I will be installing a new stock 4- watt Uniden PRO 510XL in my pick-up truck and I am considering adding an amplifier. I do not want to change the 4-watt dead. What size amp would match-up with the radio? The antenna is a 102" stainless steel whip attached to a Breedlove Stake Pocket Mount.
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What Size Amp?
- Thread starter Recon
- Start date
8 transistor. At least a 4 Watt carrier shouldn't give it a heart attack.
73
73
Thank you.
Wow! That will be one heck of a big amp to install in the cab of a pick-up truck. I think I'll scratch that idea.
If you can have someone do a quick mod to it and drop the carrier you could run a KL203. The old school X-Force 200HD was a pretty tough amp back in the day. It could deal with a 4 watt dead key but it would be tough to find one. You could always contact Carl built and tell him what you are wanting to do. He could probably build you a 2 pill amp with some extra padding on the front end.
Also don't believe what the box tells you. Every small radio like that I have ever seen was somewhere between a 2 and 3 watt dead key.
Seems like these things go one of two ways:
1) Extra-nice in-cab componentry with only fair to genuinely bad antenna system; or,
2). Great antenna setup and a mediocre radio.
— My take is experience with pilot cars. With that antenna a dual-final radio that’ll talk (Stryker) is the way to go. AM-only = the 447 model.
I run into grannies on duty escorting Oversize Loads and they’ll out-talk everyone around, sometimes for miles. (Radio and character at mic). 50-70W thru that whip oughter work.
Otherwise, a KL-203 can’t be beat. Velcro & zip-tie to top of the 510. 4W ain’t gonna matter (I agree it’s likely lower).
— My recent experience is that it’s also worthwhile to make that stack a triple with a MORGAN SYSTEMS 411cb BPF.
— W-M ClrSpch DSP. (Under drivers seat firing forward into footwell if no other). Mobile is where they shine.
— And look to trying a DC Shunt at the antenna mount (or coax choke, etc).
50W or a 100W, but needs help cleaning up RX (the story of every CB mobile install). Approximate match of the TX & RX distances.
I’m passing by you five-miles distant (both of us underway), kinda hard you can’t hear my answer to your question. That happens with regularity with the pilot cars GETTIN’ OUT just great.
The moment passes all too quickly.
IMO, the goal of a very good mobile install IS TO OVERCOME THE DEFICIENCIES of the other mans rig.
Without that In mind (outboard Amateur gear fixes) CB sits and just stews in its own juices. Can do maybe 60% of what it’s capable IN BEST CONDITIONS.
But when YOU NEED IT — maybe on someone else’s behalf; think strongly on this aspect — the completed install isn’t up to the task.
I’ve spent a lot (more than the edjumacated), but I haven’t given up.
A). The big piece you nailed (antenna system).
B). But you won’t read vocal nuances. Being able to respond in exact kind I cannot emphasize enough . . is barrier-breaking.
— Words alone don’t get the job of communication done. We try to fit words to what our blood is telling us when things are getting hinky.
C). When the mind is no longer ciphering words-out-of-the-fuzz (filling in gaps; it’s automatic), there comes an immediacy to one’s ABILITY to respond.
— That wakes up the others (always few) harboring both the concerns AND the tools to assess, analyze, and aim at correct understanding of road problems.
D). Might have minutes to do this. Might only have seconds (about to pass the last exit; about to top the rise barely ahead of the multi-car wreck).
— A Galaxy 86V would be my other choice. SSB can keep you in contact a few more miles.
E). Ability is the key concept. Recon, I’ve been the guy in the middle relaying messages back & forth because I can Hear, and Get Heard.
Good luck!
.
1) Extra-nice in-cab componentry with only fair to genuinely bad antenna system; or,
2). Great antenna setup and a mediocre radio.
— My take is experience with pilot cars. With that antenna a dual-final radio that’ll talk (Stryker) is the way to go. AM-only = the 447 model.
I run into grannies on duty escorting Oversize Loads and they’ll out-talk everyone around, sometimes for miles. (Radio and character at mic). 50-70W thru that whip oughter work.
Otherwise, a KL-203 can’t be beat. Velcro & zip-tie to top of the 510. 4W ain’t gonna matter (I agree it’s likely lower).
— My recent experience is that it’s also worthwhile to make that stack a triple with a MORGAN SYSTEMS 411cb BPF.
— W-M ClrSpch DSP. (Under drivers seat firing forward into footwell if no other). Mobile is where they shine.
— And look to trying a DC Shunt at the antenna mount (or coax choke, etc).
50W or a 100W, but needs help cleaning up RX (the story of every CB mobile install). Approximate match of the TX & RX distances.
I’m passing by you five-miles distant (both of us underway), kinda hard you can’t hear my answer to your question. That happens with regularity with the pilot cars GETTIN’ OUT just great.
The moment passes all too quickly.
IMO, the goal of a very good mobile install IS TO OVERCOME THE DEFICIENCIES of the other mans rig.
Without that In mind (outboard Amateur gear fixes) CB sits and just stews in its own juices. Can do maybe 60% of what it’s capable IN BEST CONDITIONS.
But when YOU NEED IT — maybe on someone else’s behalf; think strongly on this aspect — the completed install isn’t up to the task.
I’ve spent a lot (more than the edjumacated), but I haven’t given up.
A). The big piece you nailed (antenna system).
B). But you won’t read vocal nuances. Being able to respond in exact kind I cannot emphasize enough . . is barrier-breaking.
— Words alone don’t get the job of communication done. We try to fit words to what our blood is telling us when things are getting hinky.
C). When the mind is no longer ciphering words-out-of-the-fuzz (filling in gaps; it’s automatic), there comes an immediacy to one’s ABILITY to respond.
— That wakes up the others (always few) harboring both the concerns AND the tools to assess, analyze, and aim at correct understanding of road problems.
D). Might have minutes to do this. Might only have seconds (about to pass the last exit; about to top the rise barely ahead of the multi-car wreck).
— A Galaxy 86V would be my other choice. SSB can keep you in contact a few more miles.
E). Ability is the key concept. Recon, I’ve been the guy in the middle relaying messages back & forth because I can Hear, and Get Heard.
Good luck!
.
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Eleven-Meter ain’t always this quiet.
What is an OPORD?
— Without asking for an air check I’ve been told repeatedly (with this latest install) that my rig sounds crystal-clear.
When it’s mattered: I’m not being asked to repeat THE DETAILS of relayed report.
(With a dozen or even a hundred or more trucks in range; operators standing by).
Whether you or the others reading this find my concerns and remedies applicable, I urge thinking about one’s fellow man.
No one got here by accident to a help-me-make-my-radio-experience-better online forum.
.
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Get a box with a variable, then you can drop the DK at the box with no worries. Been awhile since I did it but I "think" with the variable on my box turned fully counter clockwise, I can hit it with 10-12 watts PEP and maintain the 100 PEP out DK.
Amps with variable have a tendency to burn out... I'd rather adjust amp output with the dead key of the radio
I decided to buy the new "pint size" President Bill CB radio. The dead-key has been reduced down to 2 watts. Bill is now matched-up to a KL 203 amp and life is good. The dead-key is about 30 watts and average output is 80 watts which is just what I wanted. With the amp off, the barefoot two-watts with the 102" stainless whip works great for local use.
A standard 4w AM radio won't hurt a KL203. If it gets hot put a fan on it. The new KL203's are handling 12w Pep radios just fine. Just don't run it too long on FM!
Apparently, the PEP on my first President Bill was high enough to damage the KL 300P.