Cobra 18 WX ST II (don’t laugh)

[Slowmover]

No problem. I bet you would sound better with the dead key lower. Lowering your key will bring your overall modulation up. And its so easy to do on this radio. I put the Nomad Peel N Stick variable dead key in a couple of my Cobra 29s. With the KL203 amp, I could turn the radio key down to 1/2 watt and it would still key the amp.

While listening to myself on a monitor radio with no antenna and headphones, I was able to adjust the key to what sounded good. I ended up at the 1:4 ratio of dead key to peak that everyone talks about. With the key too low, it sounded crunchy like a dump truck radio. With the key too high, the audio sounded weaker. Even while having the monitor radio on my bench, having a high dead key did not make it louder. Having a strong signal doesn't really make you louder, if you are already able to reach the other radio. It is the amplitude or difference between highest and lowest part of the signal that determines the loudness at the other end and is why it is called Amplitude Modulation.

Get your spare radio and put some headphones on it and see for yourself. I bet you will discover what I did. Even if you don't adjust the modulation, you will be able to see what different mics sound like and how to talk into the mic without making the "S" and "T" sounds being fuzzy. It is a real eye opener being able to hear what you sound like. I know it was for me.
Chris

I’m looking forward to trying this. Thanks for the detail.

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[ForestRunner98]

Okay...the KL203 is installed. No smoke or heat! I didn’t really use it all that much but I did a radio check and I got the usual lame “sounds good” response. I asked where they were transmitting from but didn’t answer back. I forgot to check swing and pep. I was too jazzed! But it does appear from the meter that I am putting out 80watts. Also the SWR’s are still around 1.3

So let’s see how long this puppy lasts! Thanks to all that contributed to this on topic thread!!!!LOL No really..thanks all!!!

 

[Slowmover]

Okay...the KL203 is installed. No smoke or heat! I didn’t really use it all that much but I did a radio check and I got the usual lame “sounds good” response. I asked where they were transmitting from but didn’t answer back. I forgot to check swing and pep. I was too jazzed! But it does appear from the meter that I am putting out 80watts. Also the SWR’s are still around 1.3

So let’s see how long this puppy lasts! Thanks to all that contributed to this on topic thread!!!!LOL No really..thanks all!!!

1). Per mobile: while on-air responses per distance may be uninformative, the number of responses is the substitute.

True, this can depend on location, but it’s reliable where conditions appear favorable. (More = more can hear, not simply distance).

If on a base, I’d correlate it to time of day in a metro area. Pre-dawn would have the most truck drivers listening as making delivery time slot is crucial.

2). The second modifier would the audio quality perceived at the other end. Loud & Proud brings an almost involuntary response (as everyone wants their rig to sound “good”), since secondary noise in the cab (wind noise, FM stereo) is sidestepped by an AM broadcaster voice. (Get best microphone and settings).

It’s like, the boss is on the phone. Truck drivers are (should be) alert to voices calling out when rolling slow in a yard, truckstop or in traffic.

This is a point in a day when I entirely mute CB volume. Someone outside my rig may be alerting me to a problem.

3). So, to be a little bit of an ass voice the question of, IS THIS CB WORKING?, with a need-to-know-immediately-desperation in your voice.

This would correlate to directions at a plant across the grounds, etc, where it’s a requirement to have a working CB and the driver isn’t receiving them or he’s answered with no further response.

Were this me (desperate-sounding) I’d thank those responding (to make a joke of it) by saying, man, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to hear when that driver said he had his red panties on. (Or similar wisecracks).

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[Handy Andy]

You can use phrases to start a conversation...

Like...

or

OR even...

If that is too much...
then just keep it simple...

These guys are working professionals - dealing with tons of carp that keeps showing up on their desk of a highway...so humor them!

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[Cutlass327]

...just here reading and learning... learning and reading..... now I have to find me a decent usable set of headphones - my Bluetooth ones won't really work well for this...

Now, where'd I leave that RF power knob at....

 

[Slowmover]

...just here reading and learning... learning and reading..... now I have to find me a decent usable set of headphones - my Bluetooth ones won't really work well for this...

Now, where'd I leave that RF power knob at....

Shadetree got me thinking on headphones. So — the crucial mistake in “thinking” about gear gotten out of the way first: I opened the paper catalog of DX Engineering — and the KENWOOD HS-5 is looking
awfully, awfully good after confirmation salivating at eHam.

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[Shadetree Mechanic]

For a monitor radio, any old headphones would do.

 

[Slowmover]

For a monitor radio, any old headphones would do.

Ssssh, . . . cloth-covered cord, open-air or leatherette isolation earpieces; the weighty feel of days gone by.

(Edward Murrow, reporting)
“This, is London . . . . “

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[Shadetree Mechanic]

I find myself listening to the one ear piece that works ( because only one will work when plugged into a mono jack) on my left ear and leave my right ear uncovered to listen to the guys I am talking to on the radio that I transmit with.

 

[Slowmover]

I find myself listening to the one ear piece that works ( because only one will work when plugged into a mono jack) on my left ear and leave my right ear uncovered to listen to the guys I am talking to on the radio that I transmit with.

Okay. Can each eyes track separate objects simultaneously? I’m putting in for that mod. Next wifey sees that kinda bi-lateral audio/visuo symmetry in action, I’ll bet any & all potential snark comments disappear permanently from her thoughts.

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[ForestRunner98]

Quick question. Does it matter if the SWR’s are super low with the amp on and when I turn off the amp SWR jumps to almost 2? I have an external meter between the amp and radio.

 

[Handy Andy]

This could mean several things, but I'll just ask you to try this and then we'll see...

Remove the amp - place a BARREL connector on to patch the coax from the radio to the antenna coax connectors - to put both the Radio patch cord jumper coax that went to the AMP and connect it to the coax going to the antenna - check SWR - still 2 or thereabouts? You have a concern..

But that is from the ANTENNA - which then means the AMP is burying the SWR mismatch in it's network and the radio isn't seeing it...

If your SWR is still low, not 2 - you're ok, just you have a matching issue with the amps BYPASS network - not it's input admittance issue - it's tuning network that takes in your radios RF and amplifies it...only a concern if you are using a radio that's critical of high SWR problems and operates weird or audio tends to want to squeal due to the mis-match.

 

[ForestRunner98]

Gotcha! I just ordered a barrel connector and it should arrive tomorrow. Ya that’s so weird I thought that it would spike without the amp “on” There is no noticeable sound differences and definitely no squeal. The only reason I ask is that I happen to check the SWR with the amp off for shots and giggles. Hopefully there is no underlying problem.

 

[Cutlass327]

and operates weird or audio tends to want to squeal due to the mis-match.

So if I have my radio's audio set at, say 2:00, on the knob, but then turn the amp on and I have to turn it back to 10:00 or even 9:30, would this be what you are referring to?

My DX939 does this, but not the DX88, both using Silver Eagle D104s. Switching mics doesn't make any difference.

 

[ForestRunner98]

I forgot to mention that the setup is the following:

Antenna coax to amp(ant), amp(trans) to meter(ant) and meter(trans) to radio.

That should be the way the coax’s go. Am I wrong? If so...please say so.