That's why I gave examples of the 148 and 2k, those were more radios that were not usually impressive on an "accurate wattmeter into a 50 Ohm dummy load" but yet were almost always louder. We can carry this back to other older tube type and early solid state models also. Gone are the days of clip the limiter and tune for maximum smoke. Somewhere, someone, somehow, got a clue and figured out what some of us knew all along. There's a time and place for a wattmeter and what it shows and then time for other test instruments.
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President Washington. No Modulation.
- Thread starter jcrmadden
- Start date
No but it may give some insight into the power stuff as far as output and help narrow down the problem.
Hash this around enough and we may get to the bottom of this!
Yeah, that's the weird thing that's making me think it's some setting buried in the logic tree.
If this were my radio, I'd be fairly certain that I jacked something up (I like to mash all the buttons [and various combinations] to see what happens). This seems and feels to me like some sort of internal damage in transit. Need to know if it ever worked properly upon receipt; that'll narrow things down a bit.
At the very least, we'll make answers to satisfy ourselves!
Agreed.
I get it. I was just agreeing with your point about forward swing not always equaling the loudest audio. But, yes, that was my experience also - those Cobras along with the 142GTL/Washington/Madison were usually the loudest on the air. (and distorted/over-modulated)
Eh, not if set up correctly. But I digress, that didn't happen often. Also the term "over-modulated" is somewhat subject to interpretation. Is it over modulated on a scope, or on a meter, or to the receiver which may or may not hear things all the same? Also is the NB on on the radio, any other of this new fan dangled noise reduction circuitry? All of these things can change the way a radio hears as well as poor receive in general. But yes, a lot of CB's are over modulated no matter how you look it it.
You know what's funny, years and years ago, we never even worried about swing, especially in the tube days using wattmeters like the Drake W4. We tuned the radio (or amp or whatever) for maximum carrier and just talked on it. Heck, about 90% of the time, the Drake meter would swing down when you talked on it, not forward. Using scopes we could plainly see the radio had both positive and negative peaks but that meter back then sure didn't ever show it. I don't think I even heard of forward swing until sometime in the mid to late 80s. it wasn't something we ever worried about frankly or even heard of
No, I hadn't had anyone to say it sounded "bad" but I don't have a trusted set of ears around here. Lots of contacts but they all think the louder and boomier the better.
My Washington was one of the three. Both the other two were older Galaxy's. One is a Pluto. Not sure about the other. I was told that the Pluto hadn't been worked on since 1991, but that everything was bone stock (whatever that means).
The wattmeter was a Dosy TC4001P. Showed about a 4x swing from dead key to peak on both those Galaxy's and barely any on my Washington.
I haven't yet. It was working fine when I got it. I've been running it a month or so.
This is the next step. I just got my QT60 back today so I'm going to put it in the wife's Yukon and listen to my boy yak on the Washington.
Just shy of 40 watts, dead stable.
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Yeah, I've gotten a couple from him now and he's been great.
I've had the radio for about a month I think and it worked fine. BUT I never bothered putting it on a meter when I got it. Just pulled the QT60 out and slapped the Washington in.
slowmover
Active Member
Im sure it was just fine when he shipped it out, but what happened? I kinda want to look inside for a cold solder joint or a poofed diode. And that's aside from all the other things that can goober up a radio.
slowmover
Active Member
Need a DAIWA 901 or other (powered) true PEP Meter, to be sure.
Reference Choice
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I bought the 501 to help set up radio rig:
Daiwa Products CN-501H Daiwa CN-501H HF/VHF Bench Meters | DX Engineering
Free Shipping - Daiwa CN-501H HF/VHF Bench Meters with qualifying orders of $99. Shop SWR/Wattmeters at DX Engineering.
Be sure it runs on batt or DC.
— The DOSY meters ain’t worth much —
I ran my 945e about 12k miles before and after transition to QT60 with KL7505 amp. No antenna whack-a-doodle.
The 959 E-Z to run an amp. That was more about twin antenna set-up.
The 60W(?) QT60 I was more worried about in radio::amp match as antennas now ideal (short of having analyzer).
Correlated 945e with the D501 before leaving house. Cross-needle is the bees knees for adjustments any part of total system.
KL7505 = 225W Average and 265W PEP then divided by two antennas. (30A continuous). 10W Drive, max. So figure 100W per 8’ SIRIO.
.
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OK, full power on FM with reduced output for AM makes me wonder about the modulation section. If your modulation is messed up, FM will still key at full power, it just won't have the same deviation. The audio will be way down on FM if that's part of the problem.
This confusion is my fault. I was referencing the RF power "levels" as defined in the menu (e.g. 1 through 10). Not actual output watts.
My carrier watts are where they should be for each level (although not exactly linear).
The issue was that when I put it on the Dosy meter to read peak it wasn't swinging.
The only reason I had it on the meter was to dial DOWN the dead key to about 4 watts, and to make sure it wasn't swinging more that 100% modulation. That and I don't have a scope.
I've been through all the menu options about four separate times with menu in hand. I'm quite sure it isn't a settings issue.
Maybe it's a meter issue. Maybe it isn't an issue at all.
slowmover
Active Member
Ran out of time:
KL7505 = 225W Average and 265W PEP then divided by two antennas. (30A continuous). 10W Drive, max. So figure 100W per 8’ SIRIO at max radio drive.
Adjusted radio to deliver less than 10W (7-8?) and average output per antenna was still acceptably high (relative). “High” being that one wants big truck to match in performance what my pickup can do with single roof-mount and 45W.
PEP Meter a lifesaver. NANO-VNA on my list (or Rig Expert).
DC Clamp Ammeter another tool worth having.
What does it draw?
.
KL7505 = 225W Average and 265W PEP then divided by two antennas. (30A continuous). 10W Drive, max. So figure 100W per 8’ SIRIO at max radio drive.
Adjusted radio to deliver less than 10W (7-8?) and average output per antenna was still acceptably high (relative). “High” being that one wants big truck to match in performance what my pickup can do with single roof-mount and 45W.
PEP Meter a lifesaver. NANO-VNA on my list (or Rig Expert).
DC Clamp Ammeter another tool worth having.
What does it draw?
.
Ok so in recap, you have a radio you were talking on, nothing was wrong,(that you knew of) and you put is on Dosy meter to dial down the dead key and by that alone you decided there "may be" a problem with the radio? I just want to make sure I got this here.
"IF" the radio was set up correctly, (well at least in the case of most radios) with an adjustable carrier (dead key) you should be fine. Over modulation can be corrected by mic gain if that even ever becomes a factor.
OR, perhaps a Bird 43P with the appropriate slug. That being said, those are pretty good too for what they are.
Glad to hear nothing is wrong with the radio. Better than having to box it up and ship it back!
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