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Need help setting up my radio
This is the place to post your general tips or ask questions about your installation, whether it's for mobile or base stations.
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23 posts
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- bcbadboy
- Super Mud-Duck
- Posts: 8
- Joined: December 21st, 2007, 5:25 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Antenna: Wilson 500
- Radio: President Lincoln II
- halfwatt959
- Skipshooter
- Posts: 336
- Joined: February 3rd, 2014, 4:06 pm
- Real Name: karl hammons sr
- Antenna: maco base/ whip mobi
- Radio: too many to list
Re: Need help setting up my radio
Post by halfwatt959 »
Hello and welcome to the party. Tell us a little about your setup radio, antenna and coax and stuff. We will help all we can with advice. I'm sure there are some members in your area you should be able to make some contacts. Good luck and 73s.
2 and 3/4 DX RADIO CHAOS. Halfwatt959 " I MAY NOT CAN FIX IT BUT I CAN TAKE IT APART"
I HATE COMPUTERS!!!!!
I HATE COMPUTERS!!!!!
- bcbadboy
- Super Mud-Duck
- Posts: 8
- Joined: December 21st, 2007, 5:25 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Antenna: Wilson 500
- Radio: President Lincoln II
Re: Need help setting up my radio
Post by Deleted User 14541 »
You've got a clean sounding radio and a decent antenna. The roger beep seems like it goes on forever though.I'm assuming the wilson 500 it is on the roof. You could get a little more out of a longer hard mount antenna or an amplifier. If that Lincoln is a 40 watt radio you're looking at a 4 pill that would put you in the 500 watt range. Be prepared for RF interference with the vehicle electronics. You may not have any issues but it's always a possibility.
- drdx
- Donor
- Posts: 5944
- Joined: April 25th, 2007, 12:32 pm
- Handle: dollar-98
- Real Name: David
- Antenna: Many
- Radio: Many-
- Contact:
- bcbadboy
- Super Mud-Duck
- Posts: 8
- Joined: December 21st, 2007, 5:25 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Antenna: Wilson 500
- Radio: President Lincoln II
Re: Need help setting up my radio
543FtWorth wrote:You've got a clean sounding radio and a decent antenna. The roger beep seems like it goes on forever though.I'm assuming the wilson 500 it is on the roof. You could get a little more out of a longer hard mount antenna or an amplifier. If that Lincoln is a 40 watt radio you're looking at a 4 pill that would put you in the 500 watt range. Be prepared for RF interference with the vehicle electronics. You may not have any issues but it's always a possibility.
Hey 543FtWorth!! Thanks for the reply. I think I'll go ahead and take the roger beep off. Yes, the Wilson is magnet mounted on my truck roof. What antenna do you suggest getting? I really don't want to get into amps. I heard those damage radios if not properly installed. My truck is full of technology, so that would be another reason not to get one. It took me forever to tune the SWR's, and I was able to get 1.0 on 1, 1.0 on 20 and 1.0 on 40. I was told that is perfect, and to leave it like that.
-- Tuesday, 10 November 2015, 15:24 --
Thank you drdx, I'm in Mansfield, Tarrant County. I'd like to see if I can reach you on night. Let me know when your're on, and what channel.drdx wrote:Welcome, what part of the dfw area are you in? I'm here in collin county.
-drdx
(edited by MDY, removed multiple posts)
Re: Need help setting up my radio
Post by Deleted User 14541 »
Better antenna is a hard question to answer because we all have different needs and vehicles. You aren't doing bad now and I don't want you to buy something that doesn't really help you. If you're going to stay with a mag mount I'd call it good and talk on it. I wasn't having any trouble hearing you but don't get discouraged on a Saturday night when several base stations running power are all going at once. 35 has became a real zoo lately but hopefully the cool weather brings back some of the old 28 crowd.
A 102 whip is king but you have to use it right. It needs to be on the roof of a decent size vehicle, the bigger the roof under it the better. You can find an aluminum whip adjuster that will allow you to fine tune a whip. In the past people used the 6 inch spring if the antenna needed to be longer.
Most of the current is a 1/4 wave from the tip of the antenna that means most of the radiating is done at the base. Mounting the 102 on the bumper is shooting yourself in the foot. It will work, swr is low and people do it all the time but they could do so much better with a shorter antenna on the roof where it belongs.
I use a puck mount on the roof of my truck but it requires an 1.5" hole and 4 3/8" holes in the roof. The open coil antennas like the Predator 10k work well but a firestick or skipshooter of about the same length works as well if not better. I ran a predator for years and switched to a 6ft skipshooter recently. It handles the power I have fine, seems to be less noisy. More loading towards top = more radiation higher up. If you do switch antennas look for center or top loading vs the base load you have now. A base load can be shunt fed to make tuning easier and since they are DC grounded they can help with static. Everything has pros and cons.
Sorry I didn't really answer your question. You'll get a lot of different answers when it comes to the best antenna.
A 102 whip is king but you have to use it right. It needs to be on the roof of a decent size vehicle, the bigger the roof under it the better. You can find an aluminum whip adjuster that will allow you to fine tune a whip. In the past people used the 6 inch spring if the antenna needed to be longer.
Most of the current is a 1/4 wave from the tip of the antenna that means most of the radiating is done at the base. Mounting the 102 on the bumper is shooting yourself in the foot. It will work, swr is low and people do it all the time but they could do so much better with a shorter antenna on the roof where it belongs.
I use a puck mount on the roof of my truck but it requires an 1.5" hole and 4 3/8" holes in the roof. The open coil antennas like the Predator 10k work well but a firestick or skipshooter of about the same length works as well if not better. I ran a predator for years and switched to a 6ft skipshooter recently. It handles the power I have fine, seems to be less noisy. More loading towards top = more radiation higher up. If you do switch antennas look for center or top loading vs the base load you have now. A base load can be shunt fed to make tuning easier and since they are DC grounded they can help with static. Everything has pros and cons.
Sorry I didn't really answer your question. You'll get a lot of different answers when it comes to the best antenna.
-
- Wordwide & Qualified
- Posts: 574
- Joined: January 30th, 2015, 3:23 am
Need help setting up my radio
Breedlove does make a one hole mount, just FYI. They do have 2"and 3" one hole mounts. And as far as antennas. Like 543 stated, a 102"whip and riser would be best, but are tall!! A good all around antenna that works well that I've been using for a while now is the sirio performer 5000. They are a longer than the Wilson 5000 and height is might. At almost 7ft with mount, your not too far off from a 102" 1/4 wave and whip and riser but these antennas can fold over and most of the time the 2ft less if about the perfect length. Not too high, but high enough. The sirio antennas are of good quality. Add a 3" one hole pl259 to terminal connect on the bottom and they make a good combo. On SSB I've talked to base stations while running about 50 watts, almost 70 miles away. 30-50 miles consistently when the band wasn't filled with a million people!! And they work well for dxing as well. Just some food for thought. You might be able to add a TNT 350hd to that radio if you have the power turned back. Pep power as well as DK for AM. They are stout little amps. And they aren't bad on electronics as a 4 pill will be!! Run it at 200 watts and it will be clean! Again, just some food for thought. Have a great day. And listen to 543, he knows his stuff!!
- bcbadboy
- Super Mud-Duck
- Posts: 8
- Joined: December 21st, 2007, 5:25 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Antenna: Wilson 500
- Radio: President Lincoln II
Re: Need help setting up my radio
You've said enough to get me to understand about the antenna's. You said you were able to hear me well, what part of FW are you in? I wonder if JesseJames can hