On Thu, Jul 25, 2024 at 2:05 PM, Steve W2SGM

<steve@...> wrote:

Mike, that power conditioner looks great. Without knowing how you have designed the circuits in the device, I am wondering if you have also (intentionally or otherwise) solved the excessive power-off battery drain that happens in the FT-817/818 when there is something plugged into the barrel connector. I felt I should share the attached schematic that details one potential fix.

The often-seen phenomenon of the overnight dead-battery is caused by a CPU-controlled sense on the DC jack that changes the radio's behavior. Anything connected to the jack, even an unpowered lead, will cause excessive power draw when the radio is off. The current drain is from the CPU; it's not a passive current draw.

You can tell a fix is needed with your powerpole adapter if the backlight (when set to Auto in settings) stays on all the time when there is a connector in the jack. This means the power-off draw is ~4 mA instead of the usual .5-1 mA. If your powerpole adapter is connected and the auto-backlight times out as it should, no further fix is needed.

On 25 Jul 2024, at 8:42, Mike Bryce wrote:

Hey, gang...

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Things have been slow in the shack, so I've raised from the dead a project I started back in 2018. This is a power conditioner for the 718/818.

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Unlike Phil's design, I can't remember his call, this is an external box.

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The photos show a early proof build unit.?

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There are Anderson power poles for input supply.

A field replaceable fuse

Reverse polarity protection

All kinds of noise and spike suppression

Can do 3A output all day long without adding heat to the 718's chassis

the whole shebang mounts into a cast aluminum Hammond box.

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A new design is being worked on, and if there is enough interest, I might move forward with this project.

Might have a need for a few beta testers soon.

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I'm Mike, WB8VGE

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On 25 Jul 2024, at 8:42, Mike Bryce wrote:

Hey, gang...

?

Things have been slow in the shack, so I've raised from the dead a project I started back in 2018. This is a power conditioner for the 718/818.

?

Unlike Phil's design, I can't remember his call, this is an external box.

?

The photos show a early proof build unit.?

?

There are Anderson power poles for input supply.

A field replaceable fuse

Reverse polarity protection

All kinds of noise and spike suppression

Can do 3A output all day long without adding heat to the 718's chassis

the whole shebang mounts into a cast aluminum Hammond box.

?

A new design is being worked on, and if there is enough interest, I might move forward with this project.

Might have a need for a few beta testers soon.

?

I'm Mike, WB8VGE

?

?

On Jul 25, 2024, at 10:25, Mike Bryce <prosolar@...> wrote:

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Hi, gang...

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well the subject says it all. I'm looking for the little coaxial power jack for the 718. I've searched Amazon and eBay. I don't want to spend $25 for a connector with a hunk of wire on it.?

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The plug in the back Anderson power pole thingiee would be okay, but apparently there's some rather nasty ripoffs floating around.

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Is there a Mouser part number handy?

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Thanks..

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Mike WB8VGE

On Jul 25, 2024, at 11:08, Mike Bryce <prosolar@...> wrote:

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Hi, Ken,

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There is/will be a pigtail that runs from the conditioner to the radio. It simply was installed when these photos were taken.

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The active device is a low dropout adjustable regulator that will do 3A.?

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I use my 718 with internal batteries all the time, however just not for very long. You can suck 'em dry in a few hours depending on your operating style and mode of operation. This allows for an external power source that you can adjust to 10 V or so, that way the 718 won't get upset with higher input voltages, the heat ends up in the rear heatsink. ?The 718 will be much happier with 10V input.

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Or flip the switch and get full 13.8V ?to recharge the internal batteries or go full hog with 5 W of RF.

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Of course there is built in over current protection as well as reverse polarity protection. The new version has over voltage protection, too

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Mike WB8VGE

On Jul 25, 2024, at 10:42, Mike Bryce <prosolar@...> wrote:

?

Hey, gang...

?

Things have been slow in the shack, so I've raised from the dead a project I started back in 2018. This is a power conditioner for the 718/818.

?

Unlike Phil's design, I can't remember his call, this is an external box.

?

The photos show a early proof build unit.?

?

