This is really a well designed battery pack! I like the fact, that there is no need for an extra solar charge controller. That would cut down on extra weight, and gear! And the kick stand legs, were a clever idea! The legs double as a safety cover for your power buttons. I would add a screw on cap, to cover the "radio's" power port. Just to prevent dust, water, debris into that port. And maybe even paint the engraved inlay words (in white modeling paint) at the power & LED sides, so my older eyes can read it at a glance.
Looks like a winner! I can't wait for mine to come in! I should also be getting my PA-500 in the 4th Quarter. Combine those three items with my Chameleon MPAS, DigiRig, Mobilinked, and Chuwi Hi10X Tablet. That rounds off most of the equipment that I have assembled to build a mobile HF station for EMCOM's. I bought the Chuwi tablet instead of a Microsoft surface pro, as it is a ton cheaper. It has two USB c ports, mSD slot, and mini hdmi out on the tablet. And two USB-A ports on the keyboard. It also includes a Stylus that works well that uses a AAAA battery. It has much more I/O on it than the surface pro. AND it includes the keyboard and stylus for less than 250 bucks! The only drawback is you have to use a proprietary AC to USBC charger that comes with it to charge it. It does not have a USBC PD charging chip inside. So it will not work with normal power banks. I did not know that when I bought it. But considering how much money I saved versus a surface pro with the accessories. It's a trade-off I can work around. I am going to experiment with the various devices you can buy that can go in line on a USBC cord to see if I could force USB CPD charging. If anybody is looking for a cheap Microsoft surface pro alternate, and they have no problem using their proprietary AC brick wall wart to USBC charger to recharge its internal battery. Then it is a good deal IMHO. It's currently on a lightning deal at the time I'm typing this message on Amazon for $211 US! The 8 GB RAM version is only a few bucks more if you're interested in that as well! CHUWI Hi10 X, 10.1" Tablet with Keyboard and Pen, 6GB LPDDR4 128GB Storage, 1920x1200P 10-Point Touch Display, Intel Celeron N4120, 2 in 1 Convertible Laptop, Dual Band WiFi, Typc-C, Windows 10, Gray a.co/d/0nHbSYz EDIT. By the way I got my tablet about a month and a half ago and it came pre-installed with windows 11 instead of Windows 10. FYI.
Thank you Julian - mine arrived last week and the batteries were picked up yesterday. Yes, as some say, expensive but so is an Aston Martin compared to a Subaru. The completed package is a thing of elegance and convenience - well worth the price of admission. 73 - Don
Really great review. I really like the idea of of modular battery instead of built in ones. One could bring another 6 18650 in the bag as spare though NCR18650B will give you plenty much of juice for QRP radio haha
The BP-500 is much more than just a battery pack. Other radio manufacturers should take note. It is obvious a lot of thought went into the design. Very nice that you don't need an external solar charge controller. I love that you can choose 3S1P or 3S2P. If I had a TX-500, I would definitely get some connector dust caps especially for the TX-500 DC power port to prevent me from connecting power when the battery pack was installed. Great video!
Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes indeed, I think manufacturers take notes. I've said it on the channel before, the small companies are doing the innovative work. 👍 73 Julian oh8stn
Julian. Congratulations on being highlighted in this month's QST Ham Media Playlist article "Off-Grid Ham Radio OH8STN - A Focus on EmComm". It's a great testament to your hard work and insightful information. Well done.
Thank you John. I suppose it's often difficult for people to understand what's behind the drive, from the outside looking in. Thanks for watching, commenting, and for the kindness. 73 Julian oh8stn
Thanks for another instructional video. Can't wait for my setup to finally arrive. Comment on dust caps on the power input is a good idea. I've got a set that came with my screen covers from a guy in TX who 3D prints them and sells on esty. Now to see how the setup holds up under load. Got the PowerFilm LSM to try to hook up with this system. Mahalo!
I never thought any manufacturer would allow end uses to install their own 18650 cells, so hats off to lab 599. Lets hope other manufacturers follow suit. It is a little pricey though. Thanks for the review Julian.
It seems that the Samsung cells that came with my BP500 perform particularly well at a lower discharge rate, which is a great match for this radio. For this reason, these INS18650-35E 3500mAH batteries may be the optimum choice for the BP500. In any case, they perform well and at least on paper compare nicely to similar parts from Panasonic and Sanyo.
Another outstanding review Julian. I'd been closer and closer to adding this radio to my kit, but in North America the price, lack of availability, and lack of support (there are currently no repair shops in NA) have me looking elsewhere for a man portable qrp setup. Keep on keepin on!
Indeed. We have the same problem in Europe with Elecraft. More important point is showing the community what these small companies are doing. It might actually get the larger legacy manufacturers out of their comfort zone.
