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GALAXY 979/QUESTION
- Thread starter doctor
- Start date
the way you worded your question made me initially want to respond with, "put the covers back on immediately and send it to someone else." LOL
but that, im sure, is just because of how it sounded initially.
so, to answer your question; it depends.
for the AM power pots (VR18 for low power, and VR14 for high power) what you are really doing is setting a "range".
since it is a single final radio, you dont want the maximum deadkey to be any more than about 5 watts or so. (make sure you are doing this into a dummy load and not into an antenna, as the antenna can cause false readings)
so, turn the RF power knob on the front of the radio all the way up, key the mic with no modulation, and set VR14 for 5 watts.
now turn the RF power knob all the way down, key the mic and set VR18 for 1 watt.
the two adjustments do interfere with eachother a bit, so you'll probably have to go back and do the process again to get the range where you want it.
for SSB you want to set the SSB APC control first, before you set the ALC.
so turn the RF power knob all the way up, key the mic in SSB mode, no modulation, and set VR17 for 12.5 volts.
next, make sure the mic gain control is all the way up, key the mic, and say "ahhhh" in a steady tone while watching the wattmeter.
turn VR13 until the power drops way down.
now key the mic again, and again while giving the mic a steady tone (be it from your voice or from a tone generator) slowly turn VR13 up just until you see no further increase on the wattmeter.
then give it one tiny tweak back down.
this is a subtle adjustment, and it will take a couple of tries at it before you will feel like you have it just right.
do not EVER try to turn this control up a bit more trying to get an extra couple of watts out of it.
doing this will only cause you to sound like crap on SSB.
obviously this is an adjustment best set with an oscilloscope, but if you dont have one, you can get away with doing it this way.
now, as for the modulation pot (VR16) well, everyone usually just turns it all the way up, but it too can be set the same way you set VR13 (SSB ALC)
galaxy knows that everyone turns the modulation all the way up, and while the purists will tell you that its not right to do it, it is the way most galaxies are run.
LC
but that, im sure, is just because of how it sounded initially.
so, to answer your question; it depends.
for the AM power pots (VR18 for low power, and VR14 for high power) what you are really doing is setting a "range".
since it is a single final radio, you dont want the maximum deadkey to be any more than about 5 watts or so. (make sure you are doing this into a dummy load and not into an antenna, as the antenna can cause false readings)
so, turn the RF power knob on the front of the radio all the way up, key the mic with no modulation, and set VR14 for 5 watts.
now turn the RF power knob all the way down, key the mic and set VR18 for 1 watt.
the two adjustments do interfere with eachother a bit, so you'll probably have to go back and do the process again to get the range where you want it.
for SSB you want to set the SSB APC control first, before you set the ALC.
so turn the RF power knob all the way up, key the mic in SSB mode, no modulation, and set VR17 for 12.5 volts.
next, make sure the mic gain control is all the way up, key the mic, and say "ahhhh" in a steady tone while watching the wattmeter.
turn VR13 until the power drops way down.
now key the mic again, and again while giving the mic a steady tone (be it from your voice or from a tone generator) slowly turn VR13 up just until you see no further increase on the wattmeter.
then give it one tiny tweak back down.
this is a subtle adjustment, and it will take a couple of tries at it before you will feel like you have it just right.
do not EVER try to turn this control up a bit more trying to get an extra couple of watts out of it.
doing this will only cause you to sound like crap on SSB.
obviously this is an adjustment best set with an oscilloscope, but if you dont have one, you can get away with doing it this way.
now, as for the modulation pot (VR16) well, everyone usually just turns it all the way up, but it too can be set the same way you set VR13 (SSB ALC)
galaxy knows that everyone turns the modulation all the way up, and while the purists will tell you that its not right to do it, it is the way most galaxies are run.
LC
Whistling backwards works for me. It hits that particular frequency and strength and will make it peak. As far as Galaxy's go,I had a opportunity to hear a 959 that a local fixer upper/seller hand tuned. He had everything cranked to the max including modulation. Not only did he sound terrible,you could hear even the ants out in the back yard. But of course,his radios would only last 1-7 days before they'd blow.
Note: The Galaxy Tech told me to turn the little 'O' on the SSB alc to the 7:30 position with the front of the radio facing me. He said that the am side would benefit from that adjustment. But of course I had my 959 tuned by DTB shortly after that. The little 'O' on the alc pot is between the 10:30 and the 11:00 position. Runs like a well oiled clock.
Note: The Galaxy Tech told me to turn the little 'O' on the SSB alc to the 7:30 position with the front of the radio facing me. He said that the am side would benefit from that adjustment. But of course I had my 959 tuned by DTB shortly after that. The little 'O' on the alc pot is between the 10:30 and the 11:00 position. Runs like a well oiled clock.
there was once an old CB'er out there who told me that when he spoke into his mic, he would hit 17 watt peaks.
when he would whistle into the mic, he would hit 25 watt peaks.
so, he decided to just whistle into the mic all the time in order to get the most wattage out of it.
his peaks were always up there, but his DX contacts plummeted.
LC
when he would whistle into the mic, he would hit 25 watt peaks.
so, he decided to just whistle into the mic all the time in order to get the most wattage out of it.
his peaks were always up there, but his DX contacts plummeted.
LC
there was once an old CB'er out there who told me that when he spoke into his mic, he would hit 17 watt peaks.
when he would whistle into the mic, he would hit 25 watt peaks.
so, he decided to just whistle into the mic all the time in order to get the most wattage out of it.
his peaks were always up there, but his DX contacts plummeted.
LC
Very funny.
I go for quality as opposed for quantity nowadays. Also,I talk instead of whistling unless I have a reason to whistle.
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OK L Y, you just had to out do my "hot girl with a radio" sig pic didnt'cha! LOL
thats a good one!
LC
thats a good one!
LC
You talking about DTB here in PA. I'm thinking about having him straighten out my President Mckinley problems? And maybe tune my Galaxy DX 979s if he is good!
I've bought radios from DTB in the past, he seems to know what he's doing.