[TowerTalk] HyGain Antenna Quality control issues: Let's Put MFJ in Perspective

Mon Apr 2 12:52:09 EDT 2018

Ken really makes a point... I have plenty of Elecraft, 4O3A, Array Solutions, and Acom stuff...
I also had a need for an 12v controller for my JK 80m dipole with Seco Tornado coil. I ordered the Ameriton branded version from MFJ knowing the quality control issues and one of 12 push buttons is stuck. I can easily work on the plastic housing to fix this button and one day I will.
I could have also built my own version out of a project box and perf board, or even had my own PCB produced...
But I didn’t want to spend that time on this need... so at the end of the day a single stuck button doesn’t upset me in perspective of what I could have done myself for that price point... my time is worth something right?
Anyways, will I buy a new Hygain or Cushcraft? I doubt it... but I’m on the latter part of my working life and I’m fortunate enough to desire a higher quality build for more money. If I couldn’t then I’d unfortunately need a lesser quality build to save money... or maybe I’d build my own antenna to save the most money and trade my life’s time for it (which is the same as spending money). It’s also hard for me to desire a new A4S when I read about people’s experiences compared to the numerous older A series that I’ve bought or helped build.
Ken is right, in my mind, about perspective.
I’d never tell someone to buy a non milspec AR compared to a Colt... but if all they had was enough money for a knock off then that’s what they should get until they can save more and trade up for a known standard (assuming they have the desire and need for higher quality).
73,
Tim / N6WIN.

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

On Monday, April 2, 2018, 08:33, Steven Baughn <baughn at centurylink.net> wrote:

And MFJ certainly has a large enough market share that they could devote some time to improving their quality however for whatever reason they chose not to.

73, Steve, WD8NPL
Sent from my LG K10, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
------ Original message------From: Kenneth D. MoakDate: Mon, Apr 2, 2018 10:59 AMTo: towertalk at contesting.com;Cc: Subject:[TowerTalk] HyGain Antenna Quality control issues: Let's Put MFJ in    Perspective
Let's Put MFJ in Perspective

It seems like ragging on MFJ has been, and may always be, a popular sport,
but let's put the whole topic in perspective.

Can you buy higher quality and more expensive products? Sure. 

Do most well-heeled hams buy these other products? Sure.

But that is NOT MFJ's target market.  Martin Jue is building equipment for
the average ham looking for functional gear at a reasonable price.  Face it,
most Hams are cheap.  We want it as close to free as possible when we're
young and just starting out.  We also buy MFJ when we just don't need
Agilent or Tektronix specification  

Full Disclosure:  As a 40+ years Hams, My XYL and I have bought lots of MFJ,
Hy-Gain, and Cushcraft gear from when we had 42 cents in the bank to as
recently as last month.  We also have Flex radios, JK antennas, and two LUSO
towers.  We're not MFJ "fanboys." We're just trying to look at the whole
picture. 

While we're at it, let say it up front:  Lots of folks complain about the
need to "Buy American."  Well face it - without Martin Jue of MFJ, many of
the "Big Names" in Ham Radio would have been extinct right now if MFJ didn't
save these companies to keep them in the US.  Obviously the way they
operated in the past couldn't compete in today's market.  

MFJ found a way to compete, and enough people think that the occasional
missing screw or wayward hole is not a big deal.  MFJ's No Matter What
Warranty is also better than you get from most other manufacturers - US or
overseas.

When we started out, we wanted gear that we could afford, that worked well
enough to get us on the air, and if we had to "adjust it" that was ok.  We
had plenty of time and not much money.  MFJ supplied that gear.  We used MFJ
gear, and we had fun!

Frankly we don't care what the assembly room looks like as long as in the
long run the product works.  Actually, we think if anyone looked at the
actual defect rates and not just anecdotal internet "facts," we think the
numbers are way better than suspected.

MFJ is not manufacturing computer CPUs.  In fact, we think if you visited
several of the "high-end" custom antenna houses that you would find very
similar conditions.  Try it.

In the end, Martin Jue provides a service for the overall Amateur radio
community.  He fills a critical need and his sales show it.  He survives
when the companies he saved had failed.

The bottom line is that if you don't like MFJ, go someplace else.  Many
others will take your place in line.

Ken & Karen Moak

KM8AM & KM8Q

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