I ordered the BP500 a little over 6 months ago. It just arrived today. I have been using the alternative BAT500, which has worked fine, but doesn’t have the design elegance of the BP500. I'm probably going to reserve the BAT500 for powering the amplifier. My BP500 arrived with 6 Samsung INS18650-35E 3500mAH batteries.
Now that cool, Maybe some day they will have a tuner and an amp that will attach, incase we want more power or need a tuner , all in one moduler package.
I think there was a hardware update during this waiting time. They added on the heat sink , ensuring the radio could dissipate heat efficiently with the pack attached. At least the prototype images are different now than the production model. I'm speculating, but that's my best guess.
Great video. I love my IC-705 but the TX-500 and its add-ons are so thoughtfully designed and purpose built for in-field operation that I almost wish I had sprung for it instead. I think it's an especially good move to have each of the individual add-ons mesh with the footprint of the TX-500 to keep the bulk down. I wish something similar existed for the IC-705. I hope that whenever you give us your thoughts on all three components (TX-500, PA-500, & BP-500) working together that it'll hit that great intersection of capability, portability, and longevity that you're searching for.
Shame prices in U.S. have gotten so out of hand. $1600 for this setup vs $1600 for kx2 shack in box package makes it a no brainer in elecrafts favor. You could even do a 705 with a mat tuner at that price.
Well the prices are definitely out of hand in north america. The upside is this is rugged. A kx2 breaks just thinking about wet weather. Plus, if you want 160 and 6 meters, It's no brainer in Lab599s favor.
@@OH8STN Unless of course your TX-500 fries due to a CPU defect. Once that happens you’ll be in repair limbo for nearly a year. Despite how innovative or durable it is, I can’t recommend it to anyone until they get the support side figured out.
@@OH8STN I like your videos, that’s why I keep coming back. I WISH like hell I could buy either this or DL4KA’s battery pack, but I currently lack the radio that they are built for. I just thought getting that information out there is valuable for those in the US Market that don’t have a TX-500 yet. Certainly not an attack on you, though apparently it was perceived that way.
We have exactly the same problem with Elecraft radios in europe, as the problem you describe in North America. Should people not "risk" buying Elecraft radios? If an American company was making such innovative radios, I'd have them on the channel. Sadly, they don't exist! We all can choose what we spend our money on. I don't give a hoot how someone spends theirs. To your point though, my 817 was bricked a few years ago. Trying to get it repaired was next to impossible. Even though I could tell them exactly what was wrong with it and the component which was defective, there was no guarantee of time for the repair, and no price estimate for what I wanted done. There's always gonna be risk with our radio choices, regardless of the company.
Thanks Julian, without this video I would be completely in the dark. However, still can’t get the BP-500 to work. Radio works fine, battery pack turns off after 10 seconds. Turn on battery pack then radio, 10 seconds later, all shuts down. Followed your procedure for powering up. Still nothing. Any help or suggestions appreciated!
Julian, how are you liking the Lab599 radio overall? This is on my radar, at some point, I want to grab one. You are one of the few RUclipsrs I follow who use this on a regular basis.
As an analog radio it's brilliant and I love it. For data modes, the wires can be intrusive. It's still a great radio but I wish there were an internal audio interface with usb for cat control and audio. The modularity is a plus in my opinion. There's nothing else like it at the moment. Thanks for watching, commenting and for the kindness. Greatly appreciated. 73 Julian oh8stn
This radio is unique and is designed and manufactured to high standards. However an expensive battery pack is not needed, any DIY battery pack will do. Now, an antenna tuner would make much mores sense. Also, those battery compartment screws will be lost in no time...they need to be captured on the back plate!
I don't disagree about the screws, but once the cells are installed, the compartment never needs to be opened again. A tuner module would be nice. Dince I've starred using OCF & EF antennas, an integrated battery module became a higher priority for me. My d I y batteries are awesome but this is much cleaner and uses fewer cables.
If you have a PA-500 Amplifier can the BP-500 power that as well? As far as I can tell you would still need to carry a separate power source for the amp.
Take a look at this video. I believe many of us are mixing up this battery with another one i've shown on the channel ruclips.net/video/6CNnpvDXEL4/видео.html
You didn't miss it, I don't think it was mentioned in this video. I have a few different PowerFilm panels for different use-cases. From the rollable, 2x 28 and 1x 60w. From holding 30, 60, 90, & 120w. For QRP I generally use the 60w as we are at such high latitude. For the field station, the 90 or 120. It really depends on what my goals are, and how much power the station runs. Hope this helps. 73 Julian oh8stn
Excellent video Julian! Now to bring it all together with the PA-500 Amp. It looks like the designers have been channeling OH8STN in their engineering/design sessions!!! Perhaps the big guys will indeed start to take note. This modular “all-in-one” setup is amazing. Looking forward to more videos after you get into the “weeds” of this setup! Simper fi! Todd KI5HNX
Thanks Todd. This battery is awesome but can't power the @dl4ka PA500 amplifier. This one just powers the radio, and charges its own Internal cells. I'll do another video showing the BAT500 and PA500, integrated with TX500 soo . Semper Fi brother and 73.
