RE: RD8000 LCD
James,
I'm not sure your's is necessarily broken/bad. The newer LCD screens that ATX now uses definitely do NOT blacken in the sunlight, BUT, the older ones, (and by older, I'm not talking all that long ago...pre SD10G though) definitely DID have this problem. Assuming yours returns to normal a few minutes out of the sun, and that the radio still functions fine when the screen is darkened, it may not be a problem,but simply an older unit.
I'm sure someone from ATX service will jump in here and answer your question about the price of replacing the LCD, but I just wanted to let you know so you could good decision about spending the money. I.e. it really may not need to be replaced except for you convenience in not having to worry about the sun. After owning stylus tx's for over 10 years (these always had this problem) i'm still in the habit of always setting the Tx with the screen facing away from the sun.
-Mark
Team Airtronics