Re: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?

2004-04-26 Thread Charles Miller
What IFR's Flat Rate Minimum refers to is the flat rate repair with
calibration include all parts that are defective due to failure. The flat
rate repair does not cover the battery, physical damage, power cords, or
damage caused by water, liquids, or misused.

I know, I just had an IFR 1000S repaired and calibrated. I had to buy a
battery extra.

Charles Miller
C. A. P. Communications






 
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Re: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?

2004-04-25 Thread Tom Parker






Well, Here's my 2 cents
worth... DON'T SEND IT TO IFR!!! YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT...

They're ridcualously high on themselves... I recommend Auburn
Metrology Labs. They're quick and fair.

thp

Rich Garcia wrote:

  Would like to hear from other IFR owners as to where you would suggest I
have my own IFR repaired. I do not run a business so cost is a major factor
but I would like to have my IFR-1200S repaired properly.

Thanks,
Rich K4GPS






 
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Re: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?

2004-04-25 Thread Chuck Kelsey
http://www.amtronix.com/



- Original Message - 
From: Rich Garcia [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 11:54 PM
Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?


 Would like to hear from other IFR owners as to where you would suggest I
 have my own IFR repaired. I do not run a business so cost is a major
factor
 but I would like to have my IFR-1200S repaired properly.

 Thanks,
 Rich K4GPS







 Yahoo! Groups Links












 
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RE: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?

2004-04-25 Thread Rich Garcia
I deal with HP, Agelent and Anritsu test gear every day. Big corporation so
all I do is pull out the credit card and pay for it, in man hours it is not
worth me searching for another appropriate test facility. What I do see is a
lot of abuse because of approved vendors and corporate rates. For
instance the replacement of a switch on a HP Power meter is $1244.33, why ?
because they change out the entire front pannel instead of replacing the
switch. This has become way too common and I have found that smaller
companies can still do a quality job if you pick the right one. Another
example is Kenwood... sky high rates for repairs but I can go to Cliff at
Avid and have a quality job done quicker at 1/2 the price or less.

I agree that if no one out there is capable or qualified to repair the IFR's
then the factory even at their inflated prices are the way to go. Sure some
parts need to be bought from them, some parts may not even be available
anymore from them while a depot may still have them but bottom line is if
someone can do the job at $50 instead of $80 an hour or flat rate of $2000
to change a fuse I would be interested in hearing about it.

I really agree with your thoughts Eric but I have been burned way too many
times from the big ones at work to be able to accept it for my personal
gear. $700 for a calibration and several parts is one thing but I know my
power supply is shot, been using it with a Astron on the bench, the signal
generator seems to have problems and I know that someone I lent it to exceed
the input power on the Antenna port by mistake. I can live with the power
supply problems but I am afraid the factory would kill me on the other
repairs and not agree to repair the unit without the power supply repairs. I
only have $1K now for the repairs and would not want to spend it all if
possible, I don't think $1K would cover it at IFR!

Rich

-Original Message-
From: Eric Lemmon [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 12:19 AM
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?


Rich,

Although the 1200S is no longer made, the IFR factory in Wichita still
supports repairs and calibrations.  If you were to send your service
monitor to any of a number of instrument repair firms, it is likely that
any parts needed (other than common ICs and similar components) would be
ordered from IFR and a percentage added to their cost.  The last time I
sent my 1200 to IFR for a full calibration, several parts had to be
replaced- at cost of $700.  I winced at that bill, but I now have a
service monitor that works perfectly.  Before the repair, the
synthesizer would unlock randomly after the unit was on for a few hours.

The IFR 1200S is a complex and costly instrument, and I personally would
not think of sending it anywhere but the factory for repair or
calibration.  Unfortunately, almost any replacement of a major component
on this unit is likely to run into big bucks!

73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY

Rich Garcia wrote:

 Would like to hear from other IFR owners as to where you would suggest I
 have my own IFR repaired. I do not run a business so cost is a major
factor
 but I would like to have my IFR-1200S repaired properly.

 Thanks,
 Rich K4GPS


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Re: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?

2004-04-25 Thread Neil McKie

  Seems about 12-13 years ago, when I was looking to purchase a 
 service monitor for my use, I asked around for opinions and I 
 visited several 2-way radio shops. 

  Some shops were quite friendly Here is the instruction manual 
 and the service monitor... so I could try it out myself and 
 others weren't.  

  Since I was getting older and my uncorrected vision for reading 
 wasn't all that good anymore, I also looked at view ability of the 
 service monitor. 

  Finally I had it narrowed down to the IFR 1200S and the CT Systems 
 5100S.  Then I got the bad news: if I were to send an IFR 1200S to 
 the factory for warranty repair, the repair would be free and 
 recalibration, if needed, would be $700.  

  My choice was the CT Systems unit.  I haven't looked back.  A few 
 weeks ago, the frequency accuracy seems to have drifted (using the 
 National Bureau of Standards 10 MHz transmitter as a fairly 
 accurate frequency source) it has worked very well and reliably for 
 me.  

  Just my opinion here. 

