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Pride 400 Bi-Linear Amplifier
- Thread starter SuziQ442
- Start date
Yes, it is a solid state mobile amplifier.
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Hey. I got another huge question. I was also given a Pride Earthquake 200. The hubby had it open and was checking it over when he noticed the fan was not plugged in. Not wired. In fact, no wires. He called me over to look at this when I noticed hand writing on the case itself. So, based on what I am seeing, with the notations I almost think this is a prototype or notes on an upgrade - some unfinished model. Can someone offer and opinion and tell me perhaps how these ended up in a little town in central WI with just 300 people? I cannot wait to tear into the Earthquake 500. I guess I started studying for my ham license and started liking CB at just the right time in life to be gifted these items.
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The mobile amplifier looks legit. The SD1446 RF transistors it uses require very little drive. A typical CB with a single final transistor is probably a good match for it. A "10-meter" radio with double the wattage might overdo it. Or might not.
I have never seen an "Earthquake"-branded amplifier that looked like it was built right. The transistors in that one are dated 1998. The "9804" marking shows the fourth week of 1998. The amplifier was probably built soon after that.
The mobile's RF transistors have a date code of "391E. I know how to read the four-digit format, but not this one. It looks like a 1990s product.
Just be certain to keep the antenna SWR low. A hazard that 's often overlooked is coax jumper cables. Between the radio and amplifier, between the amplifier and a wattmeter for example. The outer shield layer of the coax tends to work loose inside the plug. This can raise SWR just as if you had broken a piece off of the antenna. Ham radios tend to include a SWR sensor and a safety-shutdown circuit of some kind. These amplifiers don't. It's up to the operator to keep the thing safe from high SWR damage.
The base amp is a hot rod. The unregulated power supply is meant to goose the RF transistors to more than their ratings. This reduces the safety margin in the event something in the antenna system were to go bad.
73
73
I have never seen an "Earthquake"-branded amplifier that looked like it was built right. The transistors in that one are dated 1998. The "9804" marking shows the fourth week of 1998. The amplifier was probably built soon after that.
The mobile's RF transistors have a date code of "391E. I know how to read the four-digit format, but not this one. It looks like a 1990s product.
Just be certain to keep the antenna SWR low. A hazard that 's often overlooked is coax jumper cables. Between the radio and amplifier, between the amplifier and a wattmeter for example. The outer shield layer of the coax tends to work loose inside the plug. This can raise SWR just as if you had broken a piece off of the antenna. Ham radios tend to include a SWR sensor and a safety-shutdown circuit of some kind. These amplifiers don't. It's up to the operator to keep the thing safe from high SWR damage.
The base amp is a hot rod. The unregulated power supply is meant to goose the RF transistors to more than their ratings. This reduces the safety margin in the event something in the antenna system were to go bad.
73
73
391E I tracked to the 39th week of some year ending in 1 so maybe 1991. Not sure of the E, sounds like it might be a location code. Thanks for all your advice.