My Grant XL was "peaked and tweaked" when I bought it in 2002. Output watts are "slightly" above the limit and I don't dare risk using a linear amp in fear of damaging the radio and that is why I want a radio with adjustable RF power output.Back in the day, Grants and 148s were the bomb. Easily modified and if tune correctly, were screamers. Oh, and sounded good on SSB too.
It has been a great radio in my trucks and as a base unit back in the "roaring CB days", but I've been shying away from using it in fear that someday Murphy's Law will prevail and I would hate to send it out for repairs to someone I don't know.The Grant XL is a sweet radio
I prefer not to have anyone tamper with the XL. The person who "peaked and tweaked" it in 2002 is not available and that's why I recently purchased two new radios with adjustable RF power function but unfortunately both radios were defective and I returned them within twenty-four hours. Tomorrow my new Galaxy 959B will arrive and I'll find out how it works with my old Maco Brute Seventy-Five amp.You would most like damage the amp, not the radio. A variable can be install fairly easy in that Grant.
I'll know tomorrow because my new Galaxy 959B is scheduled to arrive and if it has a defect, I'm giving up on buying another CB radio and going back to my Grant XL. I've had that radio since new in 2002 and (knock on wood) so far it has never had a problem.
The Grant's output on AM is 10 watts with a dead key.Instead of shopping for the best price on Amazon you might try buying a radio from a shop that also does quality tech work. This way they can go through the radio and tune/align/convert it one time and your done. The Grant xl is a nice radio for sure, running an amplifier with that radio won't hurt it one bit as long as you hook it up correctly.
It is not an export radio and you are absolutely correct about being mis-tuned. The radio was peaked and tweaked from the seller (CB Radio Shop) prior to him sending the radio to me when I purchased it in 2002. I never knew what the output watts were and I very seldom used the radio because CB started to get full of profanity. I packed-it away for four years while I was out of country for work related projects. When I returned I kept it packed away and purchased a couple of small and compact non-SSB radios for my vehicles, but then again the language on CB had "gone wild" and I stayed away. Moving forward....I retired last year and decided to get back into CB and I unpacked the Grant and purchased a MFJ-870 Watt Meter and that is when I checked the output and seen the 8 to 10 watts on dead key and I knew then that something wasn't right. So...what's next? I recently purchased a Galaxy DX2457 and it died after forty days. Purchased two other Vietnam made mobile radios and they were defective on the day I received them. I like the Grant XL for a base unit and I only monitor and listen to Ch. 19 with fear of ruining the radio if I transmit. I need to locate a reputable / non-butcher radio technician who can tune the Grant how it should be.Your saying you have a Uniden Grant xl that has a 10 watt AM dead key? Or are you talking about the Export President Grant? If you indeed do have the Uniden Grant xl cb radio a 10 watt dead key is way out of spec.That radio is grossly mis-tuned.
I recently (three days ago) purchased another 980 and it seems to be working OK with the exception of people commenting that the audio is low but the signal is great. It's a good thing the 6 wire to 4 wire mic cable adapter came with the radio because I connected a Astatic 878 Desk Mic and I was told that it improved the audio.I recently (September) bought a 980 via Amazon and it was ok. Maybe yours was "un-luck of the draw" ……?
Taking your comment seriously, the Grant XL is now at a competent (forum member) shop to be tested and "do whatever it takes" to get it back to normal.Your saying you have a Uniden Grant xl that has a 10 watt AM dead key? Or are you talking about the Export President Grant? If you indeed do have the Uniden Grant xl cb radio a 10 watt dead key is way out of spec.That radio is grossly mis-tuned.