There are Anderson power poles for input supply.

A field replaceable fuse

Reverse polarity protection

All kinds of noise and spike suppression

Can do 3A output all day long without adding heat to the 718's chassis

the whole shebang mounts into a cast aluminum Hammond box.

?

A new design is being worked on, and if there is enough interest, I might move forward with this project.

Might have a need for a few beta testers soon.

?

I'm Mike, WB8VGE

?

?

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Based on some questions that ?I have received, I have added the following to the FOBB Rules on

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POTA/SOTA OPERATIONS AND HIGHER POWERED HUNTERS/CHASERS:

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Many of the Bumblebees have indicated that they will be operating from POTA or SOTA locations. ?

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Many Bumblebees have said that they will also be responding to POTA Hunters and/or SOTA Chasers.

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As long as a Bumblebee Number is sent in the Outgoing Exchange, that will be a Bumblebee FOBB Contact.?

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FOBB Home Stations are expected to be running 5W QRP.

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However most POTA Hunters and SOTA Chasers will be running more than 5W QRP.

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A Bumblebee should strive to obtain and log the Power of the POTA Hunter or SOTA Chaser.

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?However, that is not always going to be possible - do not dwell on it - move on.

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?(POTA Hunters and SOTA Chasers running more than 5W QRP cannot Submit FOBB Results)

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72,
Jody - K3JZD

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On Sun, Jul 14, 2024 at 08:46 PM, Jody - K3JZD wrote:

Flight of the Bumblebees is 2 Weeks Away.? ??July 28^th will soon be here.??

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Bumblebee Number requests are still coming in.? As of today, there are 120 Bumblebees signed up to go out and operate portable in some fresh air location. ?The Bumblebees will be everywhere from Maine to California and Florida to Washington.? Not in every state, but pretty darn close.? We will also have Bumblebees in Canada, and at least one in a DX location.? They will be operating from mountain tops, parks, beaches, local fields, back yards, etc.

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Let me address this to the Home Stations:

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Your challenge is to work as many of these Bumblebees as possible using 5W CW.? On as many bands as possible.? You have the advantage of having better permanent antennas, but you may encounter pileups since Home Stations will outnumber Bumblebees..?

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You can work the same Bumblebee once on each band – each band will count as another Contact and another Bumblebee worked.?? While you can also work other Home Stations from your Home Station, the scoring is weighted toward working Bumblebees.

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Let me give you an example:

-????????? Working 1 Bumblebee and 9 other Home Stations results in a Total Score of 30?

-????????? Working 10 Bumblebees results in a Total Score of 300

Not everyone will be in it for the Score, but it is always nice to have bragging rights.

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Of course propagation will not support it, but with 120 Bumblebees, and 5 bands available (10-15-20-40-80), a Home Station theoretically has 600 Bumblebees out there to find and work.? Chasing Bumblebees will easily fill up the whole 4 hours of this event.

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Good Luck.? And have fun.

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Adventure Radio Society – Rules are at :

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73,

Jody – K3JZD


On Sun, Jun 30, 2024 at 05:54 AM, Jody - K3JZD wrote:

FT-817's set the world on fire for Portable QRP Operation.? ?Now would be a good time to get your FT-817/FT-818 out there and turn it into a Bumblebee !!?

2024 Flight of the Bumblebees

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The annual Flight of the Bumblebees will be held on Sunday, July 28, 2024.

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The event ?will be in a four hour daytime window, from 1700 to 2100 UTC.

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This casual QRP CW event consists of 'Bumblebees' who are operating portable stations at outdoor locations, and 'Home Stations' who try to work as many of these 'Bumblebees' as possible.

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This event is open to all operators.? Anywhere.? Being at the top of the sunspot cycle, this year's? event has the potential to be very interesting.

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Operators who want to go out and setup a portable station at some outdoor location, and be a highly sought after 'Bumblebee', need to obtain a "Bumblebee Number".?

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The window for obtaining your 2024 'Bumblebee Number' is now Open.

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The web site will explain the whole process.

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I'll be out there as a 'Bumblebee' - hoping to work you during the event.

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72,

Jody - K3JZD