diff --git a/simulators/simicom9700.c b/simulators/simicom9700.c
index f61959a2f..9141e60b6 100644
--- a/simulators/simicom9700.c
+++ b/simulators/simicom9700.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ int ptt = 0;
 int satmode = 0;
 int agc_time = 1;
 int ovf_status = 0;
-int powerstat = 0;
+int powerstat = 1;
 
 void dumphex(unsigned char *buf, int n)
 {