best to let pros tune the ol cb I think

The problem with tuning a radio properly is there is more to it than just adjusting the pots. You really need a good understanding of the electronics being used and what they actually do in conjunction with each other. Then having the proper equipment to make sure the extra power is on frequency is necessary. The next factor is what you are actually using the radio for. I tune mine in order to drive an amplifier so I never go above 100% modulation and I do a swing mod that works best for the amplifiers I run. When volting the final the way I was taught I am able to get 10 bird watts out of most cobra and unidens which drives my amps great.

As far as how often a radio needs re-tuned, it depends on the radio and the environment its in. If you run bumpy roads or even off road a lot there is a chance that vibration could effect the tuning but I've only ever seen that once in a dump truck on a galaxy 99v. I have wax over my pots to prevent this although I doubt it's needed for my personal radio's.

 

Shades of the Heathkit and Drakes

 

When you run an amplifier all it is going to do is amplify whatever signal your radio puts into it. So if you are dead keying 2 watts on the radio and it will swing to 30 watts PEP then on my 5 pill for instance you would be dead keying 150w and swinging to 1100w PEP or 400 bird.

On those little RM Italy amps I wouldn't put much more than 2-3 watts into one. Also you are pretty much correct when you say the more power you radio puts out the more power your amp will put out. But the thing to remember is it really doesn't matter what you PEP watts are, the only watts that matter are your avg watts or Bird watts.

Amplifiers depending on size need a certain amount of input in order to create the best output. So sometimes an amp will have a built in driver stage that will allow you to use less power from you radio and in turn drive more pills or tubes even. Basically it's spreading the load out over more equipment. But you're right it can be built into the amp or you can run two separate amps or more depending on what your driving. To get a desired output level because this allows you to volt the final stage box to get even more power out of it with out frying your driver stage.

There's a lot to this stuff once you start running power but this is just an over simplification to try and help you out.

 

Details please. Maybe a link?

Ted

 

I think I may have found it. H&Y Electronics? (With what I thought had high shipping costs in another thread.)

Anyhoo - another one on order.

Ted

 

The BEST cb shop we have ever dealt with is at exit 10 on 70 and 127. ( Eaton,OH). At the TA there is a fella who has had his shop there 34 yrs. "Roser Radio" .We havnt been to anybody else in 11 yrs. Since he was referred to us. This fella KNOWS his business! Prices are more than fair AND u get to watch him work on your equipment right there! No taking your stuff around a corner or into another room and chopping it up. He works while u wait - always stamps the lid of ur equipment ( so u KNOW who was in it & when) This is the ONLY cb shop out there we would even " consider" recommending.He is sent equipment from all over the U.S. ..oh! And he also works on laptops and pc's too! Like I said ; he's good.If this guy can't fix it...then believe us, it CAN'T be fixed! Hopes this helps those who have been done wrong in the past! Or jet don't know where to go. Take care.