New Magnum 857HP (big let-down)

[Ringo Unit]

Well I finally received my new MAgnum 857HP!! What a nice looking radio. However, she was dead on arrival Will not power on....nothing. So I guess she goes back to Cali tomorrow morning for service. Bummer!!

[MDYoungblood]

Now that is a shame, did you have the shop that you bought it from do any mods to it? I am interested in one for my Altima, I need a compact radio so the wife has some leg room since it has to mount on her side of the console.

3's

Greg

[wi 544]

257hp?? I have one, it is a nice radio and works good,, I still like the optima mk3 better

[Ringo Unit]

No sir, no mods. The service people seem real nice though. Im going to remain positive. I've talked to too many people that have had great success with them. Kevin.

[jessejamesdallas]

Why does this not surprise me...Last Magnum I bought was a S45HP, and it spent more time in the back of a UPS truck going back and forth to Magnums Warranty shop in Ontario California than it did in my truck...after the 4th trip to the shop, I decided to cut my losses and got rid of the thing...By far the worst radio I ever owned, so no-mo RF Limited radios for me...

never herd of a Magnum 857HP...or are you referring to the 257HP?

[Ringo Unit]

Yes sir, my bad. I dont know what I was thinking. 257HP.

[silvereagle1]

Maybe it has a bad fuse? couldn't 'be that simple I know but just a thought.

[dirtyjob]

you would think who ever sold it to you would test them out before shipping if they did the conversion for you.

[gunner57]

I've never owned one personally but have talked to many people who have. It seems that they are just one of those radios that generate polar opposite opinions. It seems like people are either loving them or hating them. There are some bad batches of them. Its just going to depend on whether they got lucky or not. If you end up being lucky (but you're not off to a good start so far), then you should be very happy with how it performs. But as many have said, there are also many 257HPs that are just problematic. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[Ringo Unit]

Thank you gunner for the hopeful attitude. I too am optimistic after my conversation with them. They seemed to indicate a problematic diode in the power circuit. The waiting is the hard part. I havent learned patience yet



Mark, there was no conversion done when I purchased. It was bone stock. Hopefully they can get it right.

[MDYoungblood]

I remember another member ordered one and was delivered DOA, I am looking for that post. I believe he had them do the frequency mod so they did the repairs in house. I am hoping they don't do a number on you and send it to a service center for repairs, that could mean weeks.

3's

Greg

[silvereagle1]

If they'll do the right thing since it's a brand new radio they'll send him another brand new radio in its place upon receipt of the other one instead of trying to fix it. That always made me mad when companies pull that stunt. If i buy new i want new. That's not fair to you if they offer to fix a brand new radio. especially if it had no mods done at all...

[gunner57]

If they'll do the right thing since it's a brand new radio they'll send him another brand new radio in its place upon receipt of the other one instead of trying to fix it. That always made me mad when companies pull that stunt. If i buy new i want new. That's not fair to you if they offer to fix a brand new radio. especially if it had no mods done at all...

I agree. They should send a new radio out. They can fix the other and sell it as manufacturer refurbished, so it wouldn't be a total loss for them. That WOULD be the right thing. I guess we'll see what they do.

[jessejamesdallas]

If they'll do the right thing since it's a brand new radio they'll send him another brand new radio in its place upon receipt of the other one instead of trying to fix it. That always made me mad when companies pull that stunt. If i buy new i want new. That's not fair to you if they offer to fix a brand new radio. especially if it had no mods done at all...

I agree. They should send a new radio out. They can fix the other and sell it as manufacturer refurbished, so it wouldn't be a total loss for them. That WOULD be the right thing. I guess we'll see what they do.

That was my thinking as well when I bought that S45HP...But that's not the way they do things. They want to fix it under warranty, which sadly to say took 3 weeks before they even looked at mine...

Good luck with it, maybe they will get yours fixed the first time around.

[Ringo Unit]

It is not going back to the vendor for replacement. From what I understand no one operates like that. I work part time in a friends guns shop and they are the same way. If you buy a Ruger and it has problems, the gun goes back to Ruger for repair/replacement. We will ship the gun out for them as a courtesy but the warranty is the responsibility of the manufacturer. As long as the manufacturers have a reasonably fast turn around time, then the process should be relatively pain free.

The 257 is going to California. They told me they are running about a week turn around time. If thats the case, I can live with it. Looks like I get to see first hand how good Magnums customer service is.

[MDYoungblood]

Comparing is to have a weapon repaired is different, state licensing, registration, etc., you didn't happen to record the serial number off the radio to make sure you get the same one back. the Magnum warranty facility in Cali has been known to do a "switch a roo" and send you back a refurbished radio.

3's

Greg

[Ringo Unit]

Yes sir, I did log it because the factory wanted it in order to issue the return authorization number.



I was looking at it from the standpoint of not having qualified service techs. Our gunsmith is not necessarily qualified to repair the new high-speed super duper handgun. Maybe its the same with these radios. I dont know the extent to which one of these newer radios can be repaired with the "surface mount technology" thats being utilized in their construction. Todays products are so disposable anyway, it makes me sick.

[silvereagle1]

That may be the way they do things but if you get a dead radio out of the box they should man up and send you an exact replacement and an apology letter with it. Why should you be punished for spending a ton of money just to get a paper weight. I could understand it if you had the radio a month or so that is reasonable but dead out of the box that is chicken you know what from the sales company. I wish you would post who you bought it from so I'll stay clear of them. That's just bad PR on their part.

BIG LET DOWN. You couldn't have said it any better.

[222DBFL]

I take it you got an RMA number?? Ask them at support for rf limited to get Sam Lewis's email address, he is the owner and is good people, I know they will take care of the issue and I am really sorry to hear your radio isn't working, want toake sure of something before you send it out, you checked the inline 15amp fuse? Is it still good. I didn't use the stock wire, I ordered some #8awg power wire with the connector for the radio, they come in a 24" length and then I ran #6awg from there to the battery and put a fuse block at the battery for the radio. Anyway really sorry to hear you got a bad radio, all 3 of the ones I have ordered were all good no issues. Hope you get it sorted I promise once it's working you won't be disappointed.

[str8stroke]

When folks ask me about Magnum radios:

I bought a brand new factory sealed one. It had some smoke coming out the front and the display started flickering. I opened it up to inspect it. Found a loose office staple flopping around inside shorting various things out. Needless to say, it worked AWESOME for about a year or so. Then, display is wack, power output is low, and it sits on my shelf in the shop for when I have time. Not sure If I want to spend any $$ to get it fixed.

IMO: Total waste of money. Especially considering I have some Cobra radios, that have been modified and are still working after 20 years of use.

I hope you have better luck & it all works out. I like JJD, just felt burned by Magnum.

[silvereagle1]

lol

On your sign not that you were screwed over.