single final wattage

[longhaireddwb]

I hear people saying they have a single final radio like cobra or uniden or galaxy and are getting 35 to 40 watts out of them. How is this possible? When i tune up these radios and open up the modulation i see around a 20 watt swing. Is the issue a happy power meter they are using? Or am i not doing something i should be? I use a Diawa cn801hp meter and it reads very well with my ham equipment. Maybe my meter needs tunning?

So what am i missing here?

73
Jerry...

 

[222DBFL]

No your readings are good. You won't notice any difference between your 20 watts and the 35-40 watts some claim. Most of the time this is due to a tweak job and will most likely not be a clean radio as far as output goes. I would not suggest trying to get every last watt out of the Radio, instead tune it correctly and align it, and close the lid. JMO. Your radios will thank you later. God bless.

 

[M0GVZ]

What are you missing? A single final screaming in pain being overdriven to within an inch of its life which will fail prematurely and on its journey to its demise spend all its time throwing out a wide splattering hideous mess of a signal.

And as 222DBFL said, the worst part about it is that its barely a 3dB increase which is almost unnoticeable to the other end.

 

[Grogan]

Don't believe a word the others say. First you must start out with a golden screwdriver, Even to pop the lid. Add magic dust ( not powder ) Before closing.
LOL

Some are using the Mosfet mod on the cobra 29's what is a good or realistic number that will produce clean audio when this mod is done properly. I saw a video where someone changed a few of them to get the watts he wanted. Same mosfet they vairy so he tries a few. Bells? I think it was.

 

[Marconi]

Jerry I agree with both the first two members here. I see about 18-20 watts out of my CB radio with a single final...and I use a Daiwa CN801H that serves me well too, but mine is spelled a little different.

You have a very nice looking station.

 

[W5LZ]

I think you've come to the conclusion that there may be just a little bit of exaggeration in some output power claims. There's also some differences in how it's being measured, as in 'avg' or 'pep' type watts, not to mention inaccurate meters. If you can 'weed' through ass the possibile inaccuracies there just isn't much to be gained by using the stock transisters. The legitimate manufacturers do not 'give' things away, and don't over-build and under-rate their stuff (it doesn't pay, besides being illegal).
It's a very good idea to be very scheptical about power claims unless you know the person making the claim. Even then, people make mistakes...
- 'Doc

 

[543_Dallas]

I can make a single final cobra show these numbers on a watt meter but its trash. The 29 I run on a daily basis does a whopping 15 watts pep.

 

[Robb]

A MOSFET can fetch 40w out of a Cobra 29 or Uniden 68/78; but 30w will last longer.

http://www.worldwidedx.com/cb-band-cb-radios/73873-radio-shack-irf-510-cobra-29-impressions.html

http://www.worldwidedx.com/cb-radio...watt-erf2030-mod-cobra-25-uniden-66-68-a.html

 

[W5LZ]

You know, it'd 'cure' a lot of the power myths if people would quit worrying about the big numbers (Pep) and just keep using the same units when doing that power measuring, don't mix the two. AM mode has no need at all for Pep measuring except 'bigger number's which is very confusing.
- 'Doc

 

[Radioman1]

Doc's AM comments:

You would do well to listen and pay attention to what Doc says.

Pay no attention to truck stop cb shops, they mostly are all after your $$ bottom line.

What better way to get some $$ than by telling someone without knowledge that "your single final" radio will do "____________" watts after my super duper tune up.........................

Keep your $$, study your electronics, by some test equipment and do your own tune ups...........

 

[GnG8d]

AM mode has no need at all for Pep measuring except 'bigger number's which is very confusing.
- 'Doc

You know better than that, we've already discussed this.

 

[Grogan]

Jerry I agree with both the first two members here. I see about 18-20 watts out of my CB radio with a single final...and I use a Daiwa CN801H that serves me well too, but mine is spelled a little different.

You have a very nice looking station.

Don't feel bad cause nobody agrees with me. But like Robb said with the mosfet mod on the finals 30 to 40 watts is possible. This is what you may be seeing when some tecks work on the cobra 29.

 

[dave457]

15 rms 50 peak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuA-BLD25Oo

 

[psycho]

I read on another forum about a Texas Star V-Plus swinging 200 watts. Another one claimed his single final Uniden Grant XL was swinging 50 watts with a basic peak and tune.
My General Lee swings a Dosy to 30-35 watts even though some claim 80 watts peak.
Believe nothing until you see it with your own eyes.
CB stands for Continuous Bull sheeting.

 

[W5LZ]

Yes, I do know better than that and that's why I said what I did. If you know the difference between 'avg' and 'pep' it makes a huge difference. Most people don't know the difference so it amounts to bigger numbers to make it seem like 'more'. It isn't more, it's exactly the same thing. I don't expect anyone to change their habits, and that's too bad.
- 'Doc