Icom IC-703 *GARBAGE*

Moderator: Global Moderator Team

Post Reply
User avatar
KC9ECI
moderator
Posts: 3143
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2004 5:02 am
Location: The liver is evil....it must be punished!
Contact:

Icom IC-703 *GARBAGE*

Post by KC9ECI »

I purchased my 703 from HRO in October of 2004, by the end of January 2005, it was in the bench in Bellvue being repaired after it quit pumping RF in to the aether.  Took about a month to get back to me and worked fine up until I took it with on a once in a lifetime family vacation to Ireland.  Once again, it quit putting out RF.  

Here is the timeline to date for the 2nd failure:

23 August     Quit transmitting

26 August     Returned from vacation

27 August     Emailed Icom

30 August     Called Icom.  Told to send it in.

02 September     Sent 703 to Icom via UPS ground

06 September     Icom replied to Email

09 September     703 Arrives at Icom

16 September     I call Icom and inquire on the status.  I'm told it's going to be repaired, but it's going to take a while, told it has something to do with RD0, a FET, and that they are waiting for the part to come from Japan.
Since they can't order just 1, it may take a while, but not to worry, they're going to fix that radio up good as new.

22 September Emailed them again

23 September Got email from them telling me that someone would be in contact with me from the service department soon.

29 September Got tired of waiting for someone from the service department and called them myself.  Spoke to Chris.  He claims that there are at least 40 of these units in house waiting for the same part as mine is right now.  Replacement is not an option, and he claims he'll be surprised if its out of their shop in less than a month.

Flat out, this is my last Icom.  In fact, as soon as it gets back here, IF it ever gets back, I'm selling every last bit of Icom stuff that I have and the Brewers will win the Superbowl before I ever purchase anything from Icom again.
Police, Firefighters and EMS are the most collectively dysfunctional group of people in existence and only we understand each other!

http://w9idx.com/
User avatar
N5RLR
98247E-011400-8
Posts: 929
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2004 3:48 pm
Location: Dallas, TX USA
Contact:

Post by N5RLR »

WTF is RD0, what does it do in the circuit, and what makes it so special that they have to get a Japanese part? What, there's no Chinese/Singapore/Hong Kong equivalent? :OSS:
73 de Mike, N5RLR

* * * * * * * * * *
"To be is to do." -- Socrates
"To do is to be." -- Sartre
"Do be do be do." -- Sinatra


LICENSED 22 YEARS 1990 - 2012
User avatar
KC9ECI
moderator
Posts: 3143
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2004 5:02 am
Location: The liver is evil....it must be punished!
Contact:

Post by KC9ECI »

N5RLR wrote:WTF is RD0, what does it do in the circuit, and what makes it so special that they have to get a Japanese part? What, there's no Chinese/Singapore/Hong Kong equivalent? :OSS:
Beats me, but it must be pretty damn special.
Police, Firefighters and EMS are the most collectively dysfunctional group of people in existence and only we understand each other!

http://w9idx.com/
User avatar
KC9ECI
moderator
Posts: 3143
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2004 5:02 am
Location: The liver is evil....it must be punished!
Contact:

Post by KC9ECI »

No, the 703+ is the current model, the 703 has been discontinued. You'd think they'd just say the hell with it and send me a + just to keep a customer. Ah well....I always wanted a Yeasu or another Kenwood anyway.
Police, Firefighters and EMS are the most collectively dysfunctional group of people in existence and only we understand each other!

http://w9idx.com/
User avatar
91-7
HAM$EXY DAYTON $UPPORTER
Posts: 334
Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2004 8:16 pm
Location: C18 H21 NO3

Post by 91-7 »

I
Can
Only
Monitor

hammertime
Steve
User avatar
motorola_otaku
Cock Block
Posts: 6671
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2004 8:53 pm
Location: Stinkadena, TX

Post by motorola_otaku »

91-7 wrote:I
Can
Only
Monitor

hammertime
In between the images and intermod, you mean. :baby:
And the sign says you got to have a membership card to get inside.
User avatar
KC9ECI
moderator
Posts: 3143
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2004 5:02 am
Location: The liver is evil....it must be punished!
Contact:

Post by KC9ECI »

That YooHoo FT-817 is really starting to look good!
Police, Firefighters and EMS are the most collectively dysfunctional group of people in existence and only we understand each other!

