| Author |
Message |
    
Barakuda318
Intermediate Member
Username: Barakuda318
Post Number: 135
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 3:00 am: | 
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Well I'll start by saying this, I'm a truck driver/CB radio hobbiest/Minor tech...lol if that makes ne since, but with my experiences on the road I have come across many CB shops that just plain rip off unsuspecting Truck Drivers, now for someone that understands a little of how Radio works, there easy to spot, but most Drivers are just that Drivers and don't know the Difference between SWR and SRF, In seeing how much money is being pretty much Stollen from these drivers I have been inspired to write a book, to help drivers understand enough about radio and what to look for in a shop so as not to be ripped off, I was wondering if I could have a Tech from copper, overlook what I have written to make sure I myself Havn't misinformed neone before I try to get this book Published.anyhow any input on this matter would be greatly appreciated thanx and 73's
Barakuda
318 Southwest Missouri... |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 8442
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 7:07 am: |
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Barakuda318,
No Problem.
Just look to the LEFT of the Forum here and you will see:
Utilities
Search
Contact
User List
Users Online
Edit Profile
Just CLICK on Contact and click on any of the MODERATORS names and it will give you our contact / e-mail addresses.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1100
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 10:06 am: |
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Speaking as someone who has been published many times, I applaud your desire to write!!!
Now, don't be too disappointed... I have to warn you, it is EXTREMELY difficult to get published. You have to have something both desireable by a mass audience, and something different that will justify some 'shelf space'. In other words, you have to be 'sellable'.
Break in to the writing field and it is all downhill from there! Enjoy! |
Im4jc
Junior Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 14
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 10:31 am: |
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...and get a good spell checker. Ooooh, that was mean. Am I too new here to be making jokes, lol?
Hey Barakuda318. Excellent idea! I'm a trucker too, and I fully agree. The majority of CB shops around the country that cater to truckers are hack shops and rip-off artists. I feel indebted to them in the sense that BECAUSE of them, I have begun learning about radios myself just to sort everything out in a sea of misinformation, i.e; Galaxy finals, mod kits, super tunes, overpriced antennas, cobra 29's doing 50 watts, lol, etc. I have spent more in CB shops getting radios ruined than I have spent on actual radios.
More power to 'ya!!! |
Barakuda318
Intermediate Member
Username: Barakuda318
Post Number: 138
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 12:44 am: |
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thanx and Yeah I agree any cb shop that will tell you a cobra 29 will do 50 watts or more, is full of donkey doo doo lol sad thing is there are alot of them that will tell you that, and even sadder alot of trucker's believe it neway thanx for the input and information, and hopefully some money saving information will be on the way for truck driver's.....
73's
Barakuda318. |
Hatchet
Member
Username: Hatchet
Post Number: 68
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 12:27 pm: |
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You shouldnt knock a 50 watt 29 until you have used one because they can be done AND can look good on a scope |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1948
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 12:36 pm: |
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! |
Hatchet
Member
Username: Hatchet
Post Number: 70
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 1:08 pm: |
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Yep they can Pat. I can show you one if youd like |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1952
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 4:14 pm: |
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22 volts thru a 29 wouldn't get 50 watts out of that single transistor, if that's what's being implied. swapped or multiple transistors, well then anything is possible.
the last 50 watt 29 i saw...did about 12 watts |
Barakuda318
Intermediate Member
Username: Barakuda318
Post Number: 142
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 5:24 pm: |
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Ha well if you start adding finals and this and that then Yeah but I can assure you that no truck driver cb shop will go to that extreme most of them only turn up the modulation and spread a coil and call that a tune up, worse one's will volt the final and clip the limiter showing you a false reading, Yeah if you wanna add transistors making a 29 a dual final then I see no reason 50 watts can't be done..But I would have to see 50 watts out of a single final to believe it,...... |
Hollowpoint445
Advanced Member
Username: Hollowpoint445
Post Number: 926
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 6:06 pm: |
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There is already a book like that - "The Screwdriver Experts Guide" by Lou Franklin. It's written for average folks who aren't electronics technicians and really has lots of good information about what does and doesn't work.
http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/checkitout/checkitout.cgi?catalogSTORE:CKIE:prodBKS-00020+
The books by Kevin Ross are practical and no-nonsense with lots of good information too. I think there is also a "Dummies" book about CB, but I've never it.
