Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 28 July 2004, 13:44   #1
RIBnet supporter
 
Brian's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Isle of Man
Town: Peel, IOM
Length: no boat
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,511
RIBase
Simrad RD68-My Experience

I have had 3 Simrad RD68s in my time. One on each rib I have owned.
All have worked fine and I have recommended this unit, on this forum, to others.
Recently, my latest unit, under 3 years old, has started to issue, every hour or so, a series of 4/5 quick beeps.
There is nothing in the manual or on Simrads website that mentions beeps at all.
Simrad have not read or replied to the e-mails I have sent them.
Upon phoning I was told that this unit needed a software update and I was to send the unit back to them.
Today they have sent me a quote to have the update done which MANDATARILY involves swapping the front panel. The quote is for £380.27.

So lets get this right. They make a radio that beeps, and want me to pay £380.27 tp stop it beeping!!

Jon Brooks, e-mail on it's way to you asking you to nominate my nearest ICOM dealer!!
__________________
Brian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 July 2004, 14:30   #2
RIBnet supporter
 
Nauti Buoy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: West Wittering
Length: no boat
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,447
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian
So lets get this right. They make a radio that beeps, and want me to pay £380.27 tp stop it beeping!!
Why are they quoting you £380.27 to repair when you can buy a brand new Simrad RD68 DSC VHF Radio with fist mike for £276 plus delivery?
__________________
Nauti Buoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 July 2004, 16:48   #3
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Brixham, Devon
Boat name: FLY-BY/FLY-BY II
Make: Ribcraft/Avon
Length: 6m +
Engine: Honda 175/Yamaha 30
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 311
I was just about to say the same thing Brian.
If you want a quote for an Icom give me a ring, you know the number I think.
I am not an Icom dealer but can supply via an account I hold with a distributor.
Do you want to have a look at my Icom M601? Absolutely fantastic bit of kit, well worth the extra money.
I have had 2 Simrad and both had faults hence now ICOM for fixed and H/Helds.

Jon (Brooks) can you use the fog horn system as a normal boat horn? Have tried to find it but maybe I should read the handbook!
__________________
David

Torbay & Dartmouth Powerboat School
01803 855508
The South West Premier RYA Powerboat Training Centre
www.powerboat-instruction.co.uk
David Hickman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 July 2004, 21:58   #4
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: York/Kingsbridge
Boat name: No Nonsense
Make: Prosport
Length: 7m +
Engine: 250hp
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 73
I have one of Dave's old boats and can confirm that the screen is still "iffy". The image keeps disappearing; a call to SIMRAD was of no help whatsoever, they just said take it out of the boat, send it in and we'll have a look. For a fee, of course. Pity it's not GARMIN, great guys, and always helpful.
__________________
wetterthebetter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09 August 2004, 10:51   #5
RIBnet supporter
 
Brian's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Isle of Man
Town: Peel, IOM
Length: no boat
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,511
RIBase
Just thought I would update you all..............
I phoned Simrad on the 24th July refusing to pay £380.27, asking for the immediate return of my beeping radio and drawing attention to their extortionate servicing practises.
No radio received.

Phoned again last Monday "We will send it out today Sir".
No radio.

Phoned today.
Simrad "We havent done the work yet"
Me "You are not supposed to do the work!!!!!!!!!!!! Send it back NOW"
Simrad "You should get it tomorrow Sir"

Any bets or am I just being Alf Garnett again?
__________________
Brian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09 August 2004, 11:34   #6
ozz
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: portsmouth
Boat name: bojangles
Make: scorpion
Length: 8m +
Engine: yanmar
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 159
I am also in posession of a beeping rd68. Judging by the stress you have had - I think i'll put up with it!

Mine has recently started to cut out completely but hopefully its just a loose wire I can trace...

ozz
__________________
ozz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09 August 2004, 12:17   #7
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: ramsgate
Boat name: Micki Dee Bee
Make: Ribcraft Seasafari
Length: 9m +
Engine: Twin 250hp Suzuki
MMSI: 235057235
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,622
Send a message via MSN to Jon Brooks
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Hickman
I was just about to say the same thing Brian.
If you want a quote for an Icom give me a ring, you know the number I think.
I am not an Icom dealer but can supply via an account I hold with a distributor.
Do you want to have a look at my Icom M601? Absolutely fantastic bit of kit, well worth the extra money.
I have had 2 Simrad and both had faults hence now ICOM for fixed and H/Helds.

Jon (Brooks) can you use the fog horn system as a normal boat horn? Have tried to find it but maybe I should read the handbook!

