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Reviews For: MFJ-962D

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : MFJ-962D
Reviews: 97MSRP: 269.95
Description:
1.8 - 30 MHz 1.5 kilowatt AirCore roller inductor antenna tuner
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-962D
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00973
KG6AMW Rating: 2000-04-21
MFJ Fills Their Niche Time Owned: unknown months.
I read with interest the reviews of this MFJ unit. It looks however that some of the writers took license to use this particular venue to complain about MFJ in general. Perhaps eHam can set up a general category for these types of comments. With regard to the MFJ 962 antenna tuner, I acquired a used 962C unit in December of 1999 from HRO. When I went through it I found a burn spot on one of the rotary switches. It appears that someone changed inductor settings while transmitting, thus the burn mark. I sent it back to MFJ via HRO to have it repaired. MFJ took approximately 6 weeks to repair it. Their reasons for the delay was due to them being backlogged. When returned, the unit was repaired and it operated properly. It looks to me that MFJ has 2 major problems. (My comments are now in relation to other reviews).
(1) Repair(s): MFJ needs to add to staff and also train those staff persons in basic repair work. They also need to start inspecting repaired equipment prior to returning it. This could be done in an overall program of improved quality control.
(2) Roller Inductor: Most of the complaints revolve around the roller inductor. The inductor appears to have a possible weakness with the coils contact/tracking system. When combined with heat and electricity some acring may occur which may lead to the coil being pockmarked and carbon stained which leads to other problems like uneven movement and erratic SWR and more acring. The answer is obvious, replace it with a new design or strengthen the coil to take the abuse.

As a final note, Hams need to realize that MFJ fills a market niche that few other vendors does. They in effect offer low to medium quality products for a resonable price. The equipment is not designed for heavy duty usage but it well get the job done. Vendors like Ten Tec and Vectronic offer antenna tuners to better fill the needs for those hams pushing the envelope. Without a company like MFJ being present, this hobby is going to be a lot more expensive.
WD4ARR Rating: 2000-04-13
After grtting burnt once by MFJ now i did it again Time Owned: unknown months.
I purchased a MFJ ant. switch box hooked it up then wondred why my SWR was through the roof on all 5 ants.the MFJ 1700B ant. switch was wired in a way that no input or output could not accessed by any swich combination, now dumb me buys a MFJ 962D which almost blows up my solid state amp because(NOT MFJ)THE 6 POSITION ROTARY SWITCH ONLY HAS 5 SPOTS WRONG SWITCH FOR THIS MODEL NO BY-PASS POSITION FOR THE WATT METER.Listen for me at Dayton on Sat. in frount of the MFJ booth they will either replace it? or give my money back or call the cops and drag me off. M Fing JUNK
K1OU Rating: 2000-03-21
MFJ, you should be ashamed... Time Owned: unknown months.
of the trash that you pass off as equipment. My 962D arcs even on low power, and the roller inductor has a hell of a time keeping contact, thus, the VSWR jumps all over the place. Not a very healthy situation when running sensitive equipment. The counter won't maintain a consistent count, and when inside the box, it looks as if the device was constructed by a first semester vocational student, and that is being mean to the first semester vocational student. Perhaps it is no wonder that you have poor customer relations, as you KNOW that you manufacture trash, and you have trepidation when it comes to dealing with people that you have knowingly fleeced. Smell you at Dayton.
N1DNI Rating: 2000-03-13
TOTAL CRAP !!!! Time Owned: unknown months.
I was warned but the sweetness of the low price and now the Sourness of the TOTAL JUNK will stay !
The unit didn't work out of the box. The meter was wiring was done backwards so the meter was trying to go negative (never tested at MFJ).
After the first repair I had to fix a cold solder joint on the bandswitch. My Blind Grandmother could solder better ! The unit arcs even with low power. Remeber what MFJ stands for :"Mighty Fine Junk" !
K4SUS Rating: 2000-03-13
MFJ : REAL JUNK! Time Owned: unknown months.
Don't be fooled by their fancy ads claiming fantastic products/performance. Their products don't last and their service is very bad and slow.I would never buy another MFJ product again. However, some of the Ameritron Amplifiers are very good. The AL-1200, 1.5 KW Amp is very good.
Stay away from the AL-572B Amp, it's a lemon for sure. See reviews 73 Tom K4SUS
WA0WAB Rating: 2000-03-13
"Mighty Fine Junk" Time Owned: unknown months.
In their continuing efforts to produce quantity, not quality, MFJ has produced a product worthy of their name. I also purchased one of the "Fine LCD Desktop Clocks" made in COMMUNIST CHINA. The plastic case and switches looked like it was extruded out of a bull's butt! Faxed a letter of complaint to them and didn't get a reply.....I will not buy anything more from "MFJ".
W0CKI Rating: 2000-03-12
"In a word, JUNK, TRASH, CRAP" Time Owned: unknown months.
Didn't work when I got it, meter circuit was backwards, extra holes drilled in the base plate, customer service non existent. Absolute JUNK, I have purchased ham gear for 45 years and will never again buy, MFJ, Ameritron and I suspect they will manage to screw up High Gain in the near term.