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I'm trying to get away from the 2-stage amplifier (I currently have a 1x2) and I'm not sure I like it...it is too sensitive, not very controllable (as SK noted, you need to run an extremely low dead key from the radio to get it set at 1:4).

Freecell noted that the extra power over a straight 2-pill was feel-good watts that only show on a meter...and to verify that conclusion, there was no difference at the receiving end between this 500 watt 1x2 (2290x2@2879) and a 300ish watt 2-pill (2@2879) when driven by the same radio...I was experimenting this past weekend.

I'm hoping I can drive a 4-pill effectively with a tuned and un-clipped PC76 (will dead key up to 5 watts and swing upwards of 25 watts, it does have a variable dead key). I am not going for bragging-rights power, but a good clean signal...so if I end up with pushing 1/2 of what an amp is rated for, but get clean signal that stays on channel, I'll be happy.

As a side note, I found last night that I can key the 1x2 next to a another radio with no distortion (antennas were probably 10 feet apart)...but who knows how many other channels I'm bleeding over. I have not gotten a single bad report from the 1x2...but...

<blockquote data-quote="steved" data-source="post: 109072" data-attributes="member: 6207">I&#039;m trying to get away from the 2-stage amplifier (I currently have a 1x2) and I&#039;m not sure I like it...it is too sensitive, not very controllable (as SK noted, you need to run an extremely low dead key from the radio to get it set at 1:4).&nbsp; Freecell noted that the extra power over a straight 2-pill was feel-good watts that only show on a meter...and to verify that conclusion, there was no difference at the receiving end between this 500 watt 1x2 (2290x2@2879) and a 300ish watt 2-pill (2@2879) when driven by the same radio...I was experimenting this past weekend.&nbsp;&nbsp; I&#039;m hoping I can drive a 4-pill effectively with a tuned and un-clipped PC76 (will dead key up to 5 watts and swing upwards of 25 watts, it does have a variable dead key).&nbsp; I am not going for bragging-rights power, but a good clean signal...so if I end up with pushing 1/2 of what an amp is rated for, but get clean signal that stays on channel, I&#039;ll be happy.As a side note, I found last night that I can key the 1x2 next to a another radio with no distortion (antennas were probably 10 feet apart)...but who knows how many other channels I&#039;m bleeding over.&nbsp; I have not gotten a single bad report from the 1x2...but...</blockquote>

[QUOTE="steved, post: 109072, member: 6207"] I'm trying to get away from the 2-stage amplifier (I currently have a 1x2) and I'm not sure I like it...it is too sensitive, not very controllable (as SK noted, you need to run an extremely low dead key from the radio to get it set at 1:4). Freecell noted that the extra power over a straight 2-pill was feel-good watts that only show on a meter...and to verify that conclusion, there was no difference at the receiving end between this 500 watt 1x2 (2290x2@2879) and a 300ish watt 2-pill (2@2879) when driven by the same radio...I was experimenting this past weekend. I'm hoping I can drive a 4-pill effectively with a tuned and un-clipped PC76 (will dead key up to 5 watts and swing upwards of 25 watts, it does have a variable dead key). I am not going for bragging-rights power, but a good clean signal...so if I end up with pushing 1/2 of what an amp is rated for, but get clean signal that stays on channel, I'll be happy. As a side note, I found last night that I can key the 1x2 next to a another radio with no distortion (antennas were probably 10 feet apart)...but who knows how many other channels I'm bleeding over. I have not gotten a single bad report from the 1x2...but... [/QUOTE]

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