[Alberg30] Portable VHF power

[Brian and Elaine Timmins]

Yes, it's a familiar story to me. Now a days I only buy name brand batteries
(usually Duracell if available). I haven't had a VHF, potentially life
threatening situation, but I've had several very frustrating experiences
with camera flash failure (due to batteries dieing) in the middle of family
or friends events where someone was counting on me to be "THE Photographer"
(I'm a fairly good advanced amateur). Name brand batteries are almost always
more dependable and longer lasting than "house brand". IMHO
Regards, Brian  Free Spirit #497
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marianne King-Wilson" <addvalue at zeuter.com>
To: <public-list at alberg30.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 11:53 PM
Subject: Re: [Alberg30] Portable VHF power


> This talk of power levels reminded me of an experience I had with
batteries.
> Forgive me if this is old hat to you!
>
> I purchased a handheld VHF to use for monitoring sailing races.  We have
fixed
> VHF radios in our boats, but as regatta chair, I never know where I'll be,
so
> it's with me all the time.
> The dealer loaded me up with house-brand batteries, and the VHF died on
about
> the third word of the first transmission, after I'd been listening for a
few
> hours.
> After it died, it made an infuriating hum when I pressed the transmit
button.
> No mistaking that it was not functioning.
> The dealer couldn't explain it.  Took it into the shop, shipped it to
their
> repair depot for a couple of weeks, could not figure it out.  He didn't
have a
> full appreciation that a VHF could save a life one day--as long as it was
> working.  And he told me rather unnecessarily, I thought, that he wasn't
> responsible for my life.
> They offered me a house brand model as a replacement, which lacked the
3-channel
> monitoring and other features I wanted, and which was worth only $200 vs
the
> $300 I had paid for the unit.  So I declined.
> I called the manufacturer direct, on their 800-line in Texas.  Their
service was
> fantastic.  I talked to an electrical engineer, who told me that if I were
to
> use a name brand battery, which generated significantly more power,
(almost 50%
> more sticks in my mind)  I probably would not have that experience.
>
> It's true!  I load up the 9 Duracells, and I have never had a moment of
trouble
> with it since.  Apparently the manufacturer had actually tested all the
brands
> of batteries, and they knew exactly which ones really had the power it
took to
> run this 5-watt VHF.  Recommending any one over another could put them
into a
> delicate position, I suppose.
> When I told the dealer, he said they were all the same as his house brand,
and
> he didn't think that was anything to do with it.
> But it still works well, and I don't go to that dealer any more.
>
> Have you had this experience with batteries and safety equipment?
>
> Marianne King-Wilson
> Windward 369
> Parry Sound
>
>
>
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