[bjt2n3904]

Having this device in college when I was doing E&M would have been an absolute game changer. The closest thing that existed was an MFJ antenna tuner for Ham Radio that only measured S11 at one frequency, and cost around $500. The next step up was to buy used equipment, which was four figures or more. Having something that goes to 1 GHz, does both S11 and S21, and only costs $50? Unreal.

Having used a modern VNA, the NanoVNA would feel cramped now... but still: E&M would have been so much easier to understand with one of these, and a few labs.

[hughrr]

It’s utterly depressing watching people fish out cash for an MFJ tuner these days. They still sell the things and they still command a stupid price for a thoroughly inferior device.

The two guys I know who still own them only do so because they are Sinophobes and MFJ stuff is (terribly) assembled in the US still.

[jes]

Indeed.

MFJ in the amateur radio community is called "Mighty Fine Junk" fairly often. I have purchased some things from MFJ, but I notice that I now avoid doing so unless I'm desperate.

[bdavis__]

no one confuses gear from MFJ with "high quality". cheap stuff, that whets your appetite for the good stuff.

and yes, i have an MFJ tuner and the 20 meter QRP rig they sell. it is a ford or a chevy, not a lexus or a mercedes. (both items were received with parts loose and had to have some re-assembly).

[madengr]

Ha ha, I had to use a slotted line.