[ICOM] My letter to Icom

[JV]

 Bob
    Have you checked to see if the center connector of the SO-239 is not
grounding to the chassis inside the radio? This has been a problem with
these radios. Also, there has been a problem with the power connector and
the fuses in the power line.
JV
==============================
 
Subject: [ICOM] My letter to Icom
 
 
 
The following is a letter I sent to Icom---They have had the rig in
Washington since the middle of September and can NOT duplicate the
problem..WOW I am
very frustrated!
 
 
 
To Whom It May Concern:
 
The following is a description of the problem my Icom 706 mk2g, serial
number 10276,  that I am sending for service.
 
The problems began more than a year ago, I was able to deal with it but the
problem has gotten progressively worse. Let me say the rig has never been
used
  in the car?It?s always been used as my one and only HF radio for home use.
 
On transmit, on all bands,( I don?t use 2 meters or 440)  using single
sideband, the rf power output drops almost to zero. Thinking this just may
be a  ?
meter? problem I checked the current draw. The current from an Astron RS 35
M,
also falls.  I have tried switching power supplies to another Astron, but
the problem  persists..
When the rf output falls?I sometimes find that  unkeying the mike and keying
it again?rf is back to full output. The radio after  a few minutes loses
power
again. At times when first using the radio, from a  cold start, there is
little rf.
 
I have disconnected the companion Icom automatic antenna tuner, AT 180, and
ran the radio into a manual tuner.  The problem does not go away.  I  have
swapped out the coax between the tuner and rig?but the problem  reappears.
The
swr on all bands is acceptable.
I have tried several  mikes, the hand mike that comes with the radio, an
Icom
rs15, and an Icom sm 20  thinking this was rf getting into the shack?the
problem persists.
 
One day in frustration I followed the manuals direction for ?resetting? the
radio to factory settings. Surprisingly the rig worked flawlessly for
several
  hours?and the old problem came back.
Finally thinking there may be other  issues in the shack I had a friend
bring
in his Icom 706 and hooked it up. IT  WORKS!!! That indicates to me the
problem is not shack related, but radio  related.
 
I have enjoyed  the radio many years prior to this problem.. I also  have an
Icom handheld and duel band rig mobile. I am sold on Icom and will  continue
to share with fellow hams my belief, especially if you can fix 706  mk2g?s
problem.
 
73'
Bob Reynolds-WB3DYE