Their 949E tuner is probably the most used tuner in Ham Radio. Buy MFJ with
the understanding of what it is. It's not Elecraft quality for sure - not
meant to be.
Gary J
N5BAA
-----Original Message-----
From: Mickey Baker
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2014 6:11 PM
To: Doug Turnbull
Cc: towertalk@contesting.com ; Jim Brown
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Servicing an MFJ 259B
Let's think about the MFJ-259B for a minute. I spent an hour
troubleshooting one that belongs to a local ham. It took a half hour to
find a schematic and open the case. I found pretty much everything in the
front end trashed.
This is a $260 analyzer. I started a parts list on Mouser and quickly got
to $100. These are surface mount, closely fit parts, I could see myself
spending another 4 hours in the parts replacement game.
At this point, it isn't worth fixing. I took it back (disassembled) in a
box and suggested to the ham that someone might have transmitted into it.
Yep, that's what happened.
Can you imagine this happening at MFJ? I'll bet it happens all the time,
and I bet they don't swap SM parts. Who pays MFJ for the ones that people
don't see the economy to repair?
There's a one year warranty on MFJ gear. $260 for one year of use is a bit
much, but I have one that hasn't give a lick of problem in 5 years. So it
evens out.
If there's a failure after the warranty, it's likely a throwaway. Not worth
losing sleep over, IMO. I love MFJ, I have an AL-1500 and an 998 tuner.
They've not been perfect, but nearly so. I can never see myself shipping
the amp anywhere... but there are few surface mount parts and it cost a bit
more than $260...
If MFJ weren't around, there would be many fewer of us in the hobby. Martin
is a great guy, turned ham radio into a good living for himself and others
and I have a lot of respect for him and his companies.
73,
Mickey N4MB
On Thu, Aug 28, 2014 at 12:43 PM, Doug Turnbull <turnbull@net1.ie> wrote:
Gentlemen,
The epitaph for MFJ is a bit unfair. They have kept many products
available which would otherwise have just disappeared. MFJ has also
brought out a number of useful products I their own right. I do not own
any of their amplifiers but many hams do use them and are happy. I am
thinking in particular of a local friend who has one of the lower power
amps
which has been a work horse for many years with never a problem.
I recently purchased an MFJ 233 analyzer and find this a wee wonder
which I very much like. It should also be noted that MFJ sells parts and
thus facilitates home brew. Long may this company in Mississippi
continue
to sere the amateur world - I think its founder has made tremendous
contributions to the hobby and also to the state of Mississippi - he is a
fine American who came up a hard enough road.
73 Doug EI2CN
PS None of this is not to say that MFJ could not improve its service.
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jim
Brown
Sent: 28 August 2014 16:31
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Servicing an MFJ 259B
On Thu,8/28/2014 9:22 AM, Bill via TowerTalk wrote:
> I have bought my last item from MFJ/Ameritron.
I've always considered their products "mighty fine junk," and generally
avoided them. N3ZZ and I had to repair one of their big amps at PJ4A,
where I quickly gained a poor opinion of their construction. El cheapo
grande.
I do own a 259B, bought nearly new at the Milwaukee hamfest. It's a
useful tool and it works. I went through W8JI's calibration routine.
73, Jim K9YC
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--
Mickey Baker, N4MB
Fort Lauderdale, FL
*“Tell me, and I will listen. Show me, and I will understand. Involve me,
and I will learn.” *Teton Lakota, American Indian Saying.
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