XHDATA D-808 on a 5” × 9” neoprene pad.
By Bob Colegrove
Am I being too choosy? Are the buttons on some newer moveable radios onerous to press? I’ve learn many evaluations and watched as many movies, however haven’t encountered many complaints about this. Maybe it’s an age-related affliction.
Essentially the most succinct description of the issue was expressed within the overview of the Tecsun PL-660 approach again within the 2012 version of the WRTH. In referring to the buttons, “All are in our view slightly too small for consolation and have breakout forces that are out of all proportion to their measurement; the mix of this with excessively lengthy journey and weak tactile suggestions doesn’t give a lot pleasure to the person.” The issue has solely gotten worse with some newer moveable radios.
I see two issues right here. First, an excessive amount of strain is required; what the WRTH referred to as “breakout power.” Designers could say, “that’s so that you received’t by chance flip the radio on and run down the battery.” Properly, I reply, “isn’t that what the ever-present lock button is for? All of them have one.”
Should you’ve ever taken one among these radios aside, you’ve seemingly seen a pliable membrane between the buttons and the switches or traces on the PC board. This offers some spring motion essential to return the buttons to the upright place. Couldn’t this be thinner or extra elastic?
Second, some radios have flat buttons that don’t protrude very far above the case. By the point the fleshy a part of your finger bottoms out on the floor of the case, nonetheless extra strain and button journey is required to activate the perform. Couldn’t the buttons be barely greater?
The outcome, if you happen to function the radio on a desk or desk and apply the requisite walnut-cracking strain on a button, the radio would possibly properly rocket off its basis.
Pads for Portables
A partial resolution with out violating the integrity of the radio is a secure basis. In in the present day’s euphemistic world the time period counterpoise is use when referring to what we used to easily name {an electrical} floor. It appears some type of mechanical counterpoise can be helpful to raised anchor a transportable radio for operation.
Neoprene is an artificial rubber developed by a DuPont scientist in 1930. It’s harder than pure rubber and comparatively impervious to solvents. These things is nearly skidproof. There are maybe different supplies appropriate for this software, which is solely to get the radio to face its floor when you function it. After some thought and experimentation, I purchased a 1/16”-thick neoprene pad. A 12” × 12” pad is greater than sufficient. Mine got here from https://amzn.to/3XsmQDe [Note Affiliate link supports the SWLing Post]. I reduce this into three smaller pads as follows:
7” × 12” for a Sony ICF-2010, which has good easy-touch buttons and actually doesn’t want a pad besides to anchor the radio in place.
5” × 9” for a Tecsun PL-990 and plenty of different related measurement radios.
3” × 5”, the scrap piece can be utilized for a C.Crane Skywave, which already has good raised buttons; a Tecsun PL-330, which wants a pad most of all; and an XHDATA D-220, which doesn’t even have buttons.
A Tecsun PL-330 mendacity flat covers a 3” × 5” pad. However that’s OK.
There are a few options:
- You may depart a big pad uncut to accommodate varied sizes of radios; or
- You may reduce bits of neoprene and apply them as toes to the underside rear corners of the radio and backside of the stand. There could be some problem getting them to remain in place or permitting the stand to totally collapse. Some portables have already got rubber toes.
It’s most likely obvious that neoprene will adhere finest to a easy floor corresponding to glass or Formica. Nonetheless, I’ve examined it on a cloth-covered, reminiscence foam chair cushion, and it really works simply fantastic. Urgent down the fabric will make it adhere to a floor much more. I might estimate {that a} lateral power of at the very least 10 or 15 kilos is required to make a small radio break unfastened from three or 4 factors of contact with the fabric.
In addition to holding the radio in place when you function it, very like a big desk radio, neoprene presents the radio some beauty safety towards abrasion from tough surfaces. Nonetheless, the fabric is so sticky it’ll choose up each little bit of mud or grime. This may considerably compromise its adherence requiring an occasional rinse in water.
Admittedly, the neoprene pad isn’t going to be very helpful when you’re sitting in a seaside chair utilizing the radio within the handheld posture. Nonetheless, within the shack, an acceptable pad has a function.
XHDATA D-220 sans buttons on a 3” × 5” pad.
Caps for Buttons
Within the case of buttons that are too low, some extra assistance is desired. On the Tecsun PL-330, I glued plastic caps on prime of the STEP and ETM buttons, which raises them about 1/16” and helps significantly. I’m nonetheless in search of some clear materials to make use of as caps on the numbered buttons.
STEP and ETM buttons with caps on a Tecsun PL-330.
Additional validated options are solicited.
