HI Patrick, Unfortunately you got taken like lots of by MFJ's slick marketing. MFJ stands for: "More F_ _kin' Junk." Ameritron used to be decent but since MFJ bought them out the quality has declined to MFJ quality. I have heard good things about the PAL Star tuners - pricy but well built.
Sorry to hear about your bad experience. Hope you can return it back to them. Good luck & 73, Deric, VY2DA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Patrick Jankowiak" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <amradio@mailman.qth.net> Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 10:52 PM Subject: [AMRadio] Ameritron ATR-30 > Ok, so I went and bought one because I need one for some TXSG HF stuff and > decided to go ahead and get the biggest and best one I could find locally. > > What a P.O.S the thing is! > > It came in what I assume was a factory box, but inside the box: > > The thing was rolling around loose inside the box with apparently only some > of the packing material inside. > > The AC adapter was loose; apparently it had been removed from its sealed > box by some little elves or something, apparently more than once. Its box > was loose, and ripped up. Also said MFJ on it. > > The front of the tuner has little scratches and marks on it, and the > chassis looks warped, either that or the top cover does not fit correctly. > Beat up in shipping? > > The inductor seemed OK at first, but now binds up at a spot in each turn. > after about 15 tuning cycles. I found that the cheaply made thing has a > shaft down the middle, on which a support at each end holds another shaft, > upon which rides what is basically a pair of spring-loaded washers which > grip the edge-wound inductor between them as they spiral up and down the > inductor, and that one or both ends of this shaft were askew because the > screws in the supports that hold them to the main shaft (and secure them > radially, like a knob is secured to a shaft) were loose. tightening them > was no good because they apparently have been tightened before, and it's > all screwed up and seeks this skewed position after several traverses. What > ever happened to keys and pins? what a cheap piece! Additionally, the feel > of the inductor is rough, not smooth, and the knob is very cheap plastic. > > Also, plastic gears for the turns counter do not impress me, especially > when the shaft of the turns counter is not aligned properly at manufacture > with the gear on the inductor shaft and is obviously under some stress. > -sloppy work! > > Speaking of the workmanship, while I am at it, the front panel of the > inductor assembly is not mounted parallel to the front panel of the unit. I > am not talking a thousandth here, I am saying it looks like some drunk with > a grudge against radiomen put this thing together! Strangely, the rear of > the inductor is straight. > > The cermaic insulators on the rear have metal-to-ceramic contact between > the nuts and the ceramic. I didn't notice this until I tried the balanced > line tuning function. then of course I heard the 'grinding' sound I am sure > we all know. Where's the fiber washers?!?! > > The antenna selector switch also has a rough spot in it, but only when > turning it one way between this position and that position. I could not > find the cause. And while I am on about the switch, I cannot believe anyone > would want to run 1500W 100% carrier through that little switch -that's 5.4 > amps of RF at 50 ohms, through what looks like a 3A switch with a ceramic > wafer! It is what is claimed. (3KW PEP, 1500W FSK/carrier) > > OK, I called the merchant I bought this from (I walked into their store > today and plunked down $500+ for this thing) and they have no idea about > the packing or otherwise. I asked them if it was a refurb, they said no, it > was new from Ameritron. > > So, Monday, I am going to contact Ameritron, and let them explain to me why > I should not return this thing. > > Come to find out, from the merchant, it's same as MFJ! darn it, I am trying > to buy something that's rugged and well made. But wait - I am stuck with > this now for a couple weeks to use it for TXSG commo. I'm still going to > call them on Monday and have a word with them about it. Seeing all the > corners cut like that, I don't want this thing. It's not what I paid for. > > This is the biggest example of POS workmanship and poor mechanical design I > have ever seen and that includes most CB shops I have frequented in the past! > > Maybe MFJ knows how to build little 300W tuners, but they are out of the > loop on ones this size. It has the mechanical robustness of an AM clock > radio - which is fine for a 300W PEP tuner. > > I'll keep it only if they want to give me a lifetime warranty including > overnight drop-ship replacement and return label in perpetuity. > > > disgusted, > PJ > ______________________________________________________________ > AMRadio mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html > Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net > AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net > AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami >
