Hi Ron;

Try MTS repair.

I tried to find the link and I couldn't.

But, I know he is still in business.


73 De Anthony w2ajv
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On Sep 13, 2005, at 6:57 PM, Ron Canazzi wrote:

> Hi List,
>
> I am new to the list and thanks for the easy to follow instructions
> from the
> list server manager.
>
> I do have an issue to report and a request for some suggestions as
> to my
> alternatives if any.
> In 2000 I bought an Icom 706 MK2G transceiver.  I liked that
> transceiver a
> lot and I used it quite easily for almost 5 years.  I noticed that
> earlier
> this year, I was having occasional power drop problems on UHF/VHF,
> but they
> were so intermittent that I figured I would wait until they got a
> little
> more predictable before I sent the radio in for repair.  Eventually by
> August, they did become more regular.  In addition, I began having
> problems
> with my AT-180 antenna tuner wherein it simply would not tune my 80
> Meter
> Windom antenna.  My Kenwood TS-450 with its internal tuner tunes
> the antenna
> very well and the match
> on the antenna is no worse than 1.2 to 1 on all bands.  Yet the
> problem with
> the AT-180 persisted.
>
> I sent the radio back to Icom's Bellvue Washington repair center
> and waited.
> After about 3 weeks, I received the shocking news that they simply
> couldn't
> repair the radio--that is short of replacing the main board and
> charging for
> at least 2 hours of work--a total cost of $750 US plus shipping.
> The radio
> sells for only a few tens of dollars more brand new and even the
> tech people
> said that they didn't recommend a repair.  They admitted to not
> being able
> to locate the defective components on the board that would cause
> either the
> gradual power drop on UHF/VHF and could not determine the cause for
> the
> malfunctioning AT-180--other than the fact that it had something to
> do with
> the radio itself.  They tested the tuner on a variety of other rigs
> and
> antennas including other versions of the 706 and it worked just
> fine.  so
> apparently it's clean of imperfections.
>
> In addition to the problems that Icom couldn't fix, I sent out a
> radio for
> repair--a radio that had a fully functioning speech board.  When I
> received
> the radio back, this speech function no longer worked.  I am still
> waiting
> for Icom's response on this matter.
>
> My first admonition is to those of you who have Icom equipment to
> realize
> that this is the treatment you might receive from Icom tech support
> if you
> have a problem that is complex with your unit.  In addition, I
> would wonder
> if anyone on the list would have a suggestion as to any third party
> that
> might be willing to repair the unit--take a bit of time with it--
> and perhaps
> not charge an arm and a leg for the repair or suggest an
> uneconomical board
> swap.
>
> Sorry for this rather lengthy post, but I am considerably
> disappointed with
> a company which I know 20 years ago used to have superior technical
> support
> for such receivers I own as the Icom R-7000 and the Icom R-71 A.
>
> Thanks for your patience.
>