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OH NO! MFJ 828 PROBLEM.

I'm with LC on this one. If this meter is the only one having issues when you use it, and all your other meters work fine, there is something the MFJ meter doesn't like. Most likely stray RF that the analog meters don't have issue with versus the way the MFJ meter is made. Who knows what type of shirking they places in it.
I will say this, for a bit more money, the LP-100A by Telepost are very nice meters. Like said, when you get the meter back, try some different jumper lengths and ditch the diawa meter as it may be the cause of your RF issues. Also may I suggest a couple or at least one low pass filter. At least one after the radio and if possible one after the watt meter. JMHO. May help to clean up your signal some.
All in all you need to find a way to ground your entire antenna and radio system. Look into how they build and ground commercial towers and you'll have a pretty good clue as to what is needed for a good ground setup. Multiple ground rods, good wire, I like #2awg solid myself and also #2awg THHN. Also you will need a buss bar or a way to tie all your grounds together. You may find that after adding a good ground system you may not experience any issues. That along with running a clean station. Low pass filters can help a lot with this. JMHO's. Hope you get it resolved.
 
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wavrider said:
Radio-amplifier-meter-antenna.

Eliminate all the switches and associated cables and you will eliminate your problem.

To many loops in your set up.
OR do some proper RF grounding, maybe then you will eliminate the problem.
Click to expand...
I eliminated the dawia two position switch turning the two setups on one at a time.. The. Problem still existed.
I then used an extra lmr 400 super flex 4 ft jumper I purchased as an backup and replaced each jumper one at a time but the meter still wasn't working property. At this point I figured the meter was just not working no mater what they at mfj told me..
After removing the pl 259 main antenna cable from the meter because of a lightning storm headed into my area I noticed the center copper core that's soldered to my lmr 400 pl259 had a slight solder bump on it I, decided to run a file over it.
Two passes with a fine file removed that slight imperfection and after the lightning passed I screwed it back into the meter and, Wallah! The meter works 100% as intended. This solder imperfection was so slight but, must've been enough to affect the contact and, in turn cause the meter not to function correctly. It might've even caused the pl259 fall short of being tightened all the way into the meters 239. I don't know for sure if that should've caused the meter to act up like a did because the two other meters I used worked fine but it obviously was the problem.. I definitely learned not to over look anything no matter how small. Thanks to all who replied.. 73
 
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Sonar said:
View attachment 18040... I noticed the center copper core that's soldered to my lmr 400 pl259 had a slight solder bump on it I, decided to run a file over it.
Two passes with a fine file removed that slight imperfection and after the lightning passed I screwed it back into the meter and, Wallah! The meter works 100% as intended.... 73
Click to expand...

Nice to see you found your problem, did you tell Joe @ MFJ what the problem was?
 
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Sonar said:
This solder imperfection was so slight but, must've been enough to affect the contact and, in turn cause the meter not to function correctly. It might've even caused the pl259 fall short of being tightened all the way into the meters 239. I don't know for sure if that should've caused the meter to act up like a did because the two other meters I used worked fine but it obviously was the problem.. I definitely learned not to over look anything no matter how small. Thanks to all who replied.. 73
Click to expand...

Sometimes lucky is good too. Congrats on finding the problem.
 
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Road Squawker said:
Nice to see you found your problem, did you tell Joe @ MFJ what the problem was?
Click to expand...
I didn't. Truthfully the people who work doing repairs at mfj are very busy. I doubt Joe members me or the issue I thought was my meter. It took mfj over a month to just locate my meter. They originally told me they haven't received it. After they found it he (Joe) tested it quickly and found nothing wrong with it. From the impression I got mfj's shelfs are filled with hundreds of items waiting to be repaired or diagnosed.
 
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Road Squawker said:
Nice to see you found your problem, did you tell Joe @ MFJ what the problem was?
Click to expand...
No I did not tell Joe. I don't think I'm ever going to have to go through what I did when I sent the 828 into mfj for repair. The fact that they lost it for over a month was enough for me not to be purchase mfj equiptment anymore. The price point is good, but for people who can't do her own repairs like myself purchasing mfj equipment is not worth it. Too much of a hassle. Loose screws bouncing around inside a brand new item, and lots of cold solder joints makes them good for those of you who can do the repairs and don't mind. I got the msj 1500 watt dummy load, and 828 at the same time. The dummy load works perfectly. I guess one out of two for an MFJ piece of equipment isn't bad. LOL
 
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Was just reading through this story. What a fantastic find!!!!! great job!


Sonar said:
View attachment 18040
After removing the pl 259 main antenna cable from the meter because of a lightning storm headed into my area I noticed the center copper core that's soldered to my lmr 400 pl259 had a slight solder bump on it I, decided to run a file over it.
Two passes with a fine file removed that slight imperfection and after the lightning passed I screwed it back into the meter and, Wallah! The meter works 100% as intended. This solder imperfection was so slight but, must've been enough to affect the contact and, in turn cause the meter not to function correctly.
Click to expand...
 
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Reactions: Eldorado828, Slowmover and undertaker

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