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Variable power in RF switchable radio

Hawkeye351

Well-Known Member
Jun 27, 2021
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I've seen several galaxy, Connex, general, etc...10 meter exports with variable key mods done to them, but haven't ran across one yet with the proper way of adding a variable key to a Hi/Lo power switchable radio until this radio.

It's a Connex 3300 mobile with Hi/Lo switched RF Power switch. Someone along the years eliminated the function of the RF Power switch, and installed a variable key like other exports have with an RF Power control, not a switch.

I personally think this is the proper way of doing it. You can still set your highest deadkey level and lowest deadkey level from inside the radio with the factory VR's, and still control your key with the external control.

A lot of times I'll see the Hi deadkey level VR removed and 3 wires running from the old High power VR location over to an external control. This way isn't the best or proper way of doing it.

It's as simple as what you see in the following pic.

You will need to remove any jumper wires from R211 and R212 (between the Low power VR and the AM Mod VR). R212 may have a jumper going from one of its empty holes over to the AMP hole beside the High Power VR. R211 may have a jumper from one of its empty holes over to JP10.

And no, I haven't recapped this radio yet, still got to get that part done. This was observed while doing an evaluation of this radio before doing any work on it.

IMG_20240518_115819765.jpg

Hope you all enjoy this Switchable RF Power conversion over to Variable RF Power mod.

Nomad, Andy, shockwave, TMZ, Eldorado, etc... may know more about this conversion than me, they may pop in to verify this. It does work smoothly and acts exactly like the factory variable power rigs, and you still have the capability of setting your highest and lowest deadkey levels inside the radio.
 
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I like this mod since it allows you to set the range of the external pot using the internal controls.
this allows you to run a 1-4 watt range or maybe a 3 -8 watt range depending on your needs.

I will say however that i stopped offering variable power as an option years ago unless the customer absolutely wants it and asks for it.

I have found people usually only need two levels of deadkey, and the external variable rarely gets moved after being set, and if it is moved, its moved between two different settings most of the time.

It could be that its just the type of operators i deal with as i am mostly doing older radios that never had any of these options and im basically recreating what was in your connex and using the CB/PA switch for two different, internally settable deadkeys.

It would be nice to hear from someone who uses the variable RF power external control for something different, and more often. i'd like to widen my perspective.
LC
 
I just now got finished converting a Galaxy 88HL to variable power using the above mod that I found in the Connex 3300 and it worked flawlessly.
 

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