Topband: MFJ-269 thoughts? Other analyzers?

[Michael St. Angelo]

Mike,

I have a MFJ-269. It's convenient for checking for a low swr but is not 
accurate for measuring impedances.

If you want accuracy or an analyzer that performs better in the presence of 
strong signals  I'd check out the N2PK-VNA kit or the AIM4170.

N6LF has done a nice comparison of the popular analyzers:

<http://www.makarov.ca/download/vna/VNA%20comparisons.pdf>

I'd check out the VNWA kit for VHF-UHF operation. It's presently available 
in kit form but assemblied versions are supposed to be available late this 
year:

<http://www.sdr-kits.net/VNWA/VNWA_Documentation.html>

73,

Mike N2MS


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike & Coreen Smith" <ve9aa at nbnet.nb.ca>
To: <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2009 12:34 PM
Subject: Topband: MFJ-269 thoughts? Other analyzers?


> Hello TopBanders.
>
> I have an old and tired MFJ-259 (not the B model) and while it's 
> "alright",
> it is getting long in the tooth.
> Every time (and I do mean EVERY time) I use it I have to play with the 
> band
> selector knob to get it to work.
> I usually end up holding it in place to get a reading and it's getting to 
> be
> an old story.  I've tried cleaning it with spray and
> also resoldering the pcb connections to no avail.  The battery connections
> and holders have given me grief over the years too.
> Also...it doesn't do 432MHz and is wonky on 160m. (I have a stn on 1260kHz
> AM about 15 miles away)
>
> What's the '269 like? Any better in any of these respects?
> Anything else out there in the $300-$400 range that does 1.6MHz-440MHz 
> that
> will also display X & J ?
>
> Thanks in advance !
>
> Mike VE9AA dit dit