Doomsday Radio! I love it. I have been watching all your videos with great interest. Can you expand on what entails your version of doomsday radio wise and other? I did read the QST article this month, great writeup. Using a 705 now but not sure if it will hold up in the long run, especially out in the field. Appreciate everything you do! 73 KF7JZ Philip
There's a couple of features I look for when I'm thinking about doomsday radio. The 1st is some amount of waterproofing war resistance to rain.The second is ruggedness. This radio has both of those features. Sadly it lacks the data capabilities of the 705. So i'm torn between the two radios. 73 Julian oh8stn
I am conflicted. As a TX 500 user this is a very elegant solution, but it's expensive, and right now I don't know if I want to be doing business with Russia, even if they are "fig leafing" it through the UAE. I still love what Lab 599 are doing, but its difficult right now....
For the first question I wouldn't have any problems taking this out in the rain. The battery compartment is tightly sealed with those six screws. However, i'm not sure what the I p rating is if it has one. I'm also curious about how the pogo pins will react if they got wet. As for the price, seems to be about $400.
Hi Julian, waiting for mine to arrive. DHL woes…. My understanding is that you CAN power the TX-500 form the GX12 OR the BP-500 but NOT the BP-500 connected to a supply AND the GX12?
Julian, great review, thanks. How would you compare bp500 vs diy599 batterypack? Both are hard to get, but which one to choose? (I already own a great solar charging controller for the panel)
This is a great question. I'm going to answer it in an upcoming video. For now we can say the l a b 599 version, is good to power the radio itself. The DIY599 version can power a radio, amplifier, and third device. 73 Julian oh8stn
Hello Julian, you said that you can't connect power supply to GX socket on TX500 when you have BP-500 attached. It isn't so. You can't conect power supply to GX socket and to socket on BP-500 at the same time. This is written in manual. When you powering TX500 from external power you can turn on battery and it will work as backup power supply. One thing that I haven't checked yet is that can TX500 transmit with solar panel connected, when it gives small current. Will TX-500 use battery power on TX and charge it on RX in such case. 73! RA9QAT
Thanks for the comment. All i'm saying is It's easy to get mixed up and accidentally connect both. To avoid it, I just use the port on the BP500. 73 Julian oh8stn
Thank you! So it is still unavailable and I am interested in making some 3D files to make my own. I just need help figuring out the electronics inside. Any chance you can take some pictures of the inside so I can figure out how they did it safely? This is for personal use only. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
2 18650 lithium ion battery trays in parallel. Each tray has it's own bms. Wide voltage input charge controller like Genasun GV-MOD. Battery on/off, pogo pin connector, charger/solar port. There was actually a 3d printed version on thingiverse, but not very good. If I were doing it, it would be LiFePO4 instead of Li-Ion.
I noticed in the Field Test portion of this video you had what looked like a PowerFilm R-21 not connected to the BP-500. My guess is you experimented with this, though you didn't mention doing so. I am curious to know how that performed, and if you would prefer to take an R series to the field over the LightSaver series when using the BP-500, given its built-in solar panel features, or if you think the Lightsaver Max would still be a useful compliment to this setup.
Great question and observation. I didn't take the lightsaver because I don't believe it can charge the BP500. Its output voltage is too low to charge the BP500. Moreover, I didn't mention the solar aspects of the field test, because I'd like to do more effective tests, over a longer period of time. I believe the traditional solar panel will be optimal for the BP500. Time will tell.
@@OH8STNAm I correct in understanding that the BP500 internal charge controller uses a max of 3 amps at 50v of solar charging? and if a connected panel is producing more than 3 amps at less than 50v it will not damage the BP500?
It's a great question but I don't know the answer yet. The recommendation is three amps. As this is the only BP500 I have, not teady to test it to destruction just yet.
I am very interested in this battery pack. I have the radio, with a lot of miles on it, and a 3D printed battery case. I'd love to know how the voltage on this holds up under transmit, and what kind of runtime you can get out of it. I hope you will do a follow-up report once you've had a chance to exercise it a bit more.
It's not as quiet as the Genasun. I haven't done deep solar testing yet, swally but there. It feels solid enough. I was expecting it to be as rugged as the t x five hundred itself. It doesn't feel as tough but it feels solid. When it's attached to the t x 500, It feels like one block of aluminium.
