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Skipper 300 preamp

Joe Barnhart

Member
Mar 21, 2016
2
0
11
North Central Florida
Have a skipper 300, that if amp is not on and preamp switch on, no receive gets through it. Works fine when amp is on and preamp in the on position, but I really don't need a preamp and have to bypass the amp when running barefoot else no receive getting to the base radio. This is the model with the little circuit board on the rear with 2 white square components and one regular type relay to the left of that board, if you looking from front to the rear with lid off. I could certainly do without the preamp, so my question is how would I go about bypassing this, or would it be a relatively easy / inexpensive fix? Appreciate any advice, instructions, etc. 73's - Joe
 

You have to replace the 2N2905 Transistor.

While you do that. might as well refurb it. Kit is listed on Ebay for first and second generation Skippers. Great amp. I have run one in my car for years. I use a 3000W pure sine wave invert-er !

Best John
 
You have to replace the 2N2905 Transistor.

While you do that. might as well refurb it. Kit is listed on Ebay for first and second generation Skippers. Great amp. I have run one in my car for years. I use a 3000W pure sine wave invert-er !

Best John

Thanks John. You are right if going into it to do anything the refurb kit would make sense to do as well. Thanks for the reply, take care! In your car huh, that's interesting.

Joe
 
"Interesting" ....................Well I drive the Skipper 300 in my car with a Tea-Berry stalker 202 base mobile rig. Turner + 3 desktop mic. Prior to the TB Cobra 139XLR, Trc457 then Trc458.

Today going to remove from a Trc449 mobile the Digi Scan UFO. Put it on my TB !

All the other bases mentioned have a UFO. Use em or lose them. No CB in the after life.

A bit more work beside's UFO wires. Broad banding the TB & a full alignment once the UFO is aligned to the TB. But worth it. Nothing past present in my opinion outperforms a PLL 858 SSB PC196 chassis. This TB classic has a slightly different audio circuit from the other UPD-858 CB Radio's. Yes I have a CPI. More channels more audio the correct way. Compression feeding a Clipper.

Excellent Skip & local reports for the past few weeks on this mobile combination. " Strong Audio but clear".....SSB or AM. 7 ft. 3/4 wave Fire Stick Some operators tell me what they are running Yaesu This --Kenwood that & ask me what HF rig I am running.

They are quite surprised. The inverter in my car is over 10 years old. always on.

Another interesting Tid Bit. Though I still have 8 NOS 8950. I re-tubed my Skipper to 36KD6 two years ago.

DC filament thru an adjustable DC to DC boost board. In fact. My box can use 26LX6-[ identical to 8950 except heater voltage] ..can use 30MB6, 35LR6,30KD6 & 27LF6 if they are not too tall. (21JSc-31JSc) All 12 pin Compactrons.

I added a relay between mains AC HV output & input to the DC B+ bridge and Caps. Similar to the Phantom except the Phantom is switching the B+ HV DC output of the bridge.

Anyway I have done this mod for many years. My 2x Pow KW + and two piece Maco KW.

Recently discovered the HV DC B+ arrangement on my D&A phantom and D&A Warrior.

I broke in the filaments at 34v dc on the 36KD6. After two years of daily use noticed a slight drop in the carrier. From 300w RMS to 275W. As shown on a Co-Axial Dynamic Meter with a Bird 2-30MHZ 500w slug.

Turned up the filament voltage up to 35.5v DC on the 36KD6. Back to 300w RMS. ! Over two years in my car ! Did not bother to check the tubes current microhomo score

on a TT201A tube checker or my Hickock 539c.

Palomar Skipper 300. Best Amp in that Watt Class ever made in my experience & opinion. They are Like the Ever Ready Bunny !

The L.D.O. clone has the best features of Generation 1 &2 Skipper. Very Rare. I like my fake Palomar 321 with 6LF6. Not as rare. Interesting circuit versus the Skipper same output. I have a couple more Skippers.

I'm 6/10s of a century old. No Ham ticket for me yet .

I can only use my Pow KW + with the original M2057 1200w carrier into a dummy Load....he he.

The Pow with 35LR6 does 1100W. Read the Ham limit is 750W on AM now? Guess no more input power ratings?

Interesting isn't it.

Back in the day. Some linear Amplifiers were made for 11 meters. The Skipper was originally paired with a 23 Channel tube CB. Crazy prices on Ebay for this pair

I get long winded. Those Mobile solid State Amps just don't cut it.

What is it now. $30. each for 2SC2879 versus $12. for a 36KD6 ?

They just don't make em like they use to.......

Best John
 

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