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Reviews For: MFJ-269

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : MFJ-269
Reviews: 83MSRP: 359.95
Description:
HF/VHF/UHF SWR Analyzer
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-269
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00833.7
K7BVT Rating: 2015-06-09
Handy tool Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased my MFJ-269B from HRO at a discount as a returned item that was supposed to work OK. Got it home and the LCD screen went through the start up sequence but when I hooked it up to a terminator it indicated an open circuit. Took the cover off and found the solder joint between the PL269 connector and circuit board was bad. Bad solder job and design did not provide strain relief.

I have used it since in several field operations and for quick checks at home. Have not had any problems with breakage in the field, I use the original cardboard box for transport. Not sure about absolute accuracy, I use my Bird 43 when accuracy is needed.
AB2IR Rating: 2014-05-30
No problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought my 1999 model and have used it ever since. Pulling it out once every couple years. Try to remember to turn it on to keep caps up once in awhile. would buy again.
F5BLN Rating: 2013-11-23
Nice for price... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have mine since maybe 7 years...
Never open this very cheap box.
At home, external power supply.
In the field, 2X9V cells.
He do the job...
AB1LT Rating: 2013-10-02
Does the job Time Owned: more than 12 months.
So far, so good. No problems and it is very nice being able to know the complex impedance of the antenna, not just the SWR. It does indicate the battery voltage is about 1V below its actual voltage which makes me worry, but I've checked its calibration on several bands and it's good. Because I worry about MFJ build quality I keep handy a little 50ohm BNC terminator to check it with from time to time.
ZS5J Rating: 2013-10-02
Great idea, bad implementation Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought one of the early units. The idea is/was great, but is let down by typically poor MFJ quality control. Mine worked fine for a few years, then just stopped working altogether. Opening up the case reveals shoddy workmanship, and the paintwork is typical MFJ - it peels off or is worn off very quickly. On any other MFJ product I have owned, the QC and paintwork is similar - it peels/flakes off, in my humid coastal environment.

I have since bought the Comet SWR analyser (when they were released about 3 years ago) - way better built than the MFJ, solid, and excellent paint finish. While the Comet does all the bands HF/VHF/UHF, it is somewhat limited in that it only shows the SWR on an analogue meter. Downside of the Comet, is that at $ 420.00 it is overpriced for what you get.

Last month I bought the You-Kits FG-01 mark II. Now this is a lovely device, not too expensive, small/compact with a lovely colour graphic display showing both the impedance and SWR curves. Being able to see the shape of the curves on a colour graphic screen gives one far more of an idea of how the antenna is working, and makes antenna adjustments far easier.

Please Martin F. Jue, do NOT buy out You Kits....or any more of your competitors for that matter. The once mighty Hy-Gain antennas and Cushcraft antennas, are no longer a quality product due to the MFJ QC influence.
K9RJ Rating: 2013-10-01
Reliable and very handy Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have had this for about 10 years. No issues. Sure beats only having a vswr meter. Makes tuning antennas easy and quick.
VK7FLAZ Rating: 2013-10-01
I bought a MFJ 269 and frequency counter was faulty. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Contacted MFJ and they sent a new one that day by UPS express to me in Australia. I sent faulty one back to them once I received new one. 10 out of 10 on customer service.
WM4RB Rating: 2013-07-12
Works Great! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned my MFJ-269 for 3 years and have no complaints at all. It has always worked well each time I've used it.
IK4MTR Rating: 2013-07-12
Disappointing Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Disappointing indeed.
I bought it in 2011 and after little time he showed clear working mistakes.
I still sent it to the laboratory MFJ (it was under warranty) in the November 2012.
Till today, after 9 months, still I do not have news any more and no one answers.
Little seriousness.
AE7G Rating: 2013-07-09
Unreliable poor quality Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned one of these for a few years.

In terms of what they provide, if they are working they provide a lot of information for the money. You can do most of what you need to do to analyze and adjust antennas, although they will not graph or work with a computer.

The problem is shoddy workmanship. Mine started giving erratic and mystifying readings for no good reason that I could see. I initially thought the problem was with my antennas and feed lines. After pulling everything apart and buying replacement cables I found out the problem was really the analyzer itself. A lot of time and money wasted.

For Field day this year I wasted hours pulling down and replacing antennas that were actually working just fine.

Sure I can send this back to the factory and get it repaired for less than the cost of a new unit. But how long til the next failure?

On top of construction issues, for a unit that intended to work in the field, this unit is not well thought out. Lots of delicate protruding buttons and gauges and no meaningful protective case.

In the end you get what you pay for. A more expensive and more reliable unit like the RigExpert may cost more initially but will probably save a lot of time and money going forward.