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Reviews For: MFJ 130RC

Category: Ham Shack Clocks

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Review Summary For : MFJ 130RC
Reviews: 27MSRP: 39.95
Description:
Thermo Wall Clock
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00271.4
KC2RYZ Rating: 2007-09-26
Works fine if set properly Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
OK, guys, the reason you can't get it to work right is that the instructions for setting the UTC offset are wrong. The chart is inverted. The offset for P-T should be 8, for M-T is 7, for C-T is 6, and for E-T is 5. I learned from Brian at MFJ customer service that they are aware of the problem in the instructions but have not corrected it (Gee, thanks, MFJ!). Once I put in the correct offset, it set itself properly and is working fine - so far. If you are in the US, when setting the offset, be careful not to set it to a negative number. I made that mistake also.
KD6IQS Rating: 2007-06-16
a bad time with this clock Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This clock is crap!!! In spite of MFJ's instructions on how to set
this clock for UTC, it didn't keep that time. I'd set it for UTC and
every evening the stupid clock would reset itself for another time.
I would absolutely NOT recommend this clock. Its a ridiculous
waste of effort and materials.
I'll probably send it back to MFJ for a refund.
K8RBW Rating: 2007-04-07
A FOOL AND THEIR MONEY SOON PART Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought two of these duds. Talk about being retarded!! One was for my place in
Chicago and the other was for my place in Wisconsin. Neither picked up the WWVB signal so I decided to swallow my pride and set them manually. I set them to UTC, but both did a terrible job of keeping time. When I got around to changing the batteries they just kind of stuck on 12:00 AM Friday and could no longer be set. So now they can't even be used manually. If you want a clock that works go to Walmart---NOT MFJ! I am giving them a 1 because they did keep time manually for a year and provide me with the inside temperature. Why sell something that obviously doesn't work? I lived in China and Taiwan for a number of years. When defective items were produced, the firms that commissioned them forced the manufacturers to eat the loss, thereby providing them with incentive to correct the problem. Try over a million dollars in defective shoes! MFJ has chosen to pass along defective merchandise to their customers and let them eat the loss. That sure is nice of them! Walmart, Costco and Sam's wouldn't do that.
de Dick, K8RBW
N4PMG Rating: 2006-12-24
IT'S A BAD JOKE! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this very impressive looking clock a short time back! I broke one of my rules by not checking the eham product reviews before ordering it!
This clock is a beautiful and very impressive addition to any shack, "IF IT WOULD JUST WORK"!
After trying many different locations inside my shack to get it to lock on to the needed signal I took it outside? On the "Third Attempt" it finally found the signal an locked it in! This would be great if I needed an outside clock! I'm returning it to my local dealer!!!
VE2JKA Rating: 2006-10-20
Terrible Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have if for a few years now and it synchronized maybe once or twice of course I am in the north (Montreal Qc) never the less I do have a few more Atomic clocks and they sync fine..ohh well at least it shows the indoor temperature.. LOL! I wouldn't buy this clock, go with another.. JMHO
KD7WEL Rating: 2006-06-22
Buy another clock Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I am on my second clock from MFJ. Neither one will sync with WWV. I have 2 other rc clocks on the same wall which both sync nightly. Save your money. Go to Sam's or Costco and buy one off the shelf. I did and have had no problems. MFJ will head to the garage sale.
W2WO Rating: 2006-06-10
Poor Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Nice display (with UTC) when the clock is working correctly. If it cannot sync with WWV (which is often in NY) it displays garbage. I always need to think twice about whether it is displaying the correct time or something else.

These "atomic" clocks are a very well-established technology. Why is this model so bad? I assume it is not actually built by MFJ -- why do they degrade themselves by marketing this thing?
N2ECR Rating: 2006-02-12
The worst! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Useless as a radio controlled clock. I paid half the price for a similar clock from COSTCO and it never had any problems. Someone below mentioned MFJ=mighty fine job...I think it should be MFJ=more freakin' junk!
K4RAB Rating: 2005-11-03
Don't waste your money on this turkey! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have owned numerous MFJ products, including the MFJ-122 Radio Controlled clock, which works great but doesn't display UTC, and my favorite, the MFJ-118, which, although it is not radio controlled, keeps very good time, and I use it for UTC.

I bought an MFJ-130RC, looking for that elusive radio controlled clock that would display UTC. My advice, Don't waste your money on this turkey! Not only can it not receive the WWVB signal error free, it cannot keep time even when set manually to the correct time. To make matters worse, configuring it to display UTC is an excercise in utter frustration. This clock is useless!
KP4E Rating: 2005-05-26
Poor Performer! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Save your money. Buy something else. This clock has never worked properly. I am tired of manually adjusting the time. On self sync with WWV it gives the wrong DAY or DATE sometimes only the seconds become syncronized with WWV. This is a waste of money!