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Rich_1833
Junior Member Username: Rich_1833
Post Number: 37 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 3:10 am: |
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I just got a new truck at work. Im an over the road driver. The truck came with a cobra 18 wx st 2. Built into the dach kind of. Is here anything I could do to make this a good radio besides changing it out. Ive seen some mods for the ltd but not the wx st. |
Dale
Senior Member Username: Dale
Post Number: 1052 Registered: 12-2002
| Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 4:53 pm: |
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well theres a little more to it than that. 1]can your antenna/coax handle the power what type ya got 2]what is your swrs with current setup this is very important if adding amp 3]raDIO output assuming the radio is stock the dead key will be way too high 2wattdk max going into amp.this is also very important if steps 2,3 and not checked out and adjusted properly you can harm the amp dale/a.k.a.hotrod cef426 cvc#64
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Rich_1833
Junior Member Username: Rich_1833
Post Number: 38 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 7:24 pm: |
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everything is stock in a model 387 from the peterbuilt company. The antennas can be changed as long as they are black fiberglass 4ft or less whips. coax well that what i dont know about. They hide most of it when built and it run 2 antennas on each side of the cab. |
Dale
Senior Member Username: Dale
Post Number: 1053 Registered: 12-2002
| Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 9:00 pm: |
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well thier stock stuff is average at best.id get mini8 coax18ft gray stuff.and a 4ft silverload or wilson 5ktrucker.this i truly believe will bring up performance on radio a little.also no need for 2 antennas waste of money.i used to work partime at my friends shop as a antenna installer.definately would get rid of that antenna/coax.i think most cef members will agree with me that your antenna/coax is the MOST important part of any radio setup do not skimp on this dale/a.k.a.hotrod cef426 cvc#64
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Rich_1833
Junior Member Username: Rich_1833
Post Number: 39 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 6:26 am: |
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thank you milkman you hit the nail on the head. I can change the antennas as long as the still look the same for the most part. (the wilson silverload will work). The coax and radio im just stuck with. Im not looking to get a supertucker, look at me radio just something that I can get good preformance out of with what I have or what they gave me. |
Rich_1833
Junior Member Username: Rich_1833
Post Number: 40 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 6:38 am: |
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do you think that the kl-200p would work. I would like to have the pre amp. I dont think they make a smaller one with a pre amp in it. Im not sure what the coax will handle. |
Dale
Senior Member Username: Dale
Post Number: 1058 Registered: 12-2002
| Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 10:57 am: |
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well im unsure about your coax but id definately get the silverload.dont get the flex ones.thats probaly your best bet.the kl200p should work with the silverload.im not sure if it will work with factory stuff.the factory stuff ive seen and worked on many times the antennas are preset [nonadjustable] and using a mjf269b anylizer the swrs were generally 1.5 to as high as 3.0 this is NOT good for any amp or radio.my best recommendation is go thru coppers and find a cheap swr meter and a wilson silverload dale/a.k.a.hotrod cef426 cvc#64
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Hotwire
Senior Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 2356 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Friday, August 03, 2007 - 11:49 am: |
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Rich, I agree with the fellas.Knowing that you can take the radio out to do the amp install and the company allows an amp to be installed. Get the little KL amp, or really any low drive amp you wish. Not to big though! Of course a better antenna, the Silver Load is choice for what you need. Best to hook the amp up direct to the batteries. The company is using 2 antennas on the truck? A dual antenna setup uses a harness made up of rg59 75 ohm coax. Connect radio to the amp with a rg58 or mini8 jumper and then attach the harness to the amp. I also agree with Milkman about the power mics. I'm anti-power mic in the mobile no matter what. My opinion they are more trouble than there worth and prefer a nice Astatic 636L. BUT! your diving a big truck! Might want to check out the DM 452 Superstar echo/power mic! Much better than the dinky stock mic. Hey if your getting the amp you may as well get some echo in ther too. What over the road driver does'nt like a bit of echo? KEEP IT REAL! Kenny cef491(27.115lsb) 2sf491(27.555usb) Indiana
