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The_Grand_Pooh
Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 10:57 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have read that you need to be running 1 or 2 watts with some amps. Doesn't this make your signal weak without the amp? And what are they talking about putting out 3 and swing 20? Yes I am a newbie.
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Hoosier Cardinal
Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 12:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

1 to 2 watts is not enought to really get a radio to talk good. I run about 3 to 4 when im running my amp and when im not. I let the radio swing from the carrier do all the work. Some guys think that running a radio at 1 to 2 watts will make it louder but that is stupid!! The more you lower the carrier the worse the radio will sound because the receving radio will not be able to pick up the radios signal as well if you are running it lower than the standard 4 watts. I know some guys will get in on here and argue with me about this but i dont care really what they say to me becasuee i know this is all true what i said!!
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Tech808
Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 12:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The Grand Pooh,

Running 1 or 2 watts DEAD KEY does not hamper your signal going out.

The reason most people run a Amp that can take 4 watts dead key, but only use 1 or 2 watts is because it will not overdrive the Amp. And most Amps actually sound better and perform better with the 1 or 2 watts Drive than the 4 watts max you can drive them with.

Putting out 3 means radio is DEAD KEYING 3 WATTS, this means when you key the mike and do not talk it is putting out 3 watts.

Swinging 20 Means when you are talking and your meter is swinging to 20, your radio is putting out 20 watts.

To understand go to the Subscriber Section of this forum and then open the product reviews section.

Steve "Tech 181" has written some Very Good/Informative Reviews on Amp's/Radios & Other equipment. His Reviews are very informative and will help you a lot on understanding how different Radios & Equipment work, and explain what works best.

As you are a Newbie Please check out all of the different areas on the forum and use the Search area under Keyword. This forum is a great help weather you are a newbie or have been around radios for a long time. I am still learning and finding something new almost every day.

Hope this helps you some.

Take Care and ENJOY!

Lon
tech808
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Alsworld
Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 12:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The Grand Pooh,

okay here is how it works. In theory, if you have a stock cb, it puts out 4 watts max (on AM). If it has sideband which apparently yours does, on sideband it puts out 12 watts max. That is the legal limit. Now lets focus on AM okay?

The max limit is 4 watts, but that is a deadkey where you key up but say nothing. Once you start modulation (speaking, whistling, saying audiooooo) if you had it on a meter, especially a peak reading, you would see the needle "swing" up to much more watts. A power mic might even increase that top portion of the swing. So, what the 3/20 question you are asking means it would deadkey 3 watts but swing up to 20 watts once you talk. When they talk of max legal limit for AM on CB's, it is a 4 watt deadkey.

If you talk or listen on CB, and you are seeing your needle swing when listening to others, that is what I refer to. Have someone give you a count while keying the mic the whole time, pausing between numbers. You will see on your needle their deadkey then the swing upwards when they speak.

Now, amps. You can drive some of the amps you are looking for with a 4 watt deadkey swinging higher but you tend to run them hard and shorten their life. Amplifiers you have been asking about get hot, real hot if you are long winded. To extend the life of an amp (your investment), turn your deadkey down to 1-1 1/2 watts max deadkey and the amp runs cooler, it's not so hard on the internal workings, last longer, etc. Overdriving an amp causes it to sound like cr*p anyways.

If you have a CB that does 3 swinging 20, dropping the deadkey a little won't hurt your overall signal (running no amp) that much. There is much more information you need to know but keep asking. You'll get lots of help here.

Alsworld
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Taz
Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 1:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

uh oh


Like I said before! This forum rules!
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The_Grand_Pooh
Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 4:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thank you so much guys or gals (its hard to tell on the net) I have a much better understanding of this subject now. I will look Tech 181's write ups.

The Grand Pooh-Bah
[img]http://www.nagca.com/fred.jpg[/img}
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Karatebutcher
Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 8:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

YES I TO AGREE , VERY WELL SAID ALSWORLD, YOU TO TAZ
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Mack
Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 11:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Getta radio that has both high/low power functions like connex or galaxy Ihad my low side turned down to 2 watts and the high side slightly higher.
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The_Grand_Pooh
Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 11:47 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ok I spent the day searching and reading and am getting a better understanding of the equipment. Now it would appear that I am going to need some tools to make the needed adjustments to my radio. I intend on performing a basic tune up while Im at it.

I have a Para Dynamics PDC 600 SWR/RF/MOD meter what else will I need other then a good set of tweaking tools (which I need a source for)? Do I need a dummy load to perform a basic tune up?

TIA

The Grand Pooh-Bah
[img]http://www.nagca.com/fred.jpg[/img]
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Mack
Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 11:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

what you need to do is find a reputable tech that is something the average joe can't do./
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The_Grand_Pooh
Posted on Wednesday, September 04, 2002 - 1:05 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Considering the only local CB shop near me closed his doors Im on my own. That is why I will first get the right tools for the job and then conquer this myself (with a bit of guidance from you guys and help from the books I ordered from the library) Besides Im not an average Joe....
http://www.nagca.com/fred.jpg
I am The Grand Pooh-Bah


http://nagca.com/forum/images/smiles/1fart.gif
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Hook948
Posted on Wednesday, September 04, 2002 - 8:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If you just want to adjust the output of the radio, all you need is your meter and a set of plastic screwdrivers (about $3 at rat shack). A dummie load would be better but you can use your antenna if you tune to a freq. with the lowest swr's.:)
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Butcher318
Posted on Thursday, September 05, 2002 - 5:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey there Pooh, not sure what radio you have, cause that will decide how easy it will be to turn down. For example SSB radio's and Exports have a pot you turn while keyed up and you watch the meter, a Cobra 25 or 29 does not have this pot and a good tech will have to do it. The only other thing I can say is beware of people that say, "I run mine at 7 watts cause its a Hii Driive amp" All a Hi Drive amp means is it can handle the swing from a good dual final radio. The real truth is that for any amp you want to try and have the dead key out of the amp be roughly 25-30 percent of the max power output. So for a Texas Star 350HD for example, that amp will do 300-350 watts max swing on AM, so you want to adjust the dead key on your radio so it will key the amp at 75-100 watts. Hope this helps, and no i'm not gonna say I'm right cause I know everything like some would say.......just my nickle worth but your amp will sound great if you set it up like this. Another thing to consider is to have the NPC-RC mod done to the radio, it will blow smoke and be clean as a whistle on the scope. Later.
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HoosierCardinal
Posted on Thursday, September 19, 2002 - 1:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Pooh.
Just a suggestion but if i were you when you post up a post about what you see a radio doing on your meter kinda keep the meter swing posts to yourself.. That will start an argument on any forum. Seems some people like to talk down other guyses setups and what they see their stuff do on their meters.. Been there done that! Ive had it done to me.
Just a suggestion thats all.
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Taz
Posted on Monday, September 23, 2002 - 11:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Why dosent somone beleive somone?


1. because its impossible.
2. because they dont trust them.
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HoosierCardinal
Posted on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 12:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

not in the CB radio world there Taz...
No one trusts anyone and everyone is out for number one.....
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Karatebutcher
Posted on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 4:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

TAZ I would trust you. even though you didn't DX with us.
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Taz
Posted on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 11:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hahaha,


Karatebutcher, I tried but the gf wouldnt let me go.


Hoosier, that isnt true. I trust several people I have met on the radio.

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