TK-280 V2 test specs

[searchrescueff]

I have a TK-280 v2. I think the battery may be bad, but just to check, I am hoping someone would be able to share information concerning their spec settings. I've tinkered with the transmit power level some. Done the math for 4.5 watts. However, the radio keeps throwing out a battery warning shortly after I start transmitting, hench my thought on the bad batteries. (I've had these batteries going on 3 years)

I know each radio will differ slightly somewhat, but should be close to the same. Any help would be awesome. Thanks in advance!

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[Thayne]

It is probably bad batteries; a way to check would be to monitor the battery voltage with a digital DC voltmeter when you transmit, if it drops like a rock as soon as you transmit that is probably it; another fast way would be to transmit while it has been in the charger for at least 30 min and transmit while it is still in the charger and see if it gives the low battery warning as fast.
Hopefully you only changed the transmit power with the software & not by opening it and messing around inside.
3 years is a long time especially if it was left in the charger most of the time. The best way is to have 2 batteries & rotate them to get the best life overall and don't leave them in the charger all the time.

 

[searchrescueff]

I may be a ham operator, but with commercial equipment, I'm not crazy enough to open it up to tinker with pots and such... lol. I only open it up to clean or replace.

All my adjustments have been thru the software. And it's only been on the power levels since I don't have a monitor to adjust anything else properly.

I have 2 batteries. I've done my best to rotate them as much as possible. And I try to run them completely down before recharging. But I think they've reached the end of their usefulness.

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[searchrescueff]

Well, I pulled out my service manual last night, tinkered with a few settings... Not sure which one I changed, but I'm not getting my battery warning this morning shortly after transmit. We will see how long this lasts.

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[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

That's exactly what my TK-380's did when I first bought them. The old Ni-Cad's were shot.

I picked up a 2-pack of NiMH off ebay for about 25 bucks or so. They work great, but they're not original Kenwood stock. Haven't been able to find genuine Kenwood replacement batteries for those.

As an aside, you can program one of the buttons to switch between hi and lo power with the software, if you wish.



Delta

 

[searchrescueff]

I have 2 KNB-17H, 2100 mAh, Ni-MH batteries. I took a page out of my radio techs book and engraved the date I got them on the batteries (Feb 2014). With them being 3 years old, I can only assume they are about done for.

I have a key assigned for LO Power. Being an amateur radio operator, it helps. I just want to get back to being able to use it a little more until I can get me a newer radio. I guess I'm gonna have to invest in new batteries.

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[searchrescueff]

After doing some more snooping around, and printing my test mode info to pdf, I think I found my problem. And it'll mean a trip to see my radio techs. My battery warning level was at..... wait for it.... 225!!!! AHHHH! No wonder my Radio was tripping so quick! I found an older battery, quick few minute charge and I managed to get it down to 142 before the radio just died. But I guess I'm gonna have to get my tech to get it down further.

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