  73, 

  Neil - WA6KLA 


Rich Garcia wrote:
 
 I deal with HP, Agelent and Anritsu test gear every day. Big 
 corporation so all I do is pull out the credit card and pay for it, 
 in man hours it is not worth me searching for another appropriate 
 test facility. What I do see is a lot of abuse because of approved 
 vendors and corporate rates. For instance the replacement of a 
 switch on a HP Power meter is $1244.33, why ? because they change 
 out the entire front pannel instead of replacing the switch. This 
 has become way too common and I have found that smaller companies 
 can still do a quality job if you pick the right one. Another
 example is Kenwood... sky high rates for repairs but I can go to 
 Cliff at Avid and have a quality job done quicker at 1/2 the price 
 or less.
 
 I agree that if no one out there is capable or qualified to repair 
 the IFR's then the factory even at their inflated prices are the 
 way to go. Sure some parts need to be bought from them, some parts 
 may not even be available anymore from them while a depot may still 
 have them but bottom line is if someone can do the job at $50 
 instead of $80 an hour or flat rate of $2000 to change a fuse I 
 would be interested in hearing about it.
 
 I really agree with your thoughts Eric but I have been burned way 
 too many times from the big ones at work to be able to accept it for 
 my personal gear. $700 for a calibration and several parts is one 
 thing but I know my power supply is shot, been using it with a 
 Astron on the bench, the signal generator seems to have problems and 
 I know that someone I lent it to exceed the input power on the 
 Antenna port by mistake. I can live with the power supply problems 
 but I am afraid the factory would kill me on the other repairs and 
 not agree to repair the unit without the power supply repairs. I
 only have $1K now for the repairs and would not want to spend it all 
 if possible, I don't think $1K would cover it at IFR!
 
 Rich
 
 -Original Message-
 From: Eric Lemmon [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 12:19 AM
 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
 Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?
 
 Rich,
 
 Although the 1200S is no longer made, the IFR factory in Wichita 
 still supports repairs and calibrations.  If you were to send your 
 service monitor to any of a number of instrument repair firms, it is 
 likely that any parts needed (other than common ICs and similar 
 components) would be ordered from IFR and a percentage added to 
 their cost.  The last time I sent my 1200 to IFR for a full 
 calibration, several parts had to be replaced- at cost of $700.  I 
 winced at that bill, but I now have a service monitor that works 
 perfectly.  Before the repair, the synthesizer would unlock randomly 
 after the unit was on for a few hours.
 
 The IFR 1200S is a complex and costly instrument, and I personally 
 would not think of sending it anywhere but the factory for repair or
 calibration.  Unfortunately, almost any replacement of a major 
 component on this unit is likely to run into big bucks!
 
 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
 
 Rich Garcia wrote:
 
  Would like to hear from other IFR owners as to where you would 
  suggest I have my own IFR repaired. I do not run a business so 
  cost is a major factor but I would like to have my IFR-1200S 
  repaired properly.
 
  Thanks,
  Rich K4GPS
 





 
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Re: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?

2004-04-25 Thread Steve Smith






IFR started a flat rate pricing minimum for repairs this last January.
The minimum repair is now $1125 including a calibration. I sent my 1500
in for the repair of three major problems one of which you described on
your 1200s. They fixed everything. After I saw the invoice I realized
the parts alone would have cost more than their fixed minimum they
charged me. You know that old saying, "you get what you pay for..."
Well, this time I got more than I paid for.

-Steve



  
-Original Message-
From: Eric Lemmon [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 12:19 AM
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?


Rich,

Although the 1200S is no longer made, the IFR factory in Wichita still
supports repairs and calibrations.  If you were to send your service
monitor to any of a number of instrument repair firms, it is likely that
any parts needed (other than common ICs and similar components) would be
ordered from IFR and a percentage added to their cost.  The last time I
sent my 1200 to IFR for a full calibration, several parts had to be
replaced- at cost of $700.  I winced at that bill, but I now have a
service monitor that works perfectly.  Before the repair, the
synthesizer would unlock randomly after the unit was on for a few hours.

The IFR 1200S is a complex and costly instrument, and I personally would
not think of sending it anywhere but the factory for repair or
calibration.  Unfortunately, almost any replacement of a major component
on this unit is likely to run into big bucks!

73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY

Rich Garcia wrote:
  
  
Would like to hear from other IFR owners as to where you would suggest I
have my own IFR repaired. I do not run a business so cost is a major

  
  factor
  
  
but I would like to have my IFR-1200S repaired properly.

Thanks,
Rich K4GPS


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RE: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?

2004-04-25 Thread Rich Garcia





Flat 
rate pricing and minimum confuses me a bit. If it is flat rate then $1125 may 
not be that bad with the included calibration in my case. I have heard 
that the power supply repair is expensive. But minimum is a different story, 
minimum means that it is not aflat rate repair. I guess I will start 
calling a couple of places and see what they all say.

