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Tedison
New member
Username: Tedison
Post Number: 5
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 20, 2004 - 8:15 pm: | 
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Picked up a nice little SD1446 4 pill box that I'd like to throw in my new Jetta Diesel:-) Thing is, I'd like to mount it in the trunk, (has a fan). I'd run a remote off/on to the dash and was figuring on maybe adding a pot to the dash control to adjust output as well? Seems like a simple mod...pros/cons anyone?
Anyway, I was wondering if you think I'd suffer any ill effects from using about 12' of coax from the radio to the amp in the trunk and then 6
' from the amp to the wilson 1000. The antenna works NICE on the trunk lid and even better on the roof. 6' is about the perfect amount to reach the roof so I can move it around from trunk to roof(mag mount).
Man what a SUPER antenna that is(thanks for all the recs, btw). I can hardly see the swr meter moving from low to high freq range.
Running a hr2510
Thanks!!
Tedison |
Patzerozero
Junior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 43
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 20, 2004 - 8:32 pm: |
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having run LOTS of watts in pre-computer cars amps in NEW cars scare me. 4-1446's only about 200 watts thogh, what the heck!
why not set the radio up to vary out put of the amp? leave amp on high, note what output of amp is w/variable radio wattage and mic gain(for ssb) |
Tedison
New member
Username: Tedison
Post Number: 6
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 20, 2004 - 9:37 pm: |
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Ok! I understand varying the output of the radio to the amp..makes sense. Then I can just leave the amp on high all the time. THANKS.
I think amp puts out slightly more than 200...actually around 380watts on ssb with my 2510 behind it. You think maybe a meter error? I thought 1446's go around 85 watts a piece?
What do you think about the coax situation? And do you think mounting the amp in the trunk would help the RF from messing with the onboard computer mounted in the front? Or is the interference all from the antenna output?
I know there's no electric fuel pump in the tank. But it is a turbo injected diesel (TDI). Well, we'll just have to do some testing..LOL
The amp is a Apache SuperModulator Extraordinare 450. Must be a pretty lame model since I haven't found any info online about it...but it appears to be in NEW condition and is clean as a whistle inside. BIG heatsink and a nice fan too.
Thanks for all your help
Tedison |
Patzerozero
Junior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 47
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 9:49 pm: |
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tedison-i started a thread re:big amps in new cars,even went direct to amp manufacturer in nj. he said close my eyes, cross my fingers and try it. i'm still afraid. now pre-computer, that's a different story....anyway-1446's-70watts, class AB about 35w x 4=140w dead key, maybe double for swing to 280 watts. maybe. a lot of cb meters i think are abit generous. i use diamond sx100 that i'd like to think is a bit tight, but as long as it's ballpark, use what you have and if you ever see a big change, you can figure something went wrong, swr up, variable moved, etc. as for mag mount w/amp, i'd avoid it if possible. even one of those trunk lip mounts that screws from underneath lip is better than mag mount as long as it gets all the way thru paint to bare metal, put some type of sealant over it all to keep from rusting. you can't use your wilson, but a wilson 1000 or up w/shaft for mirror mount, or say a 5' skipshooter, some name brand quality adjustable antenna will be fine. with that setup vs. mag mount you can use some quality 95% shield or better rg8x or even rg8, 9086, 9913, etc. just have to be careful how you get the thick stuff thru trunk lid-trim cover, remove minimal foam, insulate center from shield....8x will be ok w/400w though. as for onboard computers, i know of NO definites. my 99 durango which temporarily has mag mount wilson 2000 on roof just in front of rack shows no ill effects w/grant xl and old boomer 250 other than 'rear liftgate open' lite coming on when i key it. hoping when i hard mount different antenna it eliminates problem because i intend to go to 4-2879 pill amp. eyes closed, fingers crossed of course. keep in mind i know what i know from TRYING it thru trial and error and no professional training-just personal experience!
