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MFJ is ceasing its on-site production

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Re: MFJ is ceasing its on-site production

#31

Post by topspin »

cogman10 wrote: post #20
rmason wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a ham and I've used some of their products over the years. It is indeed a sad day. I am surprised that someone didn't want to buy them. It is a niche but a handful of small companies (and divisions of large ones) do quite well servicing the amateur radio market.

> I am surprised that someone didn't want to buy them. I mean... how big is the market for ham radios? I've not really met an enthusiast that wasn't at least 10 years older than I am.

One thing to remember about ham radio is that there is a bit of natural bias in the demographic: a lot of the stuff involved requires a certain minimum amount of things that older people tend to have. Property being one of the keys. HF antennas, towers, etc. are essentially outlawed by HOAs and entirely infeasible for renters. Some of the equipment is pricey as well.

You can do a lot at low cost and without property, but some of the more compelling parts of ham radio are hard to reach.

Re: MFJ is ceasing its on-site production

#32

Post by rhplus »

neilv wrote: post #16
FpUser wrote: post #6

It seems as the decision of the owner. He's got old and wants to spend time with the family. Would not it be worth to try to transfer to the workers in exchange for some share of profits?

Yeah, the letter didn't say whether they'd tried to sell the business, or find other management for it. That's definitely a question that comes to mind. (There might not be buyers, the business might not be sustainable, the company space might be built into their home, they might have to sell commercial real estate for medical expenses or to get their estate in order, etc. Or maybe they're preoccupied with personal m…

The other aspect is that the core value of the company might be the intangible goodwill value that the owner-operator himself brought to the table.

Re: MFJ is ceasing its on-site production

#33

Post by SamPatt »

michaelbuckbee wrote: post #4

I'm not a Ham, but my grandfather (W8IGY) was, and I credit him for letting me know a larger, more technical community existed "out there" than what was apparent from the small rural town I grew up in the pre-internet days. Ham radio's time has come and gone, but I still treasure the memories of listening to him talk to people all over the world. MFJ shutting down is likely one of the final nails in the coffin, but I…

I'm a ham.

I communicated with someone 8,000 miles away from me (Midwest US to South Africa) by bouncing radio waves off the ionosphere from an antenna I built myself using as much power as a light bulb.

The hobby is definitely dying, but it still provides some awesome moments. Tons of nerds here would find it time well spent.

Re: MFJ is ceasing its on-site production

#34

Post by SamPatt »

alostpuppy wrote: post #15
topspin wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Ham radio's time has come and gone, but I still treasure the memories of listening to him talk to people all over the world. Those people all over the world are still there. Every day. The airwaves are full. Yesterday I was handed off between a dozen Italians working contacts in the US. I have to hand it to European hams. They don't leave anything on the table at all. Some of the gear they fabricate is world class…

How does one get started?

Check out software defined radio. If you find it interesting, being a ham might appeal to you.

Re: MFJ is ceasing its on-site production

#35

Post by DoreenMichele »

ChrisArchitect wrote: post #26

Could we update the title to something like... A Heavy Sad Heart - MFJ Enterprises to cease amateur radio product production

The correct title is:

MFJ: A Heavy Sad Heart

It seems like that might help?

(I know nothing about ham radio but insiders seem to recognize MFJ.)

Re: MFJ is ceasing its on-site production

#36

Post by topspin »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #25
topspin wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Ham radio's time has come and gone, but I still treasure the memories of listening to him talk to people all over the world. Those people all over the world are still there. Every day. The airwaves are full. Yesterday I was handed off between a dozen Italians working contacts in the US. I have to hand it to European hams. They don't leave anything on the table at all. Some of the gear they fabricate is world class…

Is there something like Messier objects for radio? I imagine some kind of numbered, curated list of radio achievements that would be a mini-lesson on gear needed, antennae, frequencies covered, theory and what the goal is. Or maybe they're more like Scout badges. Anyway, I have drifted in and out of a fascination with radio. When I drift toward it I often find I am quickly in over my head — or rudderless.

> I imagine some kind of numbered, curated list of radio achievements

Yes, this is widespread. The ARRL in the US tracks such achievements. A simple example that comes to mind is Worked All States[1]. But that's just one: there are contests, events, records, etc. If you want to put your callsign on a list somewhere there are lots of opportunities.

Just having a callsign in the first place is the start of it. Those are usually assigned by whatever national government you live under. And they typically have grades: Technician, General and Extra in the US, for example.

[1] http://www.arrl.org/was

Re: MFJ is ceasing its on-site production

#37

Post by clbrmbr »

My first HF rig was an MFJ 40m CW kit that I built with the Bergen Amateur Radio Association. What a mighty fine group that was. I got some excellent mentorship, in amateur and other matters.

Thank you M.F.J.! you’ve left a legacy of fond memories with this last generation of radio amateurs.

Re: MFJ is ceasing its on-site production

#38

Post by imroot »

I have a ton of MFJ in my shack, and some MFJ hooked up to the radios I'm using on a daily basis; MFJ's loss will be felt in the amateur and public safety industries.

Edit to add:

Whenever I've had issues with one of their products, they literally walked me through disassembling and testing their products on the phone together -- and the staff there working the phones was knowledgeable, kind, and the type of folks you'd hear in the background at their tables/booths at hamvention and other radio-focused events. This isn't just a loss for everyone who uses MFJ, this is going to be felt amongst retailers as well as folks who are in that community. Their products were built well, tested to work, and rock solid: truly generational gear.

Re: MFJ is ceasing its on-site production

#39

Post by jayknight »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #25
topspin wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Ham radio's time has come and gone, but I still treasure the memories of listening to him talk to people all over the world. Those people all over the world are still there. Every day. The airwaves are full. Yesterday I was handed off between a dozen Italians working contacts in the US. I have to hand it to European hams. They don't leave anything on the table at all. Some of the gear they fabricate is world class…

Is there something like Messier objects for radio? I imagine some kind of numbered, curated list of radio achievements that would be a mini-lesson on gear needed, antennae, frequencies covered, theory and what the goal is. Or maybe they're more like Scout badges. Anyway, I have drifted in and out of a fascination with radio. When I drift toward it I often find I am quickly in over my head — or rudderless.

Some clubs have awards you can work toward, ARRL has a bunch [1]. SKCC [2] and NAQCC [3] have some for folks who like to work Morse code/CW. I'm sure that whatever aspect of ham radio folks are into, there is wallpaper you can earn while doing it.

[1] https://www.arrl.org/AWARDS [2]https://skccgroup.com/ [3] http://naqcc.info/challenges_rules.html

Re: MFJ is ceasing its on-site production

#40

Post by K7PJP »

neilv wrote: post #16
FpUser wrote: post #6

It seems as the decision of the owner. He's got old and wants to spend time with the family. Would not it be worth to try to transfer to the workers in exchange for some share of profits?

Yeah, the letter didn't say whether they'd tried to sell the business, or find other management for it. That's definitely a question that comes to mind. (There might not be buyers, the business might not be sustainable, the company space might be built into their home, they might have to sell commercial real estate for medical expenses or to get their estate in order, etc. Or maybe they're preoccupied with personal m…

He was trying to sell the company. The scuttlebutt is he declined an offer from DX Engineering, which is a shame because that would've been perhaps the best match.
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