linear amp? where get one for a CB

[The patriot]

I used to run a Texas star 1. 2KW amp out of my big rig.

It was modulated by a King Bee 250.

The radio itself was tuned wayyy down so that the 250 would only put about 30 watts at dead key, but modulate like words cant describe.

It was quite a setup in it's day. Wowadays it's considered a "small" amp.

Oh BTW the radio was a Galaxy II.

I talked all over the world out of my truck.

I can still get amps pretty cheap, but they want a "club membership" payment first.

Eric

 

[The patriot]

Oh yea, I ran an Audio king antenna through Belden 9913.

Everything was HEAVILY grounded, and the whole thing was hooked to my 4 batteries with 0 gauge battery cable.

I only used full power when communicating to home.

There was no cell phones then... ... ... only pagers.

Eric

 

[JTryles]

OK- here's something to ponder also. With these trucks being so laden with electronics these days to make them run... . what negative effects could we see by introducing all that RF with an amp???

 

[Got Smoke?]

OK- here's something to ponder also. With these trucks being so laden with electronics these days to make them run... . what negative effects could we see by introducing all that RF with an amp???

It will totally mess with your truck. One CB shop down in Nashville is run by a guy with a '05 Super Duty. He says anything bigger than an 8-pill will completely shut his truck down going down the road! :--)



Found this out cause a buddy of mine just put a 100watt General Lee Radio with a 1500(+/-) watt 4-pill in his '06 F-350 powerpoke. Then was inquiring to the guy in Nashville about building him a 8-pill. That's when the guy told him that.



I'd be happy with a simple Texas Star 667... . reworked slightly. :-laf

 

[RJester]

If I turn up my radio up, the indicator/warning lamps on my dash board light up. I don't turn it up more than a 1/4 of the way anymore.

 

[HeavyHauler]

I wouldn't buy one foot of coax from 1 Stop Electronics - talk about crappy customer service and slow turnaround.



I would get a Texas Star amp - they are classics. http://www.pacetronics.com seems to have the best prices. The DX250HDV is less than $160. It will put out around 180 watts with a peak of 250. It will wake up any radio. It's a 2-pill (SC2290) linear.



Keep in mind that these linears have to be converted when you get them. You'll either have to get your vendor to do it or take it to a CB shop when you get it before it will work on CB.

 

[TowPro]

For coax check out Times Microwave LMR series.

 

[steved]

If I turn up my radio up, the indicator/warning lamps on my dash board light up. I don't turn it up more than a 1/4 of the way anymore.

I can do this with a stock Connex 3300HP... let alone the TX400 (600 watt amp) I had... I installed the amp for a short while and only ran low with no ill effects... never got brave enough to run it on med or high... I could make LEDs 25 feet away from me light up (and they weren't connected to my truck!!! ) with this amp in my 99CTD.



I was pondering about getting another one... whats the biggest amp anyone has used in a newer 3rd gen dodge?? I had mine under the front seat... wired direct to the battery... case was grounded to the body...



So, who got the biggest???????????



steved

 

[TRCM]

I had a 400 w on my cb in my hunting rig several years back. key it up, and the ice would fly off the antenna... ...





I also had a 150 w in an 86 camaro. when it was keyed up, the rear defroster would come on... ...

 

[hasselbach]

ordered a Texas Star 667, and a 10 meter Ranger 2950 (which I guess runs 11 and 12 meter as well) pushing it through a Wilson 2000 SW.



Hope I have enough power now...

 

[RRoton]

It's a bit of a grey area if you can OWN one but they cannot be USED in the U. S. A. that's for sure.



Let's all remember that cutting off the CAT (or gutting it) on your truck is illegal as well. Power is addictive, both under the hood and coming out of the wire you call an antenna. Be nice though! Only use that extra oomph if you NEED to, IMHO.

IT IS NOT A GREY AREA AT ALL.



You can also OWN a gun, but you can't go around shooting people.

 

[hasselbach]

IT IS NOT A GREY AREA AT ALL.



You can also OWN a gun, but you can't go around shooting people.

well, not exactly true. You can, but if caught you might have to stop.

 

[Got Smoke?]

ordered a Texas Star 667, and a 10 meter Ranger 2950 (which I guess runs 11 and 12 meter as well) pushing it through a Wilson 2000 SW.



Hope I have enough power now...

Yeah you should have plenty! :-laf



Wish I could afford a 667. :{ Oh well if I could I'd still buy a custom built box from my local guy..... better to pay the same as a 667 but get 1K watts + :-laf

 

[steved]

How much juice can safely be ran through a 3rd gen before the computer starts to smoke????



I have the Connex 3300HP and it flickers the seatbelt light... and that is only 12 watts. When I was running my amp on low, it came on and stayed on... that was 10DK, swinging 225... I never ran high which was 250DK swinging just over 600 because I didn't want to kill the truck.



So, anyone running more than 150 watts in a 3rd gen, and if so for how long??



steved

 

[Got Smoke?]

How much juice can safely be ran through a 3rd gen before the computer starts to smoke????



I have the Connex 3300HP and it flickers the seatbelt light... and that is only 12 watts. When I was running my amp on low, it came on and stayed on... that was 10DK, swinging 225... I never ran high which was 250DK swinging just over 600 because I didn't want to kill the truck.



So, anyone running more than 150 watts in a 3rd gen, and if so for how long??



steved

Steve where are your coax and power wires run? How well was your box grounded?



P. S. I'll trade you a 30 watt Cobra 25 for that Connex 3300HP :-laf

 

[JTryles]

Cobra 148GTL DX+ with Texas Star DX667V off a Wilson 5000 here. Never had a problem in my 2000 with anything going haywire but the new '06 might turn out to be a different animal! My best advise? Make sure everything is grounded WELL, your antenna mounted as far away from the engine compartment (computers) as practical and your SWR is as low as you can get it!



SteveD... IMHO... 12 watts should not be lighting your dash up like that. Check your grounds and SWR!

 

[hasselbach]

yep, from what I am reading, lots of ground straps. Ground the bed, ground the hood, ground the cab, ground everything. .



I think I'll run all the power on the left side and the amp to the antenna going to the rear. . away from the computer.

 

[JFaulkner]

well, not exactly true. You can, but if caught you might have to stop.

I love the "might have to stop" part. :-laf

 

[RRoton]

well, not exactly true. You can, but if caught you might have to stop.

If you read the FCC regulations (which are federal law) you will see that you can be fined up to $10,000 plus prison time. Now I will admit they NEVER give anybody the max. (but they could)



My question is WHY would you want to run more that 50 watts (5 watts is legal limit).

The point is, if you cant hear them, then they dont need to hear you.



5 watts is plenty for traffic info and that sort of thing. If you really want to converse with overseas stations, you should consider getting a HAM license.

 

[steved]

SteveD... IMHO... 12 watts should not be lighting your dash up like that. Check your grounds and SWR!

Everything has a ground... even the radio has separate grounds to the case and board... I do have a magnetic antenna on the roof... maybe that isn't really "grounding" perse, but they make for the best ground plane.



Oh, and I dead key 12 watts... I swing almost 50 watts. Now I'm looking at a Connex 4600 HP Turbo (around 200 watts) or a Galaxy 99 (also around 200 watts)...



steved