Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Code Keyers & Keys
Having been a product design and development engineer for about 45-1/2 years, I thought I've seen it all. What surprises me with the MFJ-461 is that a manufacturer would attempt to peddle a marginally designed product to many technically oriented buyers that can see and understand poor assembly when they see it. The electronics seems fine, but the physical packaging is really bad folks. After the battery is placed inside the compartment, the battery cover is very difficult to slide on. I can see this problem varying amongst different units. The battery sits on a folded-over, 90 degree display cable bend that rests on top of the LCD display and circuit board. The folded-over ribbon cable bend also rests on top of the display's metal mounting tab. So between the bend radius of the ribbon cable and how well the metal mounting tab is bent down to the circuit board surface will determine: Whether or not you'll need a vise to squeeze the cover in an attempt to install the cover. Upon chitchat with a MFJ support person, he said it was OK to squeeze the heck out of the battery cover to force a closure of the battery cover. I say: Give me a break ... well, "break" is the keyword here. If you squeeze the dickens out of the cover, battery, display and cable ... then you have to ask yourself, "How long is this going to last?" I took apart the Morse code reader and pinched the cable bend with a long-nose plier ... that reduced the ribbon cable bend radius. Next I pushed down all the way the display's metal attachment tab which folds over onto the circuit board. Between the cable radius and metal tab fix, I gained about 75 mils. Instead of the original two layers of black electrical tape placed on the circuit board inside the battery compartment, I opted to use yellow Mylar tape ... much thinner stuff. With these changes, I managed to have the battery compartment cover slide on. I would call the cover placement an interference fit after all the changes were made. One big eye soar was the red LED protruding at a steep angle out of the side panel. I couldn't stop looking at this grotesque reminder of a poorly designed assembly, so I removed and re-inserted the LED so it came out straight. After all this, I still had to make it work ... which it didn't work from the get go. It seems the microphone connection was marginal because of the input audio jack contacts. Not surprising as the jack's electrical microphone disconnect contact surface is used in a "dry" circuit ... meaning very little electrical current. Any contact oxidation could provide problems. But I'm willing to deal with a solution for that another time. After wiggling a connector in the audio input jack, the unit began reading the Morse code, which it does very well.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Did not work as indicated in listing. This is a hit or miss device. Missed lots of text if you can see it on the poorly designed LCD . LCD background makes reading text hard. Unit has to be held at a certain way to see text otherwise it blends in with background. Trust me. Don’t waste your money. W4RV
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
This code reader seems well built. The display viewing angle is kind of narrow and there is no backlight so it is a little difficult to see sometimes. There is two adjustments to make the unit operable located on the back and require a small driver to turn. These are turned to sync the unit with your cw audio signal. The unit needs to be relatively close to the audio source to work. The microphone and sync light is on one end and needs to be monitored during adjustment. With the microphone and light pointed closely at the source with one hand and the screwdriver in the other the adjustment is made. It's not terrible but awkward to do. The price is a little high too.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
The unit is easy to use. It is a little bit tricky though. Users must 'tune' the radio so that the morse code sounds in the frequency range that the units is sensitive to. Then it works well!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
A quality must have instrument.. place the mic side near speaker and some how this device deciphers code extremely well without error.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Works as expected..I like the wpm display..works best with a cable.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
When you put the battery in the door will not go back on.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Seems like any MFJ product I buy, I need to open it and reattach loose hardware rattling inside. They’re missing a QA step, at the end of the assembly process.
Verified purchase: No
Very high volume needed to work. Does work well with direct connection.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
This reader never worked from day one. Would lock on to CW signal regardless of signal strength. Called MFJ technical support. Not helpful at all. Sent back to factory.
Verified purchase: No