AR5700D First impressions

[G7HID]

The main purpose by the radio magazines is to promote the items for their advertisers, which means the advertiser sells more of the product and the magazine can feel confident of further adverts being placed by him.. A negative review could seriously hit advertising revenue for a magazine..
In the past if an item due for review publication has been found to be defective, the publication is delayed for one reason or another, then quietly forgotten..

Mike

 

[sub101uk]

That maybe the case Mike but tell that to the people who bought one only to find its a nightmare after spending £4500 + a Extra £175 I am left with a deaf brick ? Lets face it who on earth would buy it knowing the history of the radio .

 

[G7HID]

Do you know of anyone else who purchased a 5700D and are having the same level of problems as you ?

Mike

 

[palmerjrusa]

If they did use your radio for the review it probably would not have been published in the RadioUser magazine..
When was the last time a radio magazine did a review stating the item under test was rubbish ?

Mike

Correct, there's an inherent conflict of interest present in this type of situation (not saying that's the case here).

Wasn't there a kind of similar situation with ARRL reviews, this time with manufacturers supplying the review radio (pre-selected by them for performance and functionality😁).

I think ARRL changed their review policy, radio gear they reviewed was obtained under "real life" conditions i.e. off the shelf as an ordinary consumer would purchase them.

 

[palmerjrusa]

That maybe the case Mike but tell that to the people who bought one only to find its a nightmare after spending £4500 + a Extra £175 I am left with a deaf brick ? Lets face it who on earth would buy it knowing the history of the radio .

I would aggressively pursue the "I want a new radio" route with the promise of legal action.
If they do the right thing and replace it with a new unit, then great,

If that doesn't work then get it repaired/working to spec.
You can then sell it with a clear conscience.

 

[sub101uk]

Hi Guys Well I have spoken with about 9 other owners and none of them have had the amount of problems that I have had .You hear about the radio crashing while using firmware :- main _912C D9N5D P912A or main_912C D0N1B P912A but nothing like what I have had . Once they had installed firmware :- main_005A D0N4B P005B in my radio DALL and DMR started to decode , It was good not perfect but the best its been .

So maybe its just this radio I dont know ? I only know is once they had installed Main_101A D0N7B P008B it was the best its every been, Sensitivity was up on all bands and decoding DMR and all the other modes worked well .Before the radio was sent back for a firmware upgrade I did notice it had gone deaf the same as now so I did ask them to check the sensitivity but they found it fine and I must admit after 07 firmware the sensitivity was excellent but for some reason its gone deaf again .

This is why I booked the radio into a local independent communications shop who has agree to check and do a full report as we seem to be going round in circles at the moment at my expense .

 

[palmerjrusa]

I emailed AOR USA re availability of the AR-DV1 in the US and they confirmed it is still available.

 

[sub101uk]

I wonder if they are still serving the DV1 in the USA or is it the same as thev 5700D sent to Japan .

 

[marlbrook]

I wonder if they are still serving the DV1 in the USA or is it the same as thev 5700D sent to Japan .

Others have posted stating that AOR have closed their servicing facilities in the US and Europe. All servicing and repairs are done in Japan now it appears.

 

[sub101uk]

Yes things do not look to good if all AOR radios have to be sent back to Japan for servicing not to mention the cost and time should your radio be out of warranty .

 

[marlbrook]

Yes things do not look to good if all AOR radios have to be sent back to Japan for servicing not to mention the cost and time should your radio be out of warranty .

There are also the concerns regarding any damages or loss during 'International postage'. All at the Customers own expense and risk of course.

 

[palmerjrusa]

Others have posted stating that AOR have closed their servicing facilities in the US and Europe. All servicing and repairs are done in Japan now it appears.

Yep, they moved their operations here to a new address but closed their repair facility.

AOR USA are currently running a promotion on their receivers, if you're not satisfied with its performance you can return it within 30 days for a full refund.
Not sure if that would happen via the retail outlet the unit was purchased from or directly via AOR USA.

 

[palmerjrusa]

Yes things do not look to good if all AOR radios have to be sent back to Japan for servicing not to mention the cost and time should your radio be out of warranty .

For sure that means I'm keeping my fingers crossed re the AOR gear I own.

They don't even service some of their products now, e.g. the AR8600.

I still have my old AR8600 so if anything happens I'm out of luck with AOR for help there.