Rich

  -Original Message-From: Steve Smith 
  [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 11:59 
  AMTo: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.comSubject: Re: 
  [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs 
  ?IFR started a flat rate pricing minimum for repairs this 
  last January. The minimum repair is now $1125 including a calibration. I sent 
  my 1500 in for the repair of three major problems one of which you described 
  on your 1200s. They fixed everything. After I saw the invoice I realized the 
  parts alone would have cost more than their fixed minimum they charged me. You 
  know that old saying, "you get what you pay for..." Well, this time I 
  got more than I paid for.-Steve
  -Original Message-
From: Eric Lemmon [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2004 12:19 AM
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?


Rich,

Although the 1200S is no longer made, the IFR factory in Wichita still
supports repairs and calibrations.  If you were to send your service
monitor to any of a number of instrument repair firms, it is likely that
any parts needed (other than common ICs and similar components) would be
ordered from IFR and a percentage added to their cost.  The last time I
sent my 1200 to IFR for a full calibration, several parts had to be
replaced- at cost of $700.  I winced at that bill, but I now have a
service monitor that works perfectly.  Before the repair, the
synthesizer would unlock randomly after the unit was on for a few hours.

The IFR 1200S is a complex and costly instrument, and I personally would
not think of sending it anywhere but the factory for repair or
calibration.  Unfortunately, almost any replacement of a major component
on this unit is likely to run into big bucks!

73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY

Rich Garcia wrote:
  
Would like to hear from other IFR owners as to where you would suggest I
have my own IFR repaired. I do not run a business so cost is a major
factor
  
but I would like to have my IFR-1200S repaired properly.

Thanks,
Rich K4GPS


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Re: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?

2004-04-25 Thread Eric Lemmon
Neil,

The current fee charged by IFR for a full calibration of the 1200 series
service monitor is $250.  If you want an NIST-traceable certificate to
be provided, the calibration fee is $500.  My employer had the latter
calibration done about eight months ago.  Like most of our precision
measuring equipment, it gets an annual calibration.

I know most of the techs in the radio servicing shops in my area, and it
seems that not one of them has ever sent in his service monitor for
calibration!  A few of the techs sincerely believe that all they need to
do is tune in WWV and tweak the reference oscillator.  That does nothing
for the deviation, power, distortion, SINAD, and signal level
functions.  All instruments drift over time, some more than others...

73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY

Neil McKie wrote:
 
...  Then I got the bad news: if I were to send an IFR 1200S to the
factory for warranty repair, the repair would be free and recalibration,
if needed, would be $700




 
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Re: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?

2004-04-25 Thread Neil McKie

  Good point.  

  My service monitor hasn't been back to the factory since I bought 
 it in 1991?  

  At this point, I am not really sue to whom I would send it to as 
 I've heard CT Systems got bought out by someone ... 

  Neil 

Eric Lemmon wrote:
 
 Neil,
 
 The current fee charged by IFR for a full calibration of the 1200 
 series service monitor is $250.  If you want an NIST-traceable 
 certificate to be provided, the calibration fee is $500.  My 
 employer had the latter calibration done about eight months ago.  
 Like most of our precision measuring equipment, it gets an annual 
 calibration.
 
 I know most of the techs in the radio servicing shops in my area, 
 and it seems that not one of them has ever sent in his service 
 monitor for calibration!  A few of the techs sincerely believe 
 that all they need to do is tune in WWV and tweak the reference 
 oscillator.  That does nothing for the deviation, power, distortion, 
 SINAD, and signal level functions.  All instruments drift over time, 
 some more than others...
 
 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
 
 Neil McKie wrote:
 
 ...  Then I got the bad news: if I were to send an IFR 1200S to
 the factory for warranty repair, the repair would be free and 
 recalibration, if needed, would be $700
 






 
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Re: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?

2004-04-25 Thread Neil McKie

  Hi Ken, I wonder if Fluke now does repair / certification of the 
 service monitors? 

  Neil 

Ken Arck wrote:
 
 At 12:04 PM 4/25/2004 -0700, you wrote:
 
   At this point, I am not really sue to whom I would send it to as
  I've heard CT Systems got bought out by someone ...
 
 ---Wavetek/CT Systems was bought out by Fluke of all companies!
 
 Ken
 -
 President and CTO - Arcom Communications
 Makers of state-of-the-art repeater controllers and accessories.
 http://www.ah6le.net/arcom/index.html
 Be sure to see our products at this year's Dayton Hamvention!
 Repeater Builders spaces 707 through 710
 AH6LE/R - IRLP Node 3000
 http://www.irlp.net






 
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Re: [Repeater-Builder] Suggestions as to IFR Monitor Repairs ?

2004-04-25 Thread Ken Arck
At 12:22 PM 4/25/2004 -0700, you wrote:

  Hi Ken, I wonder if Fluke now does repair / certification of the 
 service monitors? 

---I talked to them about a month ago, regarding a replacement lever
switch on my service monitor. While I didn't specifically ask about repairs
and/or calibration, they do have parts. I guess it would be worth calling
them about the other issues. 

As I remember, they were in Texas?

Ken
--
President and CTO - Arcom Communications
Makers of state-of-the-art repeater controllers and accessories.
http://www.ah6le.net/arcom/index.html
Be sure to see our products at this year's Dayton Hamvention!
Repeater Builders spaces 707 through 710
AH6LE/R - IRLP Node 3000
http://www.irlp.net




 
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