[Icom] Icom Collection

[David J. Ring, Jr.]

Have no doubts, Bill, the struck equipment will fail - I hope the adjuster
told them it was a total loss - don't deceive yourself and most importantly
don't accept any less than top $$$ for the damage - it is a total loss.

I wonder if the Collins 386 went too?  I have found that they also were
prone to this kind of damage, while the KWM-2 and the separates weren't.

I'll give you 50/50 odds that Icom will introduce a 706PRO at Dayton.

73

David Ring, N1EA


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "William Diamond" <wjdiamond@sbcglobal.net>
To: "Icom@Mailman. Qth. Net" <icom@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 2:40 AM
Subject: [Icom] Icom Collection


Hi Folks,


Well, it looks like I am going to have to make some hard decisions about the
Icom collection.

I spent some time with the insurance adjuster and an electronic equipment
repair center manager Friday. The manager was there to evaluate the home
side of the electronics that were damaged.  He found burned and charred F 59
connectors on every single damaged piece as well as a couple of melted coax
cables.

He was very adamant that although the big screen TV was operating with a
lousy picture it would soon die as would the other items that appeared to be
working somewhat.  He advised total replacement.

Now as to the ham gear, the adjuster had him look at some of it and he said
that it had received such a stressing of solid state components that it
could never be reliable again and would probably fail very soon.

Case in point, even though one of the 756 PRO II's came back to life as well
as an IC 7400 they died sat. night, no RX & no TX and another PS failed as
did the IC 761 & 765.

At first I thought the majority of the PS 125's came thru ok, but they are
dieing now, most are shorting so the transformer supplies did fair much
better after all.

Based on the amount of time and work on my part to build up the original
collection, I doubt that my health would allow me to do it again.  I have
therefore decided not to build the collection back. I will let the
collection "live" on the internet but not in the physical since as before.

In the coming weeks a shipping company will be here boxing up every last
piece of gear and sending it to various dealers for inspection and
recommendations.

What I am going to do at this point in time is to acquire the top two models
of all the major manufacturers for my personal use. The old Collins Black
line was not damaged in the slightest so they will still be on display.

The gear is going to several dealers for a couple of reasons, so no one can
say there was a "sweetheart" arrangement and that all the dealers can share
in the profits from the new purchases.

I guess I could just "take my chances" with some of the vintage stations,
but I have always prided myself with the 100% functional stations and I have
a lot of "visitors and guest operators" and I don't want the embarrassment
of a failed rig in my collection.

I will probably hold on to the 701, and the 720 just for "old times sake"

73

      William J. Diamond
       Rogers, Arkansas

    Ham Radio Operator WR0T

   Please Visit My Radio Site
        wjdiamond.com



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