Anyone got a Silva S15 VHF?

[Medskipper]

Bought a Silva S15 VHF around March this year. Fitted on the flybridge, cut out a slot on dashboard and facia mounted it, had to be fixed in with waterproof mastic according to Silva. Anyway job all done looked great, new arial fitted and clean 12v supply direct to the batteries. All worked well, but I noticed that it was not picking up stations that my old Navico VHF was! and people told me that I was not clear when transmitting.

On our Hols we cruised the south coast after about a week it stopped working! everything fired up but no sound! contacted Silva, I have to say they where very good about it, they arranged for me to pick up a replacment in Poole. Fitted the new one (you need that whilst on hols!!) and off we went, few rough days and a bit of spray over the bridge and low and behold there is now a mist behind the glass screen! I have now written to Silva and told them I dont have faith in their product and I want my money back! This VHF was about £320. so its not the cheapest you can buy, I'm very disappointed, any know of other problems with this model?

I aso found that this replacement still was not picking up stations like my old Navico! Arial is the same length and new so why? anyone know?

Barry


<hr width=100% size=1>I just want to retire with my boat to the Med!

 

[TargaLout]

Unfortunately I bought a Silva S15. I had 7x different delivery dates for the Navtex Dual Frequency Antenna all come and pass, eventually got it a year later. I eventually got round to installing it earlier this year. Very "Tinny" sound on receive and according to other boats that I have travelled with I come over muffled. The description is like I've got my hand over the microphone? Also there can not be any form of low frequency rejection coz it constantly buzzes when my fridge is on which is 3 meters away. The ever-so-nice 8x40 LCD display has just recently got a couple of permanent rows of black lines across it all this and I have hardly used it, and dont bother trying to read it in sunlight as the display goes totally black !!. Silva UK aren't that bothered and are accusing my fridge manufacturer as the cause, but the previous unit didn't make that noise.
My opinion is its cheap crap!! I should have bought a Simrad DSC or something that is well known and well made. I would not want to rely on it, I would not recommend it to anyone it is going over the side when I'm at the boat next. All IMHO though!!!

<hr width=100% size=1><http://www.fairlinetarga37.com>

 

[Medskipper]

I'm very sorry to hear that! I had thought that it was a reasonable set as its price is twice that of a lot of DSC sets about at the moment, I am demanding my money back, but I think I'll be very lucky to get it!

Silva have several models of VHF including hand helds, I wonder what other people feel of their products in general?

Barry


<hr width=100% size=1>I just want to retire with my boat to the Med!