Most watts I can run-or another upgrade ?

[gamegetter]

Greetings: Looking for some help on whether I can run more watts out of my current cb set up. I have a galaxy 949 into a tnt350hd with a mag mount wilson 5k. Vehicle is an oldsmobile with a stock 150 amp alternator.

Can I run more watts with this set up as is? If so, how would that best be accomplished? A different amplifier altogether or by adding a second amplifier in line.

P.S. Currently have my swr under 1.5 to 1 on ch 1 and 40 and about 1.3 to 1 on 20. My hood and trunk are bonded with 1" braided strap (4 total) have not bonded doors and I plan to do a little bit more bonding yet on exhaust, engine, and from body to frame underneath the car especially if needed or recommended for more watts.

Also reason I don't want to buy different radio is I am saving for a couple ham radios--one is the kenwood ts 2000 for a base and then another mobile ham to go in same vehicle.

Well I hope I have given you enough info, let me know other wise and thanks for your input.

 

[BOOTY MONSTER]

you'll need a much bigger amp to tell a difference . shoot for 10 times the power you currently have to make a real difference . a 150 amp alternator isnt enough for 2000 + watts so you'll need to $pend money to get that up to par .

you could have a very nice base setup at home for much less money than youll spend to do that though . considering how mobile antennas are so limited compared to base antennas i wouldnt put a boat load of money into putting uber watts to it ......... but thats just me . some folks get a kick out of putting tens of thousands of watts into shortened 1/4 wgp's . it keeps the class c amp builders happy too

 

[gamegetter]

thanks

that makes sense.

 

[office888]

Switching from your coiled loaded vertical, to a 102"/96" whip would increase your receive sensitivity, and the transmit side would go from -3 dB to 0 dB...approximately a gain equal to doubling your power.

Antenna > Watts

 

[gamegetter]

thinking of running the 102" whip

I have not got around to it, but I have a 102" whip from the 70's yet that I would like to mount. Good thought there.

The 96" would have to be the screwdriver antenna?? That would not be for the chicken band. Or if other 96" whip for cb let me know.

thanks

 

[W5LZ]

That 96" thingy is probably intended as a 10 meter 1/4 wave.
As far as those guesses about sensitivity and 'gain', I'd take them with a large dose of 'salt', they are definitely 'loose' approximations.
- 'Doc

 

[gamegetter]

i'll have a shot of tequila with that salt, while i think about it!

 

[KD8HLY]

The "best" bang for your buck in radio is in the antenna.If you concentrate on

setting up a good antenna in a clear area, people will hear you.If you were putting

out 10,000 watts and you can't hear anyone, then all you are doing is talking to

to yourself and annoying your neighbors !

I have a friend who has a simple dipole type antenna,and on 100 watts,can

consistently talk to other "hams" all over the world.

This idea of having "more power" is mostly just plain silly,I'm not saying this to

insult anyone,that's just how it works, most of the time.

73 George

 

[gamegetter]

:bdh:

 

[TonyV225]

I talk allover the place everyday off an inverted V wire and have talked DX on 11 meters using an indoor dipole made by workman using A Galaxy 2527 base radio with a turner Plus three Microphone.

I had seen on huge difference on the HF bands just switching between a G5RV inverted V and the home built antenna I now put in the G5RV spot. Some things will get you by but to do it right spend most of your time on researching your antenna options for what you are trying or wanting to achieve.

When setting up any radio shortwave CB Amateur radio even your home stereo receiver think antenna first thats where its all at and where it starts (AT THE ANTENNA) Your radio is nothing without the antenna it hears nothing and transmits nothing so why not make it hear and transmit the best it can. Think about this it all really does make sense.

 

[office888]

I have not got around to it, but I have a 102" whip from the 70's yet that I would like to mount. Good thought there.

The 96" would have to be the screwdriver antenna?? That would not be for the chicken band. Or if other 96" whip for cb let me know.

thanks

We debated this in another thread, so let's not get into it, but the copper-fiberglass whips are shorter than the stainless whips, while still equal to a quarter-wave. I have a 96" fiberglass whip on the back of my truck.

With a small antenna tuner, you can tune a 102"/96" whip onto 10m, 15m, and 20m bands without too much of a problem.

The big increase you'll see over a coil loaded vertical though is receive sensitivity. Height is might. Electrical sensitivity is mightier. You get the best of both.

What I've read, the Wilson 1k/5k are about a 3 dB loss, while the 102" whip is a 0 dB loss, so that's it for the TX-side.

Downside? You'll feel a little ridiculous at first. Oh well though, price v. performance, I don't think they can be beat.

 

[W5LZ]

Richard,
Believe me, I'm not wanting to open that can or worms! Been there often enough so that a lot of those 'worms' and I are on a first name basis. And without a lot of explanation you can't even stay in the same 'chapter', much less the same 'page' in that book. (Howz that for mixing metaphors?)
I agree with a lot of your last post (believe it or not). I may state things a little differently, but in most cases that's just a small difference in the route used in getting to the conclusion, which is the basically the same conclusion. There are gobs of different 'routes' which will bring you to that conclusion. Those 'routes' are the 'wormy' parts. What you measure, how you do that measuring, and what you use to do that measuring with, all amount to a huge number of variations, each of which is another 'worm'. If you can keep track of all those 'worms', you can end up at the destination without too many 'detours'. Show me someone who'z traveled all of those 'detours' and I'll show you someone who'z unbelievably stubborn and at least half crazy. Admitting to both of those characteristics is something I can do easily. Another one though, is lazy, which I'll also admit to, so most times i just "ain't going there no more", I'm too lazy. If I thought our differences made any appreciable difference, I'd argue them. I just don't think they do, so I won't.
- 'Doc

(All that's a double edged sword, you know. It can mean, "Hey, I'm as smart as he is!". Or, it can also mean, "OH $#i+, I'm starting to think like he does. I need help!". Right? )