Is anyone aware of modifications which can be done to this model so it will accept a higher input wattage?

About the lowest I can get mine is 20 (on the radio's meter, a bit higher using an external meter). Either at minimum or max, it drops off quickly after about three seconds.

With current skip conditions & mega stations like double nickel jamming up channels all day despite being 2k miles away (no matter what the conditions), I can't get a read locally or skipped.