Amp suggestions for big radio's

**stang** · 06-03-2014, 11:03 PM

Hi all I'm looking for amp suggestions for a couple big radios. I have a RCI 6900 f25 and a RCI 2970 (on the way) Now I'm looking for a good amp for one or both of them. My base station will likely have the 2970 and with the Sirio Gainmaster antenna I am running I am limited to about 500 watts. On the other hand the 6900 will probably go in the Jeep I drive daily. I'm thinking I'll put the uniden PC122 in my other jeep with the texas star 350. Since they seem to work well together. Doubt I want to go much above a 4 pill so I don't have to worry about changing the alternator etc.. But I do want good clean amps with AB bias for sideband use. I also want to make sure whatever amp(s) I do get can handle the power of the radios without locking up like the 350 does being driven with the rci 6900.

I'm thinking I would like to get two alike or at least by the same manufacturer so the spare parts could be interchangeable.

Which brings up a second question what kind of spares should be kept on hand. BTW I live two miles down an old logging road. ROUGH is an UNDERSTATEMENT.

I also have the 2970 getting a switch to turn the internal amp off in case I want to run either barefoot or with a larger external amp. It's not the new 2970n2 it's one of the older models.

Thanks in advance for any pointers you may be able to give.

**stang** · 06-04-2014, 08:22 PM

Come on no one has any suggestions?

I'm leaning toward a texas star 500 would that work without locking up like the 350 I have now?

Thanks

**Tallman** · 07-15-2014, 10:18 PM

http://www.hyelectronics.com/DX-500-...tinfo/DX-500V/

**JesseJamesDallas** · 06-04-2014, 09:37 PM

My suggestion would be a clean Cobra 29 (Taiwan or Phillipines) and the 4 pill...Nothing wrong with a Texas Star 500, but something like a 1x4 Davemade or some other custom built box would really make that Cobra 29 come alive!

**222DBFL** · 06-04-2014, 11:50 PM

You are going to be limited as far as what amp you can get when using a radio like the 2970. Most would recommend a 6 or 8 pill amp in would think. The 350 you have is definitely not useable with the 2970, leave that for the pc122. You are going to have to have that radio de tuned to run a 4 pill and not blow it up IMO. I could be wrong but looking at the spec sheets, unless you can get your dead key to around 10 watts or less, you risk damaging the amp IMO. What do you think JJD?? I know you know a lot more than I do that's why I am directing it to you as I am not an expert in this field. I do know that I use a uniden 980 with my 4 pill and it works great!! No hear issues and it's clean. No complaints, just compliments so far. But I am just loafing the amp along now as I want to keep it for a while. Thanks for any and all replies JJD, like I said I know you know what you are speaking about and that I have learned much by listening to what you and others say. Thanks much and god bless.

**856** · 06-05-2014, 05:13 AM

What are your radios currently putting out?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

**stang** · 06-05-2014, 07:16 AM

Thank you guys.

I'll either sell the cobra 29 or put it in my ford ( which I haven't driven in 2 years) I don't have the 2970 in hand yet. But I did tell them to install a switch to cut the on board amp on and off. The 6900 dead keys about 2w and swings 55-60 pep with the variable power down low. The pc-122 dead keys 5-6 watts swings 15-18. The cobra dead keys 1 watt swings 18. The cobra is a good radio but I talk a fair amount of ssb and free band is where most of the locals around me talk 26.6750. In the mobile I don't mind going over a 4 pill other than I don't want to upgrade the alternator. On the base I am limited to what the gainmaster can handle.

Thanks

**NY714** · 06-05-2014, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by stang

Hi all I'm looking for amp suggestions for a couple big radios. I have a RCI 6900 f25 and a RCI 2970 (on the way) Now I'm looking for a good amp for one or both of them. My base station will likely have the 2970 and with the Sirio Gainmaster antenna I am running I am limited to about 500 watts. On the other hand the 6900 will probably go in the Jeep I drive daily. I'm thinking I'll put the uniden PC122 in my other jeep with the texas star 350. Since they seem to work well together. Doubt I want to go much above a 4 pill so I don't have to worry about changing the alternator etc.. But I do want good clean amps with AB bias for sideband use. I also want to make sure whatever amp(s) I do get can handle the power of the radios without locking up like the 350 does being driven with the rci 6900.

I'm thinking I would like to get two alike or at least by the same manufacturer so the spare parts could be interchangeable.

Which brings up a second question what kind of spares should be kept on hand. BTW I live two miles down an old logging road. ROUGH is an UNDERSTATEMENT.

I also have the 2970 getting a switch to turn the internal amp off in case I want to run either barefoot or with a larger external amp. It's not the new 2970n2 it's one of the older models.

Thanks in advance for any pointers you may be able to give.

