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Reviews For: MFJ-207 Antenna Analyzer

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : MFJ-207 Antenna Analyzer
Reviews: 13MSRP: 99.95
Description:
HF 10-160m SWR Analyzer 5 bands, Has SWR Meter, band switch, and tuning knob. Powered by 9V battery or 12V external power.
Product is not in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00134.1
WC5D Rating: 2020-10-03
Not Fancy but works Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Out of Production. Dead links and not in Catalogues.
Mine is at least 12 years old. Put in a 9v battery and connected to antenna(s) and works as advertised.
No fancy graphs, can't give exact frequency, but with a few added steps it does the job. Also not $250+.
To get the exact frequency on the dials- 2 work arounds. 1) Use a frequency meter. 2) place your antenna connector next to (not connected-too strong emission) a coax from your xmtr, after you've found minimum SWR while connected to antenna, and use pan adapter or xcvr screen or just tune the band to plot the exact freq as the 207 emits a small, very narrow frequency for its testing. Steps not well written, but gives you the idea how to get the exact freqs for SWR plots. A bargain if found for sale.
W9MT Rating: 2019-10-02
Really feel what it's missing having used a 259 beforehand... Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Basically this is the poor man's MFJ-249 (single analog meter 259), but also without the LCD to display the operating frequency.

The dial calibration on the 207 isn't really accurate enough for cutting antennas for a particular HF band segment without plugging an external frequency counter into the counter output for a readout down to the KHz. I used the Radio Shack handheld counter when doing antenna tuning. I consider this to be a "need" rather than a "want" or a "nice to have".

On my unit, the "C" band segment (roughly covering 4 to 10 MHz) was consistently skewed off-frequency badly enough that even the printed dial scale markings were seriously wrong. I had to add a series 10uH choke into that band position to get the actual, generated frequency to better match the scale, and the "C" band edges to reasonably overlap "B" and "D". This is the reason for rating my unit a "2".

I would have rated the 207 a "3" or possibly a "4" if long term I was committed to always using my external counter for antenna work. But, using two such "boxes" all of the time with the extra cabling and power connections was just too klunky for my liking.

Lack of a vernier function to make frequency tuning slower and more accurate for resetting are also deal-killers for me.

I sold it for about what I paid for it used, and now stick to the 249/259/269 "all in one" offerings from MFJ.

MFJ takes great pains, however, to sell multiple price-point offerings for many of their product types. So to each their own....
KF6BL Rating: 2014-04-05
Did more than I hoped for Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have to give it only 4 stars due to the dial being very hard to set a frequency. I know that it has been said a million reviews before me that the dial is not accurate, but then who really cares? There are other methods available and frequency counters are so cheap.

So why did it do more than I hoped for? It help me find all sorts of issues with my antenna tuner. I have a 40.83 foot longwire with 25 foot counterpoise in my back yard. I have had problems tuning 14.3 MHz. I like to stay on that frequency because I am also a sailor who desires to put the radio on the boat.

I could never really get a good match on 14.3 and all but almost gave up. I had tried various antenna lengths but the same results. The latest 40.83 was calculated using a spreadsheet by AA8AF that I modified. That value in theory worked.

When I got the 207, I noticed that the tuner was acting funny. Bypass switch was not connecting correctly and SWR kept jumping about. The switch needs to be replaced and that will happen soon. But the jumping about of SWR?

Closer look at the plates of the two variable caps showed them touching in places. I would have never thought to look at the caps until I got the 207. It just paid for itself! PERIOD!

I adjusted the plates and now just about all my bands tune. The average SWR is about 1.3:1 and that I can live with. Did I mention the thing just paid for itself?

Next project is to add a 20 meter dipole on the boat. This little box will come in very handy to confirm resonance without jamming the 20 meter band.

I would highly recommend this device to any ham for any reason. Just to have in the tool box if for nothing else. It is inexpensive if bought used. I know that most guys who have this will eventually move up to the 259B. I probably will, but not today.
VK5GI Rating: 2013-06-16
Very very good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
What a lot of nit-pickers here! This piece of kit from MFJ is the greatest thing since indoor dunnies, and I truly won't now tune in any of my radios without it - particularly my TenTec Century 22 which is VERY SWR sensitive. Ok, this piece of kit will get you to ball-park on your tuning frequency, then it's a matter of minor adjustments with your tuner. Done! Where's the problem? I picked this one up at the Adelaide Hills ARC buy and sell for about twenty bucks. What a bargain!
KD4SBY Rating: 2011-12-01
OK, but frequency dial is not accurate and adjustment is touchy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
One of the less expensive antenna SWR adjustment tools, and it shows. The frequency dial is not accurate and using a frequency counter is almost a must. Adjustment of frequency is very sensitive, and sometimes it is difficult to get the desired frequency. In a few instances, despite carefull tuning, I could not get the desired frequency at all, it would jump from one value to the next with large 100kHz gaps.
Despite its limitations, it is a usefull tool to have because it is portable and can be brought to the antenna site.
EA2BSN Rating: 2011-04-17
Good but a frequency meter is a must Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Reasonably priced SWR analyzer, however a frequency meter is a must as the printed scale is not accurate. I have added to mine a frequency meter so it is much easier to use now, it has been a very easy work and the frequency meters fits like a glove in the MFJ-207, the frequency meter is “The Digital Dial” by Hendricks QRP Kits.

You can see the result here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDhl-QKUOII
KC8QNO Rating: 2011-03-19
It does the job well. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I picked one of these up for half price used one day just to see how well they worked. I have never owned an antenna analyzer and just used my tape measure and math to built antennas. This unit is pretty cool! Anyone who builds HF antennas should have one of these in their tool box. I can find the resonant frequencies of my antennas in minutes. It's so much easier than using my radio and SWR meter. The frequency dial is fairly accurate for what it is and if you really have to know the exact frequency, just plug it into your radio and find the tone. Easy! There are nicer units with screens, ohm meters, and more frequencies out there but this simple MFJ-207 gets the job done just fine (and for cheap).
AB0XE Rating: 2010-04-29
WORKS Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Scale on box is only aproximate, but easy to
listen for tone on your rig in order to find the freq. My first one came from AES dead in the box, but they shipped off 2nd one that works good. Turn pot slow, its super sensitive.
Its a good device, but not great.
K9BAG Rating: 2009-08-10
A Good Basic SWR Analyzer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got one used on eBay for new interest in antenna tuning. My tests on a 40M dipole with balanced feed fell off the C scale where 7MHz is on the low end. Seems sensitivity lessens greately at end points. However, resigned to cut ant. to 66.3 feet, set the analyzer freq by coupling to receiver, then couple into a Johnson Match Box where tuning produced near perfect SWR reading on the MFJ-207. Not sure if the meter drop off is proper, but I got assurance of a good match with mt method.
SQ5OBP Rating: 2009-06-05
Great tool Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
MFJ-207 analyzer is basic but efficient tool for antenna tuning and development. Analog scale is rather coarse but once set, frequency is quite stable. Good investment if bought used. For me it's a keeper.