Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Ever wonder how much power your handheld ham radio (HT) actually uses during a full day of operation? In this video, we break down the real power consumption of a Kenwood D72 HT over a 10-hour test period powered by an 8Ah external battery.
You’ll learn exactly how to calculate current draw (amps), power use (watts), and battery life (hours) — not just for the D72, but for any amateur radio gear. Whether you’re setting up a portable ham radio station, planning for emergency communications (EMCOMM), or optimizing your field power setup, understanding your radio’s energy needs is essential.
🔋 What You’ll Learn:
• How to measure and calculate HT power consumption over time
• Step-by-step method to estimate battery runtime
• How current draw varies between receive and transmit modes
• Practical examples using an 8Ah LiFePO₄ battery
📈 Test Results:
• Average current draw: ~0.5A/hour
• 10-hour operating test with the Kenwood D72A
• Total estimated runtime and efficiency insights
Whether you’re a new ham learning about radio power management or an experienced operator refining your portable power setup, this video gives you the math, methods, and mindset to keep your gear running reliably.
🔹My Favorite Gear - amazon.com/shop/km4ack
🔹Links mentioned in the video
Miady Battery - amzn.to/4oHmG6N
Watts Up Meter - amzn.to/4qACtX1
🔹Raspberry Pi Build Guide - tiny.cc/pi4guide
🔹Frequently Asked Questions - tiny.cc/km4ack-faq
🔹Weekly Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/40da1fe472e3/km4acknewsletter
🔹Follow Me
Twitter @km4ack
🔹FREE Get Started Guide - tiny.cc/getstartedguide
🔹Cool Ham Gear - km4ack.com
🔹Support the channel through Patreon - patreon.com/km4ack
🔹Did you just get a raspberry pi and want to hook it up to your radio? Start here youtu.be/E1SEgPFQk4M
Want your raspberry pi to play nice with your ham radio? Are you into digital modes like FT8, JS8Call, FLDIGI, Winlink, APRS, Digipeaters and others? Each week I put out new content showing you exactly what steps to take to get the latest ham radio software on your raspberry pi. Whether you just want to ragchew or are seriously into emergency preparedness, emcomm, or ARES and want to learn all you can about using the raspberry pi to drive your ham radio, this channel has something for you. Be sure to click the subscribe button and ring the bell before heading off. That way you will get notified of all future videos.
🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Ever wonder how much power your handheld ham radio (HT) actually uses during a full day of operation? In this video, we break down the real power consumption of a Kenwood D72 HT over a 10-hour test period powered by an 8Ah external battery.
You’ll learn exactly how to calculate current draw (amps), power use (watts), and battery life (hours) — not just for the D72, but for any amateur radio gear. Whether you’re setting up a portable ham radio station, planning for emergency communications (EMCOMM), or optimizing your field power setup, understanding your radio’s energy needs is essential.
🔋 What You’ll Learn:
• How to measure and calculate HT power consumption over time
• Step-by-step method to estimate battery runtime
• How current draw varies between receive and transmit modes
• Practical examples using an 8Ah LiFePO₄ battery
📈 Test Results:
• Average current draw: ~0.5A/hour
• 10-hour operating test with the Kenwood D72A
• Total estimated runtime and efficiency insights
Whether you’re a new ham learning about radio power management or an experienced operator refining your portable power setup, this video gives you the math, methods, and mindset to keep your gear running reliably.
🔹My Favorite Gear - amazon.com/shop/km4ack
🔹Links mentioned in the video
Miady Battery - amzn.to/4oHmG6N
Watts Up Meter - amzn.to/4qACtX1
🔹Raspberry Pi Build Guide - tiny.cc/pi4guide
🔹Frequently Asked Questions - tiny.cc/km4ack-faq
🔹Weekly Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/40da1fe472e3/km4acknewsletter
🔹Follow Me
Twitter @km4ack
🔹FREE Get Started Guide - tiny.cc/getstartedguide
🔹Cool Ham Gear - km4ack.com
🔹Support the channel through Patreon - patreon.com/km4ack
🔹Did you just get a raspberry pi and want to hook it up to your radio? Start here youtu.be/E1SEgPFQk4M
Want your raspberry pi to play nice with your ham radio? Are you into digital modes like FT8, JS8Call, FLDIGI, Winlink, APRS, Digipeaters and others? Each week I put out new content showing you exactly what steps to take to get the latest ham radio software on your raspberry pi. Whether you just want to ragchew or are seriously into emergency preparedness, emcomm, or ARES and want to learn all you can about using the raspberry pi to drive your ham radio, this channel has something for you. Be sure to click the subscribe button and ring the bell before heading off. That way you will get notified of all future videos.
🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
