The FLIR TG165-X & Ham Radio

 

 https://www.flir.com/support/products/tg165/#Overview

The FLIR TG165-X Thermal Imager is a compact, portable thermal device with several useful applications in ham radio equipment. Although not specifically designed for radio, it can provide valuable information on various aspects of your radio equipment and installation.

Using the FLIR TG165-X:

 1. Antenna and Power Line Inspection: The FLIR TG165-X helps you identify hotspots, impedance mismatches, and other anomalies in your antenna system. Scanning the antenna and power cables allows you to spot areas of excessive heat that may indicate performance issues. 

2. Equipment Troubleshooting: Use the thermal imager to check radios, amplifiers, tuners, power supplies, and other accessories for overheating. This can help prevent damage and ensure proper operation. 

3. Monitoring heat loss: Assess the heat in the enclosures or cabinets where your device is located. A thermal camera can provide insight into the temperature distribution and help identify potential cooling problems. 

4. RF Leakage Detection:  FLIR TG165-X can help detect RF leakage from plugs, cables, or devices. Detecting and addressing RF energy emanating from a setup can help reduce interference and improve performance. 

5. Coaxial Cable Testing: Check for hotspots caused by excessive power consumption in coaxial cables. This can be useful for optimizing cable connections and improving signal transmission. 

6. Battery Health Monitoring: Check battery temperature to assess battery health and detect charging or discharging problems. Overheating batteries can be a safety hazard.

7. Propagation Analysis: While not a primary tool for propagation analysis, the thermal camera can offer insights into temperature variations that may affect signal propagation conditions.

8. Preparedness For Emergencies. The FLIR TG165-X can help locate people or identify equipment that may generate excessive heat in emergencies or fieldwork.

It is important to remember that the FLIR TG165-X is a portable and relatively inexpensive thermal camera designed for general use. Although it can provide valuable information, its capabilities are limited compared to thermal imaging systems. As with any tool, it is important to understand its capabilities, limitations, and safe use.

The FLIR TG165-X is not a substitute for professional testing or diagnostics, especially for critical or high-power radio equipment. It can complement your existing toolkit to visualize temperature changes and identify potential problems with the radio and antenna system.