Great vid as ever, Julian :) I'm based in the UK and we're going to be getting these soon, apparently. Just wondering since the vid came out, have you had the chance to test it with all 6 batteries? Any idea of what kind of operating life we get with each charge (for low power/10w)? I'm guessing so many hours of fun? :)
I'm using this big battery to run the icom ic-705 and the p a 500 expedition amplifier. It'll run that equipment plus js8call on a laptop for 3-4 days continuously at ~30 watts. Did you see this video already? ruclips.net/video/HLnpNgvdzwI/видео.htmlsi=i3c8nHshMogj4uny
I've been on the mend Philip, so just a few bike adventures with this setup. The pack is the right size and capacity. It makes the tx500 truly portable! The only con I had was a little noise while operating whilst charging from solar. I'll investigate this on my next overnight trip later this month, then report. At the moment, I don't charge it while i'm operating. The battery pack is a bottomless pit of capacity, so it doesn't matter so much.
Poco pins is something we use in commercial broadtesting and communications. A pogo pen connection allows you to quickly attach for example a tablet to some other type of module like a modem or a charger. These days they are most often found in rugged computing and communications.
Julian I have a friend who just got hus cool Rado having issue getting it to play with cat any suggestions? I believe it is with flrig not sure what we are missing . Thanks David kj6pyv
Hey Julian, good video! Man, I have a TX-500 and was stoked when I saw your video pop up, but $400 for a radio specific battery holder.... jesus fucking christ, hard pass.
17:01 Wrong. You can power it with gx12 plug, or you can power it with barrel connector to bp500. But don't plug in both connectors simultaneously. Pages 9-10 of bp500 manual.
Thanks👍 When you tell people you can plug in to both of those connectors when the BP-500 is installed, It's only a matter of time before someone forgets has 1 or the other plugged in, then plugs in the second one. It's just better to use the one on the battery pack.
@@OH8STN Yep, actually I believe it's creators oversight to some extent. They already implemented protection measures for reverse voltage, overvoltage in TX500. It shouldn't be too complicated to protect BP500 circuit from reverse feed from trx. But who knows. We have what we have ))
This is really a well designed battery pack! I like the fact, that there is no need for an extra solar charge controller. That would cut down on extra weight, and gear! And the kick stand legs, were a clever idea! The legs double as a safety cover for your power buttons.
I would add a screw on cap, to cover the "radio's" power port. Just to prevent dust, water, debris into that port.
And maybe even paint the engraved inlay words (in white modeling paint) at the power & LED sides, so my older eyes can read it at a glance.
I bought one from Dubai. Excellent. It even has a 15V input for solar cells.
Looks like a winner! I can't wait for mine to come in! I should also be getting my PA-500 in the 4th Quarter.
Combine those three items with my Chameleon MPAS, DigiRig, Mobilinked, and Chuwi Hi10X Tablet. That rounds off most of the equipment that I have assembled to build a mobile HF station for EMCOM's.
I bought the Chuwi tablet instead of a Microsoft surface pro, as it is a ton cheaper. It has two USB c ports, mSD slot, and mini hdmi out on the tablet. And two USB-A ports on the keyboard. It also includes a Stylus that works well that uses a AAAA battery. It has much more I/O on it than the surface pro.
AND it includes the keyboard and stylus for less than 250 bucks!
The only drawback is you have to use a proprietary AC to USBC charger that comes with it to charge it. It does not have a USBC PD charging chip inside. So it will not work with normal power banks. I did not know that when I bought it. But considering how much money I saved versus a surface pro with the accessories. It's a trade-off I can work around. I am going to experiment with the various devices you can buy that can go in line on a USBC cord to see if I could force USB CPD charging.
If anybody is looking for a cheap Microsoft surface pro alternate, and they have no problem using their proprietary AC brick wall wart to USBC charger to recharge its internal battery. Then it is a good deal IMHO.
It's currently on a lightning deal at the time I'm typing this message on Amazon for $211 US! The 8 GB RAM version is only a few bucks more if you're interested in that as well!
CHUWI Hi10 X, 10.1" Tablet with Keyboard and Pen, 6GB LPDDR4 128GB Storage, 1920x1200P 10-Point Touch Display, Intel Celeron N4120, 2 in 1 Convertible Laptop, Dual Band WiFi, Typc-C, Windows 10, Gray a.co/d/0nHbSYz
EDIT. By the way I got my tablet about a month and a half ago and it came pre-installed with windows 11 instead of Windows 10. FYI.
Thank you Julian - mine arrived last week and the batteries were picked up yesterday. Yes, as some say, expensive but so is an Aston Martin compared to a Subaru. The completed package is a thing of elegance and convenience - well worth the price of admission. 73 - Don
Great video, Julian, and quite timely in my case. The TX-500 is my favorite QRP rig between that, the G90 and the IC-705.
Thanks, I concur. Once again it's the smaller companies who are doing the innovative work.
Seems like a very well designed battery pack. Congrats to lab599 and thx a lot for the review!
