Repair my old VHF microphone?

[Murv]

Having recently acquired my first boat, I've made a start on sorting out the bits that need doing.
It has a VHF radio but one of the wires where the microphone joins the connection is hanging out and broken.
The radio is a Seavoice 550 seafarer range.
It will also need a mounting bracket made up or bought to hold it.
Apart from that it appears to work OK.

Is it worth, or even possible, to repair? my local chandlery is offering a Cobra F55 unit for £90.00, should I get one of those instead?

 

[VicS]

Having recently acquired my first boat, I've made a start on sorting out the bits that need doing.
It has a VHF radio but one of the wires where the microphone joins the connection is hanging out and broken.
The radio is a Seavoice 550 seafarer range.
It will also need a mounting bracket made up or bought to hold it.
Apart from that it appears to work OK.

Is it worth, or even possible, to repair? my local chandlery is offering a Cobra F55 unit for £90.00, should I get one of those instead?

I know that model, I think. The microphone has a multipin plug on the end of its cable IIRC. If you are saying that one of the wires has broken off at the plug it should be easy to repair provided you can identify which pin it has broken off.

Mounting bracket for radio or for microphone ??
Bracket for radio is simple enough.
I don't remember for certain what the mike bracket is like but it'll be possible to improvise something I am sure

Dont spend a mint of money on it. It is obsolete and if anything actually goes wrong repairs may be difficult or expensive.

It is a nice simple non DSC radio though.

 

[Bilgediver]

I know that model, I think. The microphone has a multipin plug on the end of its cable IIRC. If you are saying that one of the wires has broken off at the plug it should be easy to repair provided you can identify which pin it has broken off.

Mounting bracket for radio or for microphone ??
Bracket for radio is simple enough.
I don't remember for certain what the mike bracket is like but it'll be possible to improvise something I am sure

Dont spend a mint of money on it. It is obsolete and if anything actually goes wrong repairs may be difficult or expensive.

It is a nice simple non DSC radio though.

Open up the plug and see what is inside. If lucky just need to resolder the broken wire connection.

To open the plug loosen the two cable clamp screws then remove the tiny countersunk screw by the large threade ring clamp . The internals will then slide out of the large end.

 

[William_H]

Repair microphone

You may have to cut the cord and reterminate the wires. Make not of which go to which pin. Some wires are a devil to solder as they have string woven in to improve flexibility. You can ease the soldering by burning out the string but mostly they use tiny crimps to make connection. If all else fails you might find an old telephone and use the curly cord from that.
For a microphone mount just glue velcro to the back of the mic and the mating velcro to a convenient place.
good luck olewill

 

[VicS]

I wired one of these plugs , a long time ago.
IIRC the pins are hollow so the wires go down inside them.

To make a proper job you will probably have to cut the cable back and remake all the connections.

make a diagram first!

You'll need to clear all the solder out to do it. It may be easier to get a new plug. Maplin I think although I bought mine from a CB radio shop IIRC.

Dont be surprised if you find two pins linked. If they are its to do with the fact that the radio could also be used with a telephone handset

 

[cornell_b]

dsc

since dsc appears to be required by your country, you mifgt as well just get a new dsc radio....your boat insurance may even require it.

 

[cliff]

since dsc appears to be required by your country, you mifgt as well just get a new dsc radio....your boat insurance may even require it.

DSC is NOT required in the UK Many people still use (legally) their old non-DSC sets and have no intention of changing over 'til their old sets go "tits up" .

 

[Murv]

Many thanks all, will attempt a repair this evening

 

[Laundryman]

Microphone

Hi, you've been advised more than once to make a diagram of what goes where. These days I don't bother. Today's smart phones will give you a crystal clear close up photo of the wiring of the plug. The phone also works great getting to look in places where your head won't fit! Good luck with your boat, don't be in a rush to spend your money, you'll have plenty of opportunities! Thanks. Alan

 

[Bilgediver]

since dsc appears to be required by your country, you mifgt as well just get a new dsc radio....your boat insurance may even require it.

Not so.........Also a recent notice by the USCG stating all vessels operating
in GMDSS Areas 1 USA must have VHF within a deadline is badly worded and I think you will find it refers only to SOLAS vessels over 300 tons and NOT leisure boats ( Got that from a man who knows!)

