T&T: Icom - bad support

[Bill]

Similar support experience with ICOM.  I bought a top of the line
fixed-mount VHF that had all the symptoms of inverter noise.  I borrowed a
friend's $99 Uniden and hooked it up to the same antenna and same power
cable.  There was zero noise on the Uniden.  I then tried another brand
(can't remember which) and it, like the Uniden, was completely noise free.
I plugged the ICOM back in and it was just a noisy as before.  

 

I sent the radio off to ICOM (under warranty).  Many weeks later, I was told
the radio checked out fine.  I was told the problem must be my inverter.
When I explained the troubleshooting I had done, ICOM said they didn't care
what I had done; the problem was not in the radio.  Maybe I do have a noisy
inverter but the noise filters in the cheap Uniden handled it and the ICOM
did not.  I wonder if ICOM's bench testing fails to simulate real install
conditions.    

 

I now have a Standard Horizon that I love - noise free, clear reception, and
clear transmission and no attitude problems with sales/support.  (No
connection to ICOM, Uniden or Standard Horizon - just a dissatisfied ICOM
customer and a happy SH one.)

Bill

"Tapestry"