wb7asr@isosvax.UUCP (Tom Boza, WB7ASR) (10/08/85)
8th of October, 1985
WB7ASR
Thomas A. Boza
10627 N. 38th Ave.
Phoenix, Arizona 85029
HOME: 602-938-0004
WORK: 602-869-4387
ICOM Corp.
2380 116th Ave. N.E.
Bellevue, Wash. 98004
206-454-7619
I'm sending in my ICOM, IC-47A, UHF transceiver, Serial Number 01862, and
one HM-23 microphone for repair, per telephone conversation with Tom Moore, on
October 7th, 1985. Tom stated that the repair cost will be $45.00 per hour, for
labor, plus parts.
The problem with the radio is that it has an intermittent transmit, both
on high and low power settings. The LEDs indicate that transmit power is being
delivered, but no RF or audio is being emitted. At times, it will transmit
with full power into my "Bird" watt meter and dummy load, and then quit.
I am becoming VERY disillusioned with ICOM products. I only owned this
radio for five months, and already have to send it in for repairs. It's only
two months out of warranty. What really aggravates me, this is not the first
time an ICOM product has given me problems. At the same time I bought this
radio, I purchased the matching two meter radio, the IC-27A. The IC-27A had
a similar problem. Within one month after purchase, the PLL circuit went out
and it would not transmit or receive. Luckily, the entire radio was replaced
under warranty, from the dealer. Currently, my replacement IC-27A has developed
a small, but noticeable problem. About once or twice a week, the radio will
jump frequency and loose the frequency that was programmed into that memory
location. I'm living with this problem for the time being. Also, eight months
ago, I purchased an ICOM IC-271A, two meter all mode transceiver. I had to
replace that radio THREE times, under warranty, before I got one that would
work for any length of time. I selected ICOM products, because I thought I was
getting top shelf, state-of-the-art, quality radios. The way that my ICOM
products are holding up, I'm VERY sceptical of ever buying any ICOM products
again. By adding the cost for this repair and UPS charges to the total cost
of the radio, I am paying more than your competitors equal value radio. This
also doesn't take into consideration, my time spent dealing with broken
radios. I do own several Kenwood and Yaesu radios, and I have never had one
problem with any of them.
Once the repairs are made, please notify me either by telephone, to my
day time business number, or by letter, to my home address. I will then send a
check to you for the repairs. What type of warranty will I receive with the
repair of this radio ? All the above mentioned warranty replacements are
documented.
Thank You
__________________________
Thomas A. Boza, WB7ASRacardenas.ES@Xerox.ARPA (10/12/85)
Tom... I needed repairs on my Icom IC245 and after three attempts with ICOM-Washington, one trip to Icom-Texas repaired the problem. Apparently the problem was built-in... foil lifting from the PWBA! The repair was called a "jumper-job"... It cost me $65 plus time and postage. I feel an honest company would have stood behind the product and repaired the problem without cost. Much like the issue with the Kenwood VHF Power Modules... If the arrl really had it's stuff together, they would have brought a class action against Kenwood on behalf of all American Radio Operators... A strong message to all ham radio manufactures that we are fed up with poor design/engineering and won't take it any more! Tony Cardenas WA6IGJ QA Auditor, 6085 Project.ES
fab@husky.uucp (Rick Booth) (10/14/85)
Tom Boza is not alone in his frustration with Icom and radios
sent back for repair. I have an Icom R-70 that has been back to the
factory at a cost of $100 to replace the main CPU chip. The cost of
shipping and hourly repair charge could make a $200-300 unit almost
a throw away unit if it needs service. My Icom 47-A also has a problem
that I have lived with since I got it last year. The transmit carrier
has a PLL loop whine that is quite noticeable. Icom says they are aware
of the problem but have no fix. I spent $415 for a high quality radio
only to be told that is the way it is and you'll have to live with it.
By the way I also own Kenwood VHF and HF equipment and have no problems
with any of it!
Rick Booth, K2SA
Eastman Kodak Company {allerga,seismo}!rochester!ritcv!husky!fablarry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) (10/26/85)
> ... > Apparently the problem was built-in... foil lifting from the PWBA! The > repair was called a "jumper-job"... It cost me $65 plus time and > postage. I feel an honest company would have stood behind the product > and repaired the problem without cost. > > Much like the issue with the Kenwood VHF Power Modules... If the arrl > really had it's stuff together, they would have brought a class action > against Kenwood on behalf of all American Radio Operators... A > strong message to all ham radio manufactures that we are fed up with > poor design/engineering and won't take it any more! Aw, come on... Didn't anyone ever wonder why ham-quality gear cost an order of magnitude less than commercial-quality gear? And TWO orders of magnitude less than military-quality? You get what you pay for. Period. I have looked at so-called commercial versions of hand-held radios made by ICOM, Wilson, etc., and that stuff is real trash compared to GE, Motorola, Repco, etc. - of course, it costs a lot less, too. === Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York === === UUCP {decvax,dual,rocksanne,rocksvax,watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry === === VOICE 716/741-9185 {rice,shell}!baylor!/ === === FAX 716/741-9635 {AT&T 3510D} syr!buf!/ === === TELEX 69-71461 ansbak: ELGECOMCLR {via WUI} ihnp4!/ === === === === "Have you hugged your cat today?" ===