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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
K7RWB Rating: 2010-10-18
Works Great Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have one for myself and one for the place I work. They both perform without any problems. We use it a lot at work.
AJ4SL Rating: 2010-08-06
Has never worked correctly since purchase Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought this analyzer right before I got my ticket as I was preparing to equip my shack and knew I would need an antenna analyzer. I did not get a chance to use it for a couple of months and when I did the results were not informative. I got no viable information from the analyzer for the antenna I was looking at and did not understand why. In a few days I found out. The thing went crazy! All indications cycled from zero to max continuously.
MFJ did repair it (I had to pay $12 shipping) and I was able to use it to analyze a new antenna and trim it for resonance, etc.
Now just a few months later it is broken again. I do not yet know what MFJ will do this time but I am asking for a different unit as this thing costs plenty and should be reliable for a long time. It is still in warranty. I agree with the maxim that MFJ means Mighty Fine Junk!
KB7TPB Rating: 2010-05-17
Nice Analyzer Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought the MFJ-269 about 8 months ago. I've used it for all kinds of antennas since (
UHF/VHF/HF). I have not used the frequency counter. I use it with batteries and it has worked great. I don't like the power button protector as I have big fingers but normal fingers should find it ok. Now that I have one I don't know how I got by with out it. These are pretty cool.
KC9MXZ Rating: 2010-04-18
Works great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Worked great out of the box. I bought it with all options and everything works fine. The case could fit better but it is useable. This analyzer has been used alot and has never failed me.
N2GBT Rating: 2009-11-06
accurate BUT follow instructions Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The MFJ-269 analyzer works as advertised and with a good degree of accuracy for most applications. It is important you follow the instructions for use on UHF or you WILL damage the unit. There is a reason MFJ puts this information in the owners manual with GREAT redundancy. There should be a better safeguard for UHF operation whereby you cannot inadvertantly damage the unit- but their no questions asked warranty is just that-
I had to send in a unit for warranty repair- and after being told they would try and have the unit repaired and retuened within a few weeks- it arrived back in a few DAYS- and with a spare battery holder.
The price/quality ratio isnt good as with most MFJ products-but most of their products do work and if you can forego workmanship for price you wont be disappointed.
If not for the ease in damaging ths unit I would rate this a 5 - all things taken into consideration.
Best 73 Joe N2GBT
KF6NTE Rating: 2009-01-28
Happy with Unit Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned the 269Pro now for about two years and can say I've not had any issues with it. I've avoided using the batteries with it and instead only use the 12V input. The manual seems rather limited in its scope of explanations. This instrument is useful to get you in the right ballpark when making adjustments. Be aware that the transmission line and N-connector converters will alter the SWR readings from the true feedline SWR because of inherent impedance transformation reasons (I've seen even 6 feet of cable makess a difference). the advanced mode SWR mode where one sets the reference impedance too needs to be a value several ohms away from 50-ohms otherwise it reads SWR numbers that are too good to be true.
N4NOO Rating: 2009-01-14
Not sure. . . Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I opened the box and it came out with both meters "flopping around". After taking it apart and using a bit of super glue, I think it is ok. Like others have said "QC, what QC?" For a company that puts out products in this condition, I'm suprised thay are still around. I will not buy anything else from them.
N0FPE Rating: 2009-01-02
Just a great item Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Still going strong after 8 years. Only problem I have ever had was I blew out the biasing diode. My fault not an equipment problem. Of course the lack of 220mhz is STILL a big downer but the unit works fine.

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Earlier 3-star review posted by N0FPE on 2007-05-06

Works ok. Just be careful of the UHF switch. AND watch using this thing is a strong near field RF envelope. Any RF above a few MICRO watts in to the antenna port with take out the zero bias diodes and that is the end of operations! $70 plus shipping repair at MFJ.


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Earlier 2-star review posted by N0FPE on 2007-01-04

I have had the 269 for abt 4 years. It worked ok until recently. Abt 3 years ago the N connector was starting to get loose. I opened the unit up to find the connector is only attached to the curcuit board not the case. I replaced the connector with a chassis mount type and stopped this problem. The most recent problem is that the meter will NEVER zero. All the other functions seem to be ok but the meter sits at 2.5:1 all the time. This happened while it was sitting in a Pelican hard case with no use over 6 months. (I have a Bird now) I have shipped it back to MFJ for repair and most likely will sell it off once it gets back in working condition. A total waste of money, buy a Bird and some slugs, you will be better off.

Dan/NØFPE
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Earlier 3-star review posted by N0FPE on 2006-11-24

I have had my 269 for abt 5 years. It works ok. On VHF and HF it is dead on. But on UHF I do not trust it. I also have a Bird and I compared several antennas tuned with the 269 and the Bird and the 269 was wrong everytime on the UHF side. I killed one UHF final when I relied on the 269 for tuning. This antenna was checked with the Bird after the finals died and was found to have an SWR of 5:1+. Yet when checked with the 269 it showed fine. I now use the Bird for everything but HF tuning. The 269 still seems to work ok i this range and is nice for tuning my Buddy Pole for portable ops. It will never see VHF or UHF antennas again.

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Earlier 4-star review posted by N0FPE on 2000-04-20

Great tool! Love it. I just installed a complete antenna farm HF thru UHF and it made the all the difference is putting it together without a hitch. The only downfall for me is the lack of 220MHZ in the unit. MFJ has hit the nail on the head with this unit! Get one if you do any major antenna work at all. I would also recommend getting the matching padded case for the 269. And since the 269 used batteries like they were going out of style I also recommend NiMH batteries as the 269 has a great built in charger.
MAZZ1232002 Rating: 2008-05-17
Did not have any problems Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I cannot speak for anyone else but mine worked just fine, covers all of HF bands VHF and UHF, all worked FB. Always used external power supply and hooked up to long extension cords.

Pete
WB4CGA
N7OQ Rating: 2008-03-23
Works like a champ Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I must have got a exceptional one because I have had no problems with mine at all. I installed NiMh batteries and the charger works well and I can use it for a long time between charges. It helped me find a bad trap on my vertical and discover I was getting to much RF feed back from my Buddipole. It's great for testing Balun's, unun's, coax and tuning antennas, and stubs. So far so good!