From: dlp@zule.EBay.Sun.COM (Dan Pritchett)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: On the durability of ham HT's and commercial HT's
Date: 10 Apr 92 16:00:01 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems Federal, Milpitas, CA.
NNTP-Posting-Host: zule.ebay.sun.com

In article <VBREAULT.92Apr10104221@rinhp750.gmr.com>, vbreault@rinhp750.gmr.com (Val Breault) writes:
|> Based on the number of people that have sent me Email attesting to
|> the fraility of their radios, I believe there may even be a business
|> opportunity for some clever person to sell an aftermarket "ruggedizing"
|> kit for the battery clip on the W2A.
|> 
I think ICOM made a grave design error on their current small radios that
they use when it comes to the battery pack. I've knocked the pack off my
ICOM O2AT several times without damage to the radio or the battery. I think
the Alinco DJF1 does a much better job of dealing with the battery. It
is firmly clipped to the back of the radio instead of fragidly attached
to the bottom.

|> My list of common hazards for hand held portable equipment:
And how has my O2AT stood up to this...

|>    Drops      From 5' or less

Many times, both with and without the battery pack coming off. No damage.

|>    Water      Incident (not puddling) rain water

Been through rain with me several times, no damage. BTW, my friends 2SAT
was submerged a few days ago by accident. After careful drying the radio
works fine.

|>    Dust       Levels that don't require eye protection

It's been moutain biking on dry fire and horse trails with me. No damage.

|>    Heat       Not so hot that you can't hold tightly

Not much here, except the several days of 100+ weather that it has been
with me. No damage.

|>    Vibration  As found in a bicycle pack

It rides in my bike pack for 50-125 miles/week and has been doing this
for well over 3,000 miles. It has even made several trips clipped directly
to the pannier rack (i.e. no isolation at all). No damage.

|> 
|> I believe that if gear is permanently, operationally damaged by these
|> hazards then maybe it's qualification as a "hand held portable", 
|> should be reexamined and maybe requalified as "table top".
|> 

The main drawback to the O2AT is that it is huge by today's standards.
At this point however, until my wife's Alinco takes a similar amount
of abuse without damage I'll stay commited to my 02AT. To the Alinco's
credit, it has been dropped a couple of times, and splashed a couple
of times so far with no damage. It has about 100 miles in bike packs
both on and off road with no problems, so it seems to be on the right
track.:-)

|> I believe that ruggedized versions of many popular radios would sell
|> well, and that the top-o-the-line radios ought to showcase the best
|> that that company has to offer.  
|> 
|> What do YOU think?
|> 
I agree that HT's need to be rugged. I think that some vendors have
not completely considered the ruggedness of their radios as they have
shrunk them in size. Hopefully this will change and it appears that
Alinco may be one of the companies leading the charge.

-- 
Thanks

Dan Pritchett               | ARPA/Internet: dlp@zule.EBay.Sun.COM
Sun Federal System Engineer | GEnie: D.PRITCHET3
                            | Packet: KM6PR@N0ARY.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA
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It ain't what you don't know, it's what you do know that ain't so.
                    --Edwin Howard Armstrong
                      or at least he said it alot:-)