We have been using the P5100 portable radios in York County for about 3 years now. Since the day the system was "rolled out," the batteries for these radios have been disgraceful. All radios were supplied with NiMH batteries and tri-chem chargers. When the police first got the radios, they were lasting about 2-3 hours. Fire got the radios next, and batteries would not last through a structure fire without needing to be changed. To compound the problem, the batteries seem to discharge at a fast rate, even when the radio is powered off. For instance, take a freshly charged battery, put it in a radio, and leave it powered off in the rig, come back two days later and turn the radio on, the indicator will read half charge, as soon as you key it up, it chirps and has insufficient charge to make a call.
Many agencies have "re-conditioned" batteries. Harris claims to have "re-worked" our chargers. Some departments have placed chargers in apparatus (which will make the radio work for about 2 hours once removed).
Does anyone have any input on this? Is it possible that somehow the programming of the radio has it drawing an exorbitant amount of power from the battery, even when powered off?
Our department has chosen to switch to XTS2500 radios, but we've been held up by the way the emergency button on the Motorola radios reset. This is a story for another thread.
Many agencies have "re-conditioned" batteries. Harris claims to have "re-worked" our chargers. Some departments have placed chargers in apparatus (which will make the radio work for about 2 hours once removed).
Does anyone have any input on this? Is it possible that somehow the programming of the radio has it drawing an exorbitant amount of power from the battery, even when powered off?
Our department has chosen to switch to XTS2500 radios, but we've been held up by the way the emergency button on the Motorola radios reset. This is a story for another thread.