Icom m-31 charging and ilumination issues.

[daijinks]

Yes I bought a good looking secondhand icom 31 two way from a charity shop looking for a bargain. It my first radio as I'm gathering essential kit ready for summer.

Before I buy a new battery at £60, is there anyone in the London area that I can try out a working one to illuminate if its the handset thats faulty or just the battery?

Fault symptoms,
Will not turn on out of charger.
Makes blip noises via speaker when first placed on charge.
Shows orange light constantly (never green) but occasionally flips to green then quickly back again to orange after some time.
It will come on and display as functional with sound sometimes but lasts a short while then back to blank.
I can read the battery bars topping to 3 bars when on.
Contacts look all good and clean.
Its a Li on 7.4v pack that looks good.
Charging via the bc - 162 single bank and bc- 145 16v mains transformer.

Should I just give up now guve it back to a local charity and buy a standard Horizon.

Thanks for any pointers and help.

 

[Plum]

Yes I bought a good looking secondhand icom 31 two way from a charity shop looking for a bargain. It my first radio as I'm gathering essential kit ready for summer.

Before I buy a new battery at £60, is there anyone in the London area that I can try out a working one to illuminate if its the handset thats faulty or just the battery?

Fault symptoms,
Will not turn on out of charger.
Makes blip noises via speaker when first placed on charge.
Shows orange light constantly (never green) but occasionally flips to green then quickly back again to orange after some time.
It will come on and display as functional with sound sometimes but lasts a short while then back to blank.
I can read the battery bars topping to 3 bars when on.
Contacts look all good and clean.
Its a Li on 7.4v pack that looks good.
Charging via the bc - 162 single bank and bc- 145 16v mains transformer.

Should I just give up now guve it back to a local charity and buy a standard Horizon.

Thanks for any pointers and help.

Normally a very robust vhf so probably the battery. Mine is 20 years old and still good despite a few dunkings. You could try BP252 BP-252 Battery for ICOM Handheld VHF Marine Radio IC-M31 IC-M32 IC-M33 | eBay if you want to take a gamble.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Boathook]

Ring icom. I have in the past and they gave good advice over the phone but still involved them carrying out a repair.

 

[ashtead]

Does it have a battery tray to take 6AA batteries ? If it takes one might be a cheaper option than a new battery to try out . Just be aware if you do get it going the battery self discharges if left in body so always remove it . It’s not an issue with standard horizon. My icom from2001 still works after buying a new battery and charging cradle but you have to make sure the battery is fully bedded down when turning the screw on bottom. The great thing is it gives a second handheld for us that I’m not so previcious about compared to the dsc standard horizon. What happens is the original battery just gives up in fairly short order but replacement seems mor durable,mainly as different type I guess

 

[KompetentKrew]

is there anyone in the London area that I can try out a working one to illuminate if its the handset thats faulty or just the battery?

With a little perseverance you'll easily find someone to help.

I would try posting on the Facebook Solent crewing groups. There is also a London sailing Meetup group.

Put "London" in your submission title when posting again.