Really great review. I really like the idea of of modular battery instead of built in ones. One could bring another 6 18650 in the bag as spare though NCR18650B will give you plenty much of juice for QRP radio haha
Thank you 🙏 Julian , I appreciate what you do Brother.
You are very welcome 🙏
Great demo, thanks Julian. I am impressed with the thinking they put into integration.
Thanks yeah, there's been a couple of interactions. The final result does seem quite good.
73
Julian oh8stn
The BP-500 is much more than just a battery pack. Other radio manufacturers should take note. It is obvious a lot of thought went into the design. Very nice that you don't need an external solar charge controller. I love that you can choose 3S1P or 3S2P. If I had a TX-500, I would definitely get some connector dust caps especially for the TX-500 DC power port to prevent me from connecting power when the battery pack was installed. Great video!
Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes indeed, I think manufacturers take notes. I've said it on the channel before, the small companies are doing the innovative work. 👍
73
Julian oh8stn
I had the same thougjts & cap ideas too! 😅
Julian. Congratulations on being highlighted in this month's QST Ham Media Playlist article "Off-Grid Ham Radio OH8STN - A Focus on EmComm". It's a great testament to your hard work and insightful information. Well done.
Thank you John. I suppose it's often difficult for people to understand what's behind the drive, from the outside looking in. Thanks for watching, commenting, and for the kindness.
73
Julian oh8stn
Thanks for another instructional video. Can't wait for my setup to finally arrive. Comment on dust caps on the power input is a good idea. I've got a set that came with my screen covers from a guy in TX who 3D prints them and sells on esty. Now to see how the setup holds up under load. Got the PowerFilm LSM to try to hook up with this system. Mahalo!
That looks great! I really like that you could plug it into a solar pannel directly. Thanks for the video!
You're welcome. Hopefully the big manufacturers are paying attention.
73
Julian oh8stn
I never thought any manufacturer would allow end uses to install their own 18650 cells, so hats off to lab 599. Lets hope other manufacturers follow suit. It is a little pricey though. Thanks for the review Julian.
Indeed this is a huge step forward. Hopefully we see the trend continuing.
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Julian oh8stn
Amazing work! I can't wait to get mine!
Can’t wait for mine to arrive!
So far I think you're gonna love it.I've only had it for a few days, But so far so good.
It seems that the Samsung cells that came with my BP500 perform particularly well at a lower discharge rate, which is a great match for this radio. For this reason, these INS18650-35E 3500mAH batteries may be the optimum choice for the BP500. In any case, they perform well and at least on paper compare nicely to similar parts from Panasonic and Sanyo.
Indeed, there are los of Li-Ion options. We choose the best one for budget and performance.
Thanks for watching an commenting.
73
Julian oh8stn
Another outstanding review Julian. I'd been closer and closer to adding this radio to my kit, but in North America the price, lack of availability, and lack of support (there are currently no repair shops in NA) have me looking elsewhere for a man portable qrp setup. Keep on keepin on!
Indeed. We have the same problem in Europe with Elecraft. More important point is showing the community what these small companies are doing. It might actually get the larger legacy manufacturers out of their comfort zone.
Repair shop? Do you __REALLY__ expect it to break at some point?
I ordered the BP500 a little over 6 months ago. It just arrived today. I have been using the alternative BAT500, which has worked fine, but doesn’t have the design elegance of the BP500. I'm probably going to reserve the BAT500 for powering the amplifier. My BP500 arrived with 6 Samsung INS18650-35E 3500mAH batteries.
Great video as always. Just got my BP-500 in and works great.
Outstanding presentation! Thanks Julian. KM4SON
Thanks for watching and commenting, greatly appreciated.
73
Julian oh8stn
Thanks for the video!
You're very welcome.
Now that cool, Maybe some day they will have a tuner and an amp that will attach, incase we want more power or need a tuner , all in one moduler package.
This already exists. Check my videos with Oliver DL4KA
@@OH8STN How does the Amp Tuner attach to the BP500 Package?
It doesn't, you're thinking of the other battery pack dslled BAT500 from diy599. Video incoming 👍
from HRO i have been waiting on my order for four months now
I think there was a hardware update during this waiting time. They added on the heat sink , ensuring the radio could dissipate heat efficiently with the pack attached. At least the prototype images are different now than the production model. I'm speculating, but that's my best guess.
Can't wait to get one. Using a external battery of my tx-500 can be a pain sometimes
Great video. I love my IC-705 but the TX-500 and its add-ons are so thoughtfully designed and purpose built for in-field operation that I almost wish I had sprung for it instead. I think it's an especially good move to have each of the individual add-ons mesh with the footprint of the TX-500 to keep the bulk down. I wish something similar existed for the IC-705. I hope that whenever you give us your thoughts on all three components (TX-500, PA-500, & BP-500) working together that it'll hit that great intersection of capability, portability, and longevity that you're searching for.
