| Author |
Message |
    
Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 102
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Friday, November 26, 2004 - 1:04 am: | 
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What makes some meters swing alot backwards and forwards, like not really moving when you key the radio and then peggin' it out when you talk. Doesn't seem to matter what I do some radios will and some won't yet I see the modulation on my external meter? Anyone know a trick to make the radio meter swing like crazy? I just want to see alot of movement. Some guys ask for this from time to time, I don't really see what it matters. But I try to help my friends out what I can. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 4156
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, November 26, 2004 - 1:16 am: |
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Therealporkchop,
In the search box to the left of the Forum here under Utilities TYPE in: 1N4001 and start reading.
Hope this helps.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 892
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, November 26, 2004 - 11:49 am: |
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Keep in mind these 'swing mods' are illegal on a type accepted CB radio. With that said, for you 10 meter ops, this 'modification' will grossly increase distortion and TVI problems. If you simply MUST do it, make it reversible so when you are finished 'flexing your muscles', you can make your radio work properly again.
Common misconceptions-
'It will make me louder'. Not exactly. People who say this forget that those reciving your signal have AGC in their receivers. The AGC will automatically knock down your audio because of your insane peaks in the receiver. In some narrow band radios, you will actually sound quieter.
'I will get out further'. Although technically true, especially in skip conditions, it will not make your signal stronger, it will just cut through pileups a little better. For local talking, it will only make your audio more difficult to understand. Your overall signal will be weaker. Why? Your radio output section is only capable of a certain level of peak power. Keeping this in mind, the only way to get more 'swing' is to reduce carrier. Reducing your carrier makes you read lower on your locals' meters.
'My radio will run cooler'. Again, a misconception. This would only be true if you only threw dead carriers. If you are talking, your radio will run about the same average heat. The best way to reduce heat is to tune your radio for efficiency, NOT power out.
I could go on and on. I have to move on. Limited time. |
Highlander
Advanced Member
Username: Highlander
Post Number: 696
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 26, 2004 - 1:49 pm: |
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I think what he is actually asking about is how to adjust the built in meter in the radio. |
Kilowatt
Intermediate Member
Username: Kilowatt
Post Number: 110
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, November 27, 2004 - 4:00 pm: |
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Amen, Tech833...
I love my Johnson Thunderbolt's 375 watts carrier output, and wish it was legal for me to run more.... |
Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 104
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, November 27, 2004 - 11:13 pm: |
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I don't really want to increase anything. I just want the meter in the radio to have a lot of swing. I was wondering if there is a trick that you can do with a resistor or diode or something to the two wires going to the meter itself to fool it into swinging a lot. I have done the 1N4001 mod on some radios and some had a lot of swing while others didn't no matter how I adjusted the meter by the pot.
I just want to trick the meter itself...make it show a lot of swing regardless of what it is really doing.... |
Kid_vicious
Junior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 45
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, November 29, 2004 - 2:02 am: |
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there is an internal adjustment in most radios for the TX meter. find out which variable resistor "pot" it is and turn it up. your meter will no longer be accurate but it will swing. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 4179
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 29, 2004 - 9:38 am: |
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Kid vicious,
Check the Modification List under Tools to the left of the Forum here as I have it listed in a lot of the radios information on which pot to adjust for the TX/RX meter.
Hope this helps.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 106
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 7:00 pm: |
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I think I am confusing a lot of people here. Or maybe it is I who is confused. I've adjusted the pot for the meter, no matter how I set it up, the meter doesn't show the swing. But on another radio with the same mods it will. I am not sure how to get the meter to show a lot of movement like I want. I've done the 1n4001 diode trick, adjusted the pot for the meter, clipped the audio limiter, etc. I don't know what to do to it, there has to be something though
Thanks for all your answers though!!! |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 4205
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 5:03 pm: |
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Therealporkchop,
If it is Not showing swing on the Meter in the Radio what is it showing on an external SWR / Watt meter?
The Meter in the radio could be bad.
Buy or Borrow a Good Reliable External SWR / Watt Meter and then check it.
That is why I have posted many, many times before that I will NEVER go by Any reading on Any Meter in Any Radio.
They can get bounced or dropped in assembly then shipping from the factory to the distributor then from the distributor to the dealer and then again from the dealer to the customer and bounced around in vehicles and dropped and any other thing the Radio Gods, UPS or Fed Ex can do to them.
If people say you sound good and your signal is good and you can give them a S-1 thru 9 signal report using your ears then you are all set.
I think Meters are only put in radios to make people feel good and fill up empty space on the radios. 
Just my nickels worth on Meters in Radios.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Kid_vicious
Junior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 49
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 04, 2004 - 11:46 pm: |
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i have to admit lon, i just love to watch the needle move. i cant stand light bars. give me a dual metered 139xlr anyday. i dont trust them to be accurate to the number but they are good for noticing a change in your signal. (like if your coax got clipped!)
there is a post in these archives where "307" tells how to unstick a sticky meter. i tried it in my madison and it worked like a charm.
BTW, not to brag gut i just picked up and "unmodified" 139xlr. im talking no cut foil traces. and it puts out 3.5 watts on am and 12-13 on ssb. the modulation pot wasnt even turned up! after three disappointing ebay buys, i finally got a gem. now if i can just keep my own hands out of it... |
