Not getting out well...

He probably means the finals are burnt, and that happens when you key up w/o an antenna hooked up or have a high swr and you key up for long periods of time.

On the amp question, yes you hook the amp directly to the battery. Don't try using the cigg lighter or using one of the accessory ports on the fuse block, if so equipped.

 

One other thing you may want to invest in, and thats a in-line SWR/Power Meter so you can see just how many watts your radio is doing, plus be able to check your SWR...

That radio should be swinging at least 40-50 watts, if it's not then you have a problem with the radio which could also be why people say they can't hear you more than a mile...

As for antenna's. "Taller the better". Try and stay away from anything under 5'......Or, you'll still have the same problem with people not hearing you far off....

 

Did he say if that radio had been tuned to that amp? If so it is possible that ur radio has been turned down to about 3/4 of a watt. I know on my RCI6300 I had it turned down and a variable control (allows me to turn my wattage up or down) installed. this way I could run barefoot or with my box on and wouldnt fry my pills. You should ask if this is the case. If he had it turned down maybe he too went with a variable. If not put that box inline and recheck the SWRs and go to town driver.

 

A 10K will do u no good unless u have the 10K watts to push thru that antenna. I would go with a Wilson 1000 or 2000. I run the 2000, but i have about 1300 watts coming out of it. If you dont have the power to push out of a big antenna it wont do anything but look good. If you r running barefoot radio then I would go with the 1000. Even with th ebox u mentioned if its less than 1000 watts the wilson 1000 will be more than enough for you to get a good match and talk further than 1 mile.

 

When your SWR meter read 1.1 to 1.5 your antenna, coax cable and antenna ground plane are quite good. Changing the antenna or coax cable will not solve the problem of short range. The antenna ground plane is not the problem or your SWR would be significantly higher.
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That leaves the radio as the most likely cause. Did the previous owner of the radio de-tune the radio because they were running an amp? My best guess is they did.

 

1,000 watts I have worked moonbounce with 700

Antennas make or break a station power much over 100 watts really does not buy you much.

Antennas agan are a matter of what works for you I run HAMSTICKS on HF they are the ham ver of firesticks never had a problem with them on any band.