543 your posting is correct.
Most CB guys think if it says 500 on the front it should do 500 watts, or more, not knowing the limitations of the equipment they have.
I started this hobby on CB as well.
When I first got into radio a long time ago I did not understand much about the tech aspects of radio.
Early on I also ran a splattered station before it was pointed out to me that my signal was as wide as a semi truck.
I learned.
We need to help newbies learn and understand.
Sometimes it is like banging your head on a wall but a few will get it and it is worth it in the end.
That is one of the reasons this forum is here.
I am happy to see guys on 10 meters, and am happy to talk to them and try to offer suggestions to help them operate a better station.
I treasure 10 meters, it is ( to me anyway) one of the best bands we have as hams.
Look how big it is.
Space for every mode under the sun and the propagation is out of this world.
Antennas are manageable on this band and equipment can be relatively cheap when compared to other options.
I fear that some day someone will try to take it away from us because we don't use it enough.
Anyway , back on Topic.
As far as solid state CB style amps go there is much worse than the Texas Star models.
I still stand by my old statement that the 500, if run conservatively, not overdriven, not overvolted, is about the best plug and play commercial amp you can get for 10/12 meters.
The cost is now skyrocketing because of the transistors.
If you bought from a wholesaler in the past the cost per unit was not that bad.
You know it is a bit odd that the FCC will let these be sold as CW transmitters openly when everyone knows dam well what they are used for.
Palamar, many years ago built the TX 5300.
It had 4 Motorola transistors in it , a band switch that functioned and band pass filtering.
That is the only solid state CB style amp that I have ever laid eyes on that went that far.
There were also a couple Palamar models that had temperature compensated electronically regulated bias, also some TX and Magnum models.
Just about everything else is cobbled together, cheap dirty amps with the minimal amount of parts to function.
Some of the RM amps are not too bad if driven at low levels and not overvolted.
73
Jeff
