| Author |
Message |
    
Splbass17
Junior Member
Username: Splbass17
Post Number: 11
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 1:16 pm: | 
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I finally ordered my first 10-12 meter radio(2970dx)! I want a Wilson 1000 or 5000 with the short load adapter on it, I dont want the huge antenna hitting everything I drive under.
Do I have to somehow ground the magnetic mount antenna to my SUV or does it come ready to rock?
Is the short load adapter I put on it going to greatly effect my range and performance? |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 989
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 1:55 pm: |
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What is a short load adaptor? Use the Wilson 5000 or 1000 as it is. Just place it in the center of you metal top or trunk and talk away. It is a great performer.
Mikefromms |
Splbass17
Junior Member
Username: Splbass17
Post Number: 12
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 4:01 pm: |
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My bad its not an adapter, its call the Wilson short load antenna. I found it listed on the product review (antenna) section. Turns out Tech 808 has one on a Wilson 1000, I'm gona give it a chance because I don't want a 5 foot antenna on my already tall SUV. |
Carolinagold
Member
Username: Carolinagold
Post Number: 68
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 4:05 pm: |
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he means the short shaft or the long shaft that the coil screws into on the bottom |
Romstar
Junior Member
Username: Romstar
Post Number: 29
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 11:53 pm: |
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The Wilson is a good antenna.
Make sure you have it centered on the top of your roof to start. You may find you need to bring it toward the front of the roof as you tune it. SUV's tend to have forward loading because of the shape of the vehicle.
Once you get the position of the antenna set, this should help improve the performance, and lower SWR readings.
After that, find a good path to route your coax through so it doesn't get pinched or crimped by doors or windows. Mine goes under the weather stripping on my car, and then down along the hinge pillar and into the vehicle. No problems at all.
After that, just talk away and enjoy.
Romstar |
Splbass17
Junior Member
Username: Splbass17
Post Number: 13
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 4:38 pm: |
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Ok good stuff, I'll probably get both size antennas so I can switch em' out depending on where I'm going. I'll be sure to use the full size whip as my daily setup though.
P.S. Because of the friendly competition my friend and I have started (he already got his radio w/ the texas star sweet 16) I put my Marshall Double Stack guitar amp and one of my Les Paul's for sale today, we'll see how his 16 pill matches up against my Dave Made 2 KW. I'm about to order haha. |
Romstar
Junior Member
Username: Romstar
Post Number: 30
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 7:52 pm: |
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If you're going to pushing that kind of power, I hope you do a lot of reading o proper wiring, power feed and set-up. That's a devil of a rig to jump right in with.
Romstar |
Splbass17
Junior Member
Username: Splbass17
Post Number: 14
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 12:00 am: |
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Yea I found a bunch of groups/clubs online that are local in my part of Jersey that do the crazy keydowns, I saw guys running 50,000 watts!
I wanna get the biggest amp I can without replacing my alternator. I had a RockFord Fosgate subwoofer amp pushing a true 2,000 watts RMS at one time with no problem, so I naturally picked the 2KW Dave Made cause I know it will handle it, plus I think he lives near me so I can go pick it up.
As for the wiring, I'm sure its gonna be a similar set-up as my old stero system, I'll use 0 Gauge wires with a heavy fuse at the Battery and ground it directly to my frame.
I'm considering running two sweet 16's instead of the Dave on an amp rack setup in my cargo area(with the fans kit of course!) and running a remote switch to the front. That might be pushing my alternater to hard, I'll figure it out and post pics real soon I'm sure you guys will get a kick out of this monster project I'm working on. I bet I'll be youngest guy on the air running this much juice, I love it ! |
Splbass17
Junior Member
Username: Splbass17
Post Number: 15
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 12:23 am: |
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Oh yea forgot to ask. I don't need a pre-amp because I have alot of output on the 2970 already right ? Isn't the pre-amp designed for radios with 4 watts am/12 ssb? For example the Texas Star sweet 16 requires 100w input so the 2970 would be a match made in heaven, correct? |
Romstar
Junior Member
Username: Romstar
Post Number: 31
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 4:33 am: |
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That radio should match those amps, but we are starting to get out of my personal experience zone.
I have never run anything over 1000 watts. I have never needed more than 500 for anything, and most cases barefoot works just as well.
