Columbia linear install question

No skip.Used a 2 Predator 10k antennas,Andrews low loss helix coax,SWR 1.2,Galaxy 99 tuned by high plains CB in Ontario Cali (50 watts) and just about any place out west on flat ground= 40 to 50 miles. On the east cost the range is more like 5 to 10 miles,this is mobile to mobile. Don't think that every time i go out that i do this because not many people even have their radios on anymore,but i have done it a few times. Also. On top a high mountain here close to the house i talk to the boys back home on their base stations (125 air miles + or -) with the same setup.

On SSB i have talked a lot further,but I'm sure you know that yourself.

Its all about your location and it also depends on how well the station your talking is setup. You just cant throw this stuff together and expect it to have the maximum performance with out doing a little work first. Hell,with my 95T i have gotten my name called many many times on the bowl when i have been out west,and that's just with a 125 watt radio and nothing else.

 

Look into Magna Force now renamed TNT made by X Force, or get an X Force amp and have them at X Force add biasing for you....I ran a 2970DX driving a MF600 (straight 4 pill) for years on SSB with great results....I can tell you first hand on SSB that setup is a talker, and not bad on AM either, wish I never sold it.....I do have an X Force that has been shipped and is in transit now so I'll be back on the air before too long !!

 

As Carolina Thunder said in his posts its all about your install, specifically grounding...

 

Even with the bias and the SSB delay relay (I really think all they add is the relay and that's it,you just cant add the bias,it is something that has to be built into the amp and not added later for it to work correctly) they are not as clean as a Texas Star because that is just an add on. Those amps were never built to be SSB amps and they just add that so people will buy them. I mean they work but if you ever hear an amp that was built to be used on ssb and one that was not you would understand what i'm talking about.......not to mention seeing them both on a scope!

 

Rolling is who I just bought my X Force from and he is the only one who works on my radios now that Mr 1 Stop (Frank) is no longer tuning....Doc has quite a rep on those 2510's for sure have heard nothing but good about his work..

 

I guess I wasn't real clear on my post sorry !! The bias has been changed from class C to class B by X Force at the time of build you are correct....Thats the beauty of custom built, they can be built to order so to speak or at least X Force will anyway....yeah I've heard the Texas Stars are a bit cleaner I thought I read or heard they are class AB1 or something ?? dunno I'm not that familiar with them...

Most 11m operators (key word being most) couldn't notice the difference in SSB DX land anyway IMO......

Now the ham bands are a bit different those cats can tell...I would never use that combo on 10m anyway....Back before I got tired of the a-holes on 10m and sold off my gear I ran a Icom 756 ProII, Ameritron AL-811HX, W2IHY boxes, Heil PR40 mic, and a Palstar tuner......now that was clean AUDIO !! LOL I bit much for the average 11m operator I know, but you'd be surprised how many hams drop down to 11m when its open myself included !!

 

Where is this (2 feet away) ground you speak of ?
There isnt a suffient ground with in 2' anywhere near my Columbia's dash.
Not a ground that I would use for an Amp anyway.