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Reviews For: MFJ-553 DELUXE WOOD BASE TELEGRAPH STRAIGHT KEY W/3.5MM CB

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : MFJ-553 DELUXE WOOD BASE TELEGRAPH STRAIGHT KEY W/3.5MM CB
Reviews: 4MSRP: 29.95
Description:
The MFJ-553 Deluxe Wood Base Telegraph features a Morse Code straight key on a non-skid, beautifully stained wood base –It has a steel base under the bottom so it stays put on table and doesn’t move around while you are sending!
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-553
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0041.5
KB1IKD Rating: 2022-09-01
Low End Construction. Received bent and in pieces. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was impressed with the wood base which appears to be a repurposed light switch cover. My biggest complaint is that the key rocker arm and tension spring were found separated from the base in its plastic pouch package. The pivot yoke is a bent stamped steel strap which had bent open releasing the rocker arm from the pivot holes. All parts were found in the pouch and were easily reassembled using finger pressure and adjusted. I understand that this is a low end key, but I expected better construction such as adjustable pivot bearings for its price point. Spend more for a higher grade straight key, or a lot less. I also have an MFJ 993 Intellituner and an MFJ 259 antenna analyzer which I value highly so my comments apply only to the MFJ-553 straight key product. The key works when assembled and adjusted.
KD2HNS Rating: 2022-04-08
defect Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well I got the mfj-553 straight key and plugged it into my
rig and it just transmits never stop no matter what I do. of course if I unplug it stops. plug it back just transmits. took it apart and tried to see how it works no luck since there is no schematics on how it functions. connected a bencher paddle just make sure it wasn't my rig and it works. so the key must be broken.
KM6ZX Rating: 2021-06-15
OK For Beginners Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Cost of $40 seems high. Get an MFJ-550 Key for $14.00. Go to hardware store, buy a light switch cover, two screws, two washers and nuts, and four rubber feet. Find a mono- cable with 3.5 mm jacks. Cut one jack off and wire it to the key. Then you can have an MFJ-553 for about half the price.

The key is OK for a beginner who isn't certain if CW is for them or not. It deserves more than one star. I still use mine regularly on the air. If you stick with CW, you will get a better key anyways. Then donate the MFJ-553 to someone just starting out in the hobby so they can learn the code.
K9PHP Rating: 2015-01-25
Does what it says but...... Buyer Beware Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well, let me start off by saying that I'm not an MFJ hater, and I often feel they get a bad rap. However, when I received this I was let down from the very beginning.

First, it fell apart when I took it out of the bag. How I ended up see that little spring fall to the floor, I'll never know. Luckily I did, and was able to put it back together relatively easily. I suppose I could have accidentally done that pulling it out of the bag, but I'll never know.

Second. The description says that it's weighted to keep if from moving around on the desk. My first reaction was that it was very light, so I turned it over to see where this so-called weight was. And then it hit me! This thing is not on anything like the nice, solid looking wooden base you see in the picture. They've "mounted" the paddle on a cheap, "wooden" light-switch cover! Probably costs less than $1.50 at any local hardware store.

Third. They didn't even bother to notch the "base" for the cord. It sits right on top of it, making it horribly wobbly and even less prone to movement.

Fourth. I purchased it through DX Engineering. I've always had a great relationship with them. However, when I called about it, and described what I actually received no way matched the description and picture on their website, I was told that the pictures they have on their website were what they pulled from the box. That was a blatant lie then, because it was the very exact picture that MFJ has on their website now and I knew it was. If you go to http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/mfj-553 now, you will see that they have now put up their own pictures. However, theirs show a nicer "base" than the one I got (it's still a switch cover as you can see by the underside pic, but a nicer one than I got) and it looks like they've attached rubber feet to it to make it more reasonable (although I'm left to wonder if they did that to all of them or just for the picture). I thought of doing the same to get to base off of the cord, but have already decided to send it back simply due to the principle of the thing. If I buy something that has pictures and a description, and I get something that matches neither, plus I get the run-around from the sales person, it's going back... period!

I should state, however, that it does work and seems to work well, but principles trump that. I did not get was was pictured or described. MFJ took a $14.95 paddle screwed it to a $1.50 light switch cover, attached a $1.50 cord and plug, doubled the price and make it look and sound like something that it obviously isn't. Shameful!

And shame on you DX for trying to pull a quick one. They are, however, sending me a return UPS label so I can send it back at no extra charge to me, so I guess that's something.