[TowerTalk] MFJ QRT on May 17, 2024

[Jim Brown]

On 4/25/2024 7:58 PM, john at kk9a.com wrote:
> It is with a sad heart as I write this letter.

Count me among those not sad to see them go. Based on a well-earned 
reputation for poor quality control and mediocre build quality, they've 
long known as Mighty Fine Junk. I've owned a few of their products; the 
one I used the most was their 259 Antenna Analyzer, whose designer, 
W8JI, posted detailed instructions online about how to do the final test 
calibration that MFJ failed to do. Many users of their products have 
talked about having to open stuff up and find all the cold solder joints.

Yes, they bought a lot of companies to "rescue" them, but the quality of 
every one went down. Yes, they made "affordable" power amps, but over 
the years, I bought three used Ten-Tec 425s, each for half the price of 
one of theirs, and they were a VASTLY superior amp. They were 20-30 
years old when I bought them, I repaired them a few times, and got 15 
years of heavy use (legal-limit, balls to the wall contesting on CW, 
SSB, and RTTY) out of them.

73, Jim K9YC