Marcus AAkesson wrote:

On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 17:10:56 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

I was "rafting up" with a friend in his boat, and while we were
negotiating the boat hookup, I tried to stay in touch with the VHF. He
could not hear anything at all when I transmitted at the one watt
setting, but could hear me with some signal breakup at the 25 watt
setting. We tried several channels; same results.

It's not the antenna or its fitting, as far as we can tell, because we
hooked up a spare VHF and it did fine.

Check the incoming power for oxidation or loose connections, anything
that causes a voltage drop when the TX load kicks in. Common problem
and easy to overlook.


/Marcus

Hope you are right. I will be checking those danged connections again.

--
Email sent to is never read.

On Wed, 12 Nov 2003 18:24:58 -0500, Harry Krause wrote:

Marcus AAkesson wrote:

On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 17:10:56 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

I was "rafting up" with a friend in his boat, and while we were
negotiating the boat hookup, I tried to stay in touch with the VHF. He
could not hear anything at all when I transmitted at the one watt
setting, but could hear me with some signal breakup at the 25 watt
setting. We tried several channels; same results.

It's not the antenna or its fitting, as far as we can tell, because we
hooked up a spare VHF and it did fine.

Check the incoming power for oxidation or loose connections, anything
that causes a voltage drop when the TX load kicks in. Common problem
and easy to overlook.


/Marcus

Hope you are right. I will be checking those danged connections again.

Harry, have you checked the output with an SWR meter? They can be had at radio
shack for about $20. I got one for $5, but it was the last one and it did not
have instructions. You can find info on the internet for their use. Also, my
last radio had a wire broken right next to the hand mike. The break was inside
the insulation so I couldn't see it. I found it accidentally by wiggling the
wire when I had the mike in my hand.

It is really nice having an on topic discussion!!!!!!

John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD

On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 17:10:56 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

I have an ICOM VHF, model IC-M502, new this past spring, and two
weekends ago, I noticed it was not transmitting properly.

I was "rafting up" with a friend in his boat, and while we were
negotiating the boat hookup, I tried to stay in touch with the VHF. He
could not hear anything at all when I transmitted at the one watt
setting, but could hear me with some signal breakup at the 25 watt
setting. We tried several channels; same results.

It's not the antenna or its fitting, as far as we can tell, because we
hooked up a spare VHF and it did fine.

The friend believes there may be some problem in the M502's mike. My VHF
radio electronics knowledge is minimal. I am going to send the radio
back to ICOM for a look-see and repairs, but I'd like a better
indication from the experts here as to what might be the problem.

Any ideas?

Thanks!



--


How does it transmit a mile away? Your only problem may have been
being *too* close to the other boat.....

On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 17:10:56 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

I have an ICOM VHF, model IC-M502, new this past spring, and two
weekends ago, I noticed it was not transmitting properly.

I was "rafting up" with a friend in his boat, and while we were
negotiating the boat hookup, I tried to stay in touch with the VHF. He
could not hear anything at all when I transmitted at the one watt
setting, but could hear me with some signal breakup at the 25 watt
setting. We tried several channels; same results.

It's not the antenna or its fitting, as far as we can tell, because we
hooked up a spare VHF and it did fine.

The friend believes there may be some problem in the M502's mike. My VHF
radio electronics knowledge is minimal. I am going to send the radio
back to ICOM for a look-see and repairs, but I'd like a better
indication from the experts here as to what might be the problem.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

This is simple.

The ICOM VHF, model IC-M502 has a microchip that detects certain
speech signals and wave forms. I suspect you were grand-standing about
some political aspect, and the embedded micro chip filter kiced in.

I suspect that some extremest group designed and assembled that radio
to futher enrage the "enlightened". They need to silence you!

If you and your political buddies have an axe to grind, don't waste
valuable time posting here. Reach down deep into you pockets, and if
there are two round things haging, take your soap box and head on down
to your local park/marina (complete with bullhorn & flip charts) and
exercise your freedom of speech to enlighten the masses!

Here's the kicker. Isn't it frustrating that when you want to
discuss/read about boating issues, some jerk posts some political
cr*p, ..... but I know you'll understand. : )

Just a thought.