OT: MFJ Quality Issues

[Rick Shindley]

I have purchased a couple of new MFJ tuners over the years and I found both
of them to be of inferior construction.  The last one was a more expensive
model and it arrived with solder balls rolling around inside its case, a
cold solder joint and the air variable cap rotor would come in contact with
its stator plates because the rotor was affixed to its all-to pliable front
panel and the stator was affixed to the bottom of the case.  A guy could fix
these issues himself by modifying the case and repairing the connections,
but it's wrong to sell things like that and expect glowing reports from
customers.
 
The designs MFJ uses are electrically fine, it's just their materials and
construction practices need improvement.  It's my understanding that some of
MFJ's products are assembled by prison inmates, God bless 'em.  MFJ's
manufacturing business plan must look good on paper but quality control is a
real problem for the company, in my opinion.  
 
I am all for helping the down-trodden embark on new careers, and maybe
buying MFJ stuff is a clear way to help those people, but from my experience
you have to be prepared to continue to do without once you receive your
order!  I really wish they could find a way to improve their quality.  
 
Rick
KC0OV
 
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Bill Johnson-9]

Rick,

I have had issue with MFJ in past years but not currently.  I have quite a
number of devices and find them to be of excellent construction.  (They are
not on par with the Quality of Elecraft:-)).  Because any vendor can have
past issues we need to allow them to improve their products; just like my
wife is hoping for the best for me and gives me an opportunity to improve
myself.  (Good luck, Dear!)


Bill


-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Rick Shindley
Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 12:34 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] OT: MFJ Quality Issues

I have purchased a couple of new MFJ tuners over the years and I found both
of them to be of inferior construction.  The last one was a more expensive
model and it arrived with solder balls rolling around inside its case, a
cold solder joint and the air variable cap rotor would come in contact with
its stator plates because the rotor was affixed to its all-to pliable front
panel and the stator was affixed to the bottom of the case.  A guy could fix
these issues himself by modifying the case and repairing the connections,
but it's wrong to sell things like that and expect glowing reports from
customers.
 
The designs MFJ uses are electrically fine, it's just their materials and
construction practices need improvement.  It's my understanding that some of
MFJ's products are assembled by prison inmates, God bless 'em.  MFJ's
manufacturing business plan must look good on paper but quality control is a
real problem for the company, in my opinion.  
 
I am all for helping the down-trodden embark on new careers, and maybe
buying MFJ stuff is a clear way to help those people, but from my experience
you have to be prepared to continue to do without once you receive your
order!  I really wish they could find a way to improve their quality.  
 
Rick
KC0OV
 
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[K7TV]

Here is my MFJ score:
Over the years I have bought only 4 MFJ products brand new and fully
assembled. Of those, only the first one had a problem. That was a tuner
purchased over 20 years ago. It had a missing solder joint. My later
purchases (noise bridge, RF current sniffer, noise canceler) have been fine.
73,
Erik K7TV

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Shindley" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 10:33 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] OT: MFJ Quality Issues


>I have purchased a couple of new MFJ tuners over the years and I found both
> of them to be of inferior construction.  The last one was a more expensive
> model and it arrived with solder balls rolling around inside its case, a


______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Phil Kane-2]

On 4/3/2009 11:00 AM, Bill Johnson wrote:

> I have had issue with MFJ in past years but not currently.

   My issues with MFJ have not been in the area of construction
   nearly as much as in the area of customer service.

   I had a power supply that quit all of a sudden a year past the
   warranty period.  I shipped it back there under a RMA of sorts
   and it just sat in their shop for several months.  I would call
   them as to the status and they would be rather evasive and
   finally said "we'll get around to it real soon now".  When
   "real soon now" came around they told me that it would cost
   more to repair it than to buy a new one.  I was able to bargain
   with them for a more reasonable price for a replacement but it
   wasn't easy.

   Another time I ordered a switchbox to interface both a mic and a
   TNC to the K2.  They dragged their heels on that one, claiming
   that they were waiting for a part from "somewhere", and when
   the switch box arrived months later it had intermittent problems
   at the rig connector until I was able to reinforce the cable
   end where the connector clamp (allegedly) held in in place.

   I've heard other hams refer to the company as "Mighty Fine
   Junk".  I won't go that far (their low-pass filter and dummy
   load are in service here with no problems) but Elecraft they
   aren't.

--  73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
     Elecraft K2/100   s/n 5402

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ]

Let's end this thread. In general, we prefer not to have long threads on
the reliability of other manufacturer's products on the Elecraft list.

73, Eric  WA6HHQ
Elecraft List Moderator

Erik N Basilier wrote:
> Here is my MFJ score:
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[ab2tc]

Darn, I was just going to post about my generally good experience with MFJ. Yeah, their paint jobs are not the best and sometimes you have to go inside and tighten loose fasteners, but in general it's good value for the money. I have very good experience with their tuners, both auto and manual.

Well, I guess I just did. I promise I won't post any more.

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft wrote

Let's end this thread. In general, we prefer not to have long threads on
the reliability of other manufacturer's products on the Elecraft list.

73, Eric  WA6HHQ
Elecraft List Moderator

[Gary D Krause]

I've had issues lately with MFJ as well.  Last year I ordered a Vectronics
keyer kit.  It works fine but, the cabinet was punched wrong.  The holes
didn't even match the kit.  I called and was told they would send one.  I
waited two or three months and called again.  This time I was told that they
are waiting on aluminum.  It's been almost a year now and I haven't received
it.  I also bought an antenna analyser a couple of years ago.  It quit working
after a month and I had to send it back for repair.  It took about three
months before I got it back and it wasn't even the one that I had sent them.
 Apparently I must have gotten someone else's.  Over the last 25 years, I have
had to send at least 90% of there stuff back for repair or repair it myself
and I have bought quite a bit of equipment from them.  I'm thinking how many
times do I have to hit my head against the wall before I decide it hurts?  I
think I have decided now.  It's too bad for them since we are in a depression
and I don't see how they can really afford this kind of quality at this point.


On Fri, 3 Apr 2009 12:33:44 -0500
  "Rick Shindley" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I have purchased a couple of new MFJ tuners over the years and I found both
> of them to be of inferior construction.  The last one was a more expensive
> model and it arrived with solder balls rolling around inside its case, a
> cold solder joint and the air variable cap rotor would come in contact with
> its stator plates because the rotor was affixed to its all-to pliable front
> panel and the stator was affixed to the bottom of the case.  A guy could fix
> these issues himself by modifying the case and repairing the connections,
> but it's wrong to sell things like that and expect glowing reports from
> customers.
>
> The designs MFJ uses are electrically fine, it's just their materials and
> construction practices need improvement.  It's my understanding that some of
> MFJ's products are assembled by prison inmates, God bless 'em.  MFJ's
> manufacturing business plan must look good on paper but quality control is a
> real problem for the company, in my opinion.  
>
> I am all for helping the down-trodden embark on new careers, and maybe
> buying MFJ stuff is a clear way to help those people, but from my experience
> you have to be prepared to continue to do without once you receive your
> order!  I really wish they could find a way to improve their quality.  
>
> Rick
> KC0OV
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ]

Folks - This thread was ended last week.

73, Eric  WA6HHQ
Elecraft List Moderator


Gary D Krause wrote:
> I've had issues lately with MFJ as well.
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html