Shame prices in U.S. have gotten so out of hand. $1600 for this setup vs $1600 for kx2 shack in box package makes it a no brainer in elecrafts favor. You could even do a 705 with a mat tuner at that price.
Well the prices are definitely out of hand in north america. The upside is this is rugged. A kx2 breaks just thinking about wet weather. Plus, if you want 160 and 6 meters, It's no brainer in Lab599s favor.
@@OH8STN Unless of course your TX-500 fries due to a CPU defect. Once that happens you’ll be in repair limbo for nearly a year. Despite how innovative or durable it is, I can’t recommend it to anyone until they get the support side figured out.
So don't buy it! I'm not selling anything. Just showing people how to use it. Is that a crime?
@@OH8STN I like your videos, that’s why I keep coming back. I WISH like hell I could buy either this or DL4KA’s battery pack, but I currently lack the radio that they are built for. I just thought getting that information out there is valuable for those in the US Market that don’t have a TX-500 yet. Certainly not an attack on you, though apparently it was perceived that way.
We have exactly the same problem with Elecraft radios in europe, as the problem you describe in North America. Should people not "risk" buying Elecraft radios? If an American company was making such innovative radios, I'd have them on the channel. Sadly, they don't exist! We all can choose what we spend our money on. I don't give a hoot how someone spends theirs. To your point though, my 817 was bricked a few years ago. Trying to get it repaired was next to impossible. Even though I could tell them exactly what was wrong with it and the component which was defective, there was no guarantee of time for the repair, and no price estimate for what I wanted done. There's always gonna be risk with our radio choices, regardless of the company.
Thanks Julian, without this video I would be completely in the dark. However, still can’t get the BP-500 to work. Radio works fine, battery pack turns off after 10 seconds. Turn on battery pack then radio, 10 seconds later, all shuts down. Followed your procedure for powering up. Still nothing. Any help or suggestions appreciated!
Looking forward to this, just wondering when they will be available to purchase. Great video!
Julian, how are you liking the Lab599 radio overall? This is on my radar, at some point, I want to grab one. You are one of the few RUclipsrs I follow who use this on a regular basis.
As an analog radio it's brilliant and I love it. For data modes, the wires can be intrusive. It's still a great radio but I wish there were an internal audio interface with usb for cat control and audio. The modularity is a plus in my opinion. There's nothing else like it at the moment.
Thanks for watching, commenting and for the kindness. Greatly appreciated.
73
Julian oh8stn
Your Lab599 information is awesome! Can you please tell me what is the Solar Panel Watts? Thanks!
I like , thanks guy
Thanks for watching👍
Just read the article about you in qst. Very good!
Awsome video. Where can I buy the BP. Pileup wont sell it because not CE marked
This radio is unique and is designed and manufactured to high standards. However an expensive battery pack is not needed, any DIY battery pack will do. Now, an antenna tuner would make much mores sense. Also, those battery compartment screws will be lost in no time...they need to be captured on the back plate!
I don't disagree about the screws, but once the cells are installed, the compartment never needs to be opened again.
A tuner module would be nice. Dince I've starred using OCF & EF antennas, an integrated battery module became a higher priority for me. My d I y batteries are awesome but this is much cleaner and uses fewer cables.
Interesting! I wonder if it does MPPT for the solar panel input? I didn't see any mention of it on the specs page.
Great question, but i'm not sure. I've only had it a few days and haven't gotten to the weeds yet.
If you have a PA-500 Amplifier can the BP-500 power that as well? As far as I can tell you would still need to carry a separate power source for the amp.
Take a look at this video. I believe many of us are mixing up this battery with another one i've shown on the channel ruclips.net/video/6CNnpvDXEL4/видео.html
Great video… sorry if I missed it but which Powerfilm panel do you use (28W, 42W or other)?
You didn't miss it, I don't think it was mentioned in this video. I have a few different PowerFilm panels for different use-cases. From the rollable, 2x 28 and 1x 60w. From holding 30, 60, 90, & 120w. For QRP I generally use the 60w as we are at such high latitude.
For the field station, the 90 or 120. It really depends on what my goals are, and how much power the station runs.
Hope this helps.
73
Julian oh8stn
all well, but this modularity comes comes with the expense of increased weight. The weight of the robust case has now doubled
Prices for many things have gone up, not only for this system. There are other options though.
@@OH8STN i was refering to prices...you can read "expense" as downside/drawback
Excellent video Julian! Now to bring it all together with the PA-500 Amp. It looks like the designers have been channeling OH8STN in their engineering/design sessions!!!
Perhaps the big guys will indeed start to take note. This modular “all-in-one” setup is amazing. Looking forward to more videos after you get into the “weeds” of this setup!
