| Author |
Message |
    
Anonymous
| | Posted on Monday, July 23, 2001 - 1:03 am: | 
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After the 11 meter conversion on the Magnum 257:
Could you give me instructions on which pots to turn and how far. Would like to tune myself. No need to have someone inside MY radio....
Will be running it mainly on am side....with stock mic......have the 351/p klm amp I might use once in a while.
All help appreciated.
thanks |
Tech181 (Tech181)
| | Posted on Monday, July 23, 2001 - 1:03 pm: |
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RV4 AM MOD
RV9 SSB Power
RV14 FM Power
RV16 AM Power
If you are using only a stock mic adjust RV4 (AM MOD) for maximum modulation.
If you are going to use SSB at all adjust RV9 (SSB Power) to maximum power.
Set the AM Power (RV16) to around 4 watts. This way you can still use the radio with the amp. The 351 will take an input on AM of 1-7 watts.
As far as how far to turn them? You will have to watch your watt meter while adjust those variables to get the desired result. Take note of where the pots where originally set and the output they have before turnng them. This way if you don't like the result you can turn them back.
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Hammunition
| | Posted on Monday, July 23, 2001 - 2:53 pm: |
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I also have the Magnum 257. The radio will blow smoke even without an amp. I have mine tuned out the wazoo, but I reccommend running it with one of the Texas Star High Drive units. The radio will smoke an amp quite quickly (which I have learned the hard way). Make sure your power is set right at 3 watts on the digital power indicator. I ran mine between 4 and 5 and it made minced meat out of my previous amp. I love my 257 but if you really like Magnum series, check out the Magnum Alpha or Delta Force. They resemble the Galaxy radios slightly but have a liquid display frequency counter. The radios both have RCI digital echo (an option sadly not included in the 257) and dual high out put finals. They sound just as big as the Galaxys and, in my opinion, are much better radios. I added an analog echo board to my 257 along with talk back and its doing fine! But hang on to that 257, a great, high power, modern looking rig! |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Monday, July 23, 2001 - 1:48 pm: |
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Tech 181:
Thanks for the reply:
Just doublechecking on this tune up:
Magnum 257 has dual finals.....should put about 12 watt deadkey.....swing 30.
Will adjust both rv4 and rv9 to max
Since the magnum has variable power setting: Will leave rv 16 alone...... or is that correct:
Someone told me Magnum 257 ships with power mic.. big surprise to me.
Havent used that amp yet....sounds great, turn variable power down, reach back and "click" amp on....I will love it...... |
Hammunition
| | Posted on Monday, July 23, 2001 - 7:56 pm: |
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Yes, the Magnum 257 comes with a stock power mic with a channel selector on top. I would have to say it is just as good if not better than the RK56. Ive been told that there is an adjustment inside the mic to turn up the power. Sounds like a pain in the ass if you have to reopen it to adjust. I recommend leaving it as it comes. Its small design and modern look really make it fit in with the decor of most newer vehicles. Its a rockin little BIG RADIO. I run mine mobile on a Texas Star and touch base stations 30+ miles away on AM. I am really impressed by this unit. Watch that power dial when you run your AMP!!! |
oli
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2001 - 1:29 am: |
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I like this magnum radio....it has a lot of nice features....... Trying to understand why I dont just turn the power down with the knob....
radio arrived today....used a fingernail clipper to clip diode 2, then cut a paperclip off and made me a little u shapped pin and shorted out across the two plates...... turned rv4 up and backed it off a little.........
got a lot of compliments on it today....best one was........."and it sounds good too".
oli |
oli
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2001 - 10:01 am: |
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Hunnington:
Sooooo that little bar that goes across the botton....the one that goes to 30+
I can use that for the power setting for the amp?
I love that 257 so far..... of course, I like most radios anyhow... but dual finals is nice..
The 257 is a keeper.......now to get rid of a few radios I won't be using.
This radio pegs 10 watts deadkey without any adjustment to rv16. Think I will leave that alone.
Thats not bad, another watt or even four won't make much diff....would have to double 10 to 20 to notice a diff...... will just use an amp when I want MORE POWER......
Thanks
Oli |
Hammunition
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2001 - 9:49 am: |
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Tech 181, I would have to agree with you on that. I fried my previous amp so I would have to say Im no expert. I now have a Texas Star HD unit so I think I am safe using the "guesstimation" meter. By the way Tech 181, which in line meter would you suggest. Is there one out there that is multi-functional? I would like a quality smaller unit and not one of those big Dosy mobiles. Does someone make a small accurate model with a digital read out? Or am I stuck with only swingers? |
oli
| | Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 12:37 am: |
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thanks......will be ordering a meter in a couple of days......have a real cheap one now....
will write down that one 181 recommended and take a look at it......Ohhhhhh by the way.....
 Ordered Boomer 400 amp.....
Naturally some people are running this amp down, but I know it is a good one..... not worried about that....
I have a gal 88, a magnum 257.... a couple of nicely tuned uniden 76;s , and three super small radios , along with four amps..... Should find something to use........
But the magnum will mount nicely in the dash... a big advantage, also a uniden 66 would've done that also. But I like the dual final idea.
And..........it's cute.
hehehehe
Thanks for all the help
oli |
oli
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 1:40 am: |
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I bought a Radio Shack meter 20-200-2000 and checked it against a scope....dead on accurate.
nice little meter....for $30
cya
oli |
oli
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 1:37 am: |
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update message about the magnum 257
I have had my car wired by auto install...extra heavy wires using a monster cable brand wiring harness.
