I just replaced the supplied junky 18650 with a reliable name brand. Problem solved, and no need for a brick hanging off the USB socket. Be aware also that the battery gauge on this radio is wildly

Hi! They do have a shop in the UK, look here: https://www.jaycar.co.uk/ -- The "Penguin" has arrived - and he's not going away - ever. For former Apple users: Xubuntu.org (menu's up left) For

Yes battery life is an issue with the XHDATA. I have replaced the battery with a 9900 mAh model. You might try one of these or even a 15000 mAh model. That solves the problem.

They are, essentially, the same radio and perform identically. I prefer the AR-1780 for better ergonomics and the use of standard alkaline batteries. I have had issues with battery life of the 18650

Amen to that, home town brother! The reality is that when you spend some serious vacation $$ to show up at an ocean side cliff and/ or exotic overseas ocean beach with FSL antennas and completely

My method has been 91% isopropyl alcohol, using a long bristle, very soft brush for working the liquid down between the vanes. I don't worry too much about washing out the bearing grease as I prefer

I will (eventually) put a large two section variable cap, with three to one gear drive, in my ultrasonic cleaner and see what happens. It was new old stock, so it isn't decades old and covered with

Thanks Jay! I don't think I ever used DeOxit without a 91-99% wash afterward because of residue. However, it seemed that DeOxit might do a better job of removing oxidation if used first. The alcohol

De-Ox-It is not the best way to clean dirty cap plates...it is a contact cleaner/enhancer designed to improve conductivity between two metal parts. I have successfully cleaned caps in vintage radios

It would be good to prevent the oxidisation in the first place. This would need a hermetically sealed environment with a desiccant but getting a device that needs manual operation into a sealed box

As far as expensive, yes DeOxit isn't cheap, but then it doesn't look like you need to buy a new capacitor at $20-$60 either and can refresh existing ones multiple times, instead of replacing. Alcohol

Hi Steve and all! I first tried DeOxit D5, with a spray alcohol rinse afterwards and lastly spray air to dry off the residue. I have also tried spray alcohol by itself, which seemed to work fine by

Now we need to find the least expensive method of cleaning variable caps not requiring (very) expensive DeOxit spray cleaner. Would cheap drugstore isopropyl alcohol work well enough? Maybe

An extremely enlightening discussion. It reminds me of customers trading in gear who handed over a box with nicotine stained fingers and you just dreaded taking the kit out. White lettering turned

Great posts and some interesting thoughts on the difference that time and use has on these. I keep mine very well protected.

Thanks Steve (and Dave), The possibility that the "Q" of older variable caps degrades over time because of environmental factors is interesting, and I appreciate your experimentation regarding this.

I received my Mike's Electronics latest version of the Oren Elliot-manufactured latest version "0219" N50-384P variable cap with vernier today. There is a way to test the relative Q of

My constant search for a radio carry case has continued... With my focus on Ultralight radio DXing, my radio kit has changed, a couple of radios have been removed and I was finding my previous case

Date: 9/07/2020 Time: 8:00 Location: St Georges Square, Launceston Tasmania Notes: A portable morning session using my AR-1780 and 3” FSL aerial. Some excellent signals on the Victorian 50kw big

Date: 8/07/2020 Time: 19:00 Location: Home, Launceston Tasmania Notes: A session at home using my AR-1780 and 3” FSL aerial.