Battery, Power Saving & Sleep

Summary: Showing battery level, choosing the right battery type, calibrating the voltage, and saving battery.

Showing the Battery

BatTxt adds the voltage or the percentage to the status bar, or hides it. SysInf shows the corrected voltage, the estimated percentage and the firmware version.

Getting the Percentage Right

Two hidden-menu items matter:

• BatCal calibrates the displayed voltage. Measure the battery contacts with a multimeter (radio idle, not charging, not transmitting), then adjust BatCal until the radio matches, and confirm with M.
• BatTyp chooses the discharge curve used for the percentage: 1600, 2200 or 3500 mAh for the K5, or 1400 or 2500 mAh for the K1.

BatCal changes the voltage reading; BatTyp changes only the percentage. If the voltage is right but the percentage looks wrong, check BatTyp. The percentage is always an estimate.

Saving Battery

• BatSav sets the ratio of active to sleep time during normal operation (Off, or 1:1 to 1:5).
• SetOff sets a timeout before deep sleep, from 1 minute to 2 hours (Off disables it). After that long with no reception, transmission or key press, the screen blinks for 10 seconds and the radio sleeps, even if it is scanning.
• In deep sleep the screen is off and the red LED at the antenna base blinks. The radio wakes on a received signal, PTT, or any key.
• Backlight settings, contrast and the screen saver (SetSav) also affect battery.

If the radio seems to go to sleep unexpectedly, check SetOff and BatSav.

Charging

The newer radios charge over USB-C. Do not check or calibrate the battery while it is charging.