Icom IC- T2A shutting off on transmit.

[chekoz77]

Hello everyone! I was hoping someone can help me out with a radio problem I am having.

My Icom IC- T2A will shut off 80% of the time when I hit the transmit button. I let off transmit and it turns back on a second later. I have tried numerous batteries and batteries are all fine,checked and cleaned all connections....no issues there. If I go on low power it will work 20% of the time but if I go to high power it always shuts off on transmit. Its acting like I am not getting enough power from the batteries. But I have no other battery option as I am using the stock battery case that takes 8 AA's.

Anyone have any ideas? Special batteries? Radio on its way out?

Kinda bummed as I just get my license and radio takes a dump. I have a cheapie radio on the way to play with until I get something better but was hoping to figure out the Icom. Being the Icom is so old maybe the Bofeng will perform better.

 

[nanZor]

Sure can be a battery issue.

The AA packs are only designed for low-power transmit in the first place. Because AA's alkalines have high internal impedance, in high-power transmit, because of this, the voltage drops very fast, and you drop out of transmit. Or some may only last a minute or two.

Your existing AA's may seem fine, but you may want to try another brand and make sure they are fresh.

HOWEVER, many amateurs use rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride AA's, which have much lower internal impedance, and can handle high-power transmit. The "pre charged" or "low self discharge" AA's like Sanyo Eneloops have even lower internal impedance than regular nimh's do, and can supply a large amount of current.

BUT they are taking safety into their own hands (quite literally), as the AA pack housings typically don't contain any safety current-limiting resistors. Because of this, most of the manufacturers say to only use alkalines with their own high internal resistance with the AA holders. In the end, I have seen many amateurs take the responsibility of safety on their own, and use the rechargeables. You just want to know this up front.

One other thing I'd check is the antenna - if it is broken or the wrong type, the T2A might just be shutting down due to very high swr.

 

[chekoz77]

Thanks for the quick reply.

With your helpful post and a little digging around, its looking like regular ol alkalines that i am using wont cut it. Might try some lithium ions or ni-mh. Or just throw it in the closet. Already spent more on batteries than its worth.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I know someone who left his Icom F121S based digipeater in building of the non-air conditioned variety in the middle of a west Texas summer. No fan, no moving air, and the radio kept digipeating back and forth between another digi he had about 30 miles away at 50W. I went and noticed it was periodically turning off one day. I checked on the power supply, it was fine. Checked the kpc-3, also fine. Grabbed an Icom Mic out of my car and manually keyed it...turned off every time. Blown/shorted pa deck.