| Author |
Message |
    
Badta00
New member
Username: Badta00
Post Number: 1
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 6:39 pm: | 
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I have a Superstar 121 (with a modulation tune-up), and a Firestik E30-NGP "No-Ground Plane" CB Antenna Kit. This is in a 2000 Trans Am. The antenna is rated for 150W max. I want to get as close to 150w as possible. I like the KL-400 but the info on Coppers page and RmItaly.com aren't the same. Also what would happen if I used too much power? |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1725
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, September 03, 2006 - 9:53 pm: |
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The KL-400 has 2 MRF455 transistors rated at 60 watts a piece at around 12.5 to 13.6 volts. So at what we normally have in our vehicles which is 13.8 volts the Copper rating is most accurate. Amp builders always exaggerate!
As for the antenna. The opinion of myself and many others is to only apply half the wattage to the antenna that it's rated for, to be safe. Maxing the antenna out you take a chance. Going over the antennas wattage rating will over heat it and most likely cause a failure in its coil resulting in very high swr. Amp and radio damage is also possible.
I have seen the Firestick NGP antenna and personally I would not run no more than 50 watts or so through it. Could it handle more? Maybe. But I would definetley not use 150 watts with it. Just my humble opinion. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3187
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, September 03, 2006 - 10:14 pm: |
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i 2nd 'wire on the antenna info. 1st hand i've trashed 3 3kw antennas with less then 1kw....the manufacturer ate the 1st 1 but won't eat any more as they SWEAR it'll handle 3kw. i wouldn't put over 50 PEP into the 'stick, either. |
Badta00
New member
Username: Badta00
Post Number: 2
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, September 03, 2006 - 11:46 pm: |
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OK, but I still would like a suggestion on which KL amp would be my best bet.
Also would I need to have the Radio adjusted? In Low power it dead keys 4W and High power it dead keys 8W and it's put out 22W total.
PS: I just looked at Firestiks site and the rating is now 100W (150W was what was on the packaging) |
N8xfj
Junior Member
Username: N8xfj
Post Number: 39
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Monday, September 04, 2006 - 12:12 am: |
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The kl amps require a LOW power input of 4 watts or less on am and 12 watts or less on ssb, if you do anymore than that you will be getting a new amp fixed and possibly a radio if you aren't careful. Unless other wise they state HD for hidrive inputs they are always or the most of the time low power inputs..Be careful, I learned the hard way too like this one time... |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1730
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, September 04, 2006 - 12:53 am: |
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Its a tough call Badta00. Even the smallest amp the KL60 might be pushing it. With a 22 watt drive that would be a little rough on that little amp.
Even if you was able to run a big amp that little antenna and the amp is not going to do you any good at all.
The antenna is the most important piece of gear. You would be better off to invest your cash in a better antenna. Really a bigger antenna! At least a 4 footer! If you want to really "get out".
With 11 meter the bigger the antenna the better. The smaller the antenna the less perfomance.
If you look in members pictures at some of the vehicle antenna installs you can get an idea of what a worldwide DX mobile looks like.
I understand that you have a fiberglass vehichle. Its a real headache with installs like yours. Try to find a bigger NGP antenna first and then you can get the amp you really want. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3190
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, September 04, 2006 - 4:14 pm: |
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how about using one of those 'behind the license plate' mounts? it's direct to steel(somewhere, i hope!), or at least easier to make it direct to steel, & you could then run a 102" SS whip, 7' 'glas whip, or even a shorter 1 on an 'extension'. then you would not have to worry about the antenna handling the power, & you could easily run 100-200 watts of kl-power  . |
Yankee
Senior Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 1307
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 05, 2006 - 10:56 am: |
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Not more than two and a half to three watts AM dead key drive and not over 12 watts swing on sideband, into a low drive amplifier is advised by many radio technicians. |
Badta00
New member
Username: Badta00
Post Number: 3
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 05, 2006 - 4:03 pm: |
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Well I guess I better plan on some modification to my set up. I really like the look(especially for the TA) of the "Venice" and "Rome" series of antennas but I'd really like the extra performance.
Ok how about the Wilson NGP 4 Ft. antenna Part#: 305-440 300 watt rated
and the Firestik MKSB18S - Swivel Joint Mini-Kit W. Spring(to fit where the hole is in the fender)
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Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1882
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 05, 2006 - 7:46 pm: |
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I have tested my uncle KL-400 on the watt
meter. Am mode was 110 watts DK with a 4 watt
input from radio on position 6. 85-90 watts
DK with a 3 watt input on position 6.
Buy the KL-400 and run it on a lower wattage
position. Amp has 6 positions. |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1739
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 06, 2006 - 1:00 pm: |
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Whatever its rated then use an amp with half that output or like Road Warrior said buy the amp you want and use the low settings. |
Badta00
New member
Username: Badta00
Post Number: 4
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 06, 2006 - 3:19 pm: |
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Alright. Now is there someway I can adjust the Superstar 121 so that I can use the KL amp or can you suggest an inexpensive alternative.
"In Low power it dead keys 4W and High power it dead keys 8W and" when my friend whistled into the mike it jumped to 22W in both low and high. |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1885
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 06, 2006 - 4:45 pm: |
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For good results and long life of amp.
DK 2-3 watts swinging 8-10 watts from
radio on Am mode. Swinging 12 watts or
so on SSB mode. This is just my opinion.
I have no ideal about telling you how to
adjust your radio. Someone with more knowledge
can help you with that. |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 2054
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 06, 2006 - 9:13 pm: |
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adjust VR16 for two watts deadkey. (no modulation)
leave the high power where it is, and dont use it with the amp on.
use it for when you just dont need the amp.
remember that to increase your signal by 1 full S-unit on someone's receiver, you must increase your power by 4x.
meaning: 22 watts PEP x2=44 watts PEP x2=88 watts, which would be 1 full S-unit.
to get another S-unit would be 88 wattsPEP x2=176 watts x2= 352 watts PEP.
so, to get 2 more S-units on someone's receive, you would need 350 watts PEP.
keep this in mind when considering amp purchases.
good luck,
matt |
Badta00
New member
Username: Badta00
Post Number: 5
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 06, 2006 - 11:31 pm: |
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Thanks for the help, so far. I'll bookmark this page for use during the next few weeks and may post for more help later. Thank You all. |
