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1-10 of 13 messages
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MARS mod on new radio
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by W9ADY on June 18, 2008
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Has anyone tried to purchase a new radio and have the vendor perform the MARS mod on it recently? I bought a new FT857D last month to use as a mobile ham radio but wanted the MARS mod so I could use it as a backup for my FT897D that I have in the shack. The vendor said they were no longer able to do the mod for me even if I provided a copy of my MARS license. I bought it anyway thinking I could find someone local to do it, but I haven't had any luck.
When I called the vendor to try to get it done by them again the service rep. said that they were no longer allowed to do any MARS mods. He said Yaesu would no longer send them instructions for the mod, that yaesu would only send it directly to the owner upon proof of MARS membership, and that it was up to the owner to get it done. Apparently the FCC had a discussion with Yaesu and there was now an informal agreement to actively suppress the mod from being done.
How is a new MARS member supposed to get a MARS capable radio? I asked on my state net if there was any source in the area for the mod and I didn't get a response. No one in the local radio club is willing to take the chance on my radio and I know I'm not qualified to add and remove solder on a circuit board. I don't know of any electronics repair shops in the area that I trust.
MARS doesn't provide access to radios or service. What happens if volunteers can't get radios anymore?
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RE: MARS mod on new radio
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by W3LK on June 18, 2008
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I can't imagine not finding someone who will do the mod for you. Any competent two-way repair shop can do it. Who did the one on your home rig?
Personally, if no one on your state net was willing to help you out, I'd be looking at switching MARS services.
Lon - NNN0OOR (Former MDE SMD, Deputy SMD, Assistant For Net Operations)
Southern New England Navy-Marine Corps MARS
Proudly Serving Those Who Serve
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RE: MARS mod on new radio
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by W5XE on June 23, 2008
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It appears to be a matter of changing some jumpers.
This procedure is listed in the dk-mods site at:
http://www.mods.dk/view.php?ArticleId=2717
Looks to be simple enough and after the change, a
reset is required - all instructions are there.
Good luck.
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RE: MARS mod on new radio
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by W9ADY on June 25, 2008
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I have a copy of the mod, in fact I have a modded FT-897 that uses the same circuits so I can see how its done. But when I think of changing jumpers I think of the little plug on jumpers that they used to use on computer motherboards. On these radios they are really small, close together jumpers on a printed circuit board that need to be bridged by solder or have the existing solder bridge removed. I don't feel qualified to solder on these. I'm pretty sure any mistakes I made would not be covered under the warranty.
I managed to find a place to do the mod, and I sent it off and just got it back. Only it took $25 in postage and whatever the shop is going to end up charging me and a couple extra weeks of time. There aren't that many local shops that will do this kind of work anymore, most just swap out components. There aren't any other MARS members close to me. I've only been in MARS about 6 months and I've never met another MARS member in person.
My point is that if new equipment vendors are not going to be willing to mod equipment for MARS members, it would be a good idea for MARS to set up a system to help new members deal with this. I'd chose a vendor based on whether they were willing to do the mod for me or not. Maybe one national vendor would enter into an agreement with MARS.
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RE: MARS mod on new radio
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by W9ADY on June 25, 2008
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"Personally, if no one on your state net was willing to help you out, I'd be looking at switching MARS services."
Yeah, I'm going to drop this NAVCORMARS thing and try the Army.
Or not. See my posts in the thread titled "MARS application".
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RE: MARS mod on new radio
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by W3LK on June 25, 2008
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Sir:
<< There aren't any other MARS members close to me. I've only been in MARS about 6 months and I've never met another MARS member in person. >>
You aren't going to like this, but if you have been in MARS for 6 months and haven't met another MARS member, you haven't tried very hard. There are 38 Navy MARS members in Illinois, including one in your own town.
<<My point is that if new equipment vendors are not going to be willing to mod equipment for MARS members, it would be a good idea for MARS to set up a system to help new members deal with this.>>
Most vendors are not wiling to mod equipment for any purpose. They get blamed for screwing things up when the owner gets the radio home and starts messing with it themselves. That said, you are the first person I've come across that had such problems finding a shop to do the work. As I said previously, given the mod details, any decent commercial two-way shop can do the work.
Sorry you are having a problem, but I've never run across a situation like your before and I have been in MARS for over 10 years.
Lon - NNN0OOR (Former MDE SMD, Deputy SMD, Assistant For Net Operations)
Southern New England Navy-Marine Corps MARS
Proudly Serving Those Who Serve
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RE: MARS mod on new radio
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by KE7EOZ on January 31, 2009
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I dont think he is the only one I ma in the smae situation, I wnat to purchase a new HT no dealer wnats to modified for me , I have mod the big radios before but the HT are to hard when you dont have the right equipament. so I think speacially with the new radios and technology is getting hard to do it yourself. something needs to be done or MARS new member wont be able to to do much anymore
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RE: MARS mod on new radio
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by W3LK on January 31, 2009
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KE7EOZ:
If you send your HT, along with a copy of your MARS license, to the manufacturer's authorized repair facility, they will do the necessary modification for you. It's THAT simple.
Please read my previous post as to why dealers won't/don't do out-of-band modifications.
With all due respect, hams who "can't" get their radios modified for MARS use haven't tried very hard.
Lon - NNN0OOR (Former MDE SMD, Deputy SMD, Assistant For Net Operations)
Southern New England Navy-Marine Corps MARS
Proudly Serving Those Who Serve
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RE: MARS mod on new radio
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by KE7EOZ on February 3, 2009
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Hi all I just talked to Icom amrica and they said they would mail you how to do it(which you already find online) but they wont do it. they said they do other goverment mod but not MARS you go figuere
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RE: MARS mod on new radio
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by W3LK on February 3, 2009
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That's interesting in that I know several hams who had ICOM service do the mod for them. Any authorised ICOM service center does them, as well.
I'm not sure what other "government" mods they are talking about. The Feds don't use modified ham gear, certainly not HTs. I think you got someone who doesn't know what they are talking bout.
Lon - NNN0OOR (Former MDE SMD, Deputy SMD, Assistant For Net Operations)
Southern New England Navy-Marine Corps MARS
Proudly Serving Those Who Serve
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