Hi all

On the weekend my GME GX 558 VHF would not transmit and i have sent it to the radio tech to see what the problem is

Just wondering if anyone has a working one of these not being used that they are willing to part with just in case mine is not fixable as the hole in the timber work is sized to fit this radio and the current ones are smaller in size

There is a cover plate made to fit a current radio into a earlier hole but i think it might be a bit large externally to suit the mounting position

Thanks in advance

Regards Don

Hi Donk , did you test the microphone may just that .........?

Hi Sands

I spoke to the radio tech today (we use him at work a lot to fix the radio's in the Council vehicles) and he said that a faulty microphone might be a possibility

GME don't do a replacement microphone any more but he said that he could probably use a non genuine microphone and adapt it to suit the set

I have asked him to give me a cost to fix it once he diagnoses the problem so i can look at my options

One of the guys at work has a old GME UHF at home that he doesn't use any more and he said that the microphone looks much the same so he is going to bring it in tomorrow just in case it might do the trick if it turns out to be a microphone problem

The only strange thing it was doing when it stopped working was a bit of a faint buzzing noise coming through the speaker when the transmit button was held down

I pulled the cover of the microphone to check the connections yesterday when i was on the boat but the all looked ok

Regards Don

Hi Don,
My radio tech says all the older GME radios are entirely repairable and just as good as the latest in performance. Most of the older ones have common areas where "dry joints" occur and just need resoldering.

GME's more recent radios such as the GX 6 and 700s are fully sealed, unrepairable and therefore throw aways, however I do believe they will last a long time and given the labour cost of electronic repairs if my new GX 700 lasts for 10 years minimum at a purchase cost of $200 I figure it is good economy.

Even though GME's products are all (??) manufactured in Asia, their standards and prices are great and Standard Communications is an Australian company so I am happy to support them by buying their products.

I have just had my old GME serviced for dry joints and tested with a clean bill of health. I am keeping it on board as a back up radio.

Cheers Cisco.

Hi Cisco

Ideally this one will be able to be repaired but if not i think that i will go for the 700 as well www.gme.net.au/catalogue/fixed-mount-radios/vhf-marine-radio/gx700w.aspx along with the flush mount plate to cover the original hole www.gme.net.au/catalogue/accessories/mounting-hardware/mk011w.aspx

The only issue i have is that the cover plate is 242 x 96 external with 205 x 76 hole centres and the GX558 is 200 x 65 (radio only) so i am not sure whether the mount plate will fit between the edge of the sounder and the rear edge of the timber panel without some modification

Looking at the photo i posted i am not convinced that there is 21mm between the edge of the existing radio and the sounder but i suppose if not i can always trim the outer edge of the cover plate back to make it fit

Regards Don

Hi Don,

The GX 700 will be a lot smaller than the existing hole in your panel. If your GX558 works fine just get a hand held for the cockpit when in close range.

Cheers Cisco.

Hi Cisco

This www.gme.net.au/catalogue/accessories/mounting-hardware/mk011w.aspx plate is designed to hold the 700 inside it and cover the original hole that was made for the 558 as long as i have clearance on the sounder and the 4 mounting holes go into timber and not the original cutout

Regards Don

Hi all

Had a phone call today from the radio tech and he said it was a microphone problem which he has fixed so i had a bit of a win there

Regards Don

Select to expand quote

Donk107 said..
Hi all

Had a phone call today from the radio tech and he said it was a microphone problem which he has fixed so i had a bit of a win there

Regards Don

+ there Donk
Im tiring to find some aerial cable for me VHF apparently there's some heavy duty cable around Jaycar has base station cable but I feel the diameter is a little large takes up to much room in the mast where my other cables have to fit. Also the inner insulation can break very easily its not very flexible