Most of these books have been available for a long time. If a driver was interested enough he would buy one and learn a little, but most don't care. The CB is just a box they use to pass the time and get directions, they don't care about radio as a hobby and aren't going to take the time to learn more than they need to know to key the microphone and get a radio check.
Besides all that, where are you going to sell your book? At truck stops? Not one with a radio shop that offers hack job work! They'll make sure your book stays off their shelves and talk it down as being written by someone who doesn't know anything. I asked a few questions of a pretty good tech without letting him know where I read about them, and I got the run around. When I told him that I read it in a Lou Franklin book he was too busy to keep chatting and invited me to leave. |
Hatchet
Member
Username: Hatchet
Post Number: 72
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 7:06 pm: |
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A true 50 watt Cobra 29 is available as we speak. It involves alot more than a final change. Is it worth it to me? Probably not Is it entirely possible? Yes it is. Oh and these meter readings were off of a bird 43p meter. |
Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 888
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 3:20 am: |
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a 50watt 29ltd?
easy!
just put one of those single 2SC2290 amps inside the radio. probably cheaper than the tune up anyway.
as for writing a book on radios for truckers; i say go for it!
i would sell them on *bay and sell them cheap.
lots of people will take a chance on a 5.00 item, but wont on a 10.00 item.
just my experience,
matt |
Duck246
Intermediate Member
Username: Duck246
Post Number: 101
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 7:40 am: |
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If you can do it yourself Kid, you could do it relativly cheaply...
Ive seen some do 45-50 on a Palstar.. |
Hatchet
Member
Username: Hatchet
Post Number: 75
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 8:26 am: |
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These are 50 watt radios with a 1969. Ive never seen a stinger board that worked correctly let alone looked good on a scope |
Moonraker
Member
Username: Moonraker
Post Number: 95
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 11:46 am: |
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Is the single 1969 the only final or is it driving bigger finals? I'm not 100% sure, but arent 2sc1969's good for around 22 watts? If you are seeing this kind of power with only one 1969 final, it has to be from high swr and alot of harmonics or a very generous watt meter. What kind of dead key are you seeing from these "50 watt" Cobra 29's? |
Hatchet
Member
Username: Hatchet
Post Number: 76
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 1:08 pm: |
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Like I said, it involves ALOT more than just a final change. A final AND driver change will yield close to 40 watts. Someone capable of digging deeper into the circutry can get more out of them. Swr is less than 1.5:1 and the meter is a properly calibrated, industry standard Bird 43 with a peak reading kit |
Moonraker
Member
Username: Moonraker
Post Number: 96
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 3:42 pm: |
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I'm not saying it is impossible to get 50 watts from a 29. I don't know what final or finals are being used to achieve 50 watts, but you cannot get 50 watts out of a single 1969 final alone. I realize you said "more than a final change", and am assuming that something bigger than a 1969 is being used.
I saw a 29 on the e auction this morning, the seller said it had a "big" 1969 final and was doing 45 watts RMS, MAYBE IN HIS DREAMS |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 8491
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 3:49 pm: |
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Moonraker,
Maybe it was one of Those FAMOUS HIGH POWERED GALAXY FINALS  that I have heard about for years that Golden Screwdriver repair shops put in radios. 
