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!!

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?
:]

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!

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.

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?

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

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

my RD68 has been cutting out today on the water. Powering down completely, and the display disappearing.

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?

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

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

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



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,

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.