Subj : Re: 2 meter license
To   : Angus Mcleod
From : Spaceman Spiff
Date : Sat Jul 31 2004 01:22 pm

  Re: Re: 2 meter license
  By: Angus Mcleod to KC8SZU on Sun Apr 18 2004 10:51 pm

 >   Re: Re: 2 meter license
 >   By: KC8SZU to Angus Mcleod on Sun Apr 18 2004 11:55:00
 > 
 >  >  > Yaesu.  Phhhttttt!
 >  >
 >  > Why do you say that?  I am always interested to hear peoples opinions on 
 >  > manufactures.  I don't like Icom because every Icom I have ever had, fell
 >  > apart.
 > 
 > You must be thinking "Kenwood".
 > 
 > If you want a very pretty, lots-of-flashing-lights-and-multi-coloured-dials
 > rig that will fall apart in two years (or less in a tropical climate) you bu
 > Kenwood.
 > 
 > If you want a rig that will look like new in 25 years, by a Yaesu.  It will
 > look like a new yaesu in 25 years time because new yaesu rigs always look li
 > 25 year old technology.
 > 
 > If you want a state-of-the-art rig with an Rx that will let you hear a mouse
 > fart on Mars, buy Icom!  But expect to pay for all that goodness...
 > 
 > 

OAAlso don't be supriised if you have to  send it back to the factoryy becuse
theree are bugs in the firmware several times until the can fix the problem. Oh
and if the firmware gets wiped out for mysterious reasons and you are left with
a fancy looking radio with a blank LCD screen and ICOM wants $200 to reflash
the the rom. Yes ICOM, (I)t (C)osts (O)utragious (M)oney

But if you are the Jacques Cousteau, Jane Goodall, or Angus exploring the far
reaches of the world, buy ICOM, better buy 2 or 3 just in case.

Ok, I will duck now!!!! 
My point is I don't care if it is Yaesu, Kenwood or ICOM, they all break and
all have their horror stories. I have an ICOM Dual Band IC-W2A in the box
complete with drop in charger and batteries, beautiful condition except the
memory has been wiped and it needs sent back to ICOM for reprogramming. The
cost to reprogram and shipping is about the same for what I could buy a new
ICOM dual bander.  So I have a nice paper wieght in mint condition. Maybe I
should use it as an aquarium ornament with bubbles coming out of it. :)

A friend of mine bought the ICOM mobile Tribander a couple of years ago and it
went back to the factory twice in 6 months for problems with it not doing what
it was supposed to do. 

I have seen Kenwoods fall apart to. And my Yaesu moblie has had the finals on
the 2 meter side go out.

No manufacturer makes a perfect product. Well, Motorola made some pretty good
radios back in the day but they were not HAM, though they can be converted.
That old Motorola stuff was tuff to break.

73 Mark

.