apache is probably just a copy of something already out there and no better or worse than any other cb amp. |
Bc910
Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 64
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 11:56 am: |
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Patzerozero;
Although I would agree with you that a permanent mount is better than a mag mount, I have to disagree with you at the same time. I have used many mag mounts with out a problem in the past, with amps and with out. I think that a good quality mag (like a Wilson) would perform fine, in fact I used a Wilson 1000 mag and a galaxy 99 with a 4 pill in a 97 ram with no problems what so ever! No lights going on, no weird idle, etc. I think it all has to do with your match. In my experience when you have a high swr there is way more rfi! When the swr lowers so does rfi. If you can achieve a 1:1 match with a mag then you shouldn't have too many problems. But again, you are right you will have a better chance getting that 1:1 match with a permanent mount and better coax. Off the subject a little, next time you go to a convenience store sit in front have a friend go in side and start modulating with the amp CRANKED see if it sets off the door chime (mine does). When I lived in CA I used to key up at gas stations and reset all the electronic pumps at once  Also find some moron with a badly installed car stereo system that they think is COOL ride behind them and key that baby up whatch them go crazy trying to figure out why there system is messing up. Key it up, they will look around, start messing with wires, unkey, they stop, key up, they start again, quite funny really. One more thing. Ever wonder why those cameras are at the drive thru window at your favorite fast food restraint? Security of course, so they don’t get robbed. Well drive thru a Jack in the Box one day and key up, no more TV as long as you’re keyed up! And from what I understand it takes out the camera not the TV, supposedly it actually records the black screen! In my younger days I used to love to terrorize ppl with RF since no one (except few ppl) understands RF and what it can do! I don't do it any more, guess I grew out of it. Still look back and laugh though!
BC
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Tedison
New member
Username: Tedison
Post Number: 7
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 9:54 pm: |
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Well, I have some GOOD news to report!! This amp works SWEEEEETTT!! "Report" said it sounded clean and nicely modulated. Wasn't dirty at all. I have about a 1:2 on channel 40 and the 2510 seems to push it well.
The only thing I have to do is turn the mic gain button on the 2510 off or the 595 Astatic mike squeals like a pig!! I also get some "talkback" through the 2510 speaker.
I can see the mag mount making a differnce in a large amp situation....but it "appears" to work ok with this install.
BTW, this is in a 2001 Silverado pick up. 2510 is on the center console and amp is in the back extended cab portion right behind the passenger side seat. I didn't observe any funny things happening either. I held it at idle at it worked fine, no lights flashing or anything.
I used a 3' piece of coax between the radio and amp and then 16' between the amp and antenna.
Thanks for all the help/recs!! |
Patzerozero
Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 53
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 12:07 am: |
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tested a 4-magnet mount w/my grant, boomer and wilson 2000 today and the lift gate open lite didn't come on. put my single mag back on tonite & lite's on again. both w/swr about 1.3-1 on26.835. oh well at least door doesn't pop open!
anyway, as you can see i am not practicing what i preach and it is working at the moment.wait a second, you said jetta diesel, but it turned into a chevy truck-can i turn my wifes monte into a viper? again, experiment and thru trial & error you'll see and use what works best for you. optimum may not always be obtainable, but next best and you might not notice a difference.
now as for you, bc what did i just tell you? ah, yes i was young once, too. i still know which alarms, car, house and commercial i can set off and with how many watts, and what happens in the gas stations i frequent when i key up, and when i can stop a remote car starter from starting, and it is quite humorous while cruising the interstate and keying up a substantial amount of watts and watching the heads in the cars look all over the place to figure out what the heck is going on with thier radio's! maybe you're alright afterall! |
Tedison
New member
Username: Tedison
Post Number: 8
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 9:47 am: |
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Guess I should have explained that...LOL!! I just bought the jetta diesel and it's supposed to arrive this Friday(27) so THAT is really the target vehicle. I'm just using the setup in my Silverado temporarily.
So I MAY still have trouble when I get it in it's final resting spot!!
We are in the middle of "re-vehicleizing"..LOL Wife just got a new Montero LS. Nice to have the mag mount so I can swap between vehicles with relative easy. The amp, however, will stay in the Jetta.
Tedison |
Patzerozero
Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 56
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 6:06 pm: |
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i would work my way up to final wattage slowly. i've heard so many conflicting reports re:watts & onboard computers...ever since some yrs ago qst magazine published a letter re:a ham w/100w icom or alinco or something blowing computer on brand new 90 something camry...but i've never seen that bad of a problem, myself. |
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