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Bronzepony
Junior Member
Username: Bronzepony

Post Number: 31
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 10:04 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I read or heard some where that at let's say 20 miles. You are Dead Keying 120 watts and putting 3 s-units on the meter that you have to double that to gain a s-unit. Is this right?? If so to gain two s-units I would have to Key 650 watts on the old moblie to gain 2 s-units. What amp will do this? I want to up grade put want to do it right!! I know it is about swing and mod. Running a Galxay 44v Dead Key set at 3 swing 18 on a Dosy.
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Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior

Post Number: 1277
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 11:21 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

It's 1/2 of a S-unit gain for wattage being doubled.
Maybe a rather large Texas Star Amp.
And a large alternator for you vehicle.
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 2552
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 11:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

double your dead key 2 TIMES to get approximately 1 S-unit increase on the other end.

your 120 watt example would be doubled once to 240, then doubled again to 480 so your signal would go from S-3 to S-4. to get to S-5, you'd have to go from 480 to 960, then to 1920 watts of DEAD KEY.

in a base, a nice 150 watt radio or radio & amp(150 on SSB, 40 dead key on AM), and a 3 or 4 element beam, will multiply your 150(40) watt signal from 15-30 times-depending on some variables. BUT, it should be fairly easy to get that 150(40) watt base to sound as if it was running 3000(800 dead key) watts. and, even a 4 element beam, rotor, tower/mast is going to be MUCH less $$ then an amp that will REALLY dead key 800 watts & swing to 3000. (my 150 watt ar3500 at my base on a maco v5/8 vertical antenna, which MIGHT sound like 200 watts on a good day talks AM & SSB DX very well, as noted under past CEF contacts.)

as for gaining 2 S-units in a mobile...if you have to ask...

the AVERAGE car with a 75 amp alternator is probably limited to about 150 watts dead key/500 watts swing(texas star dx500/667). maybe. and even that is not neccessarily a 'slap it in & talk' propisition. to get that 150 watts to effectively sound like anywhere near 150 watts(ineffective antenna & other losses) can VERY easily make that 150 watt dead key as effective as, say only 50 watts! to dead key 1920 watts, in a mobile, efficiently, would cost you $1500+ for the amp, a few hundred for an effective antenna system, several thousand for an effective charging/battery system, and who knows how much more for incidentals. that's transistors. a tube mobile is more $$ yet.

what type of radio do you want to use, & in what type of vehicle? then we can suggest what amp MAY work for you
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Bronzepony
Junior Member
Username: Bronzepony

Post Number: 32
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 8:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I am running a Galxay 44v with a wilson one thousand in a ford 350 diesel with a 200 amp alt.
I currently run a messager 250. I am going to a cobra 200 or a general lee.
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 2562
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 9:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

at least dual batteries, then a 8 x 2879 amp will work. the cobra 200 SHOULD drive it fully, with the 44 or lee, you'd need a 2 x 2879 that'll handle the swing, or turn it down. you'll probably key from 250-450, & swing 1000-1600, depending on WHICH 8 pill you end up with.

you should change the charge wire from alt to batteries to 'double 0', & run probably the same 'double 0' wire to the amp. antenna should handle 5kw, to be good. be prepared to drill a hole, mount to a rollbar, etc as the antenna that'll handle the power MAY need to be BIG or TALL. rg213 or better coax is a must. shielding the computer, as well as ferrite beads on any wires near the antenna should also be considered.

you have a big investment(which includes the truck!), it must be done 100% or the radio, amp, antenna, and/or truck is at risk of damage or total loss.
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Bronzepony
Junior Member
Username: Bronzepony

Post Number: 33
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 8:28 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Are you telling me my willson 1000 roof mount will not handle this kind of power??
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 2563
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 9:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

NO

the coil will probably begin to tell you it's unhappy at around 700 watts PEP, give or take.

a wilson 5000 TRUCKER would be the least i'd use, maybe a 5' or 7' 'glas skipshooter, any well built large coil-type antenna...when running 'big power', always use an antenna rated at least double what you plan on pushing.

i said above'...if you have to ask...', that was not meant in a degrading way, but to be sure you find out ALL the info possible 1st, & know what you are getting yourself into. your vehicle has the capability to run some impressive equipment. a mistake could cause an impressive fireworks show

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