Detached Control Head Woes

[w0liv]

Some time ago I installed two radios in my pickup, an Icom 207 and a Yaesu FT-100D. Both of those radios were installed with the seperation kits, ie the radios are under the seats. Nice installation, no problems.

Some kids broke into the truck, stole the control heads and 1 Mike. No problem, I'll just order new heads, can't be that expensive........

Wrong.
Icom wants $345 for just the control head, not bad for an out of production radio that listed for $325, and they are quite limited. I now am looking for a busted 207 that lost transmit capability.

Yaesu doesn't even stock the part, they have to put together a "kit" of parts, with a price of over $400. Same thing as the other, I'll look for a "busted" 100. Course, with the way that yaesu made their seperation kit, you can move the front panel around. unlike Icom.

Just a warning to those people who, like me, thought that installing a radio with a remote control head was a secure way to protect the radio.......

live and learn

[WA2ZDY]

I recall having a stereo in the $200 range installed in my wife's car some time back. A special point was made to detach the face and take it with me when I left the car. I asked if it was THAT big a deal. Yes I was told, the faceplate was $300.

Go figure.

I'll keep my Motorola - let them take THAT control head!

[n0xas]

Yeah, my TM-G707a came with a notice that NO replacement control heads were available, at any price. OTOH, availability of cheap remote heads would significantly reduce the anti-theft aspect - but that's not what most hams use them for, I'd bet. The rig is a bitch to get to anyway, no way they'll steal that without a lot more effort than even a nice stereo is worth!

73,
Dale - N0XAS

[N9SX]

As with stereos, one of the points of having a remote head is that you take it with you when you leave the vehicle. This reduces the incentive for someone to break in. If you leave it attached, it is a large incentive for someone to steal it. As you have found out, the head is worth more than the complete radio and is easier to take.

Eric
N9SX

[w0liv]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (N9SX @ Aug. 12 2003,15:08)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">As with stereos, one of the points of having a remote head is that you take it with you when you leave the vehicle. This reduces the incentive for someone to break in. If you leave it attached, it is a large incentive for someone to steal it. As you have found out, the head is worth more than the complete radio and is easier to take.

Eric
N9SX[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Which I will agree with, if the unit is built to do that, but it is not. The Icom seperation kit requires that the cable be screwed into the head, not snapped in. To remove the control head requires tools. Not a good design.

To me, it is simply greed on the part of Icom. Instead of simply using a standard connector, they needed to use something special so that you have to buy it from them. For example, the 207 mike is a standard RJ-45, but the extension cable from Icom is over $45. Use a standard Rj45 patch cable and connector for less than $10.

We looked at their LMR radios, but had major problems with their handheld units. They simply didn't stand up to the employees - sad

[n0xas]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (w0liv @ Aug. 17 2003,11:33)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Instead of simply using a standard connector, they needed to use something special so that you have to buy it from them.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Hit that one right on the head. The Kenwood separation kit is a hundred bucks for a very fragile cable and a very proprietary couple of connectors. Yeah, like nobody ever made a compact 4-pin connector, huh? The mic is standard 8-pin modular though.

I don't see the remote head as an anti-theft thing, it's more to let you mount the radio where it will fit since few cars have room under the dash any more. I hid the remote head well or take it with me, though, because if it gets stolen or vandalized, I'm screwed.

73,
Dale - N0XAS