warranty.

Specifications
IMPEDANCE: 50 OHMS VSWR: Less than 1.3:1 at less than 650 MHz
POWER DISSIPATION: 1500 Watts for less than 10 seconds -- 100 Watts for 10 minutes
VOLTAGE GRADIENT: 10 kV / inch
OPERATING TEMPERATURE: Up to 350'C
FREQUENCY RANGE: 1-650 MHz; usable to 750 MHz
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15164
AE8GS Rating: 2023-04-15
Good build and good match Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Given some of the reports, I thought I should check it over first. DC resistance was 50.4 ohm. I took off the cover, and the build seemed good. Put it on my radio, started with very low power, and finally up to 100W. Power readings and SWR measurement looked good.

It might be overkill for my 100W rig, but I like that this dummy load can handle 100W for 10 minutes, so I don't have to worry about time. And I hope it is the first and last dummy load I ever buy.
VE7REN Rating: 2020-04-11
seems good for the money Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
needed one for some testing here. there are a few brands on the market,and some older ones available,but i wanted the newer. vectronics,palstar,mfj,etc. I saw this and opted for it.I bought one, noticed when I received the package,i heard a rattle. upon opening,the so-239 was loose on the front,and the 2 screws with the nuts were rattling around. I took the cover off,and re-re the mount screws. with that said. it performs well,and I use it with 100 watts ,and have no issues whatsoever. I still give it a 4 1/2.
K1VCT Rating: 2016-10-13
It works Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Mine came with all the screws intact. The chassis and cover are not bent. All the rubber feet are attached. Inside, the resistor is well secured and the cover for the resistor is more or less straight.

Mine measures 50.7 ohms DC when at room temperature, and after 30 seconds of about 400 watts, its quite warm and measures 49 ohms even.

The resistor is printed "50 ohm +/- 10%", and MFJ, and their part number. Ten percent seems a bit wide for tolerance but maybe that's my way of thinking about it.

I don't think I could ask for more, as long as it holds up.
N6CIC Rating: 2015-11-08
Not good on 2 meters Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My MFJ-264 works fine from 1.8 to 50 MHz with an SWR of <1.2:1 but at 146 MHz the SWR was >3:1. This caused me a great deal of headache as I assumed a problem with my radio that I could not find.
KJ6JJK Rating: 2015-06-29
I like mine. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had mine for over 15 years now, and it still works fine. For a full gallon, use a fan, or don't key down too long.
KD7AWG Rating: 2013-02-08
Resistance Off Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The resistance of the dummy load measured 46.6 ohms. Two good DVM's confirmed this (a Beckman and a Fluke 87-V).

I don't know what this would mean in the real world, but I found it disheartening. What is so "high tech" about getting a bunch of resistors to equal 50~52 ohms?

The connector was an amphenol wanna be that needed to be worked in and out several times. The case reminded me of a Jr. High School metal shop project. But, of course, you are not paying "lab-grade" prices either.

Note the deration table carefully before incinerating this dummy load with 1.5 KW.

It is worth the money for casual use. Beats the old 100W light bulbs we used in the "tube" days.



WA2OMU Rating: 2012-01-09
garbage Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well enough built, but 57.4 Ohms out of the box (After subtracting the DVM Lead resistance)!

Using a Diamond SX-600 HF, UHF Meter with UHF to BNC adaptors and RG55 double shielded cable to the dummy Loads, a MFJ-264N, with a BNC to N adaptor on that to maintain the best 50 Ohm connections, this unit read ~1.3:1 from 1.8 to 50 MHz, usable, but not a flat 1:1 like my Bird 10 W dummy load.

On 446 MHz the MFJ was >2.5:1, my Bird 10 W dummy load was 1.05:1 (probably the UHF to BNC adapter).

MFJ advertizes this unit as being <1.3:1 at 650 MHz. Not MINE!! Not even Close!

I gave it a 2 ONLY because it is reasonably well made.

I will continue to use my Bird Dummy Load for VHF - UHF and keep the power to <10W.

Who makes a decent DC to 500 MHz 100 W, 50 Ohm dummy load without going to a $$$ MIL-STD-461 certified type?

THIS MFJ is going to the next ham fest, and I WILL NOT ever buy any of their stuff again. (I had a 259B analyzer - it did work, BUT one of the meters was crushed under the lower corner of the front panel hole... Replaced that with an AA-54 - Great!) Did they ever even HEAR about Quality or Quality Control? They CHARGE enough! They dont Deliver.
W3DDF Rating: 2009-04-08
Does a good job Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought one of these used on Ebay and it works just fine. Handles my Ameritron 811H without a problem.
EB5AGV Rating: 2009-04-08
Lousy quality Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got one of these as a gift some days ago. Of course, it was brand new... Well, there was a loose screw and a knut inside the unit!. Upon further investigation (AKA opening the load) I found that the loose parts were no less than the connection from the SO-239 to the load... imagine if I didn't notice and apply any power to a perfectly open circuit!. Load is otherwise fine and should do the work it was intended to, once I fixed it.
KC6PGA Rating: 2008-06-14
Buy the oil filled one Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this dummy load for say 15 years and it does work well if you follow the power curve on the side of the case. I recommend an oil filled load that has a more forgiving curve. If you lay on the key you will burn the solder out, burn the resistor out, create funny odors and end up quenching the smoking load in the sink while you order the oil filled one. Unless you need to go to 650MHZ, save your time and money and get a load that you won't outgrow.