Transmit Problem w/ VHF Radio

[Alyssa Jean]

Hey Casey, just drill another hole on the other side of the mic.

[Casey]

Good idea Dave ... and much less messy than cutting my thumb off.

Best,
Casey

[Chester]

You guys are so practical...

[hardee]

Admittedly the most common mic not working problem is "the covered mic hole" but that is really not a mic problem, but an operator problem an and easy fix once learned.

Antenna connection may be an issue, however, if the problem is only in transmission, and not erratic reception too, then it is probably not the antenna.

Likely source is the mic connection. Often loose at the plug, or a wire break, usually where the wire from the mic goes into the plug, causing first intermittent connection then total loss. This can be checked for by swapping mics with one that is known not to have a problem, or by doing a continuity check on the mic wires, one by one, with the mic removed from the radio. (Might want a pro to do this one).

Glad the easy fix worked in the above cases.

Harvey
SleepyC

[jhwilson]

Yeah Harvey, it was indeed an operator problem with me. I've been using two way radios for many years and usually pick the handset up with my right hand, palm down and key the transmit button with my thumb. This leaves the grill open between my thumb and index finger. With the ICOM handset the actual mike is a small hole low and to the right of the main grill. The way I used the handset caused my palm to cover the little hole. Testing revealed with this little hole covered, no transmission. Who'd thunk? My biggest error was not reading the details in the manual I suppose.

What really threw me off was that I had just replaced a broken antenna that was on the boat when we got her. With the broken antenna both transmission and reception were bad. Since I have very little experience with a soldering iron I assumed I had screwed something up. So, was glad to find the simple solution.

Harper