TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WV ARES BULLETIN NR 09.44 DATE: November 1, 2009
SUBJECT: QUICK FIX FOR H/T BATTERY PACKS
Do you have any of the Handie/Talkies that use a clip on battery packs, to keep them attached to the radio? The one I'm most familiar with is the Icom T2H Sport. The battery pack has a clip that tends to break after several times of installing and removing the battery holder. I stumbled on to something that makes a quick repair job, and keeps you from purchasing a new pack each time the clip breaks.
It might even be useful, like the safety chains on a trailer. Since the battery packet also has the belt clip on it, there's a chance the battery holder clip might break while you have the radio on your belt. It might just keep the radio from hitting the ground, and making it permanently out of service.
To make it work, use a piece of Velcro hooks, about one inch by one half inch, stuck to each side of the hand held, near the top. Then you use a piece of the matching Velcro about one quarter inch wide and about five inches long, around the top part of the battery holder.
Since the Alinco Sport battery packs are getting very scarce, you may need to figure a way to use the ones that are broken, but still in good working order.
It may not look the best, but it's a cheap way to keep your Handie/Talkie in working order when you might need it. If you use the black Velcro it doesn't stand out too bad. The Velcro system may be modified to work on other Handie/Talkies.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
WV ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator