First of all, I’d like to say I’ve learned more lurking here in a week than everywhere else I’ve been looking for the last month. No BS. I’m the new guy here looking for info. I’ve tried searching, but couldn’t find anything on this specifically. Recently bought a President McKinley and RM KL203P. My question is this, how many “bars?” are y’all setting your RF power at? From what I can determine, it should be one to two bars. I don’t have a power meter, will get one eventually, but funds are lacking for it right now as my antenna was knocked down in a storm the other day and I’m in the process of putting one back up in a more proper fashion. Sorry for the long post, and any help would be appreciated!
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Newbie question
- Thread starter JD144
- Start date
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
Welcome! I have my McKinley at 4 bars. That gives me 1.5 watts carrier from the radio and about 20 watts out of the 203. This is on an Astatic PDC1 swr watt meter.
Chris
Chris
Thank you, I was thinking 2 or 3, will try 4 when I get up and running again. I appreciate the info!
All McKinley’s will be different. Mine is at 3 bars(RF pwr) and it’s about 2w into my 503 on AM. On SSB it’s full tilt 4w.
You can turn it up on SSB. But you should get a power meter that shows PEP. Right now you don’t know what the AMC or ALC is set at. Proper adjustment is HUGE!!
P.s. don’t turn any internals without the meter.
You can turn it up on SSB. But you should get a power meter that shows PEP. Right now you don’t know what the AMC or ALC is set at. Proper adjustment is HUGE!!
P.s. don’t turn any internals without the meter.
As a newbie, you should really heed to that advice and let it become a default going forward. Many don't listen and sound like doo-doo on the airwaves. On ssb most won't even respond to a bad sounding station and if they do then someone is about to take a roasting
Thanks! Yeah, I’ve definitely got to get a meter. I don’t plan to open the radio up myself at all. I got my old Cobra 18+ out from the late 80s and heard skip rolling on it a month or so ago and that’s what got all this started. Already $ deeper into this than I should be haha!
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
I got "bit by the bug" several years ago. My McKinley and 203 are mounted in an ammo can with a lithium battery.
Post in thread 'Ammo Can Portable Radio' https://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/ammo-can-portable-radio.265314/post-814927
Post in thread 'Ammo Can Portable Radio' https://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/ammo-can-portable-radio.265314/post-814927
I considered the same, but didn’t want to buy a battery and my power supply wouldn’t fit. You use a tall .50 can? What do you do for antenna?
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
I currently use a Sirio 1/2 wave on the end of the house. When we go to the beach, I have a 102" whip on a telescoping painter's pole.
no more than 1.5 watts from radio into a KL203 will give you 85 to 100 watts output . I have several and have used them and friends good linear if used right
Thanks for the information Robert, I’m going to have to get a meter before I ruin any of my gear. Shadetree , that’s a nice set-up. I’m currently building a Starduster clone with a 102 whip, idea came from Mower Junkies YouTube channel. I guess the painters pole acts as the second element of a dipole?