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Dale
Senior Member Username: Dale
Post Number: 1064 Registered: 12-2002
| Posted on Friday, August 03, 2007 - 8:19 pm: |
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ya can use a power mike but youill end up with alot of background noise. HOWEVER when your stopping for the day/night and the shut down the truck and ya can use a power mike with no problems at all.kenny im glad ya BROUGHT UP THE SUBJECT of the company using 75ohm coax.ive seen companies NOT use this stuff and have a dual antenna setup.rich go to the back of your radio and look up/down visable coax and see if its even 75ohm coax.doing this for a living for a few yrs on/off ive seen more drivers blow up amps radio and way too many swrs problems to mention.guys i dont wanna him to blow anything up thats all dale/a.k.a.hotrod cef426 cvc#64
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Tech808
Moderator Username: Tech808
Post Number: 14202 Registered: 8-2002
| Posted on Saturday, August 04, 2007 - 5:49 am: |
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Please address your posts/comments to the Topic/Question or the person asking the question who created the Topic. Not to another copper forum member's response/post to the question. Thanks in advance for everyone's help, Lon ~ Tech808 ~ N9CEF CEF#808 ~ CEF HAM#33 ~ CVC#002 Tech808@copperelectronics.com
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Rich_1833
Junior Member Username: Rich_1833
Post Number: 41 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Saturday, August 04, 2007 - 10:17 am: |
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I looked at the coax and it is 75 ohm. I was thinking, would it be better to run just one antenna or leave it as two. Both antennas would have to stay on top of the truck, I would just have to cut the coax and put a new connecter on it. I think Im going to get the kl200p the one with the preamp and the Astatic 636L or the Astatic D104M6B. Im not sure yet. By the way thank you for all the help. |
Dale
Senior Member Username: Dale
Post Number: 1067 Registered: 12-2002
| Posted on Saturday, August 04, 2007 - 3:59 pm: |
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i agree dont cut the coax.you can goto 1 antenna but as stated you will need 50ohm coax.if ya stay with dual you tune each antenna sepatately with 1 50ohm 18ft run of coax do that with both sides then hook back up the duals see if it chandes it suppose to be pretty close to the same.assuming your factory are adjudstabkle. milkman if his antennas arent adjustable and his swr is higher than 1.5 he could/probaly will blowup his new kl.this is what gives these amps bad reps improper installs. dale/a.k.a.hotrod cef426 cvc#64
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Dale
Senior Member Username: Dale
Post Number: 1070 Registered: 12-2002
| Posted on Saturday, August 04, 2007 - 11:10 pm: |
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well after lookingall thru the net i finally seen what this radio looks like.never seen one. bad news i couldnt find any mods.good news maybe is its identicle or cose to that to unidens version uniden 538wxi do have some mods for it they may/maynot be the same inside.look for these inside modulation=Q-15 pwr=L-11,L10 or L-11,l-14 found these here left of ths post.if these dont appear inside on the speaker side of radio dont mess with anything.or ya could take it 2 a shop to set it up for a amp as well.your choice. dale/a.k.a.hotrod cef426 cvc#64
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Rich_1833
Junior Member Username: Rich_1833
Post Number: 42 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Saturday, August 04, 2007 - 11:27 pm: |
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Thacks I will NOT cut the coax and I will look into the other mic. Im also looking into a way to setup my ham radios. I had plained to use a glass mount antenna. You dont think it will mess with the CB do you. |
Rich_1833
Junior Member Username: Rich_1833
Post Number: 43 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 7:16 pm: |
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yes there are alot better antennas but now were on my truck to put it. |
Dale
Senior Member Username: Dale
Post Number: 1071 Registered: 12-2002
| Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 8:47 pm: |
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put them excatly were your current antennas are.coppers has a anttron ham whip jr that i believe should just screw down in mount as your current antennas.they also got one callefd the anttron 1700 great antenna for the money with both these antennas you will need to change coax to 50ohm to seperate leads of coax.current coax wont with this type of setup 1cb antenna 1ham band antenna 2-18ft coax leads 2-antennas of choice this will get ya started if ya go that direstion look around coppers they have lots to offer dale/a.k.a.hotrod cef426 cvc#64
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