Hi Tom;

Well, that is not an entirely true statement.

I have yet to use an ht with the chargeable battery pack connected where the
battery pack is not at least trickle charged.

As a matter of fact, the KENWOOD TH-79A and the TH-22A both have diodes in
there dry cell battery packs so that if you do have alkaline or other types
of batteries in the dry cell pack, they will not charge.

I have found that the KENWOOD reps tend to want to get you off the phone
very quickly and they sometimes have an attitude like they know more than
you do.

I particularly don't like dealing with LEO.

Anyway I have found the Clifford is probably the best rep to deal with.

But, that's just been my experience and you can take that for what its
worth.

73 De Anthony W2AJV
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ECHOLINK NODE NUMBER: 74389


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 8:30 PM
Subject: "heads up to all THF6A users


> Hello all.
>
> Well, I finally talked to a Customer Support Rep from Kenwood today about
my
> problem with the lythium ion battery pack for my THF6A, and he gave me the
> answer that some of us suspected.
>
> Specifically, you may recall that I tend to use the THF6A as a base unit,
> most of the time.  I run it with a 2-amp regulated power supply.  In line
> with my earlier experience with other HT's, I simply did this with the
> battery pack still on the radio, thinking that no harm should be done,
since
> when I turn the power supply off with the rig connected, the rig shuts off
> as well.
>
> The Kenwood rep said that, although in many other cases like this, I'd be
ok
> with this strategy, the THF6A is the first Kenwood HT that has been
designed
> to charge the battery while it is connected to an external DC power
source,
> such as a car battery or DC power supply.
>
> So, in short, I guess I basically cooked the battery pack while running
the
> unit as a base station on a long-term basis via the external power supply.
>
> So, now that I apparently am looking at replacing my lythium ion battery
> pack, my next question is where can I get one at a reasonable price.  I
know
> that Kenwood sells one for $79, but I have seen Maha packs for as low as
> $49.95, I think.
>
> Any help here would be appreciated.
>
> In the meantime, I'm now running the THF6A as a base unit by putting the
> empty extra battery case for double A. batteries on the unit.  This is
what
> the guy from Kenwood suggested.
>
> Let's all learn from my experience--I hope it will help some folks not
make
> the same mistake I did.
>
> Best 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>