AR5700D First impressions

[alanswebb]

Thanks for the update. It's good to know the radio arrived with the latest firmware. I am still waiting for mine. My dealer in the US, HRO has advised me that AOR has drop shipped the 5700D to me but AOR will not give out tracking info. You would think for a 5K rig, the manufacturer and the dealer would be more responsive to a customer's request for tracking information. Oh well, if they DGAF, I won't either if something goes wrong, my CC company has my back. How do you like the performance of your radio so far?

Radio is top quality, great audio but I am waiting on a Wellbrook ALA1530LN and a Diamond X510N to give it a really good test. As you probably know, it’s only as good as it’s antenna. Currently have a dedicated airband antenna attached to it, speaking of which, there is no 8.33khz step setting preset within the selection, but you do have the option of making your own discrete frequency step/s, so all is not lost!
Here is my current setup, please see below.

 

[majoco]

It strikes me odd that they (AOR) are offering a 30 day money back on this product, clearly advertised with Waters and Stanton.

Can they do that in the UK? I though you had a 'consumer guarantee act' that was very similar to ours where most 'appliances' have a 3 year guarantee through the local seller - not the manufacturer - and the first port of call if it goes wrong is to them. If they have to send it back to the manufacturer then the charges are on them, not you. The days of shonky 30 day warranties are long gone - even early computers (Vic-20 and C-64 anyone?) had 90 day warranties. If you agree to the 30 day warranty then you could be signing your rights away.

 

[alanswebb]

There is a standard 1 year guarantee. Aside from that, if you change your mind in the first 30 days you can claim your money back.
I did read somewhere than Europe has a 2 year warranty on it, whereas UK only has 12 months but I can’t verify this claim.

 

[sub101uk]

Its a pity that they do not have a longer warranty in the UK as 12 months is very short when you think all radios must be returned to Japan for repair not to mention the cost .The UK importer can the the firmware upgrade but any other problems and its back to Japan which in my case cost me 6 months of use .So having a 2 year warranty is a must . Plus if the radio is found is returned more than a few times it should be exchanged as this will be the forth time mine has been away . Yes in france the warranty is 24 months I have no idea why only 12 months in the UK but going by my last bill of £175 for a sensitive test and upgrade and that was all done in the UK so I hate to think of the shipping cost to Japan and back not to mention the time its going to take . But from speaking to others who have 07 firmware installed it would seem that there radio has a boot error when they turn it on . Which means its back to the importer for a firmware upgrade since as we all know the 5700D has to be returned for a firmware upgrade and cannot be done by the owner . So the best of luck and I hope you have better luck than the other owners .

 

[MStep]

Its a pity that they do not have a longer warranty in the UK as 12 months is very short when you think all radios must be returned to Japan for repair not to mention the cost .The UK importer can the the firmware upgrade but any other problems and its back to Japan which in my case cost me 6 months of use .So having a 2 year warranty is a must . Plus if the radio is found is returned more than a few times it should be exchanged as this will be the forth time mine has been away . Yes in france the warranty is 24 months I have no idea why only 12 months in the UK but going by my last bill of £175 for a sensitive test and upgrade and that was all done in the UK so I hate to think of the shipping cost to Japan and back not to mention the time its going to take . But from speaking to others who have 07 firmware installed it would seem that there radio has a boot error when they turn it on . Which means its back to the importer for a firmware upgrade since as we all know the 5700D has to be returned for a firmware upgrade and cannot be done by the owner . So the best of luck and I hope you have better luck than the other owners .

I hope others are taking heed, and if extended warranties on this receiver are being offered by reputable dealers, that would seen like a good option, even if it would cost is a hundred or two hundred USD. This would make issues past AOR's own warranty period someone else's problem.

 

[sub101uk]

I wish they would extended warranties on this receiver But I cant see any dealers offering it as I just hate to think of the costs when my 5700D returns from japan .I think we all agreed the best way would be just to change it out .

But they must look at a better way of servicing there radios as this cannot go on like this , For starters changing the firmware so the owner can upgrade as that alone is £125 . Without changing over the firmware your just left with a £4500 black brick worthless as you cant even sell it on Ebay for repairs or spares .

 

[marlbrook]

I wish they would extended warranties on this receiver But I cant see any dealers offering it as I just hate to think of the costs when my 5700D returns from japan .I think we all agreed the best way would be just to change it out .

But they must look at a better way of servicing there radios as this cannot go on like this , For starters changing the firmware so the owner can upgrade as that alone is £125 . Without changing over the firmware your just left with a £4500 black brick worthless as you cant even sell it on Ebay for repairs or spares .

Some might think that by the way AOR consider non Government / Military customers they certainly do not see your 'brick type' 5700D as an issue to worry them at all. They just see you as the problem., and that they and the Distributor involved learned their customer care from Pontius Pilate. Still in these Covid days one should always 'wash your hands' I suppose.

Some people might think that, I could not possibly comment.

