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Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 447
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 9:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Who is using an Amp on their Magnum 257?

What kind and how does it perform AM / SSB?

How do you drive it?
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Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms

Post Number: 613
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 11:12 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Works great with kl-300 and even better with kl-500! It will work fanstastic. Ususally the amp will deliver what quality audio you put into it. The M-257 will do just that. If that radio had the big-faced needle style meter it would be the best radio on the planet!

JMHO

Mikefromms
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Brewdirect
Member
Username: Brewdirect

Post Number: 96
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 2:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I run a KL200P with my Mag 257.

I set my magnum deadkey to just under 2 watts AM swinging to around 20+ watts. I did a swing mod to my Mag 257 to boost audio and swing.

I get 100 watts on AM out of my KL200P and around 160 watts SSB.

More than enough to make contacts...the other day I was talking to Cali and Australia barefoot on SSB no problem.
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Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 452
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 3:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mikefromms: Amen on the meter!
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Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808

Post Number: 5718
Registered: 8-2002


Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 6:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

CJ and Mike,

You mean there is a Meter on the 257.

Nobody ever tells me anything anymore.

Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 457
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 8:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yea -a Galaxy V99 analog meter is what we want. LOL
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Dd18
Junior Member
Username: Dd18

Post Number: 37
Registered: 11-2004


Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 9:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

anything with 4 transistors works a treat.
I fried my little TS350HD running it flatout with the 257. Putting out 350+W PEP on SSB was just too much for it! Great audio reports and no reports of distortion even up to 375W!
Have ordered a TS500HD to run with it now.
257 is difficult to throttle back.
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Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad

Post Number: 281
Registered: 11-2004


Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 10:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Guys, Guys, Guys

Throw an Astatic 600 after the amp and you got 3 big meters :-)

S-Meter.... Who cares. If I can hear ya I'm Happy!

Buy it from Copper!

Chad
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Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808

Post Number: 5723
Registered: 8-2002


Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 11:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Crackerjack,

So far we have found it has worked very well in AM & SSB use with the KL300, KL500 & KLV1000

Hope this helps,

Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 460
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 12:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

LON: It sure does help. I am looking at the kl-300, or maybe the kl-400 but where to get the DC current to run the beast?

The input tolerances in the 400/500 seems a little higher and more forgiving.

I was looking at the 200, but am unsure how 1 pill will handle on that radio?

So many choices.
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Brewdirect
Member
Username: Brewdirect

Post Number: 97
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 1:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I've been running the 257 with the KL200P for over a year...since the 257 has variable power it can be used with a big or small amp.

Using the internal pot..set the deadkey to around 1 1/2 watts with the Variable power on low. That should be your input into a KL200P.

Then if you want to run barefoot, just turn the variable power up to full. (Just make sure to turn off the amp :-) )

I also did a swing mod to mine so I could have more swing with the low deadkey.
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Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 468
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 3:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Btew:

There you go, I am almost resolved to go with the 200P. Do you think that that preamp really makes a difference?

I put a good watt meter to it today, and Lon has mine set to around 1W on minimum power out. That sounds right to me.
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Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob

Post Number: 1876
Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 6:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'm sure it would work well with a boomer 400 that's what I use with my dx2517 and it'll flat out perform at 600 watts ssb no distortion of audio at all,like was said good audio in good out and visa-versa.Bigbob
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Brewdirect
Member
Username: Brewdirect

Post Number: 99
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 7:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Crackerjack.....

I've been told that the KL203 will actually put out slightly higher #'s than the KL200P..but don't know if that's true.

If you live in an area with high background static...most likely the preamp will just boost the static. SO no I wouldn't say it makes a big difference.

There are lots of 1 pill amps out there and some cheap 2 pills. I only opted for the KL because I had no $$ at the time and got mine for $60.

My buddy bought a Blackcat 300 and does pretty well and another friend has the Palomar 250 and sounds good.

Really just depends on dough and how much AMP draw you want I guess.

I know with my iginition on in my little car I get 100 watts AM on the KL but with the iginition off I'll only get 80..so the AMPs available can really make a difference.

If I still had my big truck I for sure would be running a 2 or 4 pill since the ALT could handle a lot more..but in my compact mobile kinda needed something small with very little draw.

Anyway...best of luck...any amp is fun..no matter what you choose.
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Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms

Post Number: 615
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 7:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Go with the kl-500 you'll have watts to spare and it is cleaner than the others.

Oh...and, give me the large needle meter or give me....de..well..not that. My 95T has a large meter.

mikefromms
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Gijoe
Member
Username: Gijoe

Post Number: 82
Registered: 4-2002


Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 9:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Brewdirect,

Would you mind posting the info on the swing mod for the 257, and also what internal pot is used to set the dead key?

Thanks,
Joe
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Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808

Post Number: 5733
Registered: 8-2002


Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 10:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Gijoe,

You can find the Tune Up information listed in the Review of the Magnum 257 or in the Modification List to the left of the Forum here under Tools for the and Older Model 257.

MAGNUM 257 MODEL REVIEW

Hope this helps,

Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN

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Brewdirect
Intermediate Member
Username: Brewdirect

Post Number: 101
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 2:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

No Problem....

here's the link to the Magnum 257 mod and adjustment pots for the pre-blue models,...this mod WOULD NOT be advised for the blue display models since they added a speech processor.

Magnum 257 Mods Page (Pre-Blue Display Models)

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Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob

Post Number: 1880
Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 6:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Wasn't there a meter called the snake charmer for sale from copper a while back,that unit was 90% meter face,you could read it from 20 yards,wow!Bigbob
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Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 475
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 1:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Where can I get one?
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Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms

Post Number: 617
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 2:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Was this an add on s-units meter?

mikefromms
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Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob

Post Number: 1883
Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 6:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

No it was a watt meter in 20,200 and 2000 watt ranges.Bigbob

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