R30 R30 Battery

[bearcatrp]

Do you mean using a USB power bank such as those to boost a cellphone battery? I use these all the time with my R30 (and 436, TRX1 etc) with power to the micro usb port.

Any limitations doing this like the 436/SDS100 has with a external battery?

 

[palmerjrusa]

Just got off the phone with Icom. Need to send it in. Will send it to Michigan since its closer. Told me I can send it to them in washington if I want to. Ever deal with the folks in michigan?

No, in the thirty odd years of buying Icom gear this was the first problem I'd experienced with an Icom radio.

Think I chose the WA facility 'cause it was nearer to their headquarters, it seemed to be more "officially Icom" sounding.

 

[bearcatrp]

No, in the thirty odd years of buying Icom gear this was the first problem I'd experienced with an Icom radio.

Think I chose the WA facility 'cause it was nearer to their headquarters, it seemed to be more "officially Icom" sounding.

Think I will send it there too. Being next to Icom, at least they will have parts on hand instead of a repair center needing to order the parts. Thanks again.

 

[palmerjrusa]

Think I will send it there too. Being next to Icom, at least they will have parts on hand instead of a repair center needing to order the parts. Thanks again.

Yeah, I also had parts availability in mind too...

 

[palmerjrusa]

Battery update, same original settings but GPS = off

Using the Powerex 2700 mAh AAs = operational run time of 10 hours, 20 mins.

 

[racingfan360]

Any limitations doing this like the 436/SDS100 has with a external battery?

Not that I've noticed, though I'm curious as to what limitations you've spotted with running a 436 with an external battery (beyond the physical incovenience of it being a bit bulky/akward etc). I can't remember which model(s) it applies to (either R30, TRX1 or 436) but one of them shuts down the scanner when the usb power gets to 0% and doesn't auto switch over to the internal battery. I think it's the R30 but need to test.

 

[bearcatrp]

You cannot record using the external battery. There is a second issue but cannot remember it. Go look in the uniden forum and you will see.

 

[racingfan360]

You cannot record using the external battery. There is a second issue but cannot remember it. Go look in the uniden forum and you will see.

Ok appreciate the info. Obviously the 436's usb port can only be used for power or pc connection, not both together. If it helps, I've never had an issue with my 436 recording to the SD card when running on ext USB power....until of course the power source dies (but that's the same for both for external or internal power).

 

[bearcatrp]

I've never tried it but its been posted that you cannot record using external battery. I'll have to try it to see.

 

[kruser]

I've never had an issue with my 436 recording to the SD card when running on ext USB power....until of course the power source dies (but that's the same for both for external or internal power).

That's because there are still internal batteries of sufficient voltage installed.
Remove the internal batteries and you will no longer record when using an external power pack only. This is what @bearcatrp is talking about.
Firmware updates are also not allowed without batteries even if you place the firmware file on the SD card.

The SD card based models that can run from internal AA batteries have been designed this way since day 1 This includes the original Home Patrol 1 & 2 models

 

[kruser]

I've never tried it but its been posted that you cannot record using external battery. I'll have to try it to see.

You can but only if you have charged internal batteries installed also. The scanner will still draw its power from the external power source for all other operations and would only depend on the internal batteries for SD card writing functions and firmware updates.
Of course if the external power source voltage drops below the low voltage threshold, the internal batteries will take over until they are also depleted.