In my opinion high powered radio's are not good with running amps with in general unless a 6 pill or higher.. But if you choose to the Texas Star 500 straight 4 pill (2 Watt to 40 Total Swing) would be good but have to check the amps on alternator and probably need another battery. Using 1x2 and won't have to worry with that amp draw. Probably only going to see 300-400 watts may not be worth it with high powered radio's. But 1ST of all going to have the deadkeys and swing adjusted to match the amp on the radio's, maybe even a RF power knob put on radio if doesn't have. I personally would use a single final inexpensive radio with a 1x2 Biased Fatboy and get 300-400 watts on SSB and AM and won't have to worry about the radio heating up on long conversations. The 2950 with the Texas Star 500 would be good but will have to increase alternator and add one battery as backup. Then if you peak those high powered radio's up, they heat up so much they wind up blowing up in car. Those high powered radio can be tuned upwards of 300-400 watts but won't last with heat issue. That's why if plan on power, always low power radio and small. medium, or large amp.

PS - Anything larger than a 1x2 or a straight 2 pill will need more than 90 amp alternator and extra battery. In my opinion, and that is using Texas Star or Fatboy. Sometimes these other amps draw even more, check the spec's.

**stang** · 06-05-2014, 01:10 PM

Thanks everyone.

Supposed to pick up a used texas star 500 tomorrow long as everything checks out with it. $200 seems like a pretty fair price for it. Guess I need to start looking for a six pill next. Or maybe not, might do better to just turn the radio(s) back down a bit and find another 4 pill. What 714, 222 and others have said I would rather not push anything to hard. I'm not after every possible watt just good clean talking and long life out of everything.

I'm not typically long winded so I think the 1000 CCA gold series battery I just put in the jeep with the 120 amp factory alternator will probably be okay, if it turns out not to be I do have a good alternator connection. There really isn't room for a second battery in the jeep. With two kids storage / carry space is at a premium.

I like the texas star amps because they sound clean and are ssb ready. I'm sure some of the others are as good or even better. But for basic communication and a bit of DXing not competition they seem to work well for me.

As soon as the other radio comes in I'll be rearranging everything. No since in moving things several times. Still debating hard mounting that 102" steel whip on the roof of the jeep and selling the wilson 1000 I bought a few months ago. That or getting one of the Sirio 5000 that can fold down without tools. Does anyone make a hard mount that can fold over the same way? Am I correct thinking a 102" SS whip is better than all the others?

My main goal here is for my mobile to be able to talk back to home base from 25-30 miles consistently. Far as the base goes I would like to reach out 75 miles or so. If I could make the mobile do the same I would love it but I think that would take more than I am willing to spend.

**NY714** · 06-05-2014, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by stang

Thanks everyone.

Supposed to pick up a used texas star 500 tomorrow long as everything checks out with it. $200 seems like a pretty fair price for it. Guess I need to start looking for a six pill next. Or maybe not, might do better to just turn the radio(s) back down a bit and find another 4 pill. What 714, 222 and others have said I would rather not push anything to hard. I'm not after every possible watt just good clean talking and long life out of everything.

I'm not typically long winded so I think the 1000 CCA gold series battery I just put in the jeep with the 120 amp factory alternator will probably be okay, if it turns out not to be I do have a good alternator connection. There really isn't room for a second battery in the jeep. With two kids storage / carry space is at a premium.

I like the texas star amps because they sound clean and are ssb ready. I'm sure some of the others are as good or even better. But for basic communication and a bit of DXing not competition they seem to work well for me.

As soon as the other radio comes in I'll be rearranging everything. No since in moving things several times. Still debating hard mounting that 102" steel whip on the roof of the jeep and selling the wilson 1000 I bought a few months ago. That or getting one of the Sirio 5000 that can fold down without tools. Does anyone make a hard mount that can fold over the same way? Am I correct thinking a 102" SS whip is better than all the others?

My main goal here is for my mobile to be able to talk back to home base from 25-30 miles consistently. Far as the base goes I would like to reach out 75 miles or so. If I could make the mobile do the same I would love it but I think that would take more than I am willing to spend.

That is a great price on Amp. Should be good with 125 Amp alternator and 1000CC Battery. But not my area of expertise. Someone else on forum may know if will be good. When you key up and radio and other electrical items in car go crazy, that should let you know. Basically the reason for second battery is for the amp to run by itself on second battery and the main battery would remain for the vehicle itself. Then when the second battery drained down to a certain point the 125 Amp alternator would just charge that one battery at a time, I believe. Sure someone else knows the exact details. I wanted to go with the straight 4 pill, but my 90 Amp would cut it, and even got the yellow top Optima Battery, Deep Cycle, I believe. But even when i key with my 1x2 notice change in idle, but nothing with radio or other electrical items.