I'm not sure where the Narco repairs are expensive myth started. I've had good
experiences with the Narco factory with everything they've repaired, which
includes a Nav122 on two occasions, an AT150 and a com111B. In each case the
repair bill was very reasonable, and the unit was also updated with all mods and
fully recertified, which usually won't happen with a field repair. The only
beef I had was with turn around time, which is 4-6 weeks unless you pay a
premium for fast turn. IIRC, the premium is about $100, which nearly doubles
the cost of the repairs I had done. They will also evaluate your unit for $90
and let you know what it will cost to repair, and if you do repair it, they
subtract the eval cost from the repair.

The sticking digit sounds like either a switch problem, or a problem with the
digital logic. Where it is not intermittent, it should be easy to find and
fix. I can't imagine that it would be all that expensive to fix, certainly not
the price of a reconditioned unit less the trade in on yours.

Neal wrote:

On Thu, 04 Sep 2003 03:28:51 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

The third digit on my formerly bullet-proof Narco AT-50 transponder has
suddenly started displaying incorrectly for ATC. Specifically, it seems to
be showing as a "4" on their screens, regardless of what we dial it to in
the plane. Thus, instead of squawking "1200" when we're VFR, we're
squawking "1240"...

What could cause this? Any recommendations on repair versus replacement?


Likely a shorted semiconductor component... either an IC chip, or
perhaps even something simple as a diode. Given the name brand, you'll
probably have to send it back to the factory and pay nearly as much as
a reconditioned unit to replace a faulty $0.25 part in it. I've been
told that manufacturer doesn't allow independent avionics technicians
to (legally) repair their products anymore for certificated
installations.

--
--Ray Andraka, P.E.
President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc.
401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950
email
http://www.andraka.com

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin, 1759