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| blog:2020-03-28:n8xjk_super_booster [2020/08/07 13:03] – external edit 127.0.0.1 | blog:2020-03-28:n8xjk_super_booster [2021/06/12 12:19] (current) – va7fi |
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| ====== N8XJK Super Booster ====== | ====== N8XJK Super Booster ====== |
| {{ :blog:2020-03-28:battery-booster-bigzoom.jpg?200}} | {{ :blog:2020-03-28:battery-booster-bigzoom.png?200}} |
| I recently purchased the [[http://www.westmountainradio.com/product_info.php?products_id=battery-boost |N8XJK Super Booster]]. Here are my initial impressions (I'll update this post later if anything changes). | I recently purchased the [[http://www.westmountainradio.com/product_info.php?products_id=battery-boost |N8XJK Super Booster]]. Here are my initial impressions (I'll update this post later if anything changes). |
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| Thankfully, [[https://www.gpscentral.ca/amateur-radio-accessories.html |GPS Central]] in Alberta carries West Mountain Radio gear and sells it for pretty much the same price (after exchange rate): | Thankfully, [[https://www.gpscentral.ca/amateur-radio-accessories.html |GPS Central]] in Alberta carries West Mountain Radio gear and sells it for pretty much the same price (after exchange rate): |
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| | ^Booster ^Shipping ^Duty / Taxes ^Total | | | ^Booster ^Shipping ^Duty / Taxes ^Total | |
| |WMR (in **USD**) |$249.95 |$102.93 |$13.00 |$365.88 | | |WMR (in **USD**) |%%$%%249.95 |%%$%%102.93 |%%$%%13.00 |%%$%%365.88 | |
| |WMR (in **CAD**((The Exchange Rate was 1.42 when I bought it))) |$354.93 |$147.58 |$18.46 |$520.97 | | |WMR (in **CAD**((The Exchange Rate was 1.42 when I bought it))) |%%$%%354.93 |%%$%%147.58 |%%$%%18.46 |%%$%%520.97 | |
| |GPS Central |$360.00 |$20.00 |$45.60 |$425.60 | | |GPS Central |%%$%%360.00 |%%$%%20.00 |%%$%%45.60 |%%$%%425.60 | |
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| The Power Booster is currently not listed on GPS Central's website, but I sent them an email and they have it in stock so I was able to buy it over the phone, and I received it 3 days later. | The Power Booster is currently not listed on GPS Central's website, but I sent them an email and they have it in stock so I was able to buy it over the phone, and I received it 3 days later. |
| * When connecting the Booster for the first time (with no load on it), I noticed that the voltage of the battery side distribution block dropped very quickly for a very brief moment, which was enough to reboot the Packet and Echolink computers as well as the modem. As such, I would suggest having everything turned off before connecting it. Once connected, there was no other issues. I reached out to West Mountain Radio and here's what they said: | * When connecting the Booster for the first time (with no load on it), I noticed that the voltage of the battery side distribution block dropped very quickly for a very brief moment, which was enough to reboot the Packet and Echolink computers as well as the modem. As such, I would suggest having everything turned off before connecting it. Once connected, there was no other issues. I reached out to West Mountain Radio and here's what they said: |
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| <WRAP indent> | <QUOTE>The voltage drop upon connecting the booster is likely due to the large capacitors in the booster. As they charge there is a large current surge and depending on the power supply and wiring that can cause a voltage drop." |
| "The voltage drop upon connecting the booster is likely due to the large capacitors in the booster. As they charge there is a large current surge and depending on the power supply and wiring that can cause a voltage drop." | </QUOTE> |
| </WRAP> | |
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| * I initially had the output voltage of the Booster set to 14V, and using the batteries, everything worked as expected. I then turned on the power supply to charge the batteries, and the external speaker of my radio started picking up a hum. I raised the output voltage until the hum disappeared at 14.2V. For some reason, the Booster seems to be noisy when boosting the power supply voltage from 13.8V to 14.0V (but not when boosting the voltage from the batteries from 12.5V to 14.0V). | * I initially had the output voltage of the Booster set to 14V, and using the batteries, everything worked as expected. I then turned on the power supply to charge the batteries, and the external speaker of my radio started picking up a hum. I raised the output voltage until the hum disappeared at 14.2V. For some reason, the Booster seems to be noisy when boosting the power supply voltage from 13.8V to 14.0V (but not when boosting the voltage from the batteries from 12.5V to 14.0V). |