I mean, it's got some amazing bragging rights, but with 11 meter amps, you are going to bleed every which way from Sunday, and cause a major interference storm. Those bloody things aren't filtered worth a darn.
If you're going to run that much power out, get an incoming preamp with some decent discrimination. For years I ran a Kris Antenna Fire, but if one of those were anywhere near a 1000 watt amp keying up it would probably fry, and take the front end of my radio with it.
Tell you what, take a good hard look at the RM Italy stuff. You aren't going to get bragging rights, but they do seem to be very, very well made. Check out the Palomar stuff as well.
I am sure there are some people here with recent amp experience who can pitch in some knowledge. Personally, I would have to buy a new half dozen to give you an honest opinion on them. Right now I am going by what I see in the boxes.
I will give you this piece of advice though. Take a good look at the spec sheets for the transistors these guys are using for their amps. You can run some pretty clean power, but if you overdrive these amps, you bleed all over, and then you pop a transistor or ten. That's some pretty raunchy smoke.
Good luck in any case.
Romstar |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3563
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 8:15 am: |
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Splbass17, romstar hits the nail on the head with 'If you're going to pushing that kind of power, I hope you do a lot of reading o proper wiring, power feed and set-up. That's a devil of a rig to jump right in with'. davemade 2kw? 20 transistors PLUS AT LEAST 5 more to drive it. glad your SUV has a 300 amp alternator & handful of batteries. 2000 watts of stereo audio vs 2000 watts of RF is a bit different. FORGET about the wilson 1000, when the coil smokes, you won't be happy, probably not much more luck with the wilson 5000-handles 5kw? yea, sure. where are you mounting it? what kind of coax? you ask 'Isn't the pre-amp designed for radios with 4 watts am/12 ssb?'. while you are confusing 'preamp' with 'driver', i think that question alone says 'start slow'. SUV flambe' just slows my drive down on the jersey turnpike  |
Splbass17
Junior Member
Username: Splbass17
Post Number: 16
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 1:03 pm: |
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Oh ok good to know, I just assumed that 2000 watts of car audio draw on my alternator would be the same as a 2000 watt RF Amp draw. I do agree this is a bit over my head haha. I tend to get into something and over do it trying to have the best and all...
Does anyone have any experience with the Texas Star DX 1600? I like the DX 1600 because my 2970 will drive it perfectly as far as I understand. Will that be ok on my "stock" alternator? I have no problems adding an extra car battery or two, its fun to take on a challenging setup and make it look pretty.
Thank for the words of wisdom guys I defintily appriciate your patience in guiding me through the complicated world of cb/amature radio. |
Dale
Advanced Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 675
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 9:48 pm: |
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well depending on your stock altenator what
size it is.id say a 200 amp will be fine.but
yours being stock it may/may not be that big
but if not id get 200amp alternate.another piewce
of help is go 2 thier website they tell ya how much amp draw each one does.so with that
find there maxumin amp draw and get a altenator
big enough for that.but check your stock one either online auto store or go back to the dealer if its new |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 2194
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - 1:08 pm: |
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Kevin, As Pat stated, start slow! It is not at all a very easy thing to do trying to install all of your componets correctly and making it perform correctly, especially when we are talking about wattage over a kilowatt. This hobby is nothing close to the plug and play car audio hobby. There are so many obstacles to tackle that you have not even come across yet. Say you do a perfect 2kw install. All that RF can get into places in your SUV you DO NOT want it to be at causing your SUV to just shut down or malfunction because of poor shielding of major componets such as the vehicle ECM. Hey it can be a big pain in the rear and once the frustration sets in you might end up regreting it all! We have all been there and have learned from each others mistakes. Please take our advice. If you really want to do this right. If you really want to sound good and be reconized in other countries as a top shelf cber you have gotta take it slow. One thing at a time and make sure you know exactley what you are doing and why it is done that way. This hobby can get to expensive to be messin up. Oh and one more thing......If you intend on being king of the hill skip talkin mobile..... your gonna need that big antenna! good luck and keep us informed on your progress
Kenny
cef491(27.115lsb)
2sf491(27.555usb)
Indiana
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Splbass17
Junior Member
Username: Splbass17
Post Number: 18
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - 4:26 pm: |
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I belive my stock alternator is 70 amps. I looked at the Texas Star website and they have all amp ratings except the DX 1200 and DX 1600, if anyone knows there amp draw let me know thanks |
