| Author |
Message |
    
814
| | Posted on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 11:33 pm: | 
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I just got my KL40 in the mail today. I didn't expect the unit to be as small as it is. About 2.5 x 4.0 inches. My RCI 2985DX with the RF Output turned all the way down dead keys 0.5 watts and swings to 1.0 watts. On side band, the radio swings to about 15 watts with a whistle, but puts out about 8 watts during normal QSO. The amp was a snap to hook up. I already had some jumpers. Here are the output #s I got from my MFJ-491E.
Radio Output / Amp Output / Mode
0.5w / 30.0w /AM
5.0 / 45.0w / SSB
*** I have a bigger amp coming in the mail. I can't wait. =) |
Butcher318
| | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 8:21 pm: |
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Ok, your kidding right? I hope at least you are just evaluating the KL-40 and not planning on running it with a 2985. The 2985 running wide open would be a much better choice then running it backed down and into the KL-40. Have you had that radio tuned up at all?? Cause just a 2985 will squash a KL-40 in terms of raw power. My own opinion of the KL-40 is it's a waste, a peaked and tuned dual final radio will do as much or more power. |
8408
| | Posted on Friday, March 14, 2003 - 11:16 pm: |
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Butcher318,I don't think the KL-40 was made to be used behind a dual final radio.It's mainly for the weaker 4 watt radios.
It's obvious that this was just a test. |
CM 3885
| | Posted on Sunday, April 06, 2003 - 8:55 pm: |
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LOL!!!! An amp that does 45 watts????? You are kidding right?? Any good radio like a 285 2527 or the like will talk better than the KL 40 anyday!!! I agree with 318 they are a waste..
Hey hey Butcher give me a shout someday hey hey!!
CM 3885 "888" to your north... |
Tech671
| | Posted on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 5:58 am: |
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As originally stated 814s radio is obviously stock with relatively low output, perfect for the KL40. The KL40 and 60 are great bang for buck units for radios with under 20w peak or ssb output, about 1w AM carrier output. |
bruce
| | Posted on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 11:51 am: |
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one of the guys on 10 meter fm used one of them with a 454 HT and it worked very well ..... kl-40 is fine for that |
Orion
| | Posted on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 10:49 am: |
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I bet his radio will last forever having a $30 amp carrying the RF power load though. Where the day comes when he's have ordinarily blown a final he'd blow the little kl40. Toss in trash, replace... beautiful. |
Butcher 318
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 4:19 am: |
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A 2985 with a basic peak and tune will far out last and out-perform a kl-40. If he talks alot that day will come sooner then you think, and when the kl-40 blows I just hope the radio does not go with it. The smallest KL that is worth running is the 200 and 203. Even then you will have to keep the dead key down. And without a fan the average windy truck driver could burn one up in several hours easy. Bruce, that HT would be a good choice for the kl-40 or 60, I can agree with that. |
Sitm
Junior Member
Username: Sitm
Post Number: 21
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 11:35 am: |
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I agree with Orion, I have three vintage radios that I do not want to damage. I have several amps from 150, 300, to unmentionable. I dont' use them because I would like to think that I have matured to a more responsable operator. I would like to purchase and most likely will now that I have read this review, accouple of these amps that produce low wattage. This will allow me to maintain a proper responsible radio operator mentality when just wanting to talk slightly more distance without distrupting everyone. Remember use the least amount of power to make and maintain contact/conversation. Not use as much as possible to disturb and disrupt as much airspace as you can. This doesn't make you look like a responsible operator, but only a self centered operator that cares only about his ego.
And yes I would imagine this will keep your radio operating for a long time. Remember bigger isn't always better, I have had alot of locals tell me that even when I am talking distance and others can't reach out there at night, I still am not disturbing neighboring stations. That is radio and being responsible. Get your antenna up, get clean coax signal, ground your station, be responsible.
73 |
Rwilliek
New member
Username: Rwilliek
Post Number: 5
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 7:26 am: |
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I'll put my two cents in here. I don't know that much about amps in this sense. I did work in the car stereo business for quite a while. Now I could run my barefoot stereo wide open, and sure its loud, but boy does it sound bad. To acheive the same volume, I installed an amp. Now the amp is built to produce that kind of power cleanly.
I think I would rather have a tuned down radio,and leave the amplification to an amp. I agree with others above, the radio would last a lot longer not carrying that work load.
I also had another thought. For $30, why not run an amp, and if you're running a new radio, keep your factory warranty.
Robbie |
Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob
Post Number: 1717
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 9:50 pm: |
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I got a DX2517 and for 30 or 50$,don't remember which got THE Copper peak&tune,this radio will dk 2 watts on low and swing to 8,dk 11 on high and swing to 42,42 on ssb,I wanted a conservative amp that I could use on low or high,for 179.95 I got a boomer 400 at 2 watts dk the amp puts out 110 and swings to 420,on ssb this thing really rocks 560 watts,the radio and amp are matched,if it had been a single final the amp would have been a 250 instead,if it had been a 2995dx the amp would have been the 4-tube klv1000,always match the radio to the amps input,then you can use the variable rf control to adjust the output barefoot or with your shoes on,it will save money in the long run,AND if you really want to save money and jail time get a ham liscence,I had to put in that disclaimer for bruce,hehe.Bigbob |
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