 

[sub101uk]

Well my one Brick from speaking to others is starting to look like a wall , You cannot sell radios at this price and give them this poor service . It will just end up in your local small claims .

People reading this topic now are having second thoughts on buying one and I cant blame them . Buying this radio for £4500 is just the start if at any start you want to upgrade the firmware its going to cost you £125 .

 

[marlbrook]

Well my one Brick from speaking to others is starting to look like a wall , You cannot sell radios at this price and give them this poor service . It will just end up in your local small claims .

People reading this topic now are having second thoughts on buying one and I cant blame them . Buying this radio for £4500 is just the start if at any start you want to upgrade the firmware its going to cost you £125 .

I am not so sure. At least one person following this thread has purchased a 5700D despite reading about your particular problems, and the inability to upgrade the Firmware without sending the Radio away, and the costs involved.

In another case on a Forum you and I both post in another person is seriously considering buying the Radio In his case because he believes it must be 'superior' to other Receivers just because of it high price (sigh). Perhaps a case of 'Never mind the quality, feel the width'.

I see evidence that your posts (and mine perhaps) are actually stimulating interest in the 5700D. Amazing as it may seem to me both of the above actually own the superb Icom IC-R8600 and an AOR AR-DV1 already, which when in combination turn into the 'super' device the 5700D 'should' have been. Both those Receivers can have their Firmware upgraded by the User too. Still their decision of course, but for me a far too expensive one given all the circumstances.

Good luck as always with your dilemma.

 

[sub101uk]

Sorry but your only seeing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to seeing problems with this radio maybe best you check out the other owners of 5700D on facebook but after you have paid £4500 I think your want a radio that works which is far from the case .

But we shall see what AOR + the importer do do they just kick the can down the road or fix the problem .

 

[G7HID]

To be honest I have seen no others complaining about the 5700D and non 5700D users are not allowed to join the Facebook group, so we are only seeing your reports..

Mike

 

[sub101uk]

Sorry Mike if your unable to join the group best you speak to admin of the group .

 

[G7HID]

Sorry Mike if your unable to join the group best you speak to admin of the group .

You and I went through this a few weeks back - no 5700D no join
Group Rules from theAor 5700d User Group:



So as I say all the info we see is via you..

Mike

 

[sub101uk]

Sorry Mike I am only a member I dont run the group best you speak with Admin . Just had a thought the name of the 5700D group should change its name to the Black Brick Group but its starting to look more like a wall a very expensive black wall .

 

[G7HID]

I understand that, my point is we only hear user information about the 5700d from you, so we don't know if others are having problems or not..
So when you say we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg with the problems others are having with the radio.
All I can ask is what iceberg ?

Mike

 

[sub101uk]

See previous post Mike I am only the Monkey you must speak to the organ grinder . All I will say is there is more than just me who has problem but when and if my radio does return from its forth trip from the workshops I will let you know .

But asking me about joining the group its not my group , You must ask Admin if they require all people to own a 5700D I have no idea did you contact admin about this .

 

[G7HID]

I have no real interest in joining the 5700d group, but I am interested in what problems other users are finding...
You are the only owner we know of that is talking and when asked what other problems there are, you point towards the group knowing full well the membership restrictions, to not answer the question..

Refer to post 69 on this thread.....

Mike

 

[Ubbe]

I did read somewhere than Europe has a 2 year warranty on it, whereas UK only has 12 months but I can’t verify this claim.

UK has left the EU market and have their own rules now. But in EU I believe there's a 6 month warranty where any fault, besided wear and tear, has to be fixed without any cost. Then there are companies that give there own 1 year warranty. Then there are a 2 year period where you can make a warranty claim that a component where faulty already when you bought the product, but you have to prove it some way, something that most customers are unable to do. But if the product where delivered with a faulty software that where later corrected by the company, then it is obvious that there where a fault when the product where bought and you do not have to pay any shipping if you can hand over the product to the seller, if he was in EU. Consumer laws in EU don't apply if you import products yourself.

/Ubbe

 

[SigIntel8600]

When you receive your new 5700D please let us know what firmware is installed .If its still got the original Firmware main _912C D9N5D P912A or main_912C D0N1B P912A please get them to change it to the latest which at the moment is Main_101A D0N7B P008B .

It's here. Found it on my doorstep, unbelievable. Anyway, firmware is Main007AB D0N7B P007A. Initial decode of my local P25 system using DALL was fine. Analog FM local 2M net sounds great. Much studying of the manual to do........More to follow.

 

[MStep]

It's here. Found it on my doorstep, unbelievable. Anyway, firmware is Main007AB D0N7B P007A. Initial decode of my local P25 system using DALL was fine. Analog FM local 2M net sounds great. Much studying of the manual to do........More to follow.

The stork always leaves new babies on the doorstep. Don't you ever watch any cartoons ?!? In any event, best of luck with the 5700. It's always exciting to get a great new "toy". Since you already have a DV-1 and an 8600, it will be very interesting to read your comments over the next several weeks about your experience with the 5700 vs those other two units.