http://w9idx.com/
User avatar
n3jfw
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 5969
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2004 1:55 am

Post by n3jfw »

KC9ECI wrote:That YooHoo FT-817 is really starting to look good!
i like mine so far
N3JFW 4:29 pm
(4:29:48 PM): so he's gay huh
(nameless ham) 4:30 pm
(4:30:02 PM): haha no, but he is a music major
N3JFW 4:30 pm
(4:30:15 PM): so he's still in the closet
User avatar
mancow
Moderator - Dayton 2007 Supporter
Posts: 1395
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 12:58 am

Post by mancow »

Alot of people complain about failing finals with the 817 too but I haven't had any problems yet.
User avatar
n3jfw
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 5969
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2004 1:55 am

Post by n3jfw »

what I hear is that you can go to the "hidden" menus and crank the power up to 10 watts-however, the finals tend to pop then
N3JFW 4:29 pm
(4:29:48 PM): so he's gay huh
(nameless ham) 4:30 pm
(4:30:02 PM): haha no, but he is a music major
N3JFW 4:30 pm
(4:30:15 PM): so he's still in the closet
User avatar
KC9ECI
moderator
Posts: 3143
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2004 5:02 am
Location: The liver is evil....it must be punished!
Contact:

Post by KC9ECI »

There is a FAQ on the Yaesu website about cranking the output on the 817 and they say:
Can I turn up the transmit power on my FT-817 to 10 Watts?

Don't even think about it.

While the transistors may be capable of putting out more power, everything else about the transceiver--the bias, the voltage ratings of the low-pass filter and other components, and the current-carrying capability of the conductors inside the transceiver are all designed around a maximum power of five watts. To turn up the power is to invite a costly repair that is not covered by the Limited Warranty on this product.
I guess that I'm liking the fact that it's got 6M, 2M, and 70CM, internal battery capacity, and is $100 less than the 703+. On the downside, small display and no built in tuner.
Police, Firefighters and EMS are the most collectively dysfunctional group of people in existence and only we understand each other!

http://w9idx.com/
va3wxm
98247E-011480-1
Posts: 2426
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:51 am
Location: FN03

Post by va3wxm »

What's with all this talk about flea power radios?

Real men run QRO!!

Life's to short for QRP! :baby:
User avatar
KC9ECI
moderator
Posts: 3143
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2004 5:02 am
Location: The liver is evil....it must be punished!
Contact:

Post by KC9ECI »

I just emailed Icom and asked if anyone was ever going to get in touch with me in a timely manner as I was told they would in an email dated 23 September.
Police, Firefighters and EMS are the most collectively dysfunctional group of people in existence and only we understand each other!

http://w9idx.com/
User avatar
n3jfw
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 5969
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2004 1:55 am

Post by n3jfw »

well poop on a stick!

I wish you lived closer
N3JFW 4:29 pm
(4:29:48 PM): so he's gay huh
(nameless ham) 4:30 pm
(4:30:02 PM): haha no, but he is a music major
N3JFW 4:30 pm
(4:30:15 PM): so he's still in the closet
User avatar
KC9ECI
moderator
Posts: 3143
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2004 5:02 am
Location: The liver is evil....it must be punished!
Contact:

Post by KC9ECI »

Hello Tom,



I do apologize for not getting back to you sooner regarding your 703 in for service. At this time it is awaiting for a part to come in from Japan and the ETA is not until mid Nov. I am sure we can both agree that waiting till then is out of the question. I would actually like to replace the unit, which took me to another dead end at this time. We do not have any new 703’s in stock and we will not be receiving them in until the end of this month. When we receive the new 703’s from Japan we will be replacing your 703 with a new one.



Once again I do apologize for not getting back to you sooner and apologize for the most unfortunate situation regarding your 703.



If you have any further questions, please let me know.



Thank you,

Paul Kao

Service Administrator

ICOM America Inc.

2380 116th Ave. N.E.

Bellevue, WA 98004

Phone# 425-586-6304

Fax# 425-451-1064

website: http://www.icomamerica.com
At least I'll have a nice new 703 still in the box to sell on Ebay to fund the purchase of a Yaesu!
Police, Firefighters and EMS are the most collectively dysfunctional group of people in existence and only we understand each other!

http://w9idx.com/
User avatar
N5RLR
98247E-011400-8
Posts: 929
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2004 3:48 pm
Location: Dallas, TX USA
Contact:

Post by N5RLR »

Hmm...and here I was considering an Icom for the mobile once I get a little more *ahem* financially solvent.

