I noticed a HF SSB for sale on ebay

jerrytug

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Thanks for sharing, but..I wouldn't bid on that, for a very good reason: He has ticked the ebay box which says used but operational, in good working order. Then, in his description, he says it appears ok 'to the eye' but it's completely un tested!
So it could be a plastic box full of fried components..or half empty.
Anybody who tries it on like that is balatantly fraudulent, or very close to the line anyway.
Alternatively, if the seller is too retarded to read simple ebay rules, how could they accurately describe a complex thing like a marine SSB radio?
I would give it a massive swerve, there is no shortage of used radios, all the best, Jerry.
 
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Koeketiene

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It's a reasonable price so far, although it isn't suitably marked as compliant for Europe so in theory you would be breaking the law to fit it to your boat….

Just in case anyone was looking for SSB (to use outside Europe obviously!)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ICOM-MF-H...io_Receivers_Transceivers&hash=item19eaa4e137

Thanks for the heads up.

However:

All in good condition to the eye but untested.

For the same money, you're left with a pile of electronic junk.
 

JumbleDuck

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Thanks for sharing, but..I wouldn't bid on that, for a very good reason: He has ticked the ebay box which says used but operational, in good working order. Then, in his description, he says it appears ok 'to the eye' but it's completely un tested!

I woudn;t be so hard on him. The only category lower than "used" is

For parts or not working

An item that does not function as intended or is not fully operational. This includes items that are defective in ways that render them difficult to use, items that require service or repair, or items missing essential components. See the seller’s listing for full details.

which really doesn't cover the case of something believed, but not known, to be OK. I've sold a few things I couldn't test but thought were OK as used; I always say that if it's faulty I'll refund. Mind you, this seller has said "No returns" ...
 

jerrytug

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Seller can say what they like about returns. If buyer is paying by PayPal and there is a problem the buyer is likely to get a refund if they have returned the goods by trackable means.

That's good to know, perhaps, as Jumble said, I was being over suspicious, someone might get a bargain.
I would prefer to buy a radio off someone who had been using it, or at least could be definite about whether it was working or a random, pot-luck, box of magic smoke!
 
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oldvarnish

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Actually, it's not easy to test an SSB unless it's on a bench in front of an engineer.
There's no one to make a radio-check to, and in the unlikely event you've got a mate on the other side of the marina, testing with him won't tell you much.
After I'd done my installation, the only testing I could do was when I made the first call some months later out at sea.
I daresay someone knowledgeable will know a way of testing an installation.
 

BobnLesley

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"Good luck to anyone interested. I had one on a previous boat and got diddly squat from it."

Some of the best days of the last year were those on which we sold/gave away/dumped by the dinghy-dock bins, every single bit of SSB stuff we had. No, I tell a lie, we still have a Degen SSB receiver on board, though I haven't tried (and failed) to get anything worthwhile out of that in six or eight months!
 

john_morris_uk

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"Good luck to anyone interested. I had one on a previous boat and got diddly squat from it."

Some of the best days of the last year were those on which we sold/gave away/dumped by the dinghy-dock bins, every single bit of SSB stuff we had. No, I tell a lie, we still have a Degen SSB receiver on board, though I haven't tried (and failed) to get anything worthwhile out of that in six or eight months!

I am saddened to hear that story. I have had an immense amount of pleasure plus a generous amount of local knowledge relayed to me via SSB when On various yachts on various Ocean passages. If your setup didn't work very well, don't tar all setups with the same brush...
 

Koeketiene

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Actually, it's not easy to test an SSB unless it's on a bench in front of an engineer.
There's no one to make a radio-check to, and in the unlikely event you've got a mate on the other side of the marina, testing with him won't tell you much.
After I'd done my installation, the only testing I could do was when I made the first call some months later out at sea.
I daresay someone knowledgeable will know a way of testing an installation.

Ostend Radio still keeps a listening watch on 2182.
You could try to radio check with them.
 

john_morris_uk

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That's good to know, perhaps, as Jumble said, I was being over suspicious, someone might get a bargain.
I would prefer to buy a radio off someone who had been using it, or at least could be definite about whether it was working or a random, pot-luck, box of magic smoke!

I understand your suspicions but many sellers put such caveats in their listings.

Its also just over £200 at the moment as against the nearly £900 of the one that says its been serviced and tested. £700 premium is a hefty wedge of money, and I would be optimistic about the cheaper one working perfectly.

(But I would be speaking from the position of an ex radio/rf engineer who wouldn't have too many qualms about fixing the thing if it was faulty. Perhaps that colours my judgement when it comes to buying radio gear?)
 

jerrytug

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I understand your suspicions but many sellers put such caveats in their listings.

Its also just over £200 at the moment as against the nearly £900 of the one that says its been serviced and tested. £700 premium is a hefty wedge of money, and I would be optimistic about the cheaper one working perfectly.

(But I would be speaking from the position of an ex radio/rf engineer who wouldn't have too many qualms about fixing the thing if it was faulty. Perhaps that colours my judgement when it comes to buying radio gear?)

Fair one, also being an Icom, they have good customer service, the circuit diagram and spares should be yours for the asking!
 
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