Good Service from ICS Nav 6 Navtex

[freedom44]

I was disapointed during our summer cruise to Northern Spain not to be able to get any weather forecasts on my ICS Nav 6 navtex. I could not work out if it was just me being in the wrong place or the equipment was faulty.
At SBS I talked to the guys on the McCurdo stand ( who have taken over ICS Nav 6) They explained a test proceedure which would isolate where the problem was , which clearly indicated that the equipment was faulty.
I was well out of any warranty period as I was one of the earliest to buy the dual frequency antenna; this may have been to my favour as I alredy had to have replaced the antenna in year 1; When I explained this they asked for the whole lot back, which I duly sent in . To my delight I have had sent back a new antenna and a reprogrammed display all FOC. Not bad!
They were so generous, they have even sent 2 antennas back, but I suspect this was a mistake!
For once, a pleasant experience dealing with a marine supplier.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sonnamara]

We had identical great service from McMurdo a couple of months ago when our ICS Nav 6 Aerial developed a fault - although they did only send one aerial back!



<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.insyst.co.uk>View my website</A>

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Only fitted ours earlier in the year, and had no reason to test McMurdo's service yet.

The equipment itself is definitely the mutt's nuts !

No doubt Tome will have something to say, soon. He has a very detailed understanding, including some of its weaknesses.

<hr width=100% size=1>I can't be bothered with a footnote - it's usually rubbish anyway.

 

[BigLes]

I bought one second hand recently, and although it was three years old it had never been out of it's box. I spoke with McMurdo about the firmware to see if it was the latest and during the conversation the engineer asked me about the batch number of the aerial. When I told him he insisted on supplying me a new casing as my particular one had stress problems and was likely to crack after exposure to the UV rays of the sun. They supplied me with a new casing free of charge, the engineer even met me on his way home from work to save delivery costs!

Excellent service I say - and hopefully an excellent product (well it works OK in my conservatory running from a 12v battery), so I'm sure it will be OK when fitted on the boat.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[rickp]

Can only agree with the comments so far. The aerial on mine gave up the ghost, and was replaced free of charge (despite it being a few years old). They also upgraded the firmware whilst they were at it.

On the face of it - they obviously have had some aerial issues, but have done the decent thing. Apparently customer service isn't dead.

Rick

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[JerryHawkins]

I have also had very good service from ICS, then McMurdo. When reporting a fault with my Nav6, I was quickly put through to a techie who helped me diagnose the fault over the phone. Turned out to be the antenna, so only had to send this back. Got a new one in a few days. Several weeks later had a letter from the customer services manager asking me if I had been happy with the service I had received!

I don't mind paying top prices for kit when I know I'll get good service if there's a problem. I wish more companies were like this. No good having cheap prices if you have problems getting the thing fixed if it goes wrong later!

Cheers, Jerry

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sui Generis]

I also had good service from McMurdo. However, I came away feeling that not all was well. I have now two ICS Nav6 and I don't trust either. The first went back because I didn't feel it was working properly; it was returned with a new aerial (good service) which was fine because I had heard that they had problems with a batch which cracked up in the sun. That sadly made no difference. Meantime I was off on a trip and wanted a Navtex, so I bought a second ICS 6. Equally sadly that was no better. Feeling disappointed, I conducted a simple experiment. I put the two sets in the same location with the aerials 3 metres apart. Between the two sets within the next hour some 15 messages were received. Only 3 were received by both sets; the other 12 were received by one or the other.

I wish I had your confidence in the set(s).

I now have a Furuno; not perfect(both frequencies but selectable, not both at the same time). It is far more reliable and receives most messages whereas the ICS6 only receives some.

The repeater functions and the basic principles of the ICS are great. The readout is fantastic. I just wish the Navtex reception aspects were also so. And yes it is earthed etc; yes it is up to date station data wise; one set is now at home some 50m above sea level and almost in line of sight with Cross Corsen and Niton (I live in Cornwall) and it receives Jack S.

In principle great; in design great; in my experience in practice I wish I hadn't wasted my money.

Sorry to be a minger.



<hr width=100% size=1>