Well, this may be old news to some, and a shock to others, but the Bartech hand unit is a dwindling asset. I have run a Bartech for years as a trusty backup and main focus unit on small budget shoots, etc. recently it started chewing through 9v batteries like no tomorrow, but I couldnt figure out why. I cleaned connectors, looked for shorting wires, all sorts of things that could potentially lead to eating 9v batteries like smarties, but no dice. long story short, I ended up getting in touch with Jim Bartell and picking his brain on the issue. he told me that the crazy power consumption was due to the radio board (TRM-900-NT) going bad, but unfortunately it had been discontinued several years ago by the manufacturer. Jim did refer me to the guys that assembled his hand units back in the day, and they were actually able to find a new hand unit still on the shelf, but no spare chips laying around. We hunted and looked around at other chip makers and checked specs, but no one currently makes anything that is a drop in replacement for the dying radio chips.

So, just like many other pieces of electronics, time does catch up with them eventually, and sometimes its sad to see them go. If you still have a fully functioning Bartech FD, great! hang on to it, but know that its days are unfortunately numbered as radio chips will continue to die and wont be replaceable. Sad day on the trusty BFD!