Simper fi!
Todd KI5HNX
$2800 for all that! Not even close to being worth it. I'll get a 7300 & 9300 and stay home warm and happy.
@@nvrmor023 your math is flawed!
Thanks Todd. This battery is awesome but can't power the @dl4ka PA500 amplifier. This one just powers the radio, and charges its own Internal cells. I'll do another video showing the BAT500 and PA500, integrated with TX500 soo .
Semper Fi brother and 73.
@@OH8STN
Radio: 1150
Battery: 400
Amp: 1225
Shipping?
Total:$2775
7300: 1000
9300: 1700
Shipping: free
Total $2700
I will take the TX 599 package any day…
It’d be great if it would also power the pa500
It's not designed for that, but kake a look at this video ruclips.net/video/6CNnpvDXEL4/видео.html
Very nice
Doomsday Radio! I love it. I have been watching all your videos with great interest. Can you expand on what entails your version of doomsday radio wise and other?
I did read the QST article this month, great writeup.
Using a 705 now but not sure if it will hold up in the long run, especially out in the field.
Appreciate everything you do!
73 KF7JZ Philip
There's a couple of features I look for when I'm thinking about doomsday radio. The 1st is some amount of waterproofing war resistance to rain.The second is ruggedness. This radio has both of those features. Sadly it lacks the data capabilities of the 705. So i'm torn between the two radios.
73
Julian oh8stn
I am conflicted. As a TX 500 user this is a very elegant solution, but it's expensive, and right now I don't know if I want to be doing business with Russia, even if they are "fig leafing" it through the UAE. I still love what Lab 599 are doing, but its difficult right now....
Agreed and understood.
73
Julian oh8stn
Great video as usual..Julian is the battery pack waterproof? And what is the suggested retail cost?
For the first question I wouldn't have any problems taking this out in the rain. The battery compartment is tightly sealed with those six screws. However, i'm not sure what the I p rating is if it has one. I'm also curious about how the pogo pins will react if they got wet. As for the price, seems to be about $400.
@OH8STN Thank you Julian...
Hi Julian, waiting for mine to arrive. DHL woes….
My understanding is that you CAN power the TX-500 form the GX12 OR the BP-500 but NOT the BP-500 connected to a supply AND the GX12?
Julian, great review, thanks. How would you compare bp500 vs diy599 batterypack? Both are hard to get, but which one to choose? (I already own a great solar charging controller for the panel)
This is a great question. I'm going to answer it in an upcoming video. For now we can say the l a b 599 version, is good to power the radio itself. The DIY599 version can power a radio, amplifier, and third device.
73
Julian oh8stn
Hello Julian, you said that you can't connect power supply to GX socket on TX500 when you have BP-500 attached. It isn't so. You can't conect power supply to GX socket and to socket on BP-500 at the same time. This is written in manual. When you powering TX500 from external power you can turn on battery and it will work as backup power supply. One thing that I haven't checked yet is that can TX500 transmit with solar panel connected, when it gives small current. Will TX-500 use battery power on TX and charge it on RX in such case. 73! RA9QAT
Thanks for the comment. All i'm saying is It's easy to get mixed up and accidentally connect both. To avoid it, I just use the port on the BP500.
73
Julian oh8stn
@@OH8STN Thank you, excuse my English, I think I didn't understand you well in video :)
No problem Vlad, you're exactly right. I could have said it better in the video. 👍
Any thoughts on the weather resistance of the BP-500?
Not submersible. It can handle a light rain or snow.
Thank you! So it is still unavailable and I am interested in making some 3D files to make my own. I just need help figuring out the electronics inside. Any chance you can take some pictures of the inside so I can figure out how they did it safely? This is for personal use only. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
2 18650 lithium ion battery trays in parallel. Each tray has it's own bms. Wide voltage input charge controller like Genasun GV-MOD. Battery on/off, pogo pin connector, charger/solar port.
There was actually a 3d printed version on thingiverse, but not very good. If I were doing it, it would be LiFePO4 instead of Li-Ion.
I noticed in the Field Test portion of this video you had what looked like a PowerFilm R-21 not connected to the BP-500. My guess is you experimented with this, though you didn't mention doing so. I am curious to know how that performed, and if you would prefer to take an R series to the field over the LightSaver series when using the BP-500, given its built-in solar panel features, or if you think the Lightsaver Max would still be a useful compliment to this setup.
Great question and observation. I didn't take the lightsaver because I don't believe it can charge the BP500. Its output voltage is too low to charge the BP500. Moreover, I didn't mention the solar aspects of the field test, because I'd like to do more effective tests, over a longer period of time.
I believe the traditional solar panel will be optimal for the BP500. Time will tell.
