RCI Ranger 69ffb4 "lower output "

[Danzik]

Hi all I have a few questions concerning a Ranger 69ffb4 one of those old chrome faced models with the hard to read red print. Seems to me this radio should do a little bit more then I am getting out of it as it's doing right around 275 pep on a dosy and I have seen these radios do much more online. The radios peak doesn't appear to do much more and ssb output is about the same output. I do believe the radio section alone is fine as I turn the amp switch off the radio will or can do around 40 watts pep. One thing I know is this radio originally came with those black coated DEI 2879 transistors in and someone had replaced them with HG's so since it's said that these transistors aren't exactly drop in replacements from one another is it possible that the input /output tune is off and needs different capacitors on the feedback boards or somthing like this ??? If I remember correctly I also found it kinda odd that the swr output seemed high also. Dunno but open to suggestions Thanks

 

[nomadradio]

This is where tweaking an amplifier gets tedious. Whatever change up or down in capacitor value you make has to be done to both sides. One problem with the built-in amplifier is you can't easily see the SWR on the amplifier's input. That has a bearing on peak power output, as do the capacitors on the output.

Finding someone else's secret sauce for this might be easier than cooking it up yourself.

73

 

[Danzik]

This is where tweaking an amplifier gets tedious. Whatever change up or down in capacitor value you make has to be done to both sides. One problem with the built-in amplifier is you can't easily see the SWR on the amplifier's input. That has a bearing on peak power output, as do the capacitors on the output.

Finding someone else's secret sauce for this might be easier than cooking it up yourself.

73

Yeah, I was kinda thinking the same Nomad, one reason why I asked here was hoping someone was real familiar with that Ranger board. I do believe it is tuning issues and since I got it used I have no idea if anything was changed when it was swapped to HG's I guess I may have to undo that coax from the radio and put a meter in between and see for myself but what a drag ! I know the amp should do more than 275

 

[9C1Driver]

They did make two versions of that radio, FFB4 and FFB6. Your version is claimed to do 400 watts. Maybe when the finals were replaced the first time they de-tuned it a touch hoping it would last longer.

 

[nomadradio]

Unless you're trying to please a repair customer I would just leave it alone. The practical value of the additional 125 Watts is zero, Nobody at the other end will ever know the difference. Too small an increase to move an S-meter enough to see.

Mostly I would worry about efficiency. Low output accompanied by high current consumption from the power supply would be bad juju. Simplest test is to see how hot it gets. If the heat sink's not getting over 130 degrees F there's not much to worry about.

73