VHF radio problems

[Twosheds]

I need a bit assistance with my GME GX600 VHF radio. Don't know how old it is or its history as it came with the boat when I bought it 12 months ago. The antenna is a 2.4m GME. My boat is a Cruisecraft Outsider 550 with the two radio antennas (VHF & 27 meg) mounted either side of the cab.

The problem is as follows - when calling Port Stephens VMR with direct line of sight to their base they tell me they are receiving my radio at strengths of 4 or 5 on Ch16. When going to working Ch 73 and 72 they receive me at strengths of 2 or 3 and very scratchy. When offshore fishing with no line of sight to the VMR base (ie islands or hills in between) I can't raise the VMR at all on either Ch16 or 73. However I have no trouble raising them on the 27 meg radio from the same location. The distance is about 25km from the VMR base. Also I don't receive VMR or other boats transmissions on the VHF, even on scan.

I have read through some previous threads re VHF problems and have done the following:
- checked mode to make sure it is in international mode
- replaced in-line fuse
- cleaned and retightened electrical connections to bus-bars
- there are no splitters for the AM radio in the antenna cable (that is on the 27 meg)
- I've even read the destruction manual but no joy there - its pretty basic.

When the problem persisted I figured it must be the antenna so I replaced that with a new one - a hundred bucks later and still the same old problem (but I do have a flash new antenna).

Any ideas on where I should go from here, have I missed something really obvious (it wouldn't be the first time)??

I have considered binning the radio and replacing it. I have read some good reports of the Icom VHF radios here on ausfish - are they the way to go at the moment???

Any help or your thoughts greatly appreciated

Regards
Twosheds.

[manboat]

Mate I just went thought the same drama with my radio...it was receiving fine but not sending...went to the shop and got a new one for about $240

Not worth the hassle to fiddle if you ask me and I have the piece of mind knowing that if I call someone will answer

[dreemon]

Mine just started doing the opposite, sending but not receiving clear,

[Twosheds]

Manboat

I reckon you're right. I've just ordered a new one to save on all the hassles. The Icom M304 seems highly recommended by lots of ausfishers so thats what I went with.

[Spin]

You have it on hi power 25 watts right not low power
16 and 73 are only simplex.
Have they got repeaters around there find out what frequency they are on
and try them?
Might help.
like 80 81 82 ect.

[Jasinex]

i had the same problem... couldnt hear anyone ... so not sure if it was doing anything... binned it and bought a icom 304... best $300 i ever spent... cant compromise safety... still going as good as new 12 months later

Jason

[Twosheds]

Thanks Spin. The radio was set to high power. I didn't think of the repeater channels, I'll talk to one of the radio enthusiasts at my local VMR and find out if there are repeaters that cover the Port Stephens area.

Ordered the Icom M304 but apparently they are no longer available (at least from W---worths marine) and have now been supersceded by the M411. Hope it is as good as the M304.

[Marlin_Mike]

Twosheds,

have a read of this at the link below, will help you a good deal. It's about repeaters in NSW and lists the channels for each area from QLd Border to Vic border.

http://invisiblecommunications.com.a...repeaters.html


Cheers

Mike

[SatNav]

1. Users should not be confused by some of the comments above as the difference between so called simplex and repeater channels is a very grey area.

2. Marine repeaters could effectively be installed on any marine VHF channel but is limited to the typical marine VMR and coastguard channels which in some states is licensed, run, owned and operated by those organisations.

3. Channel 16 & 67 are not necessarily straight simplex depending on which state you are operating in.

[Spin]

Radios are programed to work on repeaters (duplex frequencies )only.
So you cant just put repeaters on any channel
unless you want to reprogram everyones radio.