Today I was determined to finally get all the parts I needed to make the power cable I need to get power from my 12V-20Ah battery to my QT80 radio. I got myself out of bed bright and early (ok, it was more like 9am) and headed out to Harbor Freight for the first time ever. They did not have the ring terminal connectors I needed, but I did end up dropping – you guessed it – fifty dollars on a new set of flush cutters to cut wire since the wire cutters I found in the toolbox in the garage were an abomination that more chewed through wire than cut cleanly, as well as a wire stripper that also works as a crimper, and a few other items as well. I also picked up a small tool bag in which to keep my radio-related tools.
Then I went to Ace Hardware on the suggestion of the clerk who helped me at HF, but the guy that “helped” me was less than helpful and acted like I was looking for something unreasonable.
A thunderstorm was rolling in, so I grabbed lunch and headed home to eat. I thought I was going to have to order what I needed online, and wait yet another week, but it occurred to me while having lunch that maybe an auto parts store would have the connectors, so I hopped back in the car after the storm was over and was successful in my quest!
I got home and was able to create the cable I needed to connect the battery to the radio:
After I made the cable, I used my multimeter to make sure the cable had conductivity through it on both sides.
I also re-did the Powerpole connectors I added to the end of the radio’s power cable because after making the battery cable, I knew I had not secured those sufficiently. After doing all that, I was finally ready to plug in my radio!
And it WORKED!
I had power to the radio, it turned on!
I was very nervous that I had done something wrong somehow, and the battery was going to catch on fire, but it did not, and it didn’t seem to be heating up or anything.
I fiddled with the radio a bit but soon realized that I need to sit down and flip through the manual and maybe re-watch the QT80 videos to get a feel for how to operate the radio. I could move through the band a bit, but not with confidence, and I only caught a voice twice, without a good signal.
I need to watch some videos on how to use the NanoVNA to set up my antenna at the right lengths for the bands I can receive on this radio, and on my (tr)uSDX, which also needs to have a way to power it that’s a little more beefy than USB phone bank power.
I have a battery case and some 18650 batteries on their way to make a nice portable setup for that radio… and you will never guess how much that cost! Yes, that was sarcasm. It was right around $50, of course.
Getting the power cable made was a nice little confidence booster, proving to myself that I did comprehend what I had researched, and that I am not going to set myself on fire or electrocute myself, or damage my equipment. At least, not so far!
My goal this week: figure out how to make the radio “hear” more than faint sound! Fingers crossed!
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