Hi I just received my Maestro today and when I installed the batter there is no usb plug for chargin

KY6LA_Howard

Low Battery Indication:

HOWEVER.. you sometimes get this indication when you hot swap to a battery as the Maestro reacts to a change in condition.  So it is usually best to confirm the battery charge level with the charge indicator found on most of these batteries.

KY6LA_Howard

Being the total lack of consistency among reasonably priced batteries of the same make and model, I seriously doubt that there is an inexpensive way to add back the charging cable without causing other battery issues the battery inconsistencies caused during Alpha Testing.

Gerald-K5SDR

Highly unlikely it will be added back ever. There are product liability reasons as well. We cannot control the design of the third party products.

VK7WH Winston

Thank you Gerald for taking the time to explain the reasons for the change. I suspect almost all Maestro owners would support your decision. I certainly do. 73 de Winston VK7WH

ka7gzr

Gerald,

I'm scratching my head over your comment about not being able to "control the design of the third party products". What makes the difference between a standard LED you purchase and the battery?

I suspect you get what you get with the battery with no controlling requirements/specification and the LED has a datasheet that gives you a warm feeling.

You might try putting out a "requirements" document to the industry and cost target.to control the third party. It might make it unaffordable or get the manufactures to bear some of the cost burden. Probably too late for that.

Also, believe me, you all have designed, tested and manufactured a great controller. That is the most amazing aspect of the Maestro. Although not bleeding edge, you have made it affordable within the budgets of hams and that's what I stand in awe of.

Jim

ka7gzr

Neal_K3NC

Jim

Since the battery is enclosed in the maestro, any severe heating problems due to a batch of batteries that charge way too hot, could ultimately damage the Maestro or worse (just as an example). Its possible an LED could also overheat but the likelihood that it could do so at an extreme to damage your Maestro is pretty small.

The implications are just much different with the battery than the LED.

Steve (N9SKM)

A component with a datasheet is a far different thing than a battery system that comes in a million flavors of varying quality control. The whole point of the USB supply was to save cost and very unlikely that a company would custom tailor a product when the majority of the market doesn't care. A purpose built pack is another option but in smaller quantities you are talking 75 bucks or so for quality components.

Randy Pence

"no usb plug for charging"

Very disappointing
n4jzy

Steve (N9SKM)

Gerald explained pretty clearly why it had to be done.

Tim - W4TME

Since the question in this topic has been answered by the most authoritative source in FlexRadio, I am inclined to close it.