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Are all modern bite alarms unreliable (46 posts / 8,945 views)
BuzzB BuzzB
Posts: 67
Post #1 17 Mar 2023 19:40
0
Few years ago I decided to update my old fox sx alarms and delkims that had served me well for over 20 years
I bought a set of delkim txid loved them apart from just too unreliable in the rain.
I had 4 replacements delkims customer service is brilliant. Just never trusted them anymore
So I bought a set of fox rx,+ had them 18 months been out in all weather really impressed.
Today gone fishing one of them won't switch on tried changing battery nothing.
Can't believe had alarms for best part of 30 years never missed a beat.
Now spent well over a grand on 2 new sets of alarms and both have gone faulty.
Delkims customer service was brilliant sorting out their alarms with 3 year guarantee.
Fox alarms guarantee run out so I need to find someone to fix them.
braders1978 braders1978
Posts: 18,195
Post #2 17 Mar 2023 19:45
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In reply to Post #1
Dalectronics will sort it out for you
carpy09 carpy09
Posts: 14,236
Post #3 17 Mar 2023 19:52
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In reply to Post #1
Look up www.Dalectronics.com website his phone numbers and address is on their where to send them he is who fox use to repair their alarms
bosch bosch
Posts: 385
Post #4 18 Mar 2023 01:07
0
Ive got 4 Rx plus alarms good job i only use 3 rods as soon as i get a repaired one back another goes wrong, problems range from not turning on to giving a full run on one bleep then wont stop, they are very unreliable wish id kept my ntxrs they never missed a beat.
RigDemon RigDemon
Posts: 1,458
Post #5 18 Mar 2023 01:40
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In reply to Post #1
I've owned a set of TXI Pluses for a good ten years until last year when I upgraded to the D's and I also have a set of Fox NTXR's. Never let me down in any weather and if they got nicked, I'd buy them again tomorrow.
Jamesvg Jamesvg
Posts: 1,165
Post #6 18 Mar 2023 08:27
0
Have you tried contacting Fox? I sent an NTXr that was years old back to fox - cost me £20 from memory and had it back in a week despite the alarm being discontinued at this point. I'm sure they'd fix your RX+.
Leeroyjenkins Leeroyjenkins
Posts: 3,955
Post #7 18 Mar 2023 08:47
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In reply to Post #1
I believe this is a known fault, there is an upgrade you can get done to fix it.
carpy09 carpy09
Posts: 14,236
Post #8 18 Mar 2023 08:51
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In reply to Post #6
Fox don't fix alarms they even state on their website to contact Dale Henwood at Dalectronics he is who they use for repairs now days
NickGordon NickGordon
Posts: 3,121
Post #9 18 Mar 2023 09:18
1
I'm trying to work out how people get Delkims that are faulty in the rain.
I've had Delkim ST's since 1995'ish, and now TXi-D's.

None of them have ever been faulty in the rain.
Correction, if the sensitivity is set too high, even raindrops hitting the line or sitting on or hitting the sensor will make them bleep continuously.



Jamesvg Jamesvg
Posts: 1,165
Post #10 18 Mar 2023 09:34
0
In reply to Post #8
Well they fixed mine... I emailed them and they gave me a postal address, contacted me when they were done, I paid and it came back as good as new.
This was probably 3-4 years ago so things may have changed now.
stuart666 stuart666
Posts: 4,779
Post #11 18 Mar 2023 10:01
0
In reply to Post #9
I had loads of problems with my txi pluses in the rain and im super careful with all my gear so everything gets dried out properly so not sure if i was just unlucky. It took me a while to take the punt on the new txid's but so far they havent missed a beat and ive had them since they came out.
oldgeezer oldgeezer
Posts: 27,037
Mr Linky Poo
Mr Linky Poo Post #12 18 Mar 2023 10:27
0
In reply to Post #9
exactly same with mine !
I have been fishing in Europe where its rained for 10 days non stop I had to move my bivvy twice as the lake kept rising and I have been in horrendous storms days of torrential rain and never ever had a seconds problems with Delkims TXis

BUT ! you cant deny a lot of people have had problems ??
Beyonce
Posts: 1,711
Post #13 18 Mar 2023 11:47
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In reply to Post #12
Must be a batch fault or something. Baffles me too. I still use TXI+ in all weathers and have never had an issue. Don't particularly look after my gear, they look rough but no reliability problems in however many years.

I did have a slimlite indicator stop lighting up, Delkim sent a new one FOC. Also dropped a carbon snag ear in the lake, asked them how to buy just one and it arrived in the post FOC.

