Vito wrote:

*I* would *never* do it because I *always* obey FCC rules but I've heard
of certain scofflaws programing marine SSB channels into $725 Icom 706s
for use with a $200 automatic tuner or even a (gasp) killer-watt
amplifier ... (c:

The M802 is bi. It comes legal for both ham and marine SSB. They have
actually made it fairly easy to tune ham style.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

Glenn Ashmore wrote:

Vito wrote:

*I* would *never* do it because I *always* obey FCC rules but I've heard
of certain scofflaws programing marine SSB channels into $725 Icom 706s
for use with a $200 automatic tuner or even a (gasp) killer-watt
amplifier ... (c:

The M802 is bi. It comes legal for both ham and marine SSB. They have
actually made it fairly easy to tune ham style.


Yes indeed, and for only $975 more .... (c:.

Vito wrote:
Glenn Ashmore wrote:

Vito wrote:


*I* would *never* do it because I *always* obey FCC rules but I've heard
of certain scofflaws programing marine SSB channels into $725 Icom 706s
for use with a $200 automatic tuner or even a (gasp) killer-watt
amplifier ... (c:

The M802 is bi. It comes legal for both ham and marine SSB. They have
actually made it fairly easy to tune ham style.



Yes indeed, and for only $975 more .... (c:.

Now I'm not say'n anything agaist the 706. I ripped those two SM caps
off the top board about 15 minutes after mine arrived. Would have done
it sooner but needed to make sure it worked before I voided the
warranty. :-) Added an AT-11 autotuner kit for another $90. I have
become real attatched to this little bugger and plan to mount it right
next to the M802 for just in case. :-)
--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

What bothers me about the M802 is its openness. The case is open.
The cooling fan is INSIDE pulling the boat's salt-soaked, humid air
into the case where ALL the boards, those cheap little white
connectors they use on the antenna tuner and control cable connection
are all over the boards INSIDE the case. Nothing is sealed, nada.

One wonders if this is actually a catch-all radio used in many
services with simply a different "programmer" front panel to change
the access EEPROM from, say, marine to commercial to ham to whatever.
It's, obviously, NOT a "marine radio", like its SEALED companion M602
sitting right next to it in our panel. I told IcomAmerica they should
have made them the same way, with an external, replaceable fan, if
needed. There isn't any place inside a BOAT that won't make it
corrode......as any sailor knows.



Larry W4CSC

3600 planes with transponders are burning 8-10 million
gallons of kerosene per hour over the USA. R-12 car air
conditioners are responsible for the ozone hole, right?

"Larry W4CSC" wrote in message
...
What bothers me about the M802 is its openness. The case is open.
The cooling fan is INSIDE pulling the boat's salt-soaked, humid air
into the case where ALL the boards, those cheap little white
connectors they use on the antenna tuner and control cable connection
are all over the boards INSIDE the case. Nothing is sealed, nada.

I was working on a 96 ft yacht, some weeks ago. I was also wondering about
this. Many units from expensive equipment were open: power supply units from
the Sailor VHF's and even the black boxes from all (3) satellite systems.

OTOH, I recently received one of my multiplexers back after a year of
cruising: no oxidation whatsoever. And these are also open to salt air.

Meindert

Is your multiplexer open to the air or is it potted, like Noland's,
where only the rust-proofed terminals are exposed? In the Icom the
whole thing is exposed.

The chinzy board connector failed before we ever got it to sea last
weekend. This is the connector that connects the antenna tuner
control cable to the main radio cabinet. The owner had bumped it
sideways while installing a red/white light into the nav station,
bending the cheap, flimsy contacts inside the cable connector. You
can hardly crimp them on the cable without distorting them and Icom
gives you NO SPARES in case you destroy one installing it. How
stupid. It needs a REAL connector. A twist-lock connector like goes
on the M602 would be nice. There's plenty of room inside the air
plenum for it where it is currently mounted.

Why does pleasure boat electronics have to be so damned cheap?



On Wed, 8 Oct 2003 06:54:03 +0200, "Meindert Sprang"
wrote:

"Larry W4CSC" wrote in message
...
What bothers me about the M802 is its openness. The case is open.
The cooling fan is INSIDE pulling the boat's salt-soaked, humid air
into the case where ALL the boards, those cheap little white
connectors they use on the antenna tuner and control cable connection
are all over the boards INSIDE the case. Nothing is sealed, nada.

I was working on a 96 ft yacht, some weeks ago. I was also wondering about
this. Many units from expensive equipment were open: power supply units from
the Sailor VHF's and even the black boxes from all (3) satellite systems.

OTOH, I recently received one of my multiplexers back after a year of
cruising: no oxidation whatsoever. And these are also open to salt air.

Meindert




Larry W4CSC

3600 planes with transponders are burning 8-10 million
gallons of kerosene per hour over the USA. R-12 car air
conditioners are responsible for the ozone hole, right?

"Larry W4CSC" wrote in message
...
Is your multiplexer open to the air or is it potted, like Noland's,
where only the rust-proofed terminals are exposed? In the Icom the
whole thing is exposed.

My multiplexers are not potted. That would prevent any opportunity to repair
it or upgrade the software. I have given this a lot of thought and I have
looked at other equipment that is not meant to be used outside the cabin.
Many profesional equipment is also open to the air and the computers that
people will connect the multiplexers to, are open too.

The chinzy board connector failed before we ever got it to sea last
weekend. This is the connector that connects the antenna tuner
control cable to the main radio cabinet. The owner had bumped it
sideways while installing a red/white light into the nav station,
bending the cheap, flimsy contacts inside the cable connector. You
can hardly crimp them on the cable without distorting them and Icom
gives you NO SPARES in case you destroy one installing it. How
stupid. It needs a REAL connector. A twist-lock connector like goes
on the M602 would be nice. There's plenty of room inside the air
plenum for it where it is currently mounted.

I chose screw terminals. They are rigid and in many cases where people
install equipment, the first thing they'll do is cut off fixed connectors
because the cable has to go through a hole or gland.

Why does pleasure boat electronics have to be so damned cheap?

Because the consumers want it to be :-)

Meindert