Shorter Waits, Stronger Batteries: A W0AEZ Update, August 2026

There is a lot happening at W0AEZ Radio Gear. Lead times are coming down, the batteries are getting tougher, and we are reaching more hams than ever. Here is where things stand.

Lead times are getting shorter

With the contractors back at their benchs and the onboarding of a third, the effect is already visible. Current lead time is roughly 3 weeks, and the oldest order in the queue is about 3 weeks old right now. If you have an order in, you are right on track, and we keep working to push that number down. The eventual goal is less than 7 days.

Battery improvements

  • BP-K75L (Kenwood TH-D74 / TH-D75). New positive lock that keeps the core seated in the shell, the same mechanism I used on the Icom battery I designed. Redesigned thicker latches reduce layer separation and latch failure, and we tweaked the geometry for easier installs. 
  • BP-Y14L (Yaesu FT-1/2/3/5). The latching mechansim has been thickened slightly to help reduce layer seperation and latch failure. 

As always, your batterys have a one year warranty for any failures. Don't hesistate to reach out for concerns or feedback. I invite everyone to leave honest feedback on the products you purchased. Your reviews with photos help tremendously and help inform others interested in the batteries. 

Shipping: what changed and what did not

USPS and UPS both raised their fuel surcharges recently, so shipping costs crept up a bit. The important part is that the shipping you see calculated at checkout is accurate. It already reflects current rates, so there is no surprise at the end of checkout.

You pick your carrier at checkout (USPS, UPS, or FedEx domestically; UPS or DHL for international). So how fast is each one, really? We pulled the numbers: the average time from when the carrier first takes possession of your package to when it is marked delivered, across the last five months.

Unsurprisingly, UPS has been the faster of the two over this stretch, and USPS has been a bit more variable month to month. Since you are the one choosing the carrier, it is useful to know what to expect.

Going international

International sales have climbed, and that is a win worth noting. It is great to see W0AEZ gear landing on the other side of the pond and across the Pacific. International orders ship via DHL Express, and here is how fast your package actually moves, by destination:

Most parcels across Europe and Canada arrive in 2 to 4 days. Longer routes, like Australia, take a few more. If you are ordering from abroad, we are here for you. If you are unable to ship to your address, send me an email and I'll get it fixed.

The nerd corner

For the folks who like to know how the gear is made:

  • Filament. We moved to a Made in USA Polymaker ASA filament, bringing more of the supply chain state side.
  • Build plates. New plates give better adhesion, and the shells now have a matte finish that is a bit more grippy in the hand. The plates are not textured, so first layer imperfections are easier to spot in inspection, but it has no effect on part durability.
  • Print technique. Refined for better layer adhesion.
  • Material handling. We invested heavily in filament dryers and storage, because dry filament makes a real difference in shell durability.

Custom PCB. Still in the works. Design and specs are finalized, and we are working on quotes for the custom wire harnesses. No ETA yet. We will post an update when we have a real number.

Thanks for your patience and for supporting a small, hands-on shop. Reach out if you have questions or feedback, I personally read everything.

73 de Kevin, W0AEZ


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