[Amps] grid dip meters

[Michael Tope]

Just a word of caution, Harry. I'm told the MFJ-259 makes a
lousy grid dipmeter. In a normal dipmeter the coils are part 
of the oscillator tank circuit so you can get tight coupling 
between the device under test and the oscillator. The MFJ-259 
is designed to minimize the coupling between the oscillator 
and the output port where you attach the dipmeter coils since 
in normal impedance analyzer mode you don't want the device 
under test to pull the oscillator frequency. I have heard the 
designer of the MFJ-259 (W8JI) tell people that he advised 
MFJ not to sell the dip meter add on coils for the MFJ-259 
because they didn't really work very well. They ignored his 
advice.

BTW, I just checked the MFJ website. They are now selling a
1.5 to 250 MHz dip meter for $119. I don't know how good it 
is, but I suspect it is night and day better than trying to make 
the MFJ-259 work as a dipmeter. 

73 de Mike, W4EF...................................

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Harry" <hgk at centurytel.net>
To: <amps at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 8:53 AM
Subject: [Amps] grid dip meters


> Hi John. I'm not sure how much you want to spend but MFJ also makes a 
> nice antenna analyzer, MFJ-259, that has add on coils and can be used as 
> a grid dip meter also. It's on sale for less then $200 US most of the 
> time at Gigaparts. I've never used one as a grid dip meter. so I can't 
> really vouch for how well it works?
> Good Luck
> Harry    N8GNI
> 
>