Possible Low-Power Issue on Kenwood HTs — Investigation & Upcoming Fix
A few customers have reported that their Kenwood handhelds (TH-D74/D75) switch to Low TX Power when powered by a W0AEZ battery pack. The radio remains fully functional and charges normally, but we want you transmitting at full strength.
What we’re doing now
-Initial bench tests point to adding a 1.75 MΩ resistor on the pack’s contact PCB to keep the radio in high-power mode.
-Implementing that resistor cleanly requires a new PCB layout. The redesign has started, but there is currently no ETA for finished boards.
What you can expect
– Once the new PCB is validated, I’ll ship the parts (plus clear install instructions) at my raw cost; you’ll only cover inexpensive shipping.
– If you’d rather not install the PCB yourself, email kevin@w0aez.com and I’ll arrange an exchange.
What to do now
If your radio is running at normal power, carry on. If you see it defaulting to Low TX Power, please email me with:
- Your order number
- HT model and firmware number
- The behavior you are observing
Your feedback helps finalize the fix faster.
Thank you for your patience while I sort this out. I’ll update you as soon as the redesigned PCB is ready to ship.
73 & stay tuned,
Kevin Rowley
Owner & Lead Experimenter | W0AEZ Radio Gear LLC
kevin@w0aez.com | w0aez.com
