| Author |
Message |
    
Ericsm34
New member
Username: Ericsm34
Post Number: 2
Registered: 4-2015
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 - 10:53 am: | 
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I have a Cobra Radio with a dead key of 2 watts, output power of 15 watts with a 20 watt swing, would this work good to drive the Texas Star 350 HD or would i need either more or less wattage to drive it? 1 guy told me it would be perfect, another said anything over 4 watts I would have to go to the TS 500, and another guy told me i would need a smaller amp in between to drive the 350 HD better, so im confussed. |
Press_man
Advanced Member
Username: Press_man
Post Number: 838
Registered: 5-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 - 6:47 pm: |
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Two watt carrier is OK, but you say you have output power of 15 watts with a swing of 20 watts ??
Normally you would say you have a dead key of 2 and a swing of either 15w or 20, which is it, 15 or 20?
The 2 watts are enough to key the amp and if you have a 12-16 watt forward swing, that will work pretty well.
What ever you do, don't over drive the TS 350 with another amp. As far as output from the TS 350 HD don't expect a high carrier on AM. I had a TS 350 at one time and got 210 watts on high with a good forward swing. What more do you need in a mobile anyway.
73 Pressman
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Wire_saber
New member
Username: Wire_saber
Post Number: 2
Registered: 4-2015
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 - 10:32 pm: |
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I've seen a TS 350 HDV responding well to said input power, but only in SSB mode, and without using the variable control. If AM is your main choice, a TS 500 will withstand your radio's wattage with less stress. You do not need an exciter between your Cobra and either of these TS amps. Both are excellent amps, and the cleanest of the mass-produced types, but I've also heard that they generally work at their best with no more than 2 to 4 watts of continuous input. |
Ericsm34
New member
Username: Ericsm34
Post Number: 3
Registered: 4-2015
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 - 5:57 am: |
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Press man, as to which is it, i guess im not 100% sure, when i bought the radio the shop said it has a swing kit installed, when i hooked up a power meter and keyed up the mic dead key went to 2 watts, when I first talk into it, it swings to 20 watts then levels back off at 15 watts, so i guess I was not sure how to word that lol, sorry. |
Press_man
Advanced Member
Username: Press_man
Post Number: 839
Registered: 5-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 - 5:30 pm: |
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OK, gotcha. Some radios will peak real quick then settle down. I like 3-3.5 watt carrier but that's personal preference, the 2 watt will work well. Wiresaber had a point with AM and the TS 500. You should be happy though with the 350.
The power comes in handy when working a pileup. Problem is most of the guys causing the pileup are running 1000 watts to talk across town. Time to find another channel or get your Ham ticket. All kinds of frequencies to talk on.
Are you staying mobile with the TS350? What antenna are you using? What is it mounted to and where?
Look around on the sight for info on the different antennas. Tech 833 has tested several different types and published his findings here.
73 Pressman
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Ericsm34
New member
Username: Ericsm34
Post Number: 4
Registered: 4-2015
| | Posted on Thursday, April 30, 2015 - 5:57 am: |
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At least for now I will be staying mobile. I am using a Wilson 1000 mag mount on the center of my roof on an Aztek. My SWR is 1.075 on channel 1, and 1.0 on channels 20 and 40 according to the Astatic 700 meter. Thank you for the help. |
Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 2207
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 01, 2015 - 7:51 pm: |
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ive owned my ts 350hd for bout 10 yrs [maybe more]
your cobra will work fine. a 2 watt deadkey is fine for that amp. your radio wont run a ts 500 to full out put.and the 350hd definately DOES NOT need a driver
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
454 [dx numbers]
38lsb
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Ericsm34
New member
Username: Ericsm34
Post Number: 8
Registered: 4-2015
| | Posted on Thursday, May 14, 2015 - 8:31 am: |
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One more question that I am not understanding, Why does the 350 say high drive, but yet you cant run alot into it, so what makes it a high drive? |
Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 2215
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 15, 2015 - 4:06 pm: |
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the high drive is just a gimmick cause its really not. imho a high drive is like the 500v with 4 transisters or better yet texas star sweet 16 with 8 transisters to me these .
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
454 [dx numbers]
38lsb
|
Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 447
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 15, 2015 - 7:23 pm: |
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Dale, some boxes , like the sweet sixteen does not have a driving transistor. So it is required to have a 100 watt max radio to drive it with. The other boxes have a driving transistor built in and does not require as much drive from a radio. So it only would need a max 4 watt dead key. Also there is a difference in some of the keying circuit's. Some keying circuit's can not take a high watt input and some can. For those that can, Hence forth High Drive. just like the older tube type amp's. Some of the keying circuit's and keying tube can not take high power while other's ( like some that have been modified) can take a higher drive. |
Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 2216
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, May 16, 2015 - 10:13 pm: |
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i agree completely and said exactly what you did .just worded differently..lol. but for the amp in question is a texas star 350 hdv. it has only 2 pills [transisters] i own exact same one i run no more than 4 watts am and 20 on ssb. definately not a high drive
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
454 [dx numbers]
38lsb
|
Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 448
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 18, 2015 - 10:56 am: |
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I was responding about it being a gimmick. If you have a 2 watt dead key and have plenty of swing it should not be a problem for a HD or a HDV. I have had them as well. A solid state amp if you want to take care of it will last longer if the dead key on the amp itself is no more than 25% of the max the amp is rated for. Example, if the amp can do 1,000 watt's then the dead key should be no more than 250 watt's If the swing on am is close to that of SSB than the amp should be able to take the drive with less of a problem. Even if the amp can take a 4 watt dead key from the radio I always run my radio on a 2 watt dead key and let it swing. Every person does thing's different. I just do not believe it is a gimmick. No offense intended. After we are friend's. I do respect your opinion. |