@@OH8STNAm I correct in understanding that the BP500 internal charge controller uses a max of 3 amps at 50v of solar charging? and if a connected panel is producing more than 3 amps at less than 50v it will not damage the BP500?
It's a great question but I don't know the answer yet. The recommendation is three amps. As this is the only BP500 I have, not teady to test it to destruction just yet.
Will LiFePO4 cells of the same size also work?
I am very interested in this battery pack. I have the radio, with a lot of miles on it, and a 3D printed battery case. I'd love to know how the voltage on this holds up under transmit, and what kind of runtime you can get out of it. I hope you will do a follow-up report once you've had a chance to exercise it a bit more.
Indeed! Normal MO. Field test, and report 👍
Interesting to see if it is as quiet as the genasun. Does it feel rugged to you?
It's not as quiet as the Genasun. I haven't done deep solar testing yet, swally but there. It feels solid enough. I was expecting it to be as rugged as the t x five hundred itself. It doesn't feel as tough but it feels solid. When it's attached to the t x 500, It feels like one block of aluminium.
Great vid as ever, Julian :) I'm based in the UK and we're going to be getting these soon, apparently. Just wondering since the vid came out, have you had the chance to test it with all 6 batteries? Any idea of what kind of operating life we get with each charge (for low power/10w)? I'm guessing so many hours of fun? :)
I'm using this big battery to run the icom ic-705 and the p a 500 expedition amplifier. It'll run that equipment plus js8call on a laptop for 3-4 days continuously at ~30 watts.
Did you see this video already? ruclips.net/video/HLnpNgvdzwI/видео.htmlsi=i3c8nHshMogj4uny
@@OH8STN That is some endurance!!! Cheers very much, Julian! 😀👍 No, I missed that vid! Jumping on it now! 👍 73s!
Oh boy this is fantastic I would love to have both of these. Would be so happy if 599 labs was to gift me this setup. Genius
Motters M7TRS 73 👍🏽
I was wondering how you are finding it now you have had it for a month?
I've been on the mend Philip, so just a few bike adventures with this setup. The pack is the right size and capacity. It makes the tx500 truly portable! The only con I had was a little noise while operating whilst charging from solar. I'll investigate this on my next overnight trip later this month, then report. At the moment, I don't charge it while i'm operating. The battery pack is a bottomless pit of capacity, so it doesn't matter so much.
@@OH8STN Mend well soon qand thank you for the rapid response
I have ordered one😁
And you can also translate my overnight ramblings 🤣👍
@@OH8STN Yes perfectly. I used google translate 🤣
Is it possible to stack the battery pack with power amp and ATU
Not this battery pack, but another one can. I'll show it again on the channel soon.
ruclips.net/video/6CNnpvDXEL4/видео.html
Is the term "Pogo Pins" a real world, market name? Or just something you call them? Because it fits the connector style, perfectly!
Poco pins is something we use in commercial broadtesting and communications. A pogo pen connection allows you to quickly attach for example a tablet to some other type of module like a modem or a charger. These days they are most often found in rugged computing and communications.
Is it connected to virtual reality? Also does it have artificial intelligence or do I have to do that on my own ?
Julian I have a friend who just got hus cool Rado having issue getting it to play with cat any suggestions? I believe it is with flrig not sure what we are missing .
Thanks
David kj6pyv
Use "kenwood amateur" for cat control. Alternatively, TS-2000 for example.
Thanks we will give it a try
I’m dumb when it comes to batteries, and some other things. With six 18650 cells, what will the MaH rating of this pack be?
Couldn't know without knowing the mah of the cells one would use. I ordered 3400mah Panasonic NCR18660B cells.
@@OH8STN Does MaH add proportionally with the number of cells?
If you put the best cells in you should get about 7000mAh. At 11.1V that's about 78Wh.
The tx500 will run a very long time with that.
Indeed👍
Hey Julian, good video! Man, I have a TX-500 and was stoked when I saw your video pop up, but $400 for a radio specific battery holder.... jesus fucking christ, hard pass.
17:01
Wrong.
You can power it with gx12 plug, or you can power it with barrel connector to bp500.
But don't plug in both connectors simultaneously.
Pages 9-10 of bp500 manual.
Thanks👍
When you tell people you can plug in to both of those connectors when the BP-500 is installed, It's only a matter of time before someone forgets has 1 or the other plugged in, then plugs in the second one. It's just better to use the one on the battery pack.
@@OH8STN
Yep, actually I believe it's creators oversight to some extent. They already implemented protection measures for reverse voltage, overvoltage in TX500. It shouldn't be too complicated to protect BP500 circuit from reverse feed from trx. But who knows. We have what we have ))
Your "doomsday radio" uses chips that will be useless during a doomsday scenario.
Doomsday radios are gonna be old tube radios.
Right! And your tube radio will be left behind, the second it needs to be lifted.🤣