Retevis Ailunce HD1 GPS 第一印象
文:Julian OH8STN
Last week, the Retevis Ailunce HD1 GPS arrived. I had some trouble connecting it to my computer to set up code plugs and add contact lists, so I decided to do some environment testing first and fix the connection issue at the same time.
Retevis Ailunce HD1 DMR Ham Radio Equipment
The HD1 DMR radio with built-in GPS is fully DMR Tier I and Tier II compliant, with built-in APRS, cross-band operation, 3,000 channels, 256 zones and up to 200,000 contacts, support for signal, group and full calls, and IP67 waterproof rating allowing us to use it in rain, snow or other inclement weather. The HD1 also supports USB-C charging. Charging can be done via radio or charging base.
Intrusion protection
The Retevis Ailunce HD1 GPS is IP67 waterproof. IP67 is a rating system used to classify electronic devices for foreign object and moisture resistance. "IP" stands for Intrusion Protection and is followed by two numbers. The first number indicates the degree of protection against solid objects, and for IP67, "6" indicates that the device is dustproof and completely protected against particulate ingress. The second number indicates the level of protection against liquids. The "7" in IP67 means that the device can be immersed in water at a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes without damage. So, if the HD1 claims to be IP67 rated, then it should protect against the ingress of dust and water. And what about ice and snow?
In the Arctic, anything can be bad!
Extreme cold, snow and ice pose great challenges for electronic devices. Most electronic components are designed to operate within a specific temperature range, and exposure to extreme cold can lead to a variety of failures.
For example, a common failure of high-temperature and high-pressure radios is the battery. Since the chemical reactions inside the battery slow down at low temperatures, the performance of the battery decreases. This can lead to a shorter battery life or even the inability to power the device. Another aspect is the display. The LCD may be sluggish or not at all, and in some cases, the LCD may freeze, permanently damaging the display.
Finally, condensation is another risk when electronic devices are exposed to cold and then back to warm. Moisture can form on internal components, which can lead to short circuits and corrosion.
Outdoor testing
Over the past few weeks, 65° north latitude has experienced harsh winter weather. This weather provides an excellent opportunity to test the IP1 rating of the Ailunce HD67 GPS and its ability to "withstand storms". This may be considered an unfair test, but it is necessary for the extreme conditions of this latitude.
Extremely low temperatures
The HD1 has an operating temperature range of -30°C~+60°C (-22F~140F). This means that from the Sahara Desert to Svalbard, or from Death Valley to the Barents Sea, this radio will work comfortably.
My idea is to leave the walkie-talkie outdoors for a full 3 days without any protection. I put it on a chair in the courtyard, and the chair itself was covered in snow and ice. I put it in the snow, under the stars, just to see if it would survive.
Test results
To be honest, at such latitudes, most of the devices do not have a long lifespan. Radio equipment is no exception. If it is not equipment specifically designed for harsh winter conditions, extra care must be taken when using it. With that in mind, I'm not sure what the outcome will be. Naturally, my expectation was that the intercom opportunity would fail. To my surprise, it didn't!
The good news is that the HD1 doesn't show any signs or symptoms of battery failure, LCD failure, condensation, or water ingress. The display is functioning normally, the battery is still more than half charged, and the rotary encoder, although a little stiff, is fully functional.
The HD1's power is on, the volume is down, the GPS is on, and tuned to a local 2M DMR repeater. When I picked up this snow-covered radio, it worked as if it had just fallen in the snow. Overnight, the radio experienced a low temperature of minus 30 degrees Celsius/22 degrees Fahrenheit without any signs of damage.
What's next?
Make a DMR go toolkit
Create an address book and encoded plug for the HD1
More field tests
It is recommended that Retevis open up the HD1/HD2 API for third-party software packages such as RT Systems programming software. This will make it easier to share code plugins and contact lists across brands.
Final Thoughts
From a reader's point of view, I seem to have some sort of rugged walkie-talkie fetish. Maybe I do, but then again, I rely on radio to keep communication open between me and my loved ones. DMR radios are interesting, but they also have practical value in a variety of undesirable situations. The cheapest model may be right for you, or it may end up being your breaking point. You need to make your own decision.
As a result, the Extreme Cold test is surprisingly good! We often see manufacturers claiming that their products are not up to the mark. Retevis seems to place a lot of emphasis on rugged radios! That's why you'll see this walkie-talkie on the blog, and soon on the channel.
This walkie-talkie is surprisingly sturdy. We talk about survival walkie-talkies or disaster preparedness walkie-talkies, but tend to choose the least durable walkie-talkies we can find. I don't know why, but for us, it's probably not the best strategy.
My advice is: take this walkie-talkie seriously!
Programming software updates
The day after this blog post was published, Retevis support made a diagnosis via email. They said it might be a broken programming cable.
I bought another programming cable and the Ailunce software connected perfectly. The entire support interaction took less than 6 hours from start to finish. It's very good support. I hate asking for help, but they are friendly.
Aside from the problem of connecting the HD1 with the Ailunce software, it seems to be a winner.
73
Julian oh8stn