SSB M802/AT140 won't tune or transmit.

[Olorin]

I'm in Sydney Australia right now and we have a problem with our SSB rig.

I've got

1. an ICOM M802,
2. an AT 140,
3. two large Dynaplate grounds,
4. our port stay as an antenna, and,
5. a Pactor IV Dragon DR-9700.

The system has worked flawlessly since set-up in November 2011.
We left the boat here in Sydney in the water in May 2016 and returned December 2017.
The bottom was covered in sea life but is now clean.

I powered up the radio and I can receive but cannot transmit.
When I press the "Tune" button I can hear the transceiver click, the display shows "Tune" for 1/2 second and then reverts to "Thru".
The AT-140 beeps when it goes back to "Thru".

I checked all the connections, all were fine except:

1. the control connector at the AT-140, all the pins were corroded so I cut out the connector and crimped/but jointed the wires and they then checked out OK from the connector at the transceiver end through to the circuit board inside. and,
2. The crimp connectors on the GT-15 were corroded so I replaced them and got 0.1 ohm resistance end to end.

Still no luck.

The Dynaplates were covered in barnacles which I scraped off and wire brushed while in the water.
I have 0.1 ohm between the AT-140 ground output and the inside lugs on the dynaplates.
Could this be a cause of the problem?

Any other thought?

[BocaIII]

As a ham radio operator there is a process I go through to diagnose these types of problems. First, put a dummy load in place of the tuner to check swr to see if there is a coax issue. Advise results then we can go from there.

Jack
W4GRJ

[Paul Elliott]

Originally Posted by Olorin

I have 0.1 ohm between the AT-140 ground output and the inside lugs on the dynaplates.
Could this be a cause of the problem?

The 0.1 Ohm connection should not be an issue. Since your rig had been working previously, and you have seen corrosion problems on your connectors, I suspect corrosion internal to the tuner, or perhaps you still have connector problems. Of course, you should also check your connections between the tuner and the port-stay antenna

[Olorin]

Thanks for the quick replies.
I've ordered a dummy load and a VSWR Power meter which should be delivered tomorrow.
I've got good connectivity from the tuner to the shroud antenna and from the tuner to Dyna Plates.

Stay tuned ;-)

[BocaIII]

In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to use some contact cleaner on the coax & tuner control connectors.
Jack
W4GRJ

[Olorin]

Hello All,

I have received a VSWR Power meter and a dummy load.
I hooked them up and am getting no power out of the transceiver.
I checked the fuses and they are fine.
All connections have been checked and cleaned.

Any thoughts?
Does anyone know a good ICOM M408 repair company in Sydney NSW Australia?

regards,

Ross

[HankOnthewater]

I know of one Icom dealer/repairer, based in Alfred Yacht Club Pittwater, Newport. When I spoke to him he seemed very knowledgeable. Contact | ANDERSEN MARINE - ANDERSEN MARINEELECTRICS & ELECTRONICS
His name is Marty Anderson.

Second point, if you want to on-sell your dummy load and SWR meter, I might be interested.

[BocaIII]

Best to set radio mode to fsk or am when testing swr
If still no power out, radio needs repair.
Jack
W4GRJ

[Olorin]

It turns out that I have to send it to ICOM Australia near Melbourne which is the only facility to service ICOM marine gear in the country.

As a bonus, they will charge me $200 per hour instead of the usual $100/hour because the unit is a North American model which they don't sell here. Of course, all ICOM units are made in Japan so I don't understand the rationale for the rate increase.

I can understand that their technicians might take a bit more time as they will be less familair with the M802 vs. the M801E which they sell in Australia.

Stay tuned!

[BocaIII]

Major ripoff PA circuit the same in the 801 & 802
Maybe a lot cheaper and better service to send to Icom in Japan
Good Luck
Jack
W4GRJ

[HankOnthewater]

I agree with above. My understanding is that the 802 model is not formally allowed when HF installations are indicated in Oz, Icom Australia have sold and will sell you an 802 unit anyway.
Have a look at a new one, like this for $2000 aus$
Marine HF Radio & Accessories - Marine HF SSB Radios - radios.net.au shop
I guess these units are directly imported bypassing Icom Australia.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Olorin

It turns out that I have to send it to ICOM Australia near Melbourne which is the only facility to service ICOM marine gear in the country.

As a bonus, they will charge me $200 per hour instead of the usual $100/hour because the unit is a North American model which they don't sell here. Of course, all ICOM units are made in Japan so I don't understand the rationale for the rate increase.

I can understand that their technicians might take a bit more time as they will be less familair with the M802 vs. the M801E which they sell in Australia.

Stay tuned!

A chap named Mark Kyle used to run an Icom repair facility in the Brisbane area. A very competent techo who charged fairly. Don't know if he is still around, but worth a check IMO. IIRC it was called Kyle Communications or something like that.

Jim

[Olorin]

Update:
ICOM Australia repaired the radio and only charged me the normal rate of $100/hour.
The problem was a blown transistor at the front end which fried the biasing transistor.
It took them two hours to diagnose and fix.

In researching the problem I came across another CF member with the same problem. He was also using a PACTOR modem for HF emails.
I wonder if there is a linkage.

Big thanks to CF member Robert Tilbury who helped a great deal on this issue.

regards,