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Eriic1977
| | Posted on Friday, April 12, 2002 - 3:31 pm: | 
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If I want to put a amp on my mobile radio and the amp says it only supports up to 4watts input and my radio pushes 8-12 watts does that mean I can't hook up a amp to it? I also have another stupid question what does the pre amp button do on a amp? and one last question for now, does my cb and amp have to be calibrated to work with each other? and if so how do I do that? I would appericiate any help I can get. Oh yeah which radio is better
Galaxy DX 99v or the president JACKSON-ASC? |
Xlaxx
| | Posted on Friday, April 12, 2002 - 5:20 pm: |
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Don't go with a 99V friend. I had a Palomar 250 on it and it went kaaablippp while taliking skip to Texas. That radio is too tempramental and too many knobs! I know I'm going to hear it from all those Galaxy lovers out there but seriously, who wants to sound like Don Cornelius out there?!?! If your going to run the Galaxy turn the RF Power all the way back and you should be fine. I ran mine back and it still went kaablipp, SWR on the 102" was 1:3, Palomar was running at Med. pwr! Stick with a basic, strong radio and buy a MobileMax. xLAXX |
Taz
| | Posted on Friday, April 12, 2002 - 5:54 pm: |
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You can use a 99 with it as long as your going to key the 1-1.5 watts nessicary and swing. Mobile max's are great but dont take alot of rf power from amps (bigger than 350). Tune your swr with an s.w.r meter and use a 3 foot jumper to start out with. swr must be 1.3 or lower with amp off. and you dont want it going over 1.5 with it on. A pre-amp increases receive. |
Magnum410
| | Posted on Friday, April 12, 2002 - 9:25 pm: |
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I run a Palomar 250 off of a Dx99V with the power all the way up and it ROCKS!!! I have never had a problem with it. I have mounted a fan on top of the amp to keep it cool. Both the Jackson and the DX99v are great radio's. Just get both then you'll really be happy. If I had to pick one of the two I would pick the 99v. It has so many more toys than the Jack, plus the 99v covers a heck of alot more channels and you can convert to 11 meter without solder. |
Lou Cypher
| | Posted on Friday, April 12, 2002 - 11:22 pm: |
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Eric1977:
In regards to the amp question you need to answer a few items first. You say your radio pushes 8-12 watts.
Is that 8-12 watts on AM or sideband? Most stock AM/ sideband rigs run 4 watts AM and 12 watts sideband.
AM transmission is a lot harder on amplifiers and radios because you are transmitting a carrier + the upper and lower sideband. The higher your modulation, the greater the carrier out of the radio into the amp.
If the transistors in the amp are not rated for the higher power (12 watts AM), guess what? You've got a very expensive heatsink that smells like ozone. (Hey, been there done that.)
Now then, if the amp is rated at 4 watts AM and 12 watts sideband, you're probably good to go. Also, if you have a "Hi-Drive" amp, that means it will usually take higher drive - something like 12 watts AM and 25 watts SSB w/ no problem.
If the amp is not high drive, then back off on the transmitter input power unitl you get at 4 watts. You'll have to pop the cover on the radio and turn down the RF power down. Check your schematic or take it to a shop.
The pre-amp is a "Receiver" amplifier that boosts low signals coming into your receiver. Typically, a good preamp will boost a signal at least (2) S-units on your meter.
Do you need to calibarate the radio to the amp? That's a term that some CB tech is trying to use to get your money.
You need to "match" your radio to the amplifier and antenna system. How? By tuning your radio and antenna for lowest SWR possible. Once you've done that, then put the amplifier in line with a 3' jumper and check your SWR again. You may need to trim or lengthen your antenna or transmission line to get a good flat SWR match. If necessary, I'll always trim or lengthen the coax first. Coax is cheap to replace, as opposed cutting a chunk out of your antenna, which is not cheap.
Hope this helps. |
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