You need a 24w hailer horn

Regards
__________________
Jon Brooks VSMM. Marine Mammal Medic, PBI, SRC Assessor,PWC Instructor.
www.horizonseasafaris.co.uk
Jon Brooks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 August 2004, 18:29   #8
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: York/Kingsbridge
Boat name: No Nonsense
Make: Prosport
Length: 7m +
Engine: 250hp
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 73
For info..

my RD68 has been cutting out today on the water. Powering down completely, and the display disappearing.
__________________
wetterthebetter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 August 2004, 18:32   #9
RIBnet supporter
 
Brian's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Isle of Man
Town: Peel, IOM
Length: no boat
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,511
RIBase
Well, it's the end of Tuesday.
Stayed in all day and waited.
No radio.
Guess who is going to get another earfull on the phone tomorrow morning?
__________________
Brian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 August 2004, 23:19   #10
Member
 
Country: Ireland
Town: Ireland
Boat name: Ally Cat
Make: Several
Length: 6m +
Engine: Several
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 333
Icom here we come !!

We had numerous Sim Rad s here in the school. CE32 Chart Plotters and 64 and 68 VHFs.All bought in 2002 to 2003

All with the exception of one of the 68s have been scrapped after on average a year due to screen fogging.

For some reason the 68 on Ally Cat has refused to fog !! (Must have been a Monday morning radio!!)

We have tried contacting Simrad ...No Joy No Reply. We logged our disapointment at London, Paris, Dublin and Southampton shows....No follow up.

While I am on it we had the same probs with a JRC LCD Radar fitted to a training RIB !!!! JRC not interested either !!!

So we now choose Garmin and ICOM and are happy to reccomend the same to our many students and clients both leisure and professional !!

Stuart
__________________
Stuart McNamara
Club Powerboat.ie
www.powerboat.org
Powerboat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 August 2004, 23:12   #11
Member
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: St Martins
Boat name: MATRIX
Make: Jeanneau Leader 805
Length: 8.05
Engine: Volvo KAD 43 Diesel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 248
I too have a beeping Simrad I just turn it off and on. My dificulty is that I commissioned a guy who was doing marine electronics to order and fit me one. He did this and didnt send me an invoice, I chased for invoice, he then left the Island so I have not had mine registered for MMS (sp).

So I have put up with it as it was a free radio and I have no warranty docs or anything as the guy jumped ship and was not a registere Simrad agent.

Also having trouble being understood whilst under way which has happened recently.

Dom
__________________
www.soltron.co.uk
DepSol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30 August 2004, 22:38   #12
Member
 
Country: Ireland
Town: Ireland
Boat name: Ally Cat
Make: Several
Length: 6m +
Engine: Several
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 333
I spoke too soon !!

There I was thinking that I had the only non fogging 68 !!

Well today ( a nice warm dry day ) The screen finally fogged on our 13 month old simrad 68. In fairness though ....No Beeping ....Yet !

Does anyone from Simrad read these posts?

Looks like I'll be buying an Icom at the weekend. No point in having DSC when you can't read the screen !!

Stuart



Quote:
Originally Posted by Powerboat
We had numerous Sim Rad s here in the school. CE32 Chart Plotters and 64 and 68 VHFs.All bought in 2002 to 2003

All with the exception of one of the 68s have been scrapped after on average a year due to screen fogging.

For some reason the 68 on Ally Cat has refused to fog !! (Must have been a Monday morning radio!!)
We have tried contacting Simrad ...No Joy No Reply. We logged our disapointment at London, Paris, Dublin and Southampton shows....No follow up.

While I am on it we had the same probs with a JRC LCD Radar fitted to a training RIB !!!! JRC not interested either !!!

So we now choose Garmin and ICOM and are happy to reccomend the same to our many students and clients both leisure and professional !!

Stuart
__________________
Stuart McNamara
Club Powerboat.ie
www.powerboat.org
Powerboat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 August 2004, 09:17   #13
RIBnet supporter
 
Brian's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Isle of Man
Town: Peel, IOM
Length: no boat
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,511
RIBase
Stuart,

I dont think anyone from Simrad does read this Forum.
Two reasons:
1. They would have butted in by now and tried to defend/rectify our dissatisfaction.
2. When I spoke to them on the phone they said they did not use the internet (including e-mail) at all because they were getting too many viruses and spams.
Sounds to me they want a new IT guy along with a new Marketing Manager.
__________________
Brian is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 13:13.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.