nanoVNA Shoot Out with the MFJ-269, in 2023 

HUZZAH! VA3PAF! Thank You Sir! From ~ Russell KE7QXR!

I find a NanoVNA is a far superior device for evaluating pretty much anything electronic, from antennas to inductors and caps, and even crystal filters, as well as IF's, and identifying and locating impedance anomalies in feedlines. And they work waaay up and waaay down in frequency. They are simply an unbeatable test instrument, and are FAR cheaper than simple antenna analyzers. Antenna analyzers have become a thing of the past, antiques. Hams just don't know it yet.

Thank you very well presented.

Like many others I have both, the NanoVNA and the MFJ. I seem to have settled to a use pattern where the NanoVNA is driven by the PC for bench measurements. It is great as a way to keep records of plots derived from experiments. The MFJ is far more convenient to use outdoors (and easier to read) for antenna measurements. I am fortunate to have both, the MFJ was given to me by a friend, and has proven to be very useful. For most hams I suspect the NanoVNA is too complex to use and that the "antenna analysers" suit them better. Both need care particularly with HF antennas that can gather high levels of static charge in some situations. The capabilities of the NanoVNA make it rate very high in my list of ham radio bargains.

ill stick with my 259. simple no frills. it JUST WORKS..

I have both and really when I just need a quick check of one of my antennas I still grab the 269 its simple, no frills and used it enough to know what to trust and what's kind of lying 👍 Now if I was going to do a deeper analysis of an antenna I'd probably grab the Nano VNA.

Thanks for your video.

Thank you for this overview

The Nano VNA is a great little instrument, but you get what you pay for. I found that the Nano VNA was much more subject to interference from other signals than the MFJ-269. An example, I was testing a six meter loop in my yard with the loop up about 15 feet. The nano VNA could not successfully test the loop having varying and incorrect results. The MFJ was able to test and allow me to adjust the loop problem free. There is a lot of value in the Nano VNA. I would recommend it for filter testing, etc. on your bench. For antennas my results were sometimes OK but other times not.

Good first video, thank you. I hit the like and subscribe and look forward to your further "exploits". After watching a half-dozen of videos on the Nano VNA I'm going to pull the trigger on one. I'm an new ham and I just love testing "stuff" since I did that for over 20 years in the construction industry. This is way cleaner and less dangerous. As long as I don't get a hold of a live wire! 😵‍💫

I've still got the original 269 from when it was first released. MFJ lost an engineer and it was off the market for a long time. Got my nanoVNA-H for the stuff the 269 can't. With all the accessories for grid dip readings, the MFJ analyzer will continue to stay in my shack until one of my HAM sons steals it.

Very good explanation sir. Great video.

Mighty Fine Junk vs. state-of-the-art Chinesium! This is a showdown I'll actually watch. (especially since I've _wanted_ an MFJ tuner, but what I _have_ is a nanoVNA. ;)

I got the MFJ way back in the 90's. it was a wonderful tool to add to your ham gear 'toolbox' at that time. It is STILL a very useful, simple to use item. I also have a nanoVNA, it's awesome and more portable than the MFJ, with more graphical and more useful features. I take mine with me for portable ops. Both have their place in amateur radio.

非常有趣的视频。在2015年的时候，我买了MFJ 269用于RFID 天线的测试。现在使用nanoVNA进行测试。都是非常好的工具。但是今天能够看到这个视频，真的是出乎意料，以为MFJ269已经消失在大家的眼中了。

simple visual example can you see a large freq sweep with the mfj like 3mhz to 30mhz and see all the highs low in real time. win for the nano vna

My MFJ 259 has lasted for over 20 years and counting. My NanoVNA lasted six months. And the MFJ doesn't need calibration every five minutes.

Why do all MFJ products look like they were made in someone's garage?

I own both of these testers. I think the learning curve is steeper on the Nano VNA. I am more likely to use my MFJ more frequently since is just plain stupid simple to check for SWR. No Need to re-calibrate between changing bands. The drawback to the MFJ is the steep price. The Pro of using the Nano VNA is there is so many more functions. You can even use it to tune Duplexors for repeaters.

How important is calibration if all you are interested in is finding the lowest SWR and not the absolute values? For example adjusting the length of my antenna to have the lowest SWR for where I am transmitting at.

just got the VNA-H it was under a hundred dollars and latest firmware

My friend spends three times the amount of time fiddling with his Nano for a particular antenna tasks than I spend with my Rig Expert but maybe he's just really slow at it.

It would be great if you did a video on how to make the open, short,and closed calibration caps for the pl 259 that you used. Thanks for the video!

How much would it really affect the results if you did the calibration at the sma connectors and did not recalibrate for the foot long piece of coax and additional connectors? I'm considering that in the real world you will have some length of coax, 10, 20, 50, or more feet long, between the antenna analyzer or nano--VNA. So, what difference does that extra foot make? I understand that whatever the SWR is at the antenna, losses in the coax or other feed line will always make it look better. But, in most cases it is not practical to take the measurement at the antenna.

The nanoVNA is a nice tool, but I would prefer to MFJ if I use it outdoors. It's difficult to read the measurements from a TFT under the sun. An antenna analyzer is good enough for tuning an antenna at most of the time out of your radio shack. Since the nanoVNA has two ports, it is a complicated RF tool for tuning LPFs, BPFs at your electronic workbench. For doing such things, it now overwhelms the performances of an antenna analyzer for the far most in the old days.

Have you check out the SSA-2N NanoVNA-V2 it has the larger 239 type connectors

I stored my mfj269C in the closet. It's been there for sometime. Thought it was a safe place to store it. I got it out yesterday the power switch was stuck in the on position and by turning it on and off finally was free to turn on and off. The unit needs to be sent back for repairs its non functioning? I'm still waiting on FMJ so I can send it out. Any chance there's another place to send to for repairs? If I new the nano would be a better choice and could trust it I would just switch to the VNA

IMO, the nano vna doesn't need to be calibrated by band. I have mine calibrated for a set of bands, i.e., from 80-10 and from 6 to 70cm. I can then recall that calibration, and from within that calibration i can call up specific bands and get a useable and helpful view of the antenna on the frequency of choice. I have only done the calibrations once, and kept them stored. No major need to recalibrate often, but it doesnt hurt. Overall, both the new and old tech work great, though they represent different needs. Great video!

IMO, you need both a vna for its capabilities vs price, why not? And its great for testing and tuning traps, filters, baluns etc.. However, if you work with antennas at all, you need a dedicated antenna analyzer. The MFJ 259/269's are good solid instruments with long history. But they dont do graphing, so multiband antennas are harder to test. The Rigexpert is a great tool but if you want over 30mhz they get very expensive.. Anyway, Great Video!!! Thanks !

My nanovna shows that my swr is 1.93 while the swr meter shows 1.01 for match so which is right? The swr meter just shows the swr only?

you need a 60Hz filter on your mic

Good video but this was more of a how-to than a shootout.

i would be done before you set the band usin my 259. hahahahaha iam out

Comparing these 2 technologies is like comparing a Sony Walkman with a modern smartphone. Pointless Non-starter!

Not a shootout

How stupid of me. I thought a "shoot out" was going to be a side by side comparison of the two devices. You know, like how EVERYONE else uses the term. Took me until I was 75% into the video to learn the title was click bait.

this is a fail as far as i see it,its more of a how to use and setup a vna Not a shootout!,akin to clickbait,missleading title at the very least!.