Why Do YOU Use an Amplifier?

[CyberRider]

I'm a new CB'er but I understand that using an amp with your CB is not permitted in the states. Of course, there are many laws on the books that are not enforced and many that are outdated and many others that are simply no longer enforced (like spitting on the sidewalks).

Soooooo, use you an amp with your mobile CB? Why? What's the main benefit you're deriving from it and would I benefit from using one?

 

[undertaker]

more power that is all....

 

[sp5it]

Life is too short for QRP.
Mike

 

[TheRealPorkchop]

I guess if you can’t be the greatest then you have to be part of the greatest, I guess. Or if you can’t be part of the greatest then you gotta be the greatest yourself.

It helps if you’re “worldwide” and you work on radios, it brings you business or it does me. Did when I ran an amp anyway. I found that now it’s better to be dead on frequency and crystal clear, that’s brought me even more business.

 

[5 X 5]

Who doesn't want to be the guy that nobody can step on? Also, when annoying people start talking trash in a traffic jam I like to sing the world a song.

 

[CyberRider]

Who doesn't want to be the guy that nobody can step on? Also, when annoying people start talking trash in a traffic jam I like to sing the world a song.

So when your signal is stronger you not only send/receive further but also you can interrupt and talk over everybody else?

 

[Handy Andy]

This could get expensive...

 

[CyberRider]

Life is too short for QRP.
Mike

What is QRP?

 

[RoadRanger]

Low power

 

[Handy Andy]

Q codes - series of letters like Anagrams...

Q - R - P

OR Reduce Power

The "Q" refers to several references "Question" or "Query" - asked as like say...

What is your "QTH" - refers to Location - Or "The Homestead" - or even current location.

You can Wiki the Q-codes and get more information than you'll ever need about it...

 

[mrgumby]

Because I can

 

[W4KVW]

I don't use one because it's not a contest to me.I could care less who has the biggest signal on the CB Radio.I don't want to be World Wide on the CB because I can do that 24/7 365 on Amateur Radio where amplifiers up to 1500 watts are Legal.

SIX-SHOOTER

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

Four watts is not a lot of power and then throw it in a mobile with an antenna that is less than ideal and you will find that you can't talk to the same people as when you are talking on your base station. I don't run an amp in my mobile, my Galaxy 99v does 40w pep and is usually enough to talk to the locals. On my base, my Sonar does 1.5w dead key swinging to 12w and I can get all the locals just fine. If I am trying to talk to the next state or when skip is rolling in, I will turn on my one driving four tube amp for about 400w.

 

[jessejamesdallas]

I've ran "everything" from 2-pill Amps in Mobile set-up's, to a 16 pill set-up (2-pill, 1x2, 1x4, 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, 4x16)...But right now all I run is a 1x2 with my President McKinley in my Tacoma and have no problems getting back to anyone I can hear, no mater how far off they might be...

So far it looks like around 30-35 miles is about the limit I can hear someone, and get back to them locally with all the tall buildings and bridges in the Dallas area...(On AM anyway, not sure about ssb, haven't got very many people around here that talks on ssb)

(DX is a different story tho, mileage is unlimited when skips rolling)

Interesting side note...When I had my 16 pill set-up, the distance I could talk and receive was about the same as it is with just my 1x2...I "may-have" been getting out a little farther with the 16 pill, but if you can't hear anyone farther out, then whats the point of talking farther?

 

[Mudfoot]

I use one when talking to various locals. Some have trouble hearing me for various reasons. The amp allows them to hear me without them having to strain.