Handheld VHF

[mirabriani]

In a recent test on handhelds PBO criticises out of date technology (rightly in my opinion) for poor battery performance and some other deficiencies.
Has anyone carried out any of the suggestions regarding battery mods or ariel connections? If so would you share them with forumites?

Regards Briani

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[bruce]

if you can get an adapter for coax to your handheld, it will work much better, still not as good as a 24 watt base radio. batterys can do just so much and no more, 5 watt handhelds will eat battery pacs if talking, but not on receive. just use it within its limitations or use a shore power adapter/car cord.

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[MarkV]

From what I remember from my SRC you're supposed to use low power normally so the difference between a hand held and a 25w base station is going to be marginal. The thing that interested me was the comment that the handheld shouldn't be plugged into the main 12v system to charge when it is switched on. This make a mess of my idea of using one of thoes 12v jump start power packs to provice a little extra power when week ending.

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[bruce]

there is a chance that the outside power is just that, outside power and the jack automatic switches from battery pack to just 'shore power' and will not be in the battery pack circuit.

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[MarkV]

I don't quite follow, I have a Silva S12, which has only one DC jack. It came with a 12V cigarette charger as well as a mains charger. Re-reading the instructions there is a warning not to TX while using the mains charger but it dosn't mention the 12v adapter, The specifications identify 9.6 V dc battery or 12V DC External. I don't know if leaving it attached to a 12v external battery will damage the internal battery. I guess I'll get in touch with Silva.

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[AlexL]

the battery technology is pretty poor in handhelds - I have a cheap one with a NiCad battery and you have to run it out before you recharge, which is pretty useless.
I'm not going to buy another hand held until one comes out with a permanent trickle charge ability and smart charger, i.e you leave it in a cradle permanently on charge until you need it- and then can replace it in the cradle. For the purposes of emergency grab bag comms, a NiCad is next to useless, for the convenience of using by the helm, I'm more interested in the command handset type solutions for the fixed VHF set.

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[BrendanS]

Not all battery technology.
I've got an Icom EuroV, with Lithium Ion battery. Leave it on charger no prob, recharge at any state, and lasts seemingly for ever when not on charger (I bought a spare battery for it, and have never used it) Brilliant piece of kit. Waterproof too, and I've got the optional speaker mike which clips to lapel

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni