| Author |
Message |
    
Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack
Post Number: 447
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 9:17 am: | 
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Who is using an Amp on their Magnum 257?
What kind and how does it perform AM / SSB?
How do you drive it? |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 613
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 11:12 am: |
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Works great with kl-300 and even better with kl-500! It will work fanstastic. Ususally the amp will deliver what quality audio you put into it. The M-257 will do just that. If that radio had the big-faced needle style meter it would be the best radio on the planet!
JMHO
Mikefromms
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Brewdirect
Member
Username: Brewdirect
Post Number: 96
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 2:29 pm: |
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I run a KL200P with my Mag 257.
I set my magnum deadkey to just under 2 watts AM swinging to around 20+ watts. I did a swing mod to my Mag 257 to boost audio and swing.
I get 100 watts on AM out of my KL200P and around 160 watts SSB.
More than enough to make contacts...the other day I was talking to Cali and Australia barefoot on SSB no problem. |
Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack
Post Number: 452
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 3:37 pm: |
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Mikefromms: Amen on the meter!
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Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 5718
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 6:49 pm: |
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CJ and Mike,
You mean there is a Meter on the 257. 
Nobody ever tells me anything anymore. 
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN  |
Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack
Post Number: 457
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 8:18 pm: |
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Yea -a Galaxy V99 analog meter is what we want. LOL |
Dd18
Junior Member
Username: Dd18
Post Number: 37
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 9:24 pm: |
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anything with 4 transistors works a treat.
I fried my little TS350HD running it flatout with the 257. Putting out 350+W PEP on SSB was just too much for it! Great audio reports and no reports of distortion even up to 375W!
Have ordered a TS500HD to run with it now.
257 is difficult to throttle back. |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 281
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 10:14 pm: |
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Guys, Guys, Guys
Throw an Astatic 600 after the amp and you got 3 big meters 
S-Meter.... Who cares. If I can hear ya I'm Happy!
Buy it from Copper!
Chad |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 5723
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 11:44 pm: |
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Crackerjack,
So far we have found it has worked very well in AM & SSB use with the KL300, KL500 & KLV1000
Hope this helps,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack
Post Number: 460
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 12:22 am: |
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LON: It sure does help. I am looking at the kl-300, or maybe the kl-400 but where to get the DC current to run the beast?
The input tolerances in the 400/500 seems a little higher and more forgiving.
I was looking at the 200, but am unsure how 1 pill will handle on that radio?
So many choices. |
Brewdirect
Member
Username: Brewdirect
Post Number: 97
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 1:11 pm: |
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I've been running the 257 with the KL200P for over a year...since the 257 has variable power it can be used with a big or small amp.
Using the internal pot..set the deadkey to around 1 1/2 watts with the Variable power on low. That should be your input into a KL200P.
Then if you want to run barefoot, just turn the variable power up to full. (Just make sure to turn off the amp )
I also did a swing mod to mine so I could have more swing with the low deadkey. |
Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack
Post Number: 468
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 3:45 pm: |
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Btew:
There you go, I am almost resolved to go with the 200P. Do you think that that preamp really makes a difference?
I put a good watt meter to it today, and Lon has mine set to around 1W on minimum power out. That sounds right to me. |
Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob
Post Number: 1876
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 6:23 pm: |
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I'm sure it would work well with a boomer 400 that's what I use with my dx2517 and it'll flat out perform at 600 watts ssb no distortion of audio at all,like was said good audio in good out and visa-versa.Bigbob |
Brewdirect
Member
Username: Brewdirect
Post Number: 99
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 7:27 pm: |
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Crackerjack.....
I've been told that the KL203 will actually put out slightly higher #'s than the KL200P..but don't know if that's true.
If you live in an area with high background static...most likely the preamp will just boost the static. SO no I wouldn't say it makes a big difference.
There are lots of 1 pill amps out there and some cheap 2 pills. I only opted for the KL because I had no $$ at the time and got mine for $60.
My buddy bought a Blackcat 300 and does pretty well and another friend has the Palomar 250 and sounds good.
Really just depends on dough and how much AMP draw you want I guess.
I know with my iginition on in my little car I get 100 watts AM on the KL but with the iginition off I'll only get 80..so the AMPs available can really make a difference.
If I still had my big truck I for sure would be running a 2 or 4 pill since the ALT could handle a lot more..but in my compact mobile kinda needed something small with very little draw.
Anyway...best of luck...any amp is fun..no matter what you choose. |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 615
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 7:47 pm: |
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Go with the kl-500 you'll have watts to spare and it is cleaner than the others.
Oh...and, give me the large needle meter or give me....de..well..not that. My 95T has a large meter.
mikefromms |
Gijoe
Member
Username: Gijoe
Post Number: 82
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 9:07 pm: |
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Brewdirect,
Would you mind posting the info on the swing mod for the 257, and also what internal pot is used to set the dead key?
Thanks,
Joe |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 5733
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 10:54 pm: |
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Gijoe,
You can find the Tune Up information listed in the Review of the  Magnum 257 or in the Modification List to the left of the Forum here under Tools for the and Older Model 257.
MAGNUM 257 MODEL REVIEW
Hope this helps,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Brewdirect
Intermediate Member
Username: Brewdirect
Post Number: 101
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 2:49 am: |
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No Problem....
here's the link to the Magnum 257 mod and adjustment pots for the pre-blue models,...this mod WOULD NOT be advised for the blue display models since they added a speech processor.
Magnum 257 Mods Page (Pre-Blue Display Models)
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Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob
Post Number: 1880
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 6:38 am: |
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Wasn't there a meter called the snake charmer for sale from copper a while back,that unit was 90% meter face,you could read it from 20 yards,wow!Bigbob |
Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack
Post Number: 475
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 1:57 pm: |
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Where can I get one? |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 617
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 2:57 pm: |
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Was this an add on s-units meter?
mikefromms |
Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob
Post Number: 1883
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 6:21 pm: |
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No it was a watt meter in 20,200 and 2000 watt ranges.Bigbob |
