Received: (from poulton@localhost) by zonker.hpl.hp.com (8.7.1/8.7.1) id SAA23271; Wed, 29 Oct 1997 18:03:40 -0800 (PST) Date: Wed, 29 Oct 1997 18:03:40 -0800 (PST) From: Ken Poulton <poulton> Message-Id: <199710300203.SAA23271@zonker.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis> To: wind_talk, windsurfing@fly.com-DeleteThis Subject: Apelco 510 VHF radio charging problem Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
This explains my problem with the Apelco 510 radio, but this is
a potential problem with any radio without a battery indicator.
Ken Poulton
poulton@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis
"I can teach a man to sail, but I can't teach him why."
-- Timothy E. Thatcher
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>From poulton Tue Oct 21 15:36:54 1997
To: Rocco_V_Cappeto@raytheon.com-DeleteThis corpcom@raytheon.com-DeleteThis webmaster@raytheon.com-DeleteThis
Subject: Apelco 510 handheld radio charging failure
Status: R
I broke my ankle while windsurfing two weeks ago. I was about 1.5 miles
from the shore in 25-35 knot winds. No problem, I carry an Apelco 510
VHF radio for just this sort of situation. I found that my radio turned
on and received, but could not transmit. It then went dead a few
minutes later.
Luckily, my buddy carries a radio, too, so he successfully called
the Coast Guard and they rescued me.
I thought that I had not charged it recently enough - it was about two
months since I had gotten a warranty replacement unit, which I had
charged for two days. The puzzling thing was that I had tested my first
510 radio and found that it had many hours of battery life even two
months after charging.
Over the weekend, I discovered that the reason my batteries were so low
was that my brand-new radio was not connecting to the charging base! It
did not make contact to the new charging base or the old one. Combined
with this same problem turning up on the Raytheon web page FAQ, I
conclude that you have a serious problem with the charging contacts on
newer 510's.
There is no battery indicator on these units, so there is no way for
someone to know that they are not properly charged without a voltmeter.
********************************************************************
Because this is safety equipment, I think that you should issue a
recall.
********************************************************************
I have been a vocal proponent of safety radios for windsurfers,
but this problem (and the lack of an alkaline battery option) makes me
doubt the suitability of Apelco radios.
> The 510 does not have an alkaline battery attachment. However, there
> is a rapid charger available for a list price of $129.95 which works
> on 115AC or 12VDC. This means you could be charging your nicads on
> the way to the water. Any Apelco dealer can provide you with this
> unit.
>
> We will be introducing a new radio in early 1998 which will have both
> nicad and alkaline battery packs. But then, that's a whole new
> purchase.
Neither of these really helps me. But I won't buy another radio without
an option to use *standard* alkaline batteries and a built-in battery meter.
Ken Poulton
poulton@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis
650-857-8461
>From http://www.raytheon.com/rmc/support.htm:
VHF Radios
Question: Why won't my VHF510 battery hold a charge?
Answer: Gently bend the contact clips in the charger cup to ensure
better contact.
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There has been no response from Raytheon.
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