Quote:
Originally Posted by 69harley
Does anyone know how long the batteries last on a full charge with this little radio.
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Wow, this thread certainly seems to have morph'd. The answer is "it depends" upon the duty cycle you impose on the radio. The batt pak comes full at about 11V and the spare Alkaline pack gives you about 10.2 maybe. On a decent gel-cell several actual operating hours with a reasonable duty-cycle, xmit/recv. (I use a 5AH model simply because that size works for my bag & most circumstances, tote what you wanna tote.)
There are some other things you can tweak on the radio to lower its basic consumption quite a bit. The biggest one is this:
If you do NOT also need the SO-239 on the back, run all your HF out the BNC on the front, this is selectable in the radio menus. Just having that SO-239 enabled is a current draw - wtf, NFI. The only thing I'd further recommend is a short patch cable to an HF adapter so as not to strain the BNC right on the front panel. Think everything lightweight and whatever makes it easy on the miniature physical interface on the radio. The other big one to save battery is use an ear bud or phones rather than spending your battery driving a speaker.
BTW, the duck, as it comes with the radio, is pretty damn good. If it can see its destination within reason, it'll get there. I hit the local repeater 16 miles away on the duck, in the upstairs bedroom, and from inside a lunatic-driven, storm-spotting car as well.
But it's nice to be able to run both interfaces if needed. Once in awhile someone actually staffs the HF rig in the nearby NWS office...
If SSB is your thing, get a filter maybe, this isn't some Yaesu console rig. I did flip the money for an older Collins CW filter (chip slot inside the rig, simple menu change to recognize it) and very glad I did. Doesn't attenuate like alot of the modern digital stuff.
Just remember it's 5 watts (mine's typically 4.8); I personally think it's a better little VHF and CW rig because of SSB's demands. Don't get me wrong, I do have a regular base station, and a whole QRO setup (amps are for friends) and I always say the first 400w are to leave the double-canopy suburban RF-hell on my block. But if you're willing to pack a lunch and throw some wire up & get it in the clear it's a pretty versatile choice especially on CW. Antenna, antenna, antenna. When it's workin' it's a blast. I've heard from a couple folks that Elecraft's little rig has an awesome receiver section in it btw. Jes' sayin'.
As to backpackable HF, we've all seen some pics of what someone
else told a vintage QP was "packable" - this would be, um, better. Naturally, to save batt draw, there's nothing wrong with a few of the smaller 100w radios and simply turning them down. Some pics of what the 817 excels at and then back to watching 'the thread.