On Thu, Oct 19, 2023 at 08:57 PM, VA3SYS wrote:

its not listed on HRO

I just checked HRO. It's listed but no stock.
?
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73, Norm/KC1BMD

Yes, check out the group. A number of the packs overcharge the cells.
It would seem they do have a fix for it but apparently the USA service
shop is not ready to receive them yet for repair.

Anyone know what happened to BP-500, its not listed on HRO OR desert wireless store anymore.
Are they having issues with it ?

Hi,

My BP-500 arrived yesterday. I had pre-ordered it back in March from HRO, and it was one of many which were held up in customs.

Like some others, mine arrived missing the 18650 cells. HRO sent me an e-mail even before I called them. I selected the option for HRO to send me the batteries separately, which they shipped immediately. There were other options, including for me to send it in, if I wanted HRO to install the cells.

I was concerned about the issue raised here by some about uneven charging. Below is what I did to test things out. I am concerned some might reach the wrong conclusions if for example their cells didn't start out close to the same charge state.

First, I Installed 6 genuine Panasonic "flat-top" NCR18650B batteries I had on hand. These were close to fully charged, and I confirmed all were close to the same terminal voltage to start. See measurements below.

Next, I ran radio the radio in receive mode the rest of the day and some this morning, maybe down to 11.2V, enough so it would know to charge the batteries.

Finally, I let charge until the radio indicated charging was complete, then measured voltages again.

battery layout, view from rear:

+ #1 -??? + #4 -
+ #2 -??? + #5 -
+ #3 -??? + #6 -

cell voltages:

Cell#, Initial voltage, after mild discharge voltage, after BP-500 native re-charge completion voltage.

#1,? 4.149,? 3.907,? 4.148
#2,? 4.149,? 3.907,? 4.148
#3,? 4.141,? 3.906,? 4.141
#4,? 4.132,? 3.900,? 4.140
#5,? 4.147,? 3.908,? 4.155
#6,? 4.143,? 3.908,? 4.151

My cells were not all exactly the same starting voltage, but I picked ones out of my bin that were as close to each other as I could find.

A better test would be to let them run down to more like 3V, but I was impatient.

Measurements were with a calibrated Fluke 8845A DMM.

I hope this is helpful to others who may have concerns, or wish to compare. I am satisfied with charge completion being reached when all sells are about 4.15V.

Mark

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Mark G Thomas <Mark@...>, KC3DRE

Thanks for the quick responses.? I did leave the battery pack installed and then used battery power to do the upgrade.... all went well.

Thanks for the help to all who gave directions.

73...Steve

You can leave the battery pack connected but it's not how you power the radio for a firmware update because it will not stay on. Instead, supply power to the radio via its 12v connection. Detailed firmware update instructions are in the user manual on the Lab599 website downloads section.

You can use TX500 with battery attached and power supply connected to the radio OR to the battery. But NOT both. It's stated in the manual.?

So, you don't have to remove BP. Just plug external 12V to the radio and power it on with third top button pressed.?
Update, reboot.?

You even can update fw without external 12V supply. Just press and release BP500 power button continuously to prevent it from turning of. Yes, it works, but do it on your own risk? ))?

I have just installed the battery pack and went to do a software update.? I would like detailed instructions as to how to update.?

Questions....
Do I have to dismount the battery pack?
do I plug in 12v to the radio as previous instructions indicated with the battery pack mounted or off the radio?

Need instructions for/from Lab599.... don't want to let the magic smoke out of the radio.??

Thanks... Steve

Tom, I have just put a fully charged battery set in so it will be some time before I will be able to check.? Additionally, I am not sure how the test should be done.? Be glad to help.??

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Steve,

I ordered my bp500 from HRO a few months ago and it was shipped from FL. a few days ago.? It should arrive tommorow Friday 13 Oct... I hope that is not a jinx... hi hi.? Just letting you know they are shipping.??

73... Steve

Don't forget that phones middle point (ground) has supply voltage /2 DC and must be isolated from common ground (transceiver and mic).
That's the reason why phones jack sleeve is unconnected in Lab599 adapter.

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My recollection is that some OEM adapters require a stereo to mono adapter plug to use some headset plugs because of incorrect wiring or grounding?

I was trying to wire my mono headset to work with tx500.

According to the sources I found on Internet that proper way of wiring mono speaker to TRS connector is to do it as follow:

S <-> Speaker -
RT <-> Speaker +

Such configuration works with PC plug and the speaker mike connector from my tx500, although it fails when using the provided headset adapter.

Wiring manual expects following wiring:

S <-> NC
R <-> Speaker +
T <-> Speaker -

This works with adapter, but not with the PC or speakermike.

Is it so, the adapter wiring is borked by design, or I'm doing something somewhere wrong?

Thanks Tim. I'm give it a shot this weekend.

Steve

Hi Steve,
The DIF icon can be seen on page 9 of the manual, which expands it to "Virtual intermediate frequency ON" which is covered on page 16 where its called IF DSP.
? IF DSP: Virtual Intermediate Frequency: Specifies the Mode of the Receiver.
?? ENABLE: This is the operating mode, utilizing all DSP features of the radio. This mode uses a virtual Intermediate Frequency, which is offset from the operating frequency by a few kHz. This is similar to ‘homodyne’? technology.
?? DISABLE: When IF is disabled, the radio operates in simple Direct Digital Conversion mode, and has soft reduced performances.

Clearly the naming could be a bit more intuitive, Anyway, I havent played with it in the field (didnt know about it until your post) but it was able to move the spurs i see on 20m, shifted it up ~8khz (didnt look down band). i think the workflow is tune until you hit a spur, turn on DIF, tune until you find the spur again and turn if off.
hope that helps and 73
tim w3qp

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It is an option in the menu bar on the screen at the bottom next to AGC