Running the Palomar 450 I bought at the copper auction as the boomer 400. Nice amp. Am going to set the deadkey at 2 1/2 watts on the high setting in case I forget to turn that power down.
With a ONE WATT DEADKEY I can get 20,50,100 on low,med,high
With a TWO WATT deadkey more like 50,100,150
I really liked my klm351/p but there is no real comparison. The KLM 500 MOBILE might be nice.
Was wondering how comparable the klm 500 would be with a two watt input.....will be watching and hoping to learn.
oli |
Gijoe
Member
Username: Gijoe
Post Number: 72
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 10:08 pm: |
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According to the date of these post, I am guessing the tune up mods listed in Tech 181's post is for the older yellow face 257. Are these tune up mods the same for the newer blue face 257? |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 5088
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 12:13 am: |
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Gijoe,
GEEZ why go all the way back to these posts and bring a topic up from 2001?
Yes, they are the same and I have the Tune Up Information for BOTH Radios listed in the Modification List under RF Limited / Magnum International:
Tools
Mic. Wiring
Frequency Chart
CB & Ham Lingo
Modification List
Located to the LEFT of the Forum here.
The Frequency Conversion is different between the two models also.
Just an Interesting Note:
Since June 1, 2004 when the Forummaster posted my Modification List it has received 47,650 Hits so far and we continue to add more and more information. 
Not too bad for being on the Copper Forum for less than 9 months.
Thats an average of over 175 hits a day. 
Hope this helps,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Gijoe
Member
Username: Gijoe
Post Number: 74
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 9:56 pm: |
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Sorry Lon,
I didn't realize you had two different sections listed for the Magnum radios.
Magnum
Magnum/RFLimited |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 5104
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2005 - 12:28 am: |
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Gijoe,
No Problem, many of the people still think of them as RF Limited so I have them listed under both RF Limited/Magnum and MAGNUM.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Bc910
Intermediate Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 414
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2005 - 1:16 am: |
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I know the S9 is pretty much all peaked, how about the 257? Does it need to be tuned up? Thinking about getting one for either the mobile or new base. What do u guys think, should the S9 be base and the 257 mobile? Or the other way around? Or should I just go with the new magnum base?
BC |
Bc910
Intermediate Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 415
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2005 - 1:17 am: |
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Maybe soon I'll be sayin'
S9257S9S9257S9S9257S9S9257S9S9257S9S9257S9S9257S9S9257S9
BC |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 5106
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2005 - 7:14 am: |
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Bc910,
I have the Tune up information for Both the Older and New Magnum 257 listed in the Modification List.
I have found that with the  Magnum 257 that I have not had to do the tune up and it works great with any amplifier that I have used with it.
I have used it 100% stock on the CEF Nets and talked with Valter in Italy many times and never needed to tune it up.
It is a Great Little Radio right out of the box.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 536
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2005 - 9:03 am: |
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no, bc, it ain't the same, S9257, i mean.
wait for the S12 with the 2 2290 amp built in. that will be acceptable for base use. of course it would go into 1 of my non-computer mobiles to drive my 8 pill... |
Gijoe
Member
Username: Gijoe
Post Number: 75
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2005 - 1:16 pm: |
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BC910,
I am not at all impressed with the Magnum 257. I have a Uniden PC76XL (peaked and tuned) that the 257 took place of in my vehicle. I have never had any problems making any contacts using the Uniden, and have made very few using the 257. I even have a USACO that I have been told sounds better and louder than the 257. I think the tune up on the 257 is a must. I am going to try it to see if it helps, if it doesn't I'll put it on the shelf and start using the good ol Uniden.
Joe |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 2311
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 4:02 am: |
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GI ......
Ok so your 4 watt cb set beats a 8-10 watt export radio. The 257 runs 2 finals the 76 one .....
How did you measure them? intresting ....... |
Gijoe
Member
Username: Gijoe
Post Number: 76
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 9:02 am: |
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Bruce,
I have an switch box that allows me to run two radios with one antenna. The results are from on air reports only.
Joe |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 508
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 9:44 am: |
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BC910, Either would make a fine base station as I am running the 257 as my base now. However, if I had an S-9 with all those bells and whistles and the modulator built in and the big meter I could stare at--it would go in the house and the 257 in the vehicle. I'm wanting one of those s-9's myself, but I can't justify it at this time. I could get it, but can't justify it. I have a Lincoln in my mobile and 257 as my base.
Mikefromms |
Nnf
New member
Username: Nnf
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 4:01 pm: |
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I am new to the Copper Forum and was thinking about getting the Magnum 257.
When you buy this radio and get it tuned up will these mods be done for you ?
Should you ask for something special to be done other than the tune up ?
A little help please ?
Thanks,
NnF |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 5304
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 4:15 pm: |
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Nnf,
WELCOME TO THE COPPER FORUM!
Go to the Link below and Click on it.
Magnum 257
Then scroll down to the bottom and you will see a box that says:
OPTIONS
Modify for 11 meter and Tune Up: add 30.00
You will need to check this box if you order over the web site or Tell them if you call your order in that you want the Modify and Tune Up added.
Hope this helps,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Navyrebel782003
New member
Username: Navyrebel782003
Post Number: 3
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 3:26 am: |
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I am getting the magnum 257 with the mod and tune up and I am just wondering what kind of performance I can expect from it, this will be my first export radio and it will spend most of its time in a '03 cavalier 2 door with a wilson 1000 mag mount probably in the center of the roof. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 5308
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 8:52 am: |
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Navyrebel782003,
WELCOME TO THE COPPER FORUM!
You can expect Excellent Performance.
Read My Review on the Magnum 257, just click on the link below.
New Magnum 257
Hope this helps,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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