In Episode 37, Ed Bradshaw, W4EDF, joins the show to share his well-thought-out opinions on the features and importance of upgrading from the low-cost Chinese handi-talkie (HT) that many new hams begin with. While the show is not meant to disregard intro-level HTs, it aims to help those looking for an upgrade by discussing the ins and outs of higher-end handi-talkies. The hosts touch on various models, highlighting their commonalities and differences, from battery chemistry and charging circuits to display size and memory banks. Listeners can learn how to wade through the specs to find the right HT for their needs.
As Mentioned:
The ID-51A Plus uses 2.5A while transmitting 5W. The charger is rated at 2A. That is the reason you don’t want to use it for anything but charging. You would probably be OK on lower power but it’s best to have a dedicated power source.
Icom says that you can use the car charger for operation but the manual states: “NOTE: Up to 5 W (approximately) of maximum out-put power is possible when using external DC power. However, when the supply voltage exceeds 14 V, the built-in protection circuit activates to reduce the transmit output power to approximately 2.5 W.”So, as always, check your manual before using your charger during transmit.
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73 Y’all
K4CDN
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Just listening to the HT podcast that came out today. I love your podcast by the way. I just wanted to share a couple things that were mis-stated about the FT60R.
1) Weather channels are simple to get to. Hold down the “1” key and the radio will switch the memory bank that’s pre-programmed for the NOAA freqs. Hold it down again to switch back to where you were before.
2) The included was wart power supply, while charging the radio, will not supply enough power to transmit. However, with a more powerful 12v supply like a cigarette lighter or 12v power supply and an adapter cable, you can indeed transmit while charging.
I have a FT-60R. While I like it, I am considering an “upgrade” of some sort like you guys were talking about during the podcast.
Thanks again!
Wayne,
Great to hear from you! Thanks for clearing up the missteps. We appreciate you listening…now I’m considering an upgrade too!
K4CDN/cale
Thanks Wayne. Yes, I realized I wasn’t as clear with my statements about the external supply after the interview and a bit was added as text to the program page. The ID-51a Plus draws 2.5A during transmit on 5W but the 12v car adapter is only rated at 2A max. This isn’t the case with all radios but definitely something to keep in mind.
The weather channels on the FT-60R are easy to get to but differ to that of the VX-3R, making it a treat to remember when you switch between the both. This is where regular use of the radio is a good thing. I personally like how the Icom ID-51a cycles the weather channel group / memory / call channel with a single button .
Is there an HT you’ve been eyeing up as a possible successor to your FT-60? What are the features you would like to see?