Texas Star DX1600 - Impedance Matching

[Robb]

Relay chatter?
Hello!

Sounds like a simple case of being starved for current.

Hope he didn't try to plug this thing into the cigarette lighter outlet and expect it to work - lol!

 

[Mudduckmobile]

i'm sure thats next...ha ha ha

 

[9C1Driver]

For real....NEVER, NEVER use mag. mount. Or at least NEVER use mag mount with power, and if you HAVE to run a coil antenna make sure it is rated for 3x the power your going to run.
Although you keep amp. tech's working by not sticking to this rule.

Been running a Wilson 5000 Mag mount for 15 years in company cars and various 2 pill amplifiers, works great. For the purpose of this thread a Sweet 16 is way way too big for a mag mount, but I would hardly say you can NEVER run power with a mag mount.

 

[rabbiporkchop]

a buddy of mine runs a Texas Star DX 1600 v in his jeep Cherokee with a wilson 5000 magnet mount and times microwave LMR 240 coaxial cable and he dominates the airwaves everywhere he goes With a Wilson 5000 Magnet mount and times microwave LMR240 coaxial cable and he dominate the airwaves everywhere he goes and he's never had to replace the cable and he's never had any problems overheating anything.
Perhaps having a radio that's properly tuned and not over driving the amplifier has a lot to do with how well his system works and how little problems he has.

Been running a Wilson 5000 Mag mount for 15 years in company cars and various 2 pill amplifiers, works great. For the purpose of this thread a Sweet 16 is way way too big for a mag mount, but I would hardly say you can NEVER run power with a mag mount.

 

[Mudduckmobile]

Been running a Wilson 5000 Mag mount for 15 years in company cars and various 2 pill amplifiers, works great. For the purpose of this thread a Sweet 16 is way way too big for a mag mount, but I would hardly say you can NEVER run power with a mag mount.

Just because someone jumps off a bridge and does not die, means you should jump too.....Mag. mounts are asking for problems, some one gets lucky...and a 2 pill....thats NOT a sw.16......This is real dumb to even by talking about this, do it right or just keep paying to new stuff....I have NEVER had a amp. or a radio fry, NEVER. I make sure everything is right before i put the power on, everything, you really need to look at what folks are say-en, or goto your tech, and then another tech, make sure that they really where # 1 or 2 in there class in the military, and know there job, make sure that thay are a TECH, and not some joker.....just say en, 1358, the mobile mud duck got down, and i'm off. this thread is dumb

 

[9C1Driver]

Just because someone jumps off a bridge and does not die, means you should jump too.....Mag. mounts are asking for problems, some one gets lucky...and a 2 pill....thats NOT a sw.16......This is real dumb to even by talking about this, do it right or just keep paying to new stuff....I have NEVER had a amp. or a radio fry, NEVER. I make sure everything is right before i put the power on, everything, you really need to look at what folks are say-en, or goto your tech, and then another tech, make sure that they really where # 1 or 2 in there class in the military, and know there job, make sure that thay are a TECH, and not some joker.....just say en, 1358, the mobile mud duck got down, and i'm off. this thread is dumb

I have never burned up a radio or amplifier in my mobile (4 different company cars) in 15 years. A mag mount is my only option, that or a trunk mount K-40. I prefer the Wilson 5000 mag mount. That said I make sure the amplifier and radio install is done proper, and I check the SWR on the antenna. I would love to drill a hole and do a direct mount but I can't. That's all i'm saying man, sorry you can't deal with that.

 

[biohazardpr]

I run my TS dx1600x 8 pill with a General HP radio (100 watts pep) and my wilson 5000 and don't have any problems. I get 1200 watts pep. My wilson is 1.1 and 50ohm.

 

[gameover]

Alright guys. After my last post I started experimenting a lot.

Drilled a hole on the roof of my truck and mounted the Wilson 5000. Bonded every body panel to the chassis. I was still getting the relay chatter I was complaining about.

I solved the relay chatter by rewiring the keying circuits by removing the second relay and wiring my own keying circuit using a 2n222 transistor. Same keying circuit that the amp builders use. NO MORE RELAY CHATTER.

I solved the input and output impedance mismatches by removing the series and shunt capacitors on the input and replacing them with an Arco 464 trimmer. Also, removed the output shunt capacitors and installed an Arco 464 in its place.

Tuned the whole thing onto a 50ohm load on the output to max power and kaboom. Problem solved. I even replaced the dei transistors with Motorola srf3662.

I did have to retune the input and output trimmers once I installed it in my truck because there is still a mismatch caused by my antenna system.

Whole system is holding up good.

Next up is to work on the antenna system.

 

[gameover]

I forgot to say that I also reworked the feedback circuit to match the typical 8 pill amps.