Silva S15 - Page 4

Doug Stormforce · 02 January 2005, 19:37

Rupert

You may be interested to read this

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.p.../page/0#641327

It was posted today on another forum

DOUG

Rupert Bear · 19 January 2005, 17:03

I eventually got a refund through the insurance from the radios going "missing" on their way back to Silva.
I wouldn't recommend any of the Silva radios, Icom was actually cheaper and still going strong so far.

Hightower · 08 March 2005, 13:13

Just to revive this thread, anyone else other the Barry suffered with Squelch problems with their S10/S15's. Mines just stopped working!

Andy

Scary Des · 08 March 2005, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Just to revive this thread, anyone else other the Barry suffered with Squelch problems with their S10/S15's. Mines just stopped working!
Andy

No the screen on my one went

but they have replaced it and issued a new two year warranty

I think the real issue with these radios is not that they have one unreliable component it is that they have several things wrong with them, which is unusual these days, electronics seem so much better than ten or fifteen years ago. It doesn’t give me a lot of confidence, Jon how much for a icom hand held

Des

Jon Brooks · 08 March 2005, 14:48

Des

Icom IC-M1EuroV SRP £170.17 + Vat.
Icom IC-M31 SRP £122.61 + Vat.
Icom IC-M78 SRP £265.00 + Vat.

The radio I carry is the M1EuroV, great little bit of kit.
Is at a good price to at the mo.
It was £265 before Christmas.

Most dealers tend to offer the ex vat price as the inc vat price.

Regards

Jon

Scary Des · 08 March 2005, 14:58

Thanks Jon, now to persuade the wife,’ …don’t think of it as spending £170, look at it as investing in our future ‘ that might do it

wish me luck Des

Scary Des · 01 August 2005, 11:21

Had a stupid accident last week I managed to catch my foot between the steering wheel and my Silva radio while getting off the console

I didn’t hit it especially hard and didn’t even bruise my bare foot but I managed to crack the radio housing below the flange that holds the front cover on

When I took the radio out I was pleased to see that the crack had not damaged the front face at all and by removing 4 screws in the back of the front face and 4 screws in the back of the radio the damaged cover could be replaced, in fact it was the sort of job anyone could do with one Philips screwdriver

So anyway, reassured that the damage was not too bad and feeling stupid for being so clumsy I sent the radio back to Silva for repair.
On Friday I got a call from Silva to inform me that they would repair the radio but it would cost £229

The broken part even by vhf radio inflated prices can only cost £20 so they wanted £209 for labour cost

I could not believe this so I spoke to the service manager and it turned out that Silva has a repair by replacement policy so what ever the damage they will charge you the cost of a slightly discounted new one

Ok the damage was my fault but I was prepared to pay a reasonable price to get it repaired but this is really taking the piss and goes to back up what others have said about Silva.
I have had no problems with the function of the radio and last year when the screen went dead I got good service from Silva but now they have lost me as a customer

Icom here I come

Des

jwalker · 01 August 2005, 11:31

Send them the url of this thread.

Jon Brooks · 01 August 2005, 12:02

You could always ask for a right off radio for "training needs"
They may let you have one FOC, I am guessing they may have a few!

When the send it swap the cover over!

QED

And you never heard that from me

Regards

Scary Des · 01 August 2005, 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

You could always ask for a right off radio for "training needs"

All there ‘right-offs’ go in a box and are sent back to China, I get the impression that they have no ability to service or check much in the UK

and if you send a faulty radio back they simple take your word for it

trouble is with my radio it was a bit obvious that I had done the damage

I should have said that it blew up

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jwalker

Send them the url of this thread.

Good plan i will

Des

Scary Des · 01 August 2005, 14:53

Ps just bought a Icom M421

so I will see if this is size 9 proof

Des

Hightower · 01 August 2005, 19:32

I would put a wanted ad on RIBnet as I guess there must be a few on here that have bought Icom or another and just found a dark corner to put the Silva in

Scary Des · 23 September 2005, 15:19

Just a quick update for all you silva S15 owners out there

Finally got my radio back after silva said they couldn’t fix it and being nosy I flipped what was left of the case open to have a look.

The photo below is of the rear heat sink and it was sitting in 5 or 6mm of water

From what I can see this radio is far from water proof and judging by the corrosion already present it would be unlikely to last its warranty period

Now this could be a one off but judging by other comments I’ve hear I’m not convinced.

You were warned

Des

roycruse · 23 September 2005, 15:27

I agree - Avoid Silva if you want a waterproof radio.

I used to own an S10. I had a trip up the north cost of Cornwall and the heavens opened up on us and we got a good soaking - anyway - once the rain had cleared looked down at the radio and the display had gone off - would not come back on at all - eventually when i got back home took it apart dried it all off gave it a spray of the good old WD40 and she was OK again - but had it have been salt water that got in and had it been left for any length of time - no doubt the inside of it would have looked a lot like Des' S15

Stephen-RIB · 23 September 2005, 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scary Des

Just a quick update for all you silva S15 owners out there

Finally got my radio back after silva said they couldn’t fix it and being nosy I flipped what was left of the case open to have a look.

The photo below is of the rear heat sink and it was sitting in 5 or 6mm of water

From what I can see this radio is far from water proof and judging by the corrosion already present it would be unlikely to last its warranty period

Now this could be a one off but judging by other comments I’ve hear I’m not convinced.

You were warned

Des

Rumour has it that they are haulting production of these radios in favour of something a lot more reliable.

Daniel · 23 September 2005, 19:13

Is there not a trading standards issue here if they claim something they are not?

codprawn · 23 September 2005, 19:29

Just did my powerboat level 2 - instructors RIB had a Silva s15 - nothing but trouble with it - he is now on his 4th replacement and that has packed up as well......

tim griffin · 23 September 2005, 19:43

Mine is still trouble free but it is the fourth one I have been through.

Hope I have not jinxed it now .

Simon B · 26 September 2005, 11:43

I was looking at Silva for a new fixed set, I think I've finished looking at Sliva - Icom now on the cards - sounds like the customer service is good!

Daniel · 26 September 2005, 11:49

Icom product, features and support is A1. It's only their price that puts people off (IMHO) but personally i feel it's justified.