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CB AMP question

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by 1source, Sep 17, 2014.

Page 1 of 4
  1. Sep 17, 2014 #1
    1source

    1source Bobtail Member

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    Sep 26, 2012
    Old town ,AL
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    This is the question, can you take a stock radio like a cobra29 or a uniden out the box an hook it up to a Amp with no modification or do you need to get the dead key down 2 watts and swing high and all that peak and tune jazz. because I see some amps want a Input Drive: 2-18 watt carrier and most stock radios are 4 watts out the box. :biggrin_25518:PLEASE no FCC against the law B.S we all no. just want a answer. no legal advice thanks
     
    1source, Sep 17, 2014
    1source, Sep 17, 2014
    #1
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  3. Sep 17, 2014 #2
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013

    ThatFlatbedGuy2013 Medium Load Member

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    Sounds like you are going to need a lawyer...just kidding. I'm actually not sure why the law only allows 4 watts as they get a little higher peak output out of the box...4 watt deadkey maybe? Anyways I don't see why an unmodded radio to an amp as long as the input specs are met, and Uniden certainly meets those specs.
     
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013, Sep 17, 2014
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013, Sep 17, 2014
    #2
  4. Sep 17, 2014 #3
    Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    West Monroe, La
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    My understanding is you will have to take the radio & amp to a CB shop so they can tune/match the CB to the amp. So, to answer your question directly, no, you can not just buy a CB off the shelf (out of the box) & connect it to an amp.
     
    Grumppy, Sep 17, 2014
    Grumppy, Sep 17, 2014
    #3
  5. Sep 17, 2014 #4
    1source

    1source Bobtail Member

    43
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    Sep 26, 2012
    Old town ,AL
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    I understand what you saying but if a amp specifies Input Drive: 2-18 watt carrier. Don't you think that would work. I wouldn't think you would be over driving a small AMP with a stock radio.
     
    1source, Sep 17, 2014
    1source, Sep 17, 2014
    #4
  7. Sep 17, 2014 #5
    kor b

    kor b Light Load Member

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    Dec 16, 2008
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    We need to know the CONFIGURATION of the pills in the amp first. Even if it's a newer amp with mosfits. A good radio to drive a small amp is a Cobra or Unidan with a dead key of two swinging to eight. This radio would drive a one pill or a one pill driving four. As in a five pill. If this makes no sense to you just keep asking. You need to understand this stuff before throwing a lot of money into it.
     
    kor b, Sep 17, 2014
    kor b, Sep 17, 2014
    #5
  8. Sep 17, 2014 #6
    kor b

    kor b Light Load Member

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    A lot of swing as in a dead key of four swinging to thirty is just bleeding over other cannels. 1/4 is a good ratio. 2 swinging to 8. 4 swinging to 16. The bigger the amp. the more important this is.
     
    kor b, Sep 17, 2014
    kor b, Sep 17, 2014
    #6
  9. Sep 17, 2014 #7
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Dec 18, 2011
    Michigan
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    Yes, you can. IF you get an amp that is properly designed and well built, no issues about input power below 10 watts.

    The problem is finding one - most of these amps are just plain crap.
     
    Ridgeline, Sep 17, 2014
    Ridgeline, Sep 17, 2014
    #7
  10. Sep 17, 2014 #8
    Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    Rosamond, SoCal
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    Its not a matter of just tuning down the radio, its a matter of hooking them up together, into test eq, like a scope or analyzer and tuning the radio to have the correct amount of drive, which in turn will give clean clear audio people can understand.

    The above used to be called marring the radio to the amp, but in this day and age someone is liable to get the output plugged into the output, then rude things may happen to your radio.
     
    Powder Joints, Sep 17, 2014
    Powder Joints, Sep 17, 2014
    #8
  11. Sep 18, 2014 #9
    jessejamesdallas

    jessejamesdallas Road Train Member

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    Republic of Texas
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    With Most of the "CB" Amplifiers, you can run a stock-plane-Jane CB Radio with them right out of the box....

    The reason people tell you to have the radio turned down to just a 1 1/2 to 2 watt DK, is because it will let the Amp run a little cooler and in theory make it last longer...Mater-a-fact, by using a stock radio that hasn't had any Golden Screwdrivers stuck in the back of it to get every little flicker of watts out, will probably have a cleaner signal when using a Amp vs. a radio that's been all tweaked-out and has had the DK turned down to 2w's.
     
    jessejamesdallas, Sep 18, 2014
    jessejamesdallas, Sep 18, 2014
    #9
    Mad Dog 20/20 Thanks this.
  12. Sep 18, 2014 #10
    1source

    1source Bobtail Member

    43
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    Sep 26, 2012
    Old town ,AL
    0
    This is why I ask the question I don't want anyone to put the Golden Screwdrivers to my radio I just want to add my little foot warmer to my stock radio and not get my radio gutted and all my insides are laying on the CB DOCTOR bench. The stats on my 250 are Input Drive: 2-18 watt carrier, 110 pep Out of box
     
    1source, Sep 18, 2014
    1source, Sep 18, 2014
    #10
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