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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
K3IXD Rating: 2004-02-23
It worked right out of the box! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After all my quality control problems with the MFJ-434 Voice Keyer (see my posted comments on that unit) I was reluctant to shell out $360 for this HF, VHF, UHF Antenna Analyzer, but I did. It actually worked on all bands from 1.8 thru 432 MHz when I powered it up.

73, Ed
K3IXD
W3NRL Rating: 2003-12-15
Works So Far Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have made several beams using this mfj 269,
i made a 6 meter beam, 2 meter, and 70cm beam
with great results, it's not the best analyzer but for the $$$.... not too bad. Martin must be doing something right!!!!!
73 de
Nick
K5UJ Rating: 2003-12-15
Like a Timex Watch Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I'll just say this: I was using mine to adjust one of my feedline transmatches which is up about 5 feet off my basement floor and over near a wall where my open wire feedline comes in from outside. I had the analyzer up next to the transmatch and accidentally yanked on the dc cord to it and pulled it off. It fell and hit the concrete floor and some of the front panel buttons flew off. I thought, "Oh boy there goes a $300 item I use all the time." (Actually the first thing I thought is unprintable.) I picked it up and pushed the buttons back on. One corner of the cabinet was flattened a little bit. Other than that, it continued to work fine as if nothing had happened. I was kind of impressed. Oh, for those of you who don't go back far enough, John Cameron Swayze used to pitch Timex Watches by saying, "It takes a licking and keeps on ticking."
K9FLO Rating: 2003-08-21
Excellant test set Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well made unit with good quality parts. The test set has been working better than my expectations. The most important thing for the new users is to READ the manual a couple of times before you turn it on for the first. Make sure the UHF button is in the OUT position before turning on the power and do not operate the UHF button without the band switch set to UHF/114MHZ position. If you don't, you will cause damage to the set. Which brings me to a suggested improvement, MFJ to add some kind of a lockout for the UHF button. One other thing I noticed is the N conector is a floating mount so handle it very carefully! I too have the red label with initials on it, probably quality control check (nice to see instead of a made in China label). Enjoy this test set for this will make your antenna work enjoyable.
N6QG Rating: 2003-07-09
DOA Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
DEFECTIVE ON ARRIVAL

I read the manual from front to back, as specified in the fist few pages. I followed the instructions exactly. The first time I tried the HF scale, it gave intermittent readings, then suddenly went into UHF (440MHz range) mode. From that point on, it never came out of UHF mode. Played with the UHF button, to see if it might be stuck internally--no luck.

This unit had a red sticker on the end of the case. Was I sent someone else's defective returned unit?!
OE8UWW Rating: 2003-05-17
Got mine yesterday! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Received my MFJ 269 and it worked! Miracle!
Just a screw on the case rubbed out it's thread,
who cares. It's MFJ, Mehr Für den Jordan,
(More For the Jordan), you know, that river where
Jesus dwelled.....
Hell, there is no (R+jX) measurement possible
in the 470 MHz range!!! Just SWR!!
Secretly hidden Non-Feature!
Would not have bought if I had known!!!

Can you show me the small print where that is mentioned?

Ok, at least the rest looks good, on day Nr. two, until now.

73 de OE8UWW,
Helmut


AA9WG Rating: 2002-12-08
Re: erroneously high battery EMF indication, etc. PLEASE NOTE: Time Owned: N.A.
Re: the MFJ-269: inaccurate PS voltage indication (Spec 27.9V) IS *SELDOM* upshot of malfunction :) Please make certain "UHF mode" is *NOT* selected prior to power-up!!! - Failure to observe proper (i.e. prescribed) operation procedure in this respect will present many of the 'anomalies' complained of... --- Should your unit experience said symptoms despite "UHF switch" position at power-on, the switch itself should be regarded with suspicion... --- BTW I am *NOT* employed by MFJ/Ameritron ;)

My experience with the 269, 259b and many other MFJ/Ameritron products may best be summarized thus: Engineering: *FIRST RATE*!!! :) --- Quality control *NON-EXISTENT* :,(

The message Martin Ju needs to hear is that WE ARE WILLING TO *PAY* for conscientious QC/Assembly work!!! --- That being 'in place', the value of these instruments would *FAR* exceed twice their present cost!!! :)

IMO MFJ's recognition of the fact that the amateur community is both technically and *scientifically* savvy (yes!!! a distinction exists!) and, hence, sees application for *IMPEDANCE* analysis beyond mere antenna adjustment is COMMENDABLE!!! :)

What they (MFJ) seem to have 'missed' is the rather observable fact that 'AMATEUR' does *NOT* equal 'PIKER'...

Best regards
AA9WG :)
WD5IWN Rating: 2002-10-28
Poor Quality Control Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
If it works, Great!
Nice looking, has a hefty feel. First received it and turned it on. Everything seemed to work OK. However, the second time I turned it on, the UHF function refused to work. Troubleshot it to a bad solder joint where the switch mounted on a sub-board. Disassembled the unit to fix. Seems to work fine so far now.
All functions are working normally and the analog meters are fairly close to the digital readout of the same reading.
Dislikes: jX reading doesn't indicate whether it is capacitive or inductive, but changing the frequency slightly will determine which easily enough.
Bottom line: If you don't have one, get one, if you do any antenna work at all. But be prepared to perhaps fix it (don't do this if you are not familar with working with SMT devices). In that case, don't bother attempting to fix, just send it back for replacement. The phase angle (R+jX) reading worth the cost.
Suggestion to MFJ (based on my experience with this and other MFJ products): Fire all your QC folks.
W9CW Rating: 2002-07-16
Excellent for the Money! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Unlike some here, I've had excellent luck with the MFJ 269 antenna analyzer. It performs as specified and makes antenna tuning and building an enjoyable experience. I've found it an excellent piece of test equipment, at a most affordable price. One really can't complain about the performance or build quality at this price level. Professional analyzers cost thousands of dollars. And yet, the MFJ 269 does most of what the pro units do at a bargain basement price. Maybe I just got a "good one," but I would certainly buy another without hesitation.
K9KJM Rating: 2002-03-27
GREAT VALUE Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Guess I was one of the lucky ones and got a good one out of the box....... My MFJ269 has been just a super unit. Does lots of things just great for the price! Now that I see all of the quality control problems with some of them, I will not be getting rid of mine anytime soon!
I also had a used model 259 that I sold to get the 269, and the 259 also worked super with no problems at all. If you work on antennas at all, these MFJ units are a must!