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Reviews For: MFJ 269 PRO

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : MFJ 269 PRO
Reviews: 7MSRP: 409.95
Description:
The MFJ-269Pro is similar to the standard MFJ-269, but also features
extended UHF frequency coverage (415-520 MHz) and a commercial lab-type metal cabinet
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/meters/3824.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0074.1
WB4IVG Rating: 2017-02-14
Great Piece of Equipment! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned at least one of every one of the succession of these products made by MFJ since the first one. This one is great! I had the 259 prior to this one, the added UHF frequency range is a wonderful addition. I like the Pro Case, at first I thought that I would not and went as far as calling MFJ to see about ordering a standard case, but it did not take me long to nix that in favor of the Pro case. I have numerous other antenna analyzers and a plethora of other RF test equipment, this is by far one of the most used items that I have in my arsenal. In short this is a very useful easy to use extremely valuable tool, for the Ham or the Professional.
VK2DJP Rating: 2016-03-09
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It would be good if the title of this review showed MFJ 269 PRO and not 296 :-)
I have had one of these units for over 20 years and it has never missed a beat.
It is used very often for HF and UHF and continues to give me accurate results. It certainly has not been treated with kid gloves having been dropped more than once.

I also have a Rig Expert AA-1000 and whilst it has more features I find that the measurements are the same with both devices.
N4FBM Rating: 2015-02-14
The unit has served me well and I'd buy it again Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The MFJ269PRO has served me well during the past year. This unit is of the quality expected for hobby use within the price range. If you want a unit designed for a professional field engineer, and costing thousands of dollars, then this unit isn't for you. If you want a unit designed for hobby use, of good quality, and reasonably priced for 'common folk', then this unit will serve you well. Note that the unit slowly trickle charges the batteries. You need an external charger if you want fast charges. So, before first use it must be plugged in for 3 to 4 weeks. Also, some functions that generate signals use a lot of power so you may want to have a power source at the antenna or backup batteries if you expect to use it for an extended period on site. I love it and would buy it again. If you care to do so, you can watch the antenna analyzer presentations made a few years ago at Georgia Tech by Martin F. Jue himself as he spoke to the Atlanta Radio Club several years ago. https://www.youtube.com/user/AtlantaRadioClub
VK3SIR Rating: 2010-04-08
VK3VCG Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Excellent, well made product. It arrived today (purchased from MFJ Directly) only after 8 days ! Initial extensive testing show the unit to be spot on with its readings :-)

The unit has been tested against various antennas and figures obtained with a MFJ-259B and a VK5JST Kit Analyser.

This unit was chosen over the MFJ-269 as it not only supports most of the Available Australian 70 cm HAM band but also supports the Australian UHF "Chook Band" (at 477 MHz). The 269 supports 415 - 470 MHZ, whereas the Pro version supports 430 - 520 MHz. For $US30 more its a bargain!

Just a few things to note: It will not give resistance and reactance in UHF mode - Just SWR.

Overall, It appears after extensive testing to be a well made quality product. Its just unfortunate that there are two tainted reviews on this list.
KB9MXR Rating: 2009-10-27
give it a 10 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this pro for about 2 years and use it alot it has never let me down I would buy it again if needed
AD7KC Rating: 2007-07-22
Junk! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
[Up-Date 07/22/97]

The problem (from the first time I tried to use it), I had, with my MFJ-269pro was when it was turned on, it showed the batteries to be ‘low’, as in zero….most of the time. Other times, after turning it on, the display remained ‘blank’, after 5 or 10 minutes it would either start working or indicate the batteries are to ‘low’. I was using new, store bought, batteries….not rechargeable.

I had been using rechargeable NiMH batteries, with the same results. In short, the thing only worked when it was in the mood. I purchased it in February of this year. This was the first time I tried to use it…..for field day (it figures right?).

So…I called MFJ. I talk to a tech (Jason). After listening to my story, he told me it was most likely a crystal failing. As you might surmise, I had a few words to say about the quality (lack of) their components.

Jason told me to send it in and call him back, when I thought it had gotten there He would 'pull it' and get right on it. I did just that. When I called, he said he had found the paper work and would do it, get it done and have sent out the following Monday.

So I didn't think any more about it. The following week passed, and no analyzer. I waited until the next week - Wednesday to be exact - and called Jason again. I got another Tech at MFJ. Told him who I was and what I was looking for. Got put on hold (this happens a lot at MFJ) he returned and let me know that the analyzer was there, and nothing had been done to it.

I asked to speak to a manager or owner. He put a 'supervisor', Bob Ellis, on (after another 5 minute hold). I told the sup the whole story, then asked him 2 things.

1. Why was I lied too

2. What's up with my analyzer?

Bob didn't have an answer to either question. Jason hadn't been in all week, so far.

Bob said he would call back when he found out what the deal was. He did, I wasn't there, left a message on my machine. Said he would call back the following day. Which he did not do. Owing to the time diff, I called him.

Bob told me he was going to send me a new one (269 pro) off the shelf. But, when he turned that one on, the screen "blinked", like my original one did. He didn't like that. So he was going to get a hold of their software engineer - who is in Florida. He said he would call me back in an hour, and he was very apologetic.

That was yesterday (07/12/07), still hadn't heard from him. You better believe I was on the phone, calling MFJ, on Monday. When I called , Bob told me he couldn’t get a hold of their ‘software engineer’. So he did want to call me if he did have anything to tell me. Ok, fair enough.

All last week I was calling, trying to get to the bottom of all this. I go the impression that Bob is a production supervisor, and dealing with things like this isn’t his primary responsibility. Still, he did the best he could. But it appeared that Bob was bouncing from ‘production’ to ‘PR’ and back again.

I did try to get a hold of the person that was suppose to handle these things, Mr. Stubb(?). But….he was always doing something else. Things like giving tours and loading his pickup truck for some hamfest. I think Bob was doing his job too.

The short story is, the MFJ 296 Pro is a hunk of junk (PoS). According to Bob Ellis the MFJ 296 Pro has been ‘pulled’ until the problem has been resolved. This could take a while, since (as far as I know) MFJ hasn’t been able to find their software engineer yet.

From what I can gather, the 296 Pro was put on the market prematurely. The is a ‘software problem’ that is causing several ‘issues’. Bob didn’t know if it was fixable, from the stand point of just uploading a new program – or if new components are needed.

Either way, MFJ treats their customers like dirt under their feet. Something that has to be scraped off their shoes. That said, Bob Ellis did his best.

Bob is sending me the MFJ 269 (not the pro) as a replacement. Bob was the only one (I could find) at MFJ that talked straight. Although I have yet to receive my replacement.

Thing is, the price difference between the 269 and the 269 Pro is $40 (w/shipping). Then there is the $35 it cost me to ship (3 day air – thanks to Jason) the pro to MFJ.

I’m out $75! MFJ’s attitude is I can go back on the people I bought it from and get the $40. I don’t agree with this. Universal Radio sold it, in good faith that the product worked. In this case MFJ released it with a flaw. Now MFJ knows about it. I figure it is the responsibility of MFJ to make it right. Not the businesses that sells their product.

Sadly, for a lot of Ham Radio things, MFJ is the only game in town. I would stay away from anything MFJ makes that requires software.

From now on, I will look for other manufactures products before MFJ’s. I now consider MFJ – the last resort, when there are no other options!

I see 2 issues. Their half-assed approach to marketing their products AND the way they treat their customers.

AD7KC – clear!




N2CLB Rating: 2007-06-19
WOW Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
i got this as my 1st antenna analyzer i have used mfj 259 and mfj 269 and this is by far the best of the 3

de n2clb