 

[oldgit]

Having recently acquired my first boat, I've made a start on sorting out the bits that need doing.
It has a VHF radio but one of the wires where the microphone joins the connection is hanging out and broken.
The radio is a Seavoice 550 seafarer range.
It will also need a mounting bracket made up or bought to hold it.
Apart from that it appears to work OK.

Is it worth, or even possible, to repair? my local chandlery is offering a Cobra F55 unit for £90.00, should I get one of those instead?

If you want that olde heap fixed bring it in to me . Fred

 

[Murv]

If you want that olde heap fixed bring it in to me . Fred

It's not an old heap! that's a classic piece of British engineering well, Chinese I think actually.

That's a very kind offer Fred, thank you. I will have a go at it this evening, I'm determined to get something right with this new boat which is rapidly turning into a major disaster!
But, if I don't get anywhere, I will be in touch.



Seeing as there isn't an "idiots" sub-forum on here, I wonder if i can "hide" my next question in this thread...
In the picture below, what is the White thing with NASA written on it to the left of the fish finder?

 

[FishyInverness]

Well the white thing is a Sun Cover! Not sure what's underneath it!

Incidentally - if you do decide to replace the VHF with a DSC set, I would possibly advise spending a wee bit more money and going for either the Standard Horizon or ICOM - much better quality than the Cobra, though the cobra is capable they just don't have the same longevity, plus ICOM and SH's backup is second to none!

 

[l'escargot]

...In the picture below, what is the White thing with NASA written on it to the left of the fish finder?

Well the white thing is a Sun Cover! Not sure what's underneath it!...

...It is just a push fit so just pull it off and all will be revealed My guess would be either a Target Depth Sounder or a Target Speed Log - if so I have pdf copies of both manuals if you need them

 

[Murv]

Please tell me the White thing that I've been studying in wonder isn't simply a cover? it can't be...
Not only that but I've publicly asked what it is?
My best guess was that it was some sort of transponder that fired through the depth of the boat, I'd already guessed it wasn't for controlling the space shuttle despite the name.
Ah well, my shame is complete, I shall pull the cover off and see what it is. Thank you

Mind you, whatever it is, it will be broken. The cover stayed on it for the length of the sea trial so it was obviously kept covered for a reason.

Than you for both the advice re radio, and for the kind offer of PDF's if it turns out to be one of those items and, of course, in the highly unlikely event that it actually works!

 

[VicS]

Please tell me the White thing that I've been studying in wonder isn't simply a cover? it can't be...
Not only that but I've publicly asked what it is?
My best guess was that it was some sort of transponder that fired through the depth of the boat, I'd already guessed it wasn't for controlling the space shuttle despite the name.
Ah well, my shame is complete, I shall pull the cover off and see what it is. Thank you

Mind you, whatever it is, it will be broken. The cover stayed on it for the length of the sea trial so it was obviously kept covered for a reason.

Than you for both the advice re radio, and for the kind offer of PDF's if it turns out to be one of those items and, of course, in the highly unlikely event that it actually works!

I am unable to view the photo of it.

You'll find manuals for Nasa equipment on their website. Most are listed on the download page, others you find on the page describing the instrument

http://www.nasamarine.com/

 

[FishyInverness]

Please tell me the White thing that I've been studying in wonder isn't simply a cover? it can't be...

Ok, it's not a cover... (But really, it is! just don't tell anyone you didn't know! )

 

[Murv]

I am unable to view the photo of it.

You'll find manuals for Nasa equipment on their website. Most are listed on the download page, others you find on the page describing the instrument

http://www.nasamarine.com/

Fantastic, thank you

Ok, it's not a cover... (But really, it is! just don't tell anyone you didn't know! )

Works for me

 

[VicS]

Fantastic, thank you



Works for me

I think P'bucket must have been "off the air" temporarily ........ I can see the picture OK now.

Looks like a cover to me !

 

[rob2]

Don't despair about all the early disasters involved in boat maintenance! It's a steep learning curve to start with and to be honest it's better to ask here and be embarrased than try to pull a "cover" off and then find you've destroyed some bit of kit you didn't even know you had. Photos are the best way to ask what it is or "how do I remove it?"

In the avionics business we built small and delicately balanced instruments and the saying was, you build three for each one finished - in other words, you built each one three times before it worked. Fixing things on boats can sometimes be like that, too.

Rob.