Sorry I just could not help myself.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN  |
Hatchet
Member
Username: Hatchet
Post Number: 77
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 5:37 pm: |
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Twice I have said they are using 1969 finals in these 50 watt cobras. Yes they change the stock final, driver and some of the circutry. 45 watts RMS is a little on the extreme side. 45 watts PEP is very believable. You are dead wrong about not being able to get 50 watts out of a single final cobra 29. Ive seen it done and they are still doing it. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1954
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 7:22 pm: |
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'Twice I have said they are using 1969 finals in these 50 watt cobras.'-OK, not possible, but OK, then, next-'Yes they change the stock final, driver and some of the circutry'. so, which is it, the 1969 final ORchanged final, driver, etc.
2 1969's will get you 40+, like the magnums, & YES, volting 'em WILL get in the 60 watt PEP range. 2 1969's TO GET 60 WATTS PEP however, they weren't lasting too long, & they are not going that route with the magnums anymore, but sticking with the 40+ PEP & working to obtain 25 RMS swing, but settling for 18-20 with little in the way of added stress.
as for the rest of your post....
the key down guys are looking for 12-15 watts RMS swing out of their 29's, THAT in itself is a LOT & takes a bit of work, & when they get there, they are happy. all they are looking for is sufficient drive for their driver box, & 12+ RMS is more then enough to get 'em screamin'. 15 minutes work, none of this 4 hour wackpack junk, dust mod garbage, etc, just a quick NPC-RC, volted final & off they go. ADDING finals, swapping finals, adding 2290's, etc after the 1969 is hardly worth the aggravation. neat to have, yeah, i like it as much as the next guy, but get my 12 watt grant XL in front of a 5 pill, in front of a 16 pill &.....one heckuva lot less in the way of headaches  |
Hatchet
Member
Username: Hatchet
Post Number: 80
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 9:35 pm: |
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Once again it is a final change to a single 1969, driver change, and modifications to the exsisting circutry. This is a noteworthy mod for anyone who cant run an amp but want the reliability of a Cobra 29. The guys I know with them have been running them for over a year with no problems what-so-ever. Yea you can get near 28 watts out of a 1969 with hardly even trying. Now change the driver and circutry and you have added a substantial amount of power in these radios. These arent designed for the keydown crowd. For those of you that done believe it bring your own meter and Ill show you. These have been designed and built by one of the best techs in the nation and you are right Pat, its none of the "Wackpack" or "Dustmod" junk either. Its the real deal |
Moonraker
Member
Username: Moonraker
Post Number: 97
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 9:37 pm: |
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Lon, I think it was one of the “Big Galaxy finals” that the tooth ferry left under the pillow.
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Yankee
Senior Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 1013
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 10:19 pm: |
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50 watts from a single 1969 RF output transistor???!!!!, must be one of those Super Duper High Output Galaxy finals the truck stop CB radio shop jockeys put in for $75.00-$100.00 including parts and labor of course. |
Gumball
Member
Username: Gumball
Post Number: 51
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 9:58 am: |
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Barakuda318:
Judging from some of the posts above, your book might be needed. I would probably buy it. Good luck! |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1960
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 10:15 am: |
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as long as it's not the wack or dust junk....
i still think 12 watts RMS from my XL or 22 RMS from my S9 will key over it, because i just AIN'T NEVER SEEN 1 1969 DO 50 WATTS. nor do i have any need for a 50 watt radio. 25 watts PEP is sufficient, the next step up is 150 watts PEP, to run my boxes.
for those in the know, spoke to 'joe' last night right after i typed my last post. i think he's still laughing |
Yankee
Senior Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 1015
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 11:16 am: |
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It's like this, I've owned several radios over the years that have a 1969 RF output transistor, and the most I've ever seen any of them put out is maxium 22 watts and that was driving it real hard and a 1969 being driven that hard, doesn't last for several years like the one in my Uniden Grant XL that outputs around 3 watts AM dead key. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 3263
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 12:34 pm: |
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PAT................
NO, NO, NO your not lissing ..........
