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Reviews For: MFJ-784B

Category: Filters, Audio: (DSP and others)

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Review Summary For : MFJ-784B
Reviews: 33MSRP: 249.95
Description:
DSP Noise Filter
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-784B
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00334.3
K8JHR Rating: 2019-06-03
Lousy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was severely disappointed with the MFJ-784B DSP noise reduction filter. I tried all sorts of settings with no joy - it was awkward to use and was ineffective overall. I sold it, keeping my trusty, expensive Timewave DSP-599zx which does a better job and is easier to use.

That is just MY take ... K8JHR
W6ZSL Rating: 2017-03-27
Not worth the price Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I got one because of my severe QRM/QRN noise problem. I wanted to use it for SSB and CW. The advertised noise reduction is almost useless and requires readjustment with any frequency change. Definitely don't buy it for this feature. It does work fairly well in the auto notch mode. The narrow audio filters for CW and SSB cause so much ringing as to be nearly unusable.
NH6RF Rating: 2016-08-20
Finally found a DSP that works for me Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have anywhere from S8 - 10over noise during daylight hours. I attribute it to all the solar panels in my neighbor hood. Why? The noise is gone when the sun goes down. I tried everything from Radio Shack DSP (junk) to the Timewave 599+. The MFJ-784B has cleaned up the noise the best. Took some tweaking and experimenting plus reading reviews and trying recommended settings. I bought it used from an online bidding site. Risky but in this case I got a fully functional unit with no cosmetic issues. And $100.00 less than a new one.
Aloha DE NH6RF
AB1WT Rating: 2011-09-07
works great if you do not follow the directions Time Owned: more than 12 months.
i have had the mfj 784b for a while now and was ready to give it up. i then decided to play around with it and for go what the directions had told me to do. I use SSB, and AM mode mostly. i found when i set the filter knob to LR/HR and put the low filter knob counter clock wise to approximately 8 oclock and the high filter knob around 12 oclock plus or minus either way. i have the noise reduction "ON" and the knob at approximately 2 oclock. the AGC is set to "OFF". i found the mfj 784b WORKED GREAT. i also found the knobs are very sensitive. if i move them just a hair it makes a big change in the sound of the stations i am trying to bring in. i can now use this filter to tune in distance stations quickly. i also found the "2BP" setting to work almost as well. the "SSB" setting does not work well at all.
my advise to anyone who owns this item and found it does not work for them. forget the directions and play with all the preset set filter settings no matter what mode you are in.
AE5J Rating: 2011-09-04
Excellent Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
After using the 784B for some months now, I felt some review might be helpful to someone. First off, this is not something to twiddle with while you are working a contest. However, I found acceptable settings for SSB and CW that offer tremendous benefit.

It is ideal for weak signal DX work. I work primarily CW for this and it is absolutely amazing how it can bring an almost unreadable signal up to full copy. Don't tweak it, just find a good setting with a weak signal, tune without DSP engaged, then punch it on. Quiet, easy, armchair copy.

Use it the same way for SSB. Anyone who works 75m SSB knows how hard it can be to hear through the static and crashes. The 784B takes them out.

I agree that audio is not the best place for DSP, and if you feel that IF DSP is the only way to go, just get out your checkbook. I also use the 784B with an FT-450D (which has IF DSP) and I will state without question that it can be of great benefit. Of course, if you have a rig that has no IF DSP you have two choices: audio DSP or none at all. For the price, the 784B makes a big difference.

I shopped around a good deal before buying the MFJ. You can hear what a good audio DSP can accomplish on the W4RT web site. They have some short audio recordings of audio DSP in and out that give you a good idea of how well they work. The 784B works every bit as well as the bhi system.

By the way. Those who work digital modes using interfaces such as the SignaLink USB with an integral sound card should realize that you have no way to interpose any audio filters when using them. But, many digital modes already utilize their own software audio filtering.

73....Pete
M1JJK Rating: 2011-03-24
Poor!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Hello everyone,
I'm going to upset some people with what follows. I don't like the MFJ-784B, I have had two of these and their performance was poor. For contesting and DX their hopeless, by the time you've messed about with the controls you've missed it. I have found that the IF Shift / Bandpass Tuning combined with filters much better and faster at getting rid of unwanted QRN/M. I am not a CW person so maybe its great with narrow modes. Even when I did have the time to mess about with the settings I wasn't that impressed with the results. You are better off investing in a good Inrad / Collins filter/s. After all DSP at the audio stage is a bit late and limited. If you really must have one, and who knows you may love it, get one off ebay or somewhere similar or better still try and borrow one, DON'T pay new price.
And no I wasn't stupid enough to buy a second unit, I was looking after a fellow ham's equipment while he was working abroad.
KA3DNR Rating: 2009-09-20
It Works...On Newest Rigs too.. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hello Folks,

I was about to put mine on eBay, thinking it wasn't going to help my new Yaesu FT 450. I was wrong. It definitely does help with the noise, and my CW work. It is well worth it, even to use for the newer rigs.

Regards,

Marc
VE4AMN Rating: 2009-01-22
Decent unit Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this unit a while and only recently pressed it into service. I added a 12 position switch and RCA jacks (yes 12) so that I can switch in all my receivers. I will add another switch to change speakers.

Overall it works well. I use it with my boat anchors and even over top of the FT-1000mp which has good dsp already. It improves readability a lot, and functions as advertised. I like the programmable options and is has a good internal amp that drives external speakers well.

This unit has been around a while, but it is a sound unit and will make older rigs receive much better.
PD0RTL Rating: 2008-02-11
Exelent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got this device now 1 weak.
Wow!
SSB super clear.
CW super clear.
QRM ???? what was that ??? *g*
RTTY Clear decode.
Exelant device..
DU1MGA Rating: 2007-12-15
The 784B is really a must have. Time Owned: more than 12 months.

Hi,
When I was lieving HRO in Woodbridge, one of my good friends there give me as a good-bye present an MFJ-784B. It look like a normal present, BUT he know exact what he give me!!. I'm using my mobil-rig an ALINCO DX-70 as my home rig. This rig has good filters but no fancy thinks like dsp etc. Working with this unit not only remember me to my friend but also know how precise he know the function of this mfj. It brings me back to the old day's where is was so importand to have good feeling in the fingers (0V2 etc.) This mfj is working really excellent. Sometime I grap signals out of the noisefloor I otherweise never was able to hear. To make it short, it is a very good extra to the hamradio-station, if you have the right fingers to tune it hi.
Again thanks to my very good viend and ex collegue how was so wise to give me this pearl of an equipment.

vy 73 de DU1MGA (W3WAZ)
Erwin, Tagaytay, Philippines