Aside from having to send back 4 defective batteries so far. I recently did both a software and firmware update on the test radio I have. After about four to five hours, the radio chirps and displays the battery being almost dead. I go to the battery management in the menu, and it show actual status. Return to channel screen, and repeat process about an hour later. Anyone else having issues with the current firmware/software
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BKR battery issues
- Thread starter lifsvr25
- Start date
On a side note I emailed Chuck at BK and have not gotten a reply and that was a couple days ago, not sure if I just got a bad batch of batteries. But it seems odd that prior to doing the firmware and software upgrade this radio function flawlessly
TurboSportTSi
Member
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2022
- Messages
- 21
I've had many defective BKR batteries and a host of firmware bugs, but have not seen any issues like you describe that were related to sw/fw. Which versions are you using?
Release 7.5.8.69
Software 5.10.6
Software 5.10.6
TurboSportTSi
Member
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- Dec 25, 2022
- Messages
- 21
Which version of RES? Should be using 5.8.28 with fw 5.8.69.
What happens if you fall back to firmware version 5.8.65 and RES 5.8.20?
I'll try that, not sure.
FKimble
Member
Why did you upgrade the firmware/software? Where you having a problem or needed something only available with the new software?
Frank
Frank
The fd I maintain for, bought 20 bkr's and they all switch banks when powered on. Tech support advised there was a firmware fix for it., Aside from, so far I have had to return four batteries so far that were defective with with charging issues
BKR5000 or BKR9000?
IT's most likely the 5000.
I think I am having issues with the battery on a new BKR9000. Just pulled the radio off the charger, it has been on the charger for a day and a half. Checked the battery life in the menu and it shows:
AVAIL: 94%
FULL: 1808mAh
TTE:0d 06h 22m
This battery is supposed to have a 4900mAh capacity.
I am also experiencing other issues with the radio and I am hoping it is just a firmware/software upgrade that will resolve all the issues I have been having. I waited a long time for this radio to come out, our team really needs an all-band radio and I don't want to go with the other brands. Hopefully BK will sort everything out soon.
I had two clamshells for the BKR5000 that showed an Invalid Battery Error about 50% of the time during assignments this past summer. Sent them into BK and they sent me two new ones. So far they are working fine.
AVAIL: 94%
FULL: 1808mAh
TTE:0d 06h 22m
This battery is supposed to have a 4900mAh capacity.
I am also experiencing other issues with the radio and I am hoping it is just a firmware/software upgrade that will resolve all the issues I have been having. I waited a long time for this radio to come out, our team really needs an all-band radio and I don't want to go with the other brands. Hopefully BK will sort everything out soon.
I had two clamshells for the BKR5000 that showed an Invalid Battery Error about 50% of the time during assignments this past summer. Sent them into BK and they sent me two new ones. So far they are working fine.
There is a firmware update coming out for the chargers that's causing that issue. Completely drain the battery till the radio can't turn in anymore, then charge the battery. You will get the complete capacity out of the battery and like 2 to 3 days of life. You have to completely drain it then charge it to get the full capacity until the firmware for the chargers is available.
I've heard about the firmware update for the charger as well as a few other things that are supposed to be coming out soon. Thank you for your post, I'll try draining them down all the way and see if that works. I would LOVE to see 2 to 3 days of battery life like the DPHx radios. I was really bummed when I got these high capacity batteries for the 9000 and didn't even get a full day of use out of them.
There is an update for this battery issue. It was newly released from BK Technologies and requires an update to the charger which loads the radio firmware so that when you place your radio in the charger to charge it will load the newest firmware to the battery. This addresses how the batteries are not reading with the correct charge on the radios, making it seem like the battery is only lasting a short amount of time when in reality there is more than enough charge to keep going. Dealers are working with the engineers to get the firmware updates done to the chargers so that they can assist in updating their customers batteries. Contact your radio dealer to find out when they are getting the update so that they can assist getting your batteries updated with the newest firmware.
Like JLCradio stated, there is an update coming. My RSM told me the other day that he will be getting the software sometime in the next month or so. As for the battery life, when I teach a class about the radios (from the KNG-BKR's) I tell then that this is a computer with an antenna on top of it. There's a lot going on when the radio is on and it does drain the battery quickly. Ya, nothing like the Legacy batteries that would go for three days or so.
radionerd1
Member
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2007
- Messages
- 18
The 1st versions of BKR9000 batteries may develop a problem that could report incorrect capacities after charging. BK has corrected the Capacity reporting error in a firmware patch BKR102 Rev5, and Rev6 I noticed the capacity level was dropping on my Rev5 battery after around the 6th full charge. My radio reported low battery level within a few hours after a full charge after the 8th charge cycle. I disabled low battery audible alert beeps, and TX low power during low battery to help mask the problem, so I could run all day. One night after full charge it was reporting 99% charge 1193mAh TTE 3h 36m. I decided to run it down until it shutoff. Put it on a WX channel volume up, and put it in a pelican case over night. It ran all night and until about noon the next day. After I charged it the capacity corrected by about 50%. Ran it down two more times until it showed 4850mAh. But after about a Month mAh tapered back down. BK has corrected the Capacity reporting error in a firmware patch that must be applied to the BKR0302-2 dual chargers with FW less than 3.0.16. Patched chargers will have a FW version sticker on the bottom. The effected battery characteristic file will update once it's placed in the primary charge cup on your patched charger. The cup flashes yellow around six times, then switches to solid Red. It only takes about 10 seconds, one and done. My battery now report 4868mAh 22h 30m TTE BK Service Bulletin BKSB-1087 BKR0102 Battery reporting incorrect capacity Link to BKSB-1087 - https://bktechnologies.com/service-po... Applies to: This Instruction applies to BKR0102 Li-Ion batteries manufactured between 2022 and January 2024. Condition: BKR0102 Li-Ion batteries are reporting incorrect capacities relative to the actual capacity of the battery. Correction: Upgrade the battery characteristic file to rev 7. (Most batteries are revision 5). The battery upgrade is accomplished by simply inserting a battery into a BKR0303-2 DUC Dual Unit Charger that has been upgraded to Firmware revision 3.0.16. Requires: BKR0721 CFP Charger Field Programmer with FW 3.0.16 loaded.
BKR9000 Battery Fix video
BKR9000 Battery Fix video
I've searched the internet and for the life of me cannot find anything about this mystery device, "BKR0721 CFP Charger Field Programmer". It's funny they speaK of this said device but there's no information on it anywhere that I can find. Do you or anyone else here know is this for tech/dealers only or can we have these to quickly update our own chargers? My charger was up to date with 3.0.16 but know apparently there's another revision for it and the radio but it cautions not to update the radio until the battery has been updated to revision 13.
TurboSportTSi
Member
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- Dec 25, 2022
- Messages
- 21
Same here. When I asked CS if I could get one, they told me to just send in my chargers to be updated...
Yeah that doesnt seem optimal. I don't see large agencies going without chargers for a time period. Even though yes I'm sure they wouldn't have them all done at once. That still doesn't seem very efficient for the customer. Also why do they even mention this mystery device and instead send your charger in for updates and leave to at that. Seems the way they put it we could possibly obtain the device especially that they explain a little how to use it. Interesting........Glad I'm not the only one and appreciate your reply, TurboSportTSI.
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