Better audio filtering would help, if the 461 were to have it, as evidenced by improved performance when the 461 is installed after a sharp, dedicated CW filter. But, most users are likely to find the device a disappointment, especially considering the cost.Ĭonnecting directly to audio helps a little bit. Maybe this is OK for a rusty or beginning CW operator who just needs some hints about what's coming in rather than full copy. Off air, unless the operator was sending essentially perfect code and I had a strong signal without interference, the displayed output was more garbled than useable. I tested the device with computer-generated CW.
Who needs yet another interconnection cable in the ham shack? Even the tiny display is sufficiently clear for older eyes.Įverything is in favor of the 461-except that it does a very poor job decoding anything but almost-perfect CW. The idea is that the operator can set the device near a speaker and decode CW. It's a handheld CW decoder with a built-in microphone along with a direct audio input.
Never again folks unless that Gorsky fella's young neighbour walks on the moon. I'm minded to give it another go now- we'll see eh? This was a requested birthday present from 'er indoors. This is why MFJ gets such bad reports- you give them your best shot and you're hard-earned, but three strikes and they're out. That said, even if you can get it to pretend to play ball, you'll need to move it to and from the loudspeaker to compensate for different volumes of CW notes because no way will you want to adjust the sensitivity trimmer. You know it would help a great deal if the two trim pots were visible on the display side because I reckon watching the display and trying to adjust two recessed interactive trimmers on the back is 9/10ths of the problem. Yes the battery once installed strains the lid (even with the foam removed- what were they thinking of?) I have rated it "needs help" because I'm convinced there's a sweet spot in there somewhere but it has eluded me for this past quarter of a century, so I suspect that operator error is part of the issue.
As we all know, it's the usual plastic garbage, but hey it's what it does (or should do) that counts isn't it? I have on occasion managed to get it to display truncated strings of more correct than incorrect text, but that's about it. I periodically get fired up to get to grips with it but it always ends in tears. I have owned this item it seems like forever (at least 25 years I think?) and it has never worked.
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