IvanDoc IvanDoc
Posts: 39
Post #14 18 Mar 2023 12:36
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No, they are not.
I have 2 sets of Carp Sounder (Germany) since 2015 and zero problems.
They are so good, without any issue
Poolboy
Posts: 584
Post #15 18 Mar 2023 15:28
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In reply to Post #14
Yes Carpsounders are absolutely bombproof.
Busted
Posts: 1,882
Post #16 18 Mar 2023 20:21
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In reply to Post #1
I had txi's for about 10 years, they were fine in the rain once i put the snag ear backs on

I now have rx+'s that i got very very early on (almost as soon as they were released) just because I fancied a change from delkim. They have been absolutely abused but have been 100% reliable
Dippedtips
Posts: 73
Post #17 18 Mar 2023 21:45
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I've used and abuse all of my delks and they never missed a beat the txi d are supper sensitive in the rain but the do not disturb thing or what ever they call it sorts that out for 15 mins. Only thing I can complain about is the batteries on the txi d's don't last nowhere near what they did on the old ones. Haven't used fox alarms but everyone I know that has them loves them too! I think it's case of any mass produced product there will be some that's slip through that do have problems.
essesxandy essesxandy
Posts: 3,197
Post #18 20 Mar 2023 19:53
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In reply to Post #1
I've had my R3's since shortly after their release and they've been faultless.
richiejw76
Posts: 1,154
Post #19 20 Mar 2023 20:37
1
Best alarms I've ever owned are Ntxr's had a set about 15 years ago been through delks and newer fox models since but I've just got myself some more Ntxr's they are bomb proof and can honestly say there the best alarms I've ever used.
carpe_diem carpe_diem
Posts: 1,982
Post #20 20 Mar 2023 20:54
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In reply to Post #19
Same , I wouldn't change my Ntxr's for anything as they have been bullet proof apart from a switch I had to get replaced as I dropped one of them
shane24 shane24
Posts: 904
Post #21 21 Mar 2023 07:00
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In reply to Post #9
I had a set of TXis for a long time then early one rainy morning got a screaming take, jumped out of the bag and only to find my Buzzer had got the dreaded Delkim Rain problem.

I've now got Fox RX+, had them about 4 yrs I think not had a problem yet.
RigDemon RigDemon
Posts: 1,458
Post #22 21 Mar 2023 13:25
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In reply to Post #20
I agree with that. I bought a set a few years back and I use them more than my delks. Just about to pickup a 4th as a spare hopefully and then mine are all off to Daletronics for a 2nd LED fitting 👍👍( £38 each 👀👀👀 )
carpe_diem carpe_diem
Posts: 1,982
Post #23 21 Mar 2023 19:48
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In reply to Post #22
Nice
SilureMark
Posts: 1,282
Post #24 21 Mar 2023 20:33
2
In reply to Post #1
I've owned every iteration of Delkim, from the original conversions, right up to the latest models. Never had a problem with any and the new ones? Pretty close to perfection IMO. A few weeks back when it was blowing a hooly, I was on a 150 acre pit, with big waves crashing over the rods all day - no harder test than that and they 100%. I've been out in torrential rain many times over, no issues. In fact, was the same with the previous model, never missed a beat in all the years I had them and in all weathers. I'd add that a mate of mine had a rod engulfed with a big wave when pike fishing on Chew. He sadly lost the delkim and yet it was still transmitting to the receiver after being submerged for several hours. Delkim, you can't get any better.
BlankasorusRex BlankasorusRex
Posts: 5,282
Post #25 21 Mar 2023 20:59
0
like many on here ive had delks for ages. i think ive had four or five sets across the ranges, going way back to the days of wired sounder boxes and then I had the plug in tx/rx transmitters. Then a couple different remote sets. But not the D's.

Ive had a few issues over the years. One alarm lost sensitivity, even on + and max it needed about a foot of line pulled through it to register a single bleep. Ive had two or even three issues with the receiver. Its absolute dog s@@@. I wouldnt trust my current one as far as I could throw it. Its range is pony, plus on more than one occasion Ive had a run on the head unit and just received a single bleep on the remote. Ive got no faith in it at all. So after probably twenty years, my next alarms wont be delkim. I will probably get Nevs and try not to crack the cases. Or just buy a set of cheap microns.
BuzzB BuzzB
Posts: 67
Post #26 19 Oct 2023 16:11
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Can't believe it I posted this in March now another fox alarm has stopped working
Maybe I am jinxed
SnapSh0ts SnapSh0ts
Posts: 146
Post #27 19 Oct 2023 16:24
0
I have never spent mega money on a set of alarms but what i have currently i have been very happy with.

for 100 pounds at the time, i purchased a 2+1 set of New Direction S9 alarms.

I have had them for about 2 and a half years now. In the first year, they probably saw about 20 to 30 hours a week on the bank, then sat in the communal bike shed for at least a year. i dug them out, charged them up via USB and they have been working fine.