Well, back to the drawing board. :ham:
73 de Mike, N5RLR

* * * * * * * * * *
"To be is to do." -- Socrates
"To do is to be." -- Sartre
"Do be do be do." -- Sinatra


LICENSED 22 YEARS 1990 - 2012
User avatar
KC9ECI
moderator
Posts: 3143
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2004 5:02 am
Location: The liver is evil....it must be punished!
Contact:

Post by KC9ECI »

Hello Tom,



Actually I believe we only sell the 703+ so that will be what we replace it with. The 60M mod will also be done at no extra charge since it was paid for on your original unit.



If you ever need anything in the future Tom, please let me know. I seen the email you sent to our Tech Support Dept. today and I will take the blame myself. It is my duty to reply to all the Service emails and I will have to say that I had no intention to make anyone upset due to not answering the emails in a timely manor. I am not going to give excuses. I just want to let you know that it actually had a more positive affect. When I see someone unhappy because if it something I did, or in this case did not do, I want to work harder to make sure it does not happen again.



If you have any further questions, please let me know.



Thank you,

Paul Kao

Service Administrator

ICOM America Inc.
Police, Firefighters and EMS are the most collectively dysfunctional group of people in existence and only we understand each other!

http://w9idx.com/
User avatar
mancow
Moderator - Dayton 2007 Supporter
Posts: 1395
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 12:58 am

Post by mancow »

That guy could never work for Motorola!

It seems to be their mission to give everyone the fuck you
User avatar
motorola_otaku
Cock Block
Posts: 6671
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2004 8:53 pm
Location: Stinkadena, TX

Post by motorola_otaku »

As luck would have it, I know someone in Bellevue, WA. I'll see if I can arrange a poo flinging. :baby:
And the sign says you got to have a membership card to get inside.
w8znx
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:28 pm
Location: near detroit

Post by w8znx »

when it works
the IC-703 it's not a bad little rig
nothing to write home about
receiver is not so hot, but useable
( rec specs are better than the IC-706 )
small and easy to take along when traveling

bought a re pack IC-703, not IC-703+

WARNING WARNING

WHEN YOU BUY A ICOM REPACK
YOU DO NOT GET A ICOM WARRANTY

you get 30 day warranty from retailer
found this out after rig died 2nd time

did not work, when i bought it from retailer
would not receive above am broadcast band
would not transmit at all
some thing screwed up with band pass filter switching

shipped it back
got it back

still did not work, had not fixed the prob
had to ship it back agn

now have running rig
have some fun with it
take it camp cruise sailing in Canada
sail all day camp on shore during night
throw antenna in tree and play radio
in middle of nowhere

works great

three months later
intermitent receive
no transmit

its a repack to start with
so this rig has been back to the shop

once for the repack
twice when it first got it
and once more when it died agn

so four times to the shop
as of 16 sep 2006
its still in the shop
has been for over 7 months

abt 400 bucks for the rig
100 more for dsp
6 bucks for handle
125 bucks for cw filter
all the shiping say 70 bucks

so $700 in to a radio
that has spent most of its life in the shop

Mac
User avatar
VE9FC
102490-000000-1
Posts: 233
Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:17 pm
Location: Whitehorse, YT Canada

Post by VE9FC »

91-7 wrote:I
Can
Only
Monitor

hammertime
I got a IC-2100 H and have No Problem with Intermod.......
VY1FC
va3wxm
98247E-011480-1
Posts: 2426
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:51 am
Location: FN03

Post by va3wxm »

You haven't experienced the barn-door front end of the IC-2720. :tsgay:
User avatar
w4wtf
Dayton 2007 Supporter
Posts: 495
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: Take me down to the intermod city...

Post by w4wtf »

I got a FT-817 for $100 a xcouple weeks ago... jumped on the ad on the zed as soon as it was posted, picked it up in person.

I love the little thing.
kb3isa
2135
Posts: 51
Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2004 4:05 pm
Location: Long Neck, DE
Contact:

Post by kb3isa »

So you are the one that beat me to that one :mjban:
Willie | kb3isa | wpyr385
Image
User avatar
mancow
Moderator - Dayton 2007 Supporter
Posts: 1395
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 12:58 am

Post by mancow »

WTF? Was he crazy or was it hot or what?
Post Reply