 

[sub101uk]

Its a pity that AOR seems to have very little quality control and its a pity they were not running if you're not satisfied with its performance you can return it within 30 days for a full refund. If they had it would have returned to the dealer .

I wonder if every one is aware when they buy a AOR receiver that all servicing is done in japan and not in the countrie of purchase .

 

[palmerjrusa]

Its a pity that AOR seems to have very little quality control and its a pity they were not running if you're not satisfied with its performance you can return it within 30 days for a full refund. If they had it would have returned to the dealer .

I wonder if every one is aware when they buy a AOR receiver that all servicing is done in japan and not in the countrie of purchase .

Any word back from the technicians re your AR5700?

 

[sub101uk]

Still waiting to hear back from the local independent PMR workshop should they confirm my findings then a copy of the report will be sent with the radio to the importer for them to sort out .

 

[sub101uk]

Ok Guys just had the report back from the local independent PMR workshop and they have confirmed the 5700D is deaf on VHF + UHF . HF is fine so I will surmit a copy of the report with the radio when its returned to the importer who I am sure will send a copy to AOR . But due to all the problems and trips to Japans and uk workshop this radio has had I think the only way forward is to exchange the radio or refund the money as its very clear this problem with the radio being deaf is intermittent which makes it a very hard fault to trace when the radio has to be sent to Japan I just hate to think of the time and cost anyway we shall wait and see .

 

[palmerjrusa]

Ok Guys just had the report back from the local independent PMR workshop and they have confirmed the 5700D is deaf on VHF + UHF . HF is fine so I will surmit a copy of the report with the radio when its returned to the importer who I am sure will send a copy to AOR . But due to all the problems and trips to Japans and uk workshop this radio has had I think the only way forward is to exchange the radio or refund the money as its very clear this problem with the radio being deaf is intermittent which makes it a very hard fault to trace when the radio has to be sent to Japan I just hate to think of the time and cost anyway we shall wait and see .

Thanks for the update, it's too bad all the problems you've experienced, I bet you're delighted to have your diagnosis confirmed though.
This particular receiver is obviously a lemon.

I'd aggressively pursue the "demand new radio or refund my money" track.
I know there are consumer protection organizations in the UK, you might want to consult with someone there for advice on how best to proceed.
Maybe also speak to your credit card issuer if you've used one to purchase the radio, they have policies to protect their users from being ripped off with faulty merchandise that doesn't perform to spec. I've made use of that option before with good results.

Maybe also do some research re any consumer protection statutes that are current in the UK.

Good luck, I hope the UK importer/AOR do the right thing here, I'd be seriously ticked off spending all that cash and getting treated like this.

 

[sub101uk]

Well not heard anything from the importer yet waiting to hear if he is arranging the courier or shall I ? I think I may not hear any thing from them until next week . But it will be interesting to see what they do because this cant go on like this . If they just repair I bet you it will be back in the post in a few months time with yet more problems . I dont think I am being unreasonable after spending £4500 on a radio and it only seems to work for a few months then requires to be fixed again .Plus I hate to think of the time and money its going to cost if this radio has to be returned to Japan . So replacement or refund is the only way forward .

But wait and see . If this does go to the UK small claims court it will take time due the the back log of cases caused by coronavirus but in the UK there are people you can ask as this is not the first time I have taken someone to a small claims court but I hope they just change over the radio or give me a refund .

 

[palmerjrusa]

Well not heard anything from the importer yet waiting to hear if he is arranging the courier or shall I ? I think I may not hear any thing from them until next week . But it will be interesting to see what they do because this cant go on like this . If they just repair I bet you it will be back in the post in a few months time with yet more problems . I dont think I am being unreasonable after spending £4500 on a radio and it only seems to work for a few months then requires to be fixed again .Plus I hate to think of the time and money its going to cost if this radio has to be returned to Japan . So replacement or refund is the only way forward .

But wait and see . If this does go to the UK small claims court it will take time due the the back log of cases caused by coronavirus but in the UK there are people you can ask as this is not the first time I have taken someone to a small claims court but I hope they just change over the radio or give me a refund .

If you haven't already done this, I'd gather everything in one file (everything that's happened since Day One), including the technical report, and send it by registered mail to the importer, make everything look very official and serious. Make it clear you've had enough of this nonsense, wasting your time and money, and demand a new radio or a refund or you're going to pursue all available legal avenues for redress to your satisfaction. I think trying to negotiate at this point is pointless, state what you want to happen and if they don't comply indicate you'll be pursuing that goal through the legal system and courts.