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Base station unit very hot in the sun

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(@goodgps)
Posts: 150
Member
Topic starter
 

Greetings,?ÿ?ÿ

A couple of times, I noticed the base unit to be extremely hot after sitting in the open sun.?ÿ Temperature was only 80f?ÿ This base unit is orange and dark gray.?ÿ My old base unit was white.?ÿ Has anyone experienced an over heated base ??ÿ I'm thinking of experimenting with a white plastic cover made from an old product bottle.?ÿ Hopefully it wont interfere with satellite readings. Not sure if I want to paint the unit white.?ÿ

Thanks?ÿ?ÿ

?ÿ

 
Posted : June 2, 2022 7:57 am
john-putnam
(@john-putnam)
Posts: 2198
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How hot is hot??ÿ Most equipment is made to work at high temps, a GS18 has an operating limit of 65C (149F).

If you are talking about covering the antenna, I would be cautious.?ÿ I would suspect that either paint or plastic will have an adverse effect on the antenna modeling.

 
Posted : June 2, 2022 8:57 am
(@lukenz)
Posts: 524
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Not the receivers themselves but have had problems with UHF radios in dark coloured pelican cases with base batteries on 30?øC days where box gets way hotter and no airflow, started creating a wee tent for it.

 
Posted : June 3, 2022 2:36 pm
john-putnam
(@john-putnam)
Posts: 2198
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@lukenz

Yeah, the radios get quite hot and need to be hanging on the side of the tripod to let the cooling fins do their thing.?ÿ I have a friend that has gone through at least one Trimble base radio because of overheating even when it was hanging from the tripod.?ÿ My Satel self-monitors the temp and lowers power output if needed.

 
Posted : June 3, 2022 3:05 pm
holy-cow
(@holy-cow)
Posts: 25369
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A clear, but very sunny day, can cause problems even when the ambient temperature is still comfortable.?ÿ Suddenly, you can't seem to get a shot out in the wide open spaces no matter what you try.?ÿ Then, BANG, you are going again.

 
Posted : June 3, 2022 3:10 pm

bill93
(@bill93)
Posts: 9865
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I once saw the LCD display on my 4000sse wash out until I improvised some shade. It was hot and sunny that day and I wasn't sure that I wasn't going to fade out as well. Couldn't drink water fast enough (apologies to TDD).

I started carrying a plastic tub that served as a shade lying on its side or rain protection upside down.

 
Posted : June 3, 2022 3:18 pm
dave-karoly
(@dave-karoly)
Posts: 12001
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@john-putnam 15 years ago stopped receiving corrections from the Trimmark IIE radio on a warm day. Went back the the base, for some reason my partner had it closed up in the box. I pulled it out and let it cool off for a while (it had fans) then it started broadcasting again. Fortunately it didnƒ??t burn out.

that was an amazing radio, I received it 10 miles out sometimes.

We have a Pac Crest repeater, weƒ??ve tested it to about 3 miles. Donƒ??t always use it, though.

 
Posted : June 3, 2022 3:35 pm
(@lukenz)
Posts: 524
Member
 

@john-putnam?ÿ

Luckily with all the newer gear the 1w radio's (in NZ there are 3 public frequencies for RTK GNSS which can use 1w 25khz UHF, can get a private one of you can get a licence) with in the heads (i.e. best location to catch the breeze) gets me ~5km from RTK base. Anything more and I'm moving into static for my work.

 
Posted : June 3, 2022 4:34 pm
john-putnam
(@john-putnam)
Posts: 2198
Supporter
 

@dave-karoly I loved my old TrimMark IIe (I still have one stashed in my attic).?ÿ Inside that big box was a Motorola Radius 2000.?ÿ The Satel is on parr with them as far as range with the added benefit of modern signals and diagnostics.?ÿ

 
Posted : June 5, 2022 8:01 am
(@goodgps)
Posts: 150
Member
Topic starter
 

After doing some research, I've decided to purchase a battery operated fan which will mount below the base receiver. Hopefully this will keep the receiver under 149f while it sits in the hot sun.?ÿ?ÿ

The trick will be how to mount the fan on a tripod or pole. below the receiver.?ÿ?ÿ

Radios for this unit are internal.?ÿ?ÿ

Thanks?ÿ?ÿ

 
Posted : June 6, 2022 11:32 am

(@robertusa)
Posts: 375
Member
 

Did you call your vendor about it instead just deciding ?ÿto get a fan which is very unusual? Which brand and model?

 
Posted : June 10, 2022 8:23 am