Garmin VHF marine radio problems?

[Lancair]

Hi, Ive got a Garmin VHF100i radio, that is playing up.
Last weekend, local marine rescue could receive my transmissions but I wasnt receiving anything until very close to the tower itself and with my squelch turned so low I had hash noise when not receiving. Another nearby boat was also able to be heard. Later on when trying to call MR from about 3miles out I received nothing by radio, but they called my mobile and told me they were receiving my calls loud and clear. Again when in very close range to another boat I could hear his Tx, but only with the squelch down lower than where it would normally be set.
On previous offshore trips Ive had no problems hearing Gold Coast Seaway tower from 8 miles off Ballina !

Andrew

[myusernam]

mate you could try your radio in somone elses boat just to rule out the antenna/cable. (you can transmit close by but path could be poor quality, attenuating weak receive signal) Turn theirs on first.. If they live near the coast (or you may have to do near water) and you can hear traffic switch antennas and see if your's will receive. Obviously if you can hear traffic on your mates, switch to yours and hear none, and then switch back and hear traffic again then that rules out your antenna and cable and you can then be confident to throw your radio in the bin and get a new one from the states for heaps cheaper than any repair will be. Just be sure to get one with international frequencies selectable (just about any).
My new IPX7 unit cost ($99 on sale plus $40 delivery) from capbelas. so cheap.

[Lancair]

As it turns out, my radio has died, well the Rx part has. Due to the hole being cut in the boat to mount this one etc etc. Ive bought another one the same, sure I couldve saved money buying from OS or Ebay, but I need to use my boat soon and dont need lots of hassles trying to install a different type/sized radio.
Ill send the old one in to Garmin for a repair quote, if Im likely to get back any repair costs plus some when I sell it on ebay, Ill get it fixed otherwise they can bin it.

[Lancair]

Just an update on the reply from Garmin re repairing my broken radio.
I had expected a "We dont repair radios, too bad so sad, buy a new one" type response to my email about repairing my out of warranty radio, istead I got the following.

In regards with replacing the
VHF100i out of warranty, Garmin Australasia has a like for like replacement
policy, as we do not repair products.

We can do this for you at a
replacement cost of $199 AUD.

I think thats pretty good customer service. The RRP for the VHF100i is $349.

[johncar]

Thanks for the heads up on the garmin policy, I have the same unit still going well, but good to know.

[Lancair]

The very Same thing has happened again.
Not happy. Worked fine this morning on heading out but dead on return.


Will be contacting Garmin Australia tomorrow.

[TheRealPoMo]

My Lowrance link 8 did the same. I wonder if they use the same manufacturer. The dog ate the mic cord a while back and I did a repair so I put it down to that. If I start the engine off the primary battery (old), the radio and souner turn off. ..wonder if undervolt killed it...

[Lancair]

I have a dual battery setup, both new batteries within the last 6months but never had any dramas with Garmin Sounder or radio turning off when starting etc.

I received a PM from a Garmin Australasia rep. Hopefully we'll get to the bottom of this.

[Lancair]

UPDATE: As mentioned I received a message from a Garmin Rep.

I have sent in the 2 radios that I have had die on me and was sent replacements.

Hopefully I will hear results of testing and maybe a clue why the radios stopped receiving?