The only problem i ever had with them was in super heavy rain for hours, i think the speaker port got very wet or had some water in it and they were difficult to hear (not a problem though when you have the receiver). The next day after they had dried out, they were fine and remain flawless to this day.

I think the only thing they lack compared to the top model K9, is back drop indication.

Would recommend them to anyone.

ND have since brought a model called the N1 which is a tiny alarm, very similar to the Gardner ATTS in size which also have the ability to connect to head torches, bivvy lights, sound boxes etc...
AideyKaye
Posts: 1,010
Post #28 19 Oct 2023 17:03
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In reply to Post #1
The only thing stopping me from retiring my old Micron ES alarms is the reliability. They must be 20+ years old now, and apart from a sunken LED they just keep on going.
JasonM JasonM
Posts: 1,764
Post #29 19 Oct 2023 17:05
1
In reply to Post #1
I would say in the main most of them are very reliable.

I think a lot of folk fail to remember they are a product full of electronics, they get tossed about, dropped etc and probably some folk put them away wet - which is where most of the problems occurs.
It's very easy to just point the finger at the manufacturer and make assumptions forgetting that actually your own behaviour/ forgetfulness may have actually contributed to the problem.
vossy1 vossy1
MODERATORMOD
Posts: 9,047
Post #30 19 Oct 2023 19:53
0
I've never had a problem reliability wise with either top end Delks or Fox. I have had Delks need new sensors due to wear/losing sensitivity, but thats not reliability
In fact, fishing in France in the early 0's a big black squall cloud approached us on a lovely sunny day. It unleashed like they do, driving rain and violent winds. Over the space of a 100 yards it raised waves about 2', the Ponton was only 12" over water level. A wave came in, went up the raised bank behind us then washed my freinds pod complete with Delks straight into the margins as it swept back out, where they sat until it passed 5 mins or so later.
He retrieved his pod, batteries out, left in sun all day and next day they were working fine!
BuzzB BuzzB
Posts: 67
Post #31 19 Oct 2023 20:17
0
In reply to Post #28
All my alarms are in immaculate condition and they are never put away wet.i tried the alarms yesterday to make sure they are OK they were fine. Switched them on this morning one was dead tried new batteries nothing
clover clover
Posts: 1,088
Post #32 19 Oct 2023 20:41
0
In reply to Post #1
I have had a very similar experience, i used txi,s for many years, (two sets) a couple had the dreaded water ingress causing constant beeps but i got them resealed and they soldiered on for years.

When the txid came out i assumed that Delkim would have resolved all issues so bought a set and flogged the txi,s. The 3 txid all developed a different fault within 6 months. Delkim swopped all of them for new ones and i sold them as id lost all confidence in them.

I bought 3 fox rx plus. After a session in horrendous rain, two of three wouldn't switch on. The fox rep at the shop swopped them for new. The third one lasted another 12 months and the same thing wouldn't switch on. Very luckily i was again given a new one as replacement.
In the mean time i bought a spare 4th one of Daletronics (refurbed) to cover any further issues.

I am told the issues with RX plus alarms is the switch? . Delicate things, the hard case supplied is to protect them. Touch wood ive had no problems since.
VLT VLT
Posts: 8,995
Post #33 20 Oct 2023 07:29
0
In reply to Post #32
I also got the TXI-D's when they first came out, each of them started to develop really intermittent faults, volume not working, sensitivity slightly out, won't swith on, draining batteries. Eventually I sent them all back, they told me they replaced the circuit boards but they actually sent me three brand new alarms with new instructions (wihch were clearly labelled V2) Seems like the early alarms did have problems which they subsequently ironed out.
MiniWelsh MiniWelsh
Posts: 2,383
Post #34 20 Oct 2023 11:24
0
In reply to Post #26
It sounds like you are just unlucky. I've used a wide range of budget to mid-priced alarms from a range of manufacturers and never had the issues you speak of. Currently using ATTs for last few years and they have been faultless, as have the Fox mini micron x's I had before and still use as a back up set
oldgeezer oldgeezer
Posts: 27,037
Mr Linky Poo
Mr Linky Poo Post #35 20 Oct 2023 12:42
1
Well I guess I must be lucky then ?

I have had Alarms since the Heron incl Fox.Mitchell ,JRC, prologic, Delkim range.Gardner Nevils to name a few and NEVER EVER had any problems with any of them
SlugHunter SlugHunter
Posts: 22,752
Post #36 20 Oct 2023 14:20
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I got the old fox RX presentation box many years ago for 325 quid...

