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Jason P. Goodman
Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 10:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Anyone hear of the Black Cat 300 amp? Any good? And what kind of wattage should you drive it with and expect to get out of it?
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Tech671
Posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 7:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Drive would be 2w carrier and 12-30w peak. Expect about 200-225w peak.
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Butcher 318
Posted on Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - 2:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

For the money it is not a bad little amp. There are much better out there but they cost 2-3 times as much. It would make a great first amp or something small to get you over the noise alittle during the day.
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Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms

Post Number: 739
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 10:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I got a blackcat 300 instead of my palomar 300 I ordered. Complained, no reply. I guess the amp does ok.

mikefromms
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Chipotle
Junior Member
Username: Chipotle

Post Number: 29
Registered: 3-2005
Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 6:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Palomar makes the black cat. It is identical to the 250 HD, 300, 350 Elite.
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Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms

Post Number: 810
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 9:19 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

My Black kittie is breaking down somewhere. It is driven with low watts but as it heats up it begins to start dropping wattage until it goes down to about 40 watts and loses swing. SWR rises on the radio as well. What gives?

Mikefromms
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Vanillagorilla
Intermediate Member
Username: Vanillagorilla

Post Number: 332
Registered: 4-2005


Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 10:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Sounds like one of the transistors is breaking down..see my thread on Palomar225-half power.

Good luck!
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Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms

Post Number: 816
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 12:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

It will likely go in the garbage.

Mikefromms
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Sparkomatic
Intermediate Member
Username: Sparkomatic

Post Number: 365
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 6:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

BlackCat 300 is a piece of junk, might a good amp for someone who isn't serious.
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Wolverine
Advanced Member
Username: Wolverine

Post Number: 567
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 4:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Good starter amp, even if you are serious.
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Vanillagorilla
Intermediate Member
Username: Vanillagorilla

Post Number: 363
Registered: 4-2005


Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 3:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Why is it a piece of junk? Same as a Palomar 300 which seems to hold up fine for most who use it responsibly? All a matter of what you want or need to do the job.
Mike...if its worth it to you then pick up a matched set of 1446's and solder them in after disconnecting everything. After removing the old ones clean the area well..apply heat sink compound sparingly and solder in the new ones EXACTLY the same way you removed the old ones. Note which tab is clipped and reinstall as removed. Use plenty of solder without getting sloppy.
You'll be back in buisness.....good luck!
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Coyote
Advanced Member
Username: Coyote

Post Number: 643
Registered: 11-2004


Posted on Friday, December 09, 2005 - 8:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mike, before you through it in the trash, through it down this way first. I'll make sure it gets in to the bucket.

CEF-443
Middle TN Coyote
MENC
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Fireball894
New member
Username: Fireball894

Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 3:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Piece of junk? THe DX certainly can't see a problem with it.......
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Sparkomatic
Intermediate Member
Username: Sparkomatic

Post Number: 370
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2005 - 10:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I stand by my review of it as a piece of junk. If you ever looked in a Texas Star or Messenger you would unquestionably say the blackcat 300 is junk. If you ever looked inside an Xforce, Magnaforce, Davemade, or Fatboy amp you probably would say even the Texas Star and Messenger are junk.
I got a Blackcat 300 as part of a package deal on a trade. It'll do 100-120 watts peak on a Dosy with swr readings that are a little high. The relay latched up from time to time and my mobile setup is 1st class down the the alternator.
Junk....Junk.....Junk
I guess if you call the Blackcat 300 a good starter amp then a Yugo would be a great starter car.LOL.
I call em as I see em.
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Fireball894
New member
Username: Fireball894

Post Number: 2
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2005 - 11:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Heh, the black cat is a basic 2 pill 1446 amp. Got 2 of them, they work well for what they are. As far as looking inside a REAL amp, check out Ameritrons. Those are REAL amps.... and they work from 160M through 10M.....

For what they are, these little Palomars really arent that bad.

I don't know what's wrong with yours, but both of mine do a bit over 200W PEP.

Laugh about the Yugo and "starter" stuff all you want, but I have a REAL license, and have been there and done that from 160M through 440 MHZ...... set up the equipment, built antennas, etc. You want the keys to the Yugo?
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Vanillagorilla
Intermediate Member
Username: Vanillagorilla

Post Number: 385
Registered: 4-2005


Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 5:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ahh..to each his own. I see your point Sparky but for around $100 how can you beat 170w average PEP?
The AB1 amps are clean and last many years if you don't beat the snots out of it. Everyone gets a lemon out of a bunch here and there and Yea there is much better out there to begin with ($) ..its one of those you get what you pay for things I guess. I have NO experience with ANY Palomar other than their basic 2 pill versions and it serves my base needs well..(read low TVI :-))

"Any PaloMAR is a PalO-Mine"

Hank CEF559
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Sparkomatic
Intermediate Member
Username: Sparkomatic

Post Number: 377
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 11:59 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I guess if cost is your criteria then any cheap 2 pill would be good. I wouldn't think twice about spending several hundred dollar or maybe a grand on competition amplifiers or a leece neville alternator setup........but I WOULD delay replacing a leaking rear main oil seal on my pickup truck even it would cost only $250.
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 2099
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 6:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

....i understand what you're sayin', sparkomatic!!!
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Vanillagorilla
Intermediate Member
Username: Vanillagorilla

Post Number: 390
Registered: 4-2005


Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 4:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

yep...I hear you on that one!
Especially since the wife always says "your a mechanic" why can't you fix your own stuff?"

Cheap 2 pill just to get over the hill..yep a 200w Palomar works for me for the money..BUT..When the TNT400 goes poof in the Jeep I'll buy a Davemade or Xforce 400(600?) over a Palomar 4 pill without thinking about it. That size is where quality counts for me.

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