I don't know if this is good or not. We'll see.
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/cushcraft/
73 Bob W7LRD
Bob wrote:
I don't know if this is good or not. We'll see.
Too bad to see another good company get bought by MFJ. From what I hear (I only have experience with Mirage), they pretty much have gone down hill shortly after MFJ bought them.
I just bought a Cushcraft MA5B "mini-beam" From Texas Towers. I joked with the sales guy about wanting to get one ASAP, before MFJ got their grubby little paws on it and "Martinized" it. He cracked up, and said the Laird Technologies rep had told him things were going to continue to be built in the same factory, to the same specs, by the same people "for at least the next six months", and that no changes would be made to their product line. So, if you want a Cushcraft product, I'd suggest ordering it NOW. 73, Jim KQ6EA
--- On Sat, 8/22/09, Bob w7lrd@comcast.net wrote:
From: Bob w7lrd@comcast.net Subject: [amsat-bb] MFJ/Cushcraft To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Date: Saturday, August 22, 2009, 1:06 PM
I don't know if this is good or not. We'll see.
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/cushcraft/
73 Bob W7LRD
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I guess having MFJ take them over is better than Cushcraft going out of business completely.
73s John AA5JG
--- On Sat, 8/22/09, Jim Jerzycke kq6ea@pacbell.net wrote:
From: Jim Jerzycke kq6ea@pacbell.net Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: MFJ/Cushcraft To: amsat-bb@amsat.org, "Bob" w7lrd@comcast.net Date: Saturday, August 22, 2009, 4:45 PM I just bought a Cushcraft MA5B "mini-beam" From Texas Towers. I joked with the sales guy about wanting to get one ASAP, before MFJ got their grubby little paws on it and "Martinized" it. He cracked up, and said the Laird Technologies rep had told him things were going to continue to be built in the same factory, to the same specs, by the same people "for at least the next six months", and that no changes would be made to their product line. So, if you want a Cushcraft product, I'd suggest ordering it NOW. 73, Jim KQ6EA
--- On Sat, 8/22/09, Bob w7lrd@comcast.net wrote:
From: Bob w7lrd@comcast.net Subject: [amsat-bb] MFJ/Cushcraft To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Date: Saturday, August 22, 2009, 1:06 PM
I don't know if this is good or not. We'll see.
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/cushcraft/
73 Bob W7LRD
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
The major problem with mfj products is that quality control is virtually non-existent. Hardware will be missing from one unit and then extra hardware (probably that intended for the previous unit down the production line) will be "rattling" around the next unit. Some solder connections will be poorly done and other connections have never even thought of having solder applied. The list of "problems" goes on.
I believe that mfj is VERY aware of these problems because in their warranty they specifically state that repairs made by the owner will NOT violate the warranty.
I always consider mfj products to be a "semi-kit". That is a unit partially assembled by the factory but definitely needing further attention by the person who purchases the unit.
Over the years I have acquired a number of mfj products, almost always from someone who purchased the unit expecting it to work "out of the box". When the unit does not work then that person often sells it or trades it. I have bought a few items "new" and every one of those items had to have something done to make them work correctly except for one item that worked correctly from the "get go". That item was a 24 hour clock that was built "off shore" and an mfj label added.
Glen, K9STH
Website: http://k9sth.com
The list of "problems" goes on.
FWIW the only Cushcraft item I ever purchased was built on the "MFJ model." It wasn't till after a rig went up in smoke that I discovered that only one half of the driven element was connected inside the factory-assembled feed housing. From my unfortunate perspective, the Cushcraft move to MFJ seems appropriate.
Scott N1AIA
I've been an Amateur for since 1975 and cushcraft serves their purpose, they are the Walmart or Mc Donalds of the antenna world.
Joe WB9SBD
Scott Richardson wrote:
The list of "problems" goes on.
FWIW the only Cushcraft item I ever purchased was built on the "MFJ model." It wasn't till after a rig went up in smoke that I discovered that only one half of the driven element was connected inside the factory-assembled feed housing. From my unfortunate perspective, the Cushcraft move to MFJ seems appropriate.
Scott N1AIA
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participants (7)
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Bob -
Glen Zook -
Jim Jerzycke -
Jim Walls -
Joe -
John Geiger -
Scott Richardson