I have a couple of old tube radios one the Lafayette Comstat 35 has had all tubes tested and are ok and plate and load adjusted but radio still has low watts out put I have this same problem with some of my other tube radios built on this same type of platform. Is there something I can to to these radios to increase watt out put to at least 7 to 10 watts Thanks Jimbo165
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Tube radio watt output Low Comstat 35
- Thread starter Jimbo165
- Start date
That radio dates from ~1960, back when CB power was not measured in output, but rather INput: DC input to the final. The maximum permitted was 4 watts. Plate voltage times plate current with zero modulation was the formula.
And, assuming you had a 50% efficient output circuit, four watts input would only yield two watts output.
If those old radios still work (even if they aren't RF powerhouses), why hack them up? From two watts to ten watts is just under 7 dB increase and you can realize that increase with a decent 3-element beam.
And, assuming you had a 50% efficient output circuit, four watts input would only yield two watts output.
If those old radios still work (even if they aren't RF powerhouses), why hack them up? From two watts to ten watts is just under 7 dB increase and you can realize that increase with a decent 3-element beam.
Low tube radio watts
Beetle I love these old tube radios but my Lafayette Comstat 35 deadkeys 1 1/2watts and only swings to 2 1/2watts I would be happy to at least get it to swing to 6watts and some of my others too. My Tram Titan II almost does the same 1 1/2 to 3 watts sounds good but just does not drive any of my tube type linears well at all lose almost 300 watts on Phantom due to this. Just would like to pump them up a little. Thanks Jimbo165
Beetle I love these old tube radios but my Lafayette Comstat 35 deadkeys 1 1/2watts and only swings to 2 1/2watts I would be happy to at least get it to swing to 6watts and some of my others too. My Tram Titan II almost does the same 1 1/2 to 3 watts sounds good but just does not drive any of my tube type linears well at all lose almost 300 watts on Phantom due to this. Just would like to pump them up a little. Thanks Jimbo165
I owned a 35 and a 25B back in the 70's and they will not "swing" and you won't see any more than 3-4 watts max out of a stock radio. I don't remember any mods back then for these but it wasn't t all about modding radios then either. It was more about antenna systems and amplifiers. Given the precision of most watt meters your radio is probably performing as designed. Enjoy it as it..it's a classic.
Tube radio low watts
Thank You Unit 399 I will try that for sure. Thanks everyone for your time and comments. Jimbo165
Thank You Unit 399 I will try that for sure. Thanks everyone for your time and comments. Jimbo165
Hook it to 12 volt. That will bring the output up.. Mine 25 B does 4 watts swing to 12.. Sounds great! They will not do a lot but they do sound good!