The gain is measured in JOGUNN WATTS which includes 49 watts audio gain! |
Wildrat
Intermediate Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 379
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 2:32 pm: |
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Did I tell ya'll I got a brand new Weller soldering gun from the pawn shop this weekend for $5.31 including tax. Sorry to change the subject. I'll get us back on subject. I think I'll write a book about the Weller soldering gun I got for $5.31 including tax at the pawn shop this weekend for truckers on the subject of taking a Cobra 29 totally reworking it so it can get 52 1/2 watts RMS out of it from a single 1969 in three different Cobra 29 and all of them put back in a box and write Cobra 29 on that box and call it a Cobra 29 so they don't get ripped off. I think there is a market for this type of book, I think it will sell if marketed correctly, and I think it would be published by a reputable publisher when they realize it's a work of comedy/fiction. Did Ya'll get all of that. I can break it down into smaller words for the truckers if need be.
Wildrat
P.S. I'm sorry to any truckers I might have offended, I like truckers, if it were not for truckers I would not get my Metamucil from the grocery store. Thank You Truckers ! Now don't worry everything will come out all right! |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1966
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 3:58 pm: |
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smack me, now, bruce!!!! it's been so long since i put jogunn outta my head, i almost forgot about their magic powers! !!!
it's all coming together now! |
Unit199
Intermediate Member
Username: Unit199
Post Number: 199
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 5:36 pm: |
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The mods I have had experience with, use 1969 final and change the driver and final bias and a couple other components and the most I ever seen was 28 Watts. Also a bird meter is not the gospel. I have a meter that will read right along with a Bird and I don't have to buy slugs and paid a lot less for it. Have a nice day.
HARVE |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1967
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 7:26 pm: |
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OK, now that we're done with this one, how about a book on....oh, wait, i think pt barnum already did that one |
Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 481
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 11:20 pm: |
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Despite the fact that this seems to be the place to come get kicked in the...well you know...I have to say this:
Not only have I seen a 40 watt Cobra 29, I have one. Yes, there is a lot involved, one is changing to the 2SC1969 final. Is it harmonics? I don't know. Is it 100% correct, probably not. But none the less, I've seen it on my own meter. There is more to it than changing the final and just saying "audio".
Now, here's one even better. My Galaxy 77, dual 2312's, a matched set at that...
Tonight I was messing around with my power supply. I decided to see how far I could crank up the volts by adjusting the pot inside it. Well, it'll go up to about 19.5 volts. Pretty good I think, but it's a fairly big power supply anyway. Well I set it at 16.5 volts. With my 77 hooked to it, I see about 70 watts PEP and about 20 watts RMS. This is read on my Coaxial Dynamics meter, the same thing as a Bird 43.
Will it last? I doubt it. Do I care? No. Will I do my S-9 like that? Oh heck NO!!
If you put enough volts to a radio, you'll see a healthy increase for sure. If you think I'm crazy, try it yourself. Or come over here and I'll show you. Then well ride that little four-wheeler and hang out with Kid Rock..haha.
Chop |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1979
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 - 3:24 pm: |
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i didn't name names, chop, but joe is STILL laughing. 12 watts rms @ 14 volts(22 PEP-tops). MAYBE 18 @ 22 volts, however, the rest of the radio is now enveloped in smoke. his EXACT words were 'you ****** ******* CBers believe everything thing you ******* see & hear. if you aren't gonna ******* listen to what i'm telling you, go buy a ******* texas star & see who gets out better. ***** ******* ******, you guys just don't learn.....'.
joe's a funny guy |
Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 492
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 - 11:29 pm: |
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I will assume you were talking about me then. I am sad now.
However, yes I know MOST power meters are wrong, and yes I understand the math about figuring power. But wouldn't say that if there is a meter that is correct, it would be a Bird? And isn't a Coaxial Dynamics a cheaper Bird meter?
WELL...I think yes, and I respect your opinion/answer. BUT I will have to say I've seen that wattage on my Coaxial meter with the correct slug in place. And using their PEP kit for the meter, see the same reading...
