I need some advise asap

[Maddog76]

I bought a bear cat 980ssb from welcott radio then drove 20 another cb shop and had the radio peaked and tuned. The radio works ok but I decided to look into getting a amp for it. Well last week I purchased a Rm Italy KL203P. My question is with my radio producing 4 watts on am and 12 watts on sub will my new amp hurt my radio or should I lower the rf gain? I am planning on installing it today while the weather is nice.

 

[gary123]

The amp specs are good for regular CB AM/FM and SSB inputs you will be fine.
As always do so at your own risk. You can verify by looking at the amp specs on line.

 

[wjm1129]

You need to lower the deadkey. More than 2 watts will overdrive the amp and will distort the audio and possibly damage the amp.

 

[prcguy]

It should be fine, RF gain is for reducing reception and has nothing to do with transmitting. The amp is rated for up to 10w in AM and 20w in SSB, its probably going to run into saturation at those levels and not sound great but you will have a bigger signal.

 

[Maddog76]

You need to lower the deadkey. More than 2 watts will overdrive the amp and will distort the audio and possibly damage the amp.

How do I lower the dead key?

 

[WSAC829]

A 980 doesn’t produce enough power to blow that amp. Even peaked a 980 wont do more than 5 watts on AM and/or 12-15 watts on SSB. I have the same amp and have run 8 watts on AM though it without issue. You’ll be fine. It’s the high powered export radios that swing 35-80 watts (or more) on SSB that might kill that amp.

 

[slowmover]

Run as is. I’ve many hours on that combo with untouched components and the pair ran fine.

A 980 doesn’t produce enough power to blow that amp. Even peaked a 980 wont do more than 5 watts on AM and/or 12-15 watts on SSB. I have the same amp and have run 8 watts on AM though it without issue. You’ll be fine. It’s the high powered export radios that swing 35-80 watts (or more) on SSB that might kill that amp.

It’s not E-Z to kill a 203

Your radio was a hot choice when it debuted twelve (12) years ago. A staple ever since.

UNIDEN BEARCAT 980 SSB CB RADIO REVIEW | CB Radio Magazine

UNIDEN BEARCAT 980 SSB CB RADIO REVIEW The last time Uniden produced a new SSB CB radio we still purchased radios via mail order and we had never heard of something called the Iphone. The Uniden Grant XL and LT were arguably some of the most loved and trusted mobile SSB CB radios ever...

cbradiomagazine.com

A power mic was also a popular choice with U-880 or U-980. A Red Devil Astatic or other. Mic Gain is what guys use to try to limit input power to amp when adjustable RF Power isn’t a choice. No guarantees on that approach. So keep checking you add something battery-powered.

Ck SWR with a separate meter and shoot for 1.5:1 (under 2.0 is okay). No amp in-line when testing.

An external speaker is always a boost. Ears trump Voice when it comes to radio.

A Cobra S300 matches up well. I used to give them as gifts, and had several in use in that period as well. The bit of noise-cancel it offers is a help. These “digital” radios aren’t like listening to older designs (which were more mellow).

Assuming this is a mobile radio, antenna design, mount & location are what will make it perform. An amp is kind of a crutch. Won’t overcome short antenna (under 5’) and bad mount type or bad location. It’s where to make future improvements, someday.

Antenna is (deceptively, because everyone talks about the radio) what separates an “okay” radio rig from a real talker.

Good luck.

.

 

[WSAC829]

It’s not E-Z to kill a 203

Agree. I’ve even had the 203 behind my QT40 and HS4. Even with dead key power turned down, they still swung 35-45 watts on SSB. Never an issue. Audio reports were still good. Amp got quite warm with extended talking, but that's normal for pretty much any amp.

 

[slowmover]

It should be fine, RF gain is for reducing reception and has nothing to do with transmitting. The amp is rated for up to 10w in AM and 20w in SSB, its probably going to run into saturation at those levels and not sound great but you will have a bigger signal.

“Max Power” isn’t desirable if it’s dirty (as said). I modded the mic as per video and used untouched radio (quit using power mic) before moving on.

If you get the BC906W wireless speaker/mic, you’ll find it an enjoyable addition.

I received good reports. As I was using a tall antenna.

.

