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Orion
Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 4:00 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

As I'm sure many will agree, the 11 meter way of life is filled with urban legend mis-information. Just to finally get the questions answered once and for all here are some issues:
(BTW, thanks in advance for taking the time and having the patience to answer whatever possible.)

1.The coax length rule/SWR issue. Is there a formula for how long it's gotta be. I once heard the coax must be in multiples of 3 feet. Whats the real deal here if any. If it matters on type, I think I'd like to run RG213.

2a. Power Supplies. From what I understand the formula goes: Amps x Volts=Watts. So, to keep things simple, lets say I've got a linear that will max 120watts. The 12 amp power supply I would need should be 10 amps right? (I know it may be 13.6v, but I can compensate the math for that.) Is that principle correct though?

2b.Your average stock CB advertised as "5wattsAM/12watts SSB" ONCE PEAKED should on average require what size power supply? Sales people as well as radio operators always seem to suggest way more than to run equipment than the formulae would suggest. Since those things aren't cheap the straight accurate information would be good to know.

3. Driving linears. Very important and I'm thinking largely misunderstood. If an Amps drive requires, say, "4watts", or "1-10watts" what does this really mean? What if I drive it with 1-2watts DK, not enough? And what if that dead key swings to 20, 30, even 40 watts(far in excess of its suggested drive requirement).. will it blow the linear? What's the story here?

4. Grounding of Antenna. This is a funny one. I have never gone out of my way to ground one despite the apparent rule to the contrary. Just put the PL-259 into the base of my A99 and the other end into the back of the radio. SWR never above a 1.3:1 I'm proud to say, great RX/TX and no notable TVI. I'm thinking if I ground it, lightning will become attracted to it. Just like a car won't get hit by lightning because its tires are rubber and not grounded, I applied the same practice to my antenna. Whats the deal here?
5. Here's a real challenge. Galaxy, Uniden, Cobra, etc;... so many labels stuck in the same radios. Something like the Chevy Caprice and the Chevy Impala if you know what I mean. Who is the master CB maker at the pinnacle of this heirarchy? You know what I mean?

Well, that's all I can think of at the moment but if anyone who can address these questions accurately will have me spreading their wisdom giving the tech credit every time. Thanks a million. I mean it.

Scott Madden / AKA. Orion

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