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Message |
    
Sinker
New member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 1
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 8:59 pm: | 
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Greetings to all. Let me start by saying I know little to nothing about radios nor the terminology used.
With that said I have inherited 2 each Galaxy DX 99V radios with D-104 microphones - 1 each Silver Streak 200 amplifier - 1 each Boomer 600 amplifier - 1 each Boomer 500 amplifier and power converter in one - 2 each Wilson 1000 antennas - 1 each Antron 99 antenna - 2 each Digital SWR/Watt Meters.
I got one of these radios hooked up in my tuck and having some fun talking to folks and getting hooked on these radios.
Going to try and get the other radio set up as a base unit.
Not knowing much about all this I have a few questions.
1. Are these decent radios, antennas, amplifiers etc???
2. Do I need a license for these???
3. My SWR in the truck shows 1.0 on channel 1 and 1.3 on channel 40 - is this OK???
4. Must have hooked up something wrong as with the Boomer 600 I only get 345 watts but with the Silver streak I get 200 watts - or maybe the Boomer 600 is broken not sure but it does not put out the 600 watts it says.
5. I have everything running straight to the battery for power and a frame ground screw for the ground (this includes the radio, amp and cables grounded as they all had ground straps on them) The Power wires are big, in fact I went out looking for more and couldn't find anything that large locally.
Hoping maybe you guys could answer my questions, let me know what I have and am doing wrong and how to meet others with radios as well.
Thanks, |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 6796
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 11:47 pm: |
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Sinker,
Welcome to the Copper Forum!
#1 ~ Yes
#2 ~ If you operate them on the Ham Bands then Yes you need to be a Licensed Ham.
#3 ~ Yes (That is very good)
#4 ~ It could be that the Boomer needs serviced/repaired.
#5 ~ 
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Bc910
Advanced Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 599
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 11:57 pm: |
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WOW I would love all that stuff! Congrats!
Not being a huge fan of Galaxies as most on this forum know. I can say that for you (being new) it is one heck of a start!!! Galaxy radios are good radios just not up to par with what I like. Astatic makes (in my opinion) some of the best mics available for ham and CB! I am sure all of the amps are fine, amplifiers rarely put out the power that they say on the front. Your SWR readings are great! I wouldn't try to get it any lower, you can but at where they are at it wouldn't seem worth it to me. SWR should ALWAYS be under 1.5/1. Again Wilson (in my opinion) makes some o the best mobile antennas made! GREAT GOIN!
So to answer your questions;
1. yes, yes, and yes
2. Yes and no, the Galaxies you have are labeled "export radios" and there for are technically NOT legal! That said you should read more about them and other exports here on the forum, probably your best off using the search tool. Same goes for the amps; the law says no more than 4 watts on AM and 12 on SSB obviously all of the amps exceed that.
3. SWR is fine
4. The boomer is probably fine most amps don’t put out their "stated" wattage.
5. Sounds like you hooked up everything correctly in the car! BTW if you need more power wire go to a local stereo shop, guarantee they will have it!
Lastly, WELCOME TO THE FORUM! This is a great place to meet other ppl. In the hobby! Other than that there are normally local clubs etc.
Good luck, and have fun
BC
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Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 528
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 12:05 am: |
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the boomer 600 is probably doing just what it should. i think that the manufacturer just stated too high an output for what the amp will actually do. can you believe that a man. would do that? LOL |
Oldpirate
Member
Username: Oldpirate
Post Number: 76
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 4:59 am: |
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I agree with the comments of the others. Wish I had equipment like that when I started out. As far as the amp output goes the meters may not be reading Pep. I found the same thing with my 255 watt palomar, the first meter I ever had would not show more than about 170 watts. When I bought a Yaesu PEP reading active meter(ys60)I found that the amp was putting out what it was rated at.
73's from downunder |
Sinker
New member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 2
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 12:57 pm: |
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Sounds good - Thank You guys for the information and warm welcome.
I have only been on the regular CB channels and sounds like I need to stay there for now and probably unhook the amplifier. It does seem to work though as I talked to some guy in South Carolina, one in Texas, Alabama and even a guy in California from here in East Central Florida but I had a hard time understanding them as seemed like lots of people were all talking at the same time.
Was reading the other posts and Forums - WOW have I got A LOT to learn you guys know a lot about this stuff that I can't even understand. I will continue to read and try to learn, hopefully I won't embarrass myself to much. Be patient with me as I am trying to learn even if I am 40+ years old and just getting started. |
Bc910
Advanced Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 602
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 6:40 pm: |
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Hey Sinker;
We all had to start some time.
As they say the only stupid question is the one that goes un-asked
BC |
Fusebreaker
Intermediate Member
Username: Fusebreaker
Post Number: 100
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 10:29 pm: |
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Those 99`s are awesome little radios just dont talk above 28.000 matter of fact dont talk above about 27.965 cuz it could bleed into the 10 meter ham band but hang on to those them are great radios i always wanted one but never gotten one yet.There are lots of modifications for that radio but i would leave it alone cuz they are good even stock.You dont even need to run the amps unless you are doing dx.You might try SSb if your new i love it and it allows cleaner and longer contacts good luck and welome to radio
Fusebreaker/CEF569/KC0KGS the 19 yr old in missouri
73`s |
Yankee
Advanced Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 846
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:01 pm: |
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I'm thinking the Boomer 600 is very much the same as the Boomer 500 and the most I've ever heard anyone say that has one, is that they output 375-400 watts depending on the drive power from the radio. I have a friend who has twice had to get a Boomer 500 rebuilt because he ran to much power into it with his Cobra 2000 GTL. He runs a stock hand mic. and I've never heard a 2000 GTL sound as bad as his, I think he screams into the microphone, the old gent is around 85 years old and his hearing is not that great, even in person he talks real loud.
Carl CEF-357 |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 780
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:27 pm: |
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Sounds like you have some nice
equipment. Good Luck and enjoy the
Cb hobby...
JIm/Cef 375
Central PA.
RCI 2995dx Base
Superstar 452 Echo Mic
I-10K Antenna |
Sinker
New member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 3
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 6:55 am: |
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Got some photos of the vehicle install
Click to see Photos Post - http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/discus4/show.cgi?tpc=77380&post=104574#POST104574
I can not take credit for the way this all went together as I said I inherited these and all the stuff was ready to go. I just had to drill a few holes run some cable and find grounding points.
This hobby is addicting, can't wait for the base unit to go up - just hope it doesn't interfere with the neighbors as were I live IA am extremely limited as it is as to what I can do (antenna up on the roof etc. Wish I had a tower and directional antenna - oh well the A99 just above roof top will have to work as that's all I can do.
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