 

[707ways2Sunday]

Let me see if I understand this. You said you had the radio peaked and tuned and then stated it does 4 watts on AM and 12W on SSB. I assume 4W dead key on AM. Do you know how many watts it peaks at on AM? When you modulate Because you don’t want to go higher then 10W PEP. My paper work that came with my 203 if I recall stated no higher then 10 PEP. Including ssb. I seen many people claim it’s 20W on SSB. I’ll have to pull it out and look again!!!

 

[prcguy]

Let me see if I understand this. You said you had the radio peaked and tuned and then stated it does 4 watts on AM and 12W on SSB. I assume 4W dead key on AM. Do you know how many watts it peaks at on AM? When you modulate Because you don’t want to go higher then 10W PEP. My paper work that came with my 203 if I recall stated no higher then 10 PEP. Including ssb. I seen many people claim it’s 20W on SSB. I’ll have to pull it out and look again!!!

From what I've seen the Uniden 980 doesn't tune up much past legal power pf 4 watts AM carrier and 12 watts peak SSB, it would need a mod to go higher and even then it wont go much higher. A properly adjusted AM CB would dead key at 4 watts and achieve 12 watts peak at 100% modulation, that's standard for any AM transmitter. The only reason the FCC allows 12 watts peak on SSB is because that's what a 4 watt AM radio does anyway.

 

[prcguy]

“Max Power” isn’t desirable if it’s dirty (as said). I modded the mic as per video and used untouched radio (quit using power mic) before moving on.

If you get the BC906W wireless speaker/mic, you’ll find it an enjoyable addition.

I received good reports. As I was using a tall antenna.

.

What a coincidence, I just put my BC906W on charge about an hour before reading this. Although its being used on an Icom 9700 at the moment.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I am still wrapping my head around this whole peak and tweak debacle.

 

[KI4ZNG]

What was the purpose of the peak and tune? What was gained by this?

 

[Davidbt]

I am still wrapping my head around this whole peak and tweak debacle. View attachment 173336

Dang, I can smell that picture.

 

[Maddog76]

Let me see if I understand this. You said you had the radio peaked and tuned and then stated it does 4 watts on AM and 12W on SSB. I assume 4W dead key on AM. Do you know how many watts iat on AM? When you modulate Because you don’t want to go higher then 10W PEP. My paper work that came with my 203 if I recall stated no higher then 10 PEP. Including ssb. I seen many people claim it’s 20W on SSB. I’ll have to pull it out and look again!!!

I am not sure what the radio peaks at on am. I had the radio peaked and tuned at circuit masters in Altoona Iowa. I didn't ask to be honest.

 

[707ways2Sunday]

I am not sure what the radio peaks at on am. I had the radio peaked and tuned at circuit masters in Altoona Iowa. I didn't ask to be honest.

From what everyone else has stated I think you are good to go. Those 203s are the coolest little amps!!! If your first contact tells you your audio is clean, you are good!!

 

[slowmover]

From what everyone else has stated I think you are good to go. Those 203s are the coolest little amps!!! If your first contact tells you your audio is clean, you are good!!

If mobile, then fused power from BATT positive. NEG to closest (tested) ground point.

Without coax connected, take a drive with radio turned up to see if it’s picking up any noise across the DC power (as above).

If it isn’t — and others say it sounds good — given you’ve dialed-in antenna (tuned it), then the rest shouldn’t be a worry.

.

 

[robertwbob]

bought at walcott,took elsewhere for tune n puke? if walcot did it and it screws up they kinda stand behind it. interesting.id left it untouched n hooked rm italy to it and check vswr n USE IT

 

[707ways2Sunday]

Agree. I’ve even had the 203 behind my QT40 and HS4. Even with dead key power turned down, they still swung 35-45 watts on SSB. Never an issue. Audio reports were still good. Amp got quite warm with extended talking, but that's normal for pretty much any amp.

That’s wild. I’ve owned two QT40s and one Ares 2. When RF power was turned all the way down dead key on AM was somewhere around 2W on all of them. Maybe swinging to 5 or 6 PEP. Which parallel PEP results on SSB. Driving my 203 with my QT60 I set my forward pep to maximum of 10-12W out max, of the radio and the most I’ve seen out of the amp on side band is around 160W pep. If you are running 35-40W PEP through that 203 that is amazing things didn’t reach critical mass long ago!!!