Looking back it was a bargain as they have been bomb proof...i did change the LEDs from blue to red but that's personal...
mozibay mozibay
Posts: 678
Post #37 20 Oct 2023 14:52
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In reply to Post #1
I had the same issue and it was packing them away wet with the covers on. After a week drying out they worked fine
RKB
Posts: 1,731
Post #38 20 Oct 2023 14:59
0
Muddy_Hi-Lux Muddy_Hi-Lux
Posts: 225
Post #39 20 Oct 2023 16:09
1
In reply to Post #38
Bomb proof!!
Monkeypox
Posts: 440
Post #40 25 Oct 2023 18:46
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In reply to Post #39
I've owned most alarms over the years , the only alarms I never had any problems with were Les bamford converted optonics circa 1985 and Ace i3s.

sundance sundance
Posts: 6,762
Post #41 25 Oct 2023 19:13
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In reply to Post #39
I'm still using atts stuff from nearly 20 years ago
Busted
Posts: 1,882
Post #42 25 Oct 2023 20:48
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In reply to Post #1
I spoke to darren from Dalectronics this afternoon and he commented on how reliable for rx+'s are. I've had to send him my receiver because i dropped it in france but he said that compared to most other brands, they are solid. That being said, my lxr's are 20 years old and have always been perfect
Leachy Leachy
Posts: 486
Post #43 25 Oct 2023 20:52
0
In reply to Post #42
My nevs take some beating!
clover clover
Posts: 1,088
Post #44 26 Oct 2023 08:34
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In reply to Post #42
Yet he has a big drawer full of broken ones that he refurbed and sells on ebay.
Karlos Karlos
MODERATORMOD
Posts: 14,187
Post #45 27 Oct 2023 00:50
1
Bought a set of RX+ second hand as I liked the look of the 2nd LED on the unit.
One of them seems to eat batteries, works for a day maybe two and then stops. Brand new (quality) batteries and it works again...for a while.
The other 2 are fine and don't eat batteries.

Also have a set of 4 NTXr which I have never had a problem with.

Still got my set of 4 Fox DXRs from my early years of Carp fishing. They are S.A.H. stamped so I did send them to Tackle Box to get the battery popper pads replaced as they had become tatty over the 25+ years I've had them (I got them new when they first came out)

Favourite alarm used to be the ACE i3's. Got a set of 4 brand new and then added a further 3 to the collection as spares. Stopped using them when I was river fishing and wanted to use illuminated swingers (no out port on them)

ATTs - Got a set of 4 sent to me when the under lit rollers version first came out. Used them for the river a lot as the bites tend to be one toners so sensitivity settings aren't required! Also, the river is tidal and I've woken to find the rods/reels a foot under water in swollen tides (it was the beeping of seaweed on the mainline that woke me and alerted me...so they work underwater just fine!)

Got 3 SXV's years ago which I have recently dusted off as I wanted vibration sensing on some cheaper alarms that I could use for Perch fishing.

Also 3 Fox ES, very basic, owned for years, still work fine.

Had 3 Steve Nevilles until a few days ago. They were good although 1 receiver did drown in a high tide at the river when I woke up to find the water touching the underside of my bedchair...but that's another story

Used to have Delkims (with TX2000's & RX2000) but fortunately they were stolen whilst I slept many many years ago. Didn't like them. Spent the insurance money on Fox instead. Did get another set a few years later though, for Pike fishing (vibration) but never used them as I bought those SXVs a few days later. Sold the Delkims a month or two ago as my bite alarm box was getting hard to close the lid on...

In summary, I guess most top makes are pretty good, I'll see if any more RX+ alarms play me around, hopefully I just had a bad one (and that's why the chap sold me 3 + receiver for £250)

Oh yeah, other than some Delkims disliking the rain...the only other alarm I had that were crap if it was damp were AVA's. Lovely looking little alarms (on a Solar Sod Pod) back in the day...but bite indication in the wet more miss than hit!
CityKoi CityKoi
Posts: 3,243
Post #46 27 Oct 2023 07:56
0
In reply to Post #45
I use the rx plus and have had issues which dale sorted ages ago (1 roller was replaced due faulty magnets, and he had to re proof the board in receiver or something).Although a couple started playing up again last session, only beeping once or twice then you switch off and the anti theft 3 beeps should occur. It was a 3 night session and did rain quite alot , although maybe just a battery issue. They do develop some quirky faults. I say fault because it didn't affect the registering of a bite to the receiver. Just annoying as I love them but for a top end alarm I would have thought they would be a bit more reliable. I'm going to keep them as I don't think its affecting the actual performance, as I was testing them quite alot during session. We fished north bank embryo and you are allowed to all go have a social in the hut as long as you have your receiver., so we were all constantly testing eachothers alarms. rx by far has the superior range when compared to delks which the other chaps had.
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