Operating portable or mobile in an Alberta winter is great fun, until your battery quits halfway through the contact. Cold is hard on batteries, cables and radios, but a few habits make a big difference.
Batteries
- Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries should not be charged below 0°C. Many have a built-in cut-off that simply refuses. Warm them up before charging, or use a pack with a built-in heater.
- Lead-acid batteries lose a lot of capacity in the cold. A battery that runs your rig for hours in July may only manage a fraction of that at −20°C.
- Keep the battery in the cab, in an insulated box, or wrapped up until you need it.
Cables and antennas
- PVC coax gets stiff and can crack when it’s bent in the cold. Uncoil it slowly and don’t kink it.
- Check connectors for ice and moisture. Water that gets in and freezes can crack a PL-259 or open up a gap that raises your SWR.
- Ice on an antenna changes its tuning, so your SWR can climb during freezing fog or freezing rain.
The radio itself
- LCD screens go slow and dim in deep cold. Let the radio warm up before relying on it.
- When you bring cold gear indoors, leave it in its bag or case for an hour so condensation forms on the outside, not inside the radio.
More tips are on our Cold-Weather Operating page.
Related: Cold-Weather Operating · Mobile Radio Operation