Linears: Tell me what I need to know before I buy

Sheesh.. and I thought hobbies were supposed to be fun.

 

I love CB radio, but let's get a perspective. It's 2017, CB radio is extremely unpopular in American culture. Powerful computers that were once too large to fit in an oversized suitcase now fit in your pocket with room to spare, and they allow you to talk and video chat across the world. In CB land, it's mostly static out there except for a few *usually* friendly voices out there.
Meanhwhile, we're amongst a tense political climate with people fearing for their well-being, even on our home soil. Public education for American youth is not great now, and not looking better in the future. You're probably busting your butts everyday trying to safely make a decent living. You have loved ones--family and friends-- who are worried about you as you are them. How much longer can we rely on fossil fuels and their rising costs? What's going on with a planet that is going to become overcrowded in our lifetime-- good luck to the agricultural engineers, we'll all need it.

Maybe at your next break, call a loved one. Take a walk. Anything but argue with strangers on a CB radio forum.

But then again, please tell us who is right about CB antennas and amplifiers? The rest of us--CB enthusiasts and regular people, alike--are dying to know.

 

the problem I have is the other individual thinks the specifications mean absolutely nothing therefore requiring absolutely no math.
he thinks it's all plug-and-play just like a car stereo. He thinks that the idiots building these Class C amplifiers are Electronics geniuses whose word is the final word on the subject. he thinks that an amplifier with 32 transistors requires the same amount of Drive as an amplifier with two transistors and makes no distinction between either one.
Then you failed to correct him allowing him to think that his preconceived notions are correct so that he could spread them to other people.

 

Unless he touches your equipment (gasp!), so what? There's plenty worse out there. And do you think you're going to convince him otherwise on this forum?

 

They are fun! If you don't pay any attention to the folks that tell you that what you're doing doesn't work or "mine is better." Or try to confuse you with technical crap that 99% of folks will never have any use for knowing.

I'm a trucker. I have been interested in CB since I was a kid. Had one in all my pickups as a teenager and beyond. Also had several amps. Still do today. I tried to learn as much as I could about the equipment so I didn't have to replace a piece that I foolishly tore up.

Here's what I've learned about CB's and amps: just like anything else, if ya run 'em easy, they'll last. If ya try to squeeze every last milliwatt out of em, well.... doesn't usually take long to start havin' trouble.

My own personal rule is run stuff at about 1/2 to 2/3 what it's rated for wattage-wise. I set my radio to drive my Midnight Special 500 at 300 or so watts swing. Drive my little KL-203 at 100 watts swing.

It may not be SQUEAKY clean, but nobody complains about bleedover and I've never blown an amp. Can leave 'em on all day no problems.

Also, I run in the oilfield. Haul frac sand. Usually short hauls, a bunch every day. Working with the same group all the time. The radio never shuts up. We use 'em constantly. So my equipment sees a TON of use.

Sometimes I hear a radio that's super loud, clear as a bell, soundin' good in my neighborhood. I compliment the operator and maybe we chat a while. And I never worry about whether mine sounds better or louder or gets out farther than his. Cuz see, contrary to popular belief, it's not a contest to talk over other people out here. I don't stand around with a group of my buddies and every time one of 'em starts to say somethin' I holler real loud over him. And when I holler, I'm just hollerin' about how loud I can holler and can't nobody holler as loud as me..... over and over and over....

Rant off. I'm out.

 

"You gotta know when to hold 'me, know when to fold 'em."

Kenny Rogers was really singing about internet fights back in 1978. Wise man.

 

Amen --- do the best you can with what you've got.... thank you

 

Hold me?
"You really gotta hold on me" Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

Sorry.. im broke down and bored

 

in other words an oscilloscope is a completely useless tool that has no basis in reality........
apparently a bird wattmeter is the only tool a radio technician needs and anything else is just Hocus Pocus.

 

I suppose you're right. I just hate to see people waste their money