SO...wouldn't you expect it to be correct? In the case of your PEP readings, the a Dosy TR1000 is the more correct meter, as this is what I've seen on that meter before with similiar set up radios.
I'm going outside now, to sit and have myself a short cry and think to myself "how could Pat do me like this"? |
Troublemaker
Intermediate Member
Username: Troublemaker
Post Number: 240
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, December 01, 2005 - 6:30 pm: |
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  poor chop |
Barakuda318
Intermediate Member
Username: Barakuda318
Post Number: 143
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2005 - 4:12 am: |
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Well I surely didn't mean to get a debate like this one going, so sorry for the hasle, as for the book, yes there are some out there that have been around for awile but I can tell you that most truck drivers don't visit bookstores and places of that nature that would have these books not too mention most of them probly don't know they exist, My Idea was writing a book in extreme lamens terms so that anyone with a little common sense and the need to save as much money as possible could have a little information about what they are getting into, "Knowlage is Power" I think is the way it is said, and as far as putting the book in truck stops, There are thousands of them that don't have cb shops and I don't plan on listing CB shops that are hackshops, However I do plan on Mentioning This Forum afterall This is were I get all my Need to know information when It comes to something I haven't delt with before, I don't think its a bad Idea, However I have never tried to publish anything before Hince the reason for this post |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1991
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 02, 2005 - 4:20 pm: |
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chop, chop, chop....just 'hammin' it up like my kids (pork...ham...SORRY)
anyway, no, it wasn't you i was speaking to joe about. it was an auction 29 that the owner made reference to several people, including joe, & he quickly dispelled any myths as to the radio, mod, etc. in fact, the radio was removed from the auction, along with several other pieces of that owners equipt.
back to his response...50 AIN'T happening. the work that it takes to get the remainder of the radio to work on 22 volts...well, it CAN be done & has been done, but the amount of replacement parts needed, & cost, is MORE THEN PROHIBITIVE. and you still have NON-replaceable parts that don't like voltages higher then 8-9. the radio WILL NOT last, even if it works. and you are STILL only going to see 18 more or less RMS, & not more then 40 PEP, with 1-1969 at 22 volts, depending on how long IT survives.
as for effectiveness/harmonics/accuracy...they are all relative. accuracy, well...harmonics can show up as high wattage, as well as causing the wattmeter to show EVEN MORE watts yet! check out 20 channels on either side of the operating freq, as well as 2nd, 3rd & 4th harmonics in the 54, 81 & 108 mhz range. as for the radio BEING LOUD-it probably IS, & it quite POSSIBLY IS doing 20+ watts PEP, not a bad # at all for a 1969. back down all the junk, & THAT is what the keydown guys are after. while the harmonics & junk in itself is adding to the appearance of 'LOUD', it IS spreading the signal out where it isn't intended. clean it up & more 'real' power is concentrated on the channel that the selector shows, & less amplifier is required to get done whatever job is intended-keydown ooomph, dx, etc.
so chop, don't get yourself in a tizzy, take that high watt 29 & ....put it on a shelf for those special occasions & fire up the ole S9 & heavy artillery...i'm STILL waitin' to hear ya on DX up here
& gonna make an attempt to get ya that pic over the weekend-if the snow holds off long enough |
Therealporkchop
Advanced Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 505
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 1:17 pm: |
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I must have the J.C. of meters then.
I'm telling you I see 12w avg outta my 77 and 45 PEP outta it. I knew smoking all that crack was gonna catch up with me.
That musta been what I was on when I saw my 29 do close to the same thing. I'm going outside and taking the hammer to it.
You are still my friend no matter what you say! And I'll be happy to see the pic also. Get your family and friends together and go outside and blow real hard toward North Carolina. I'd love to see some snow for Christmas myself... |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 2032
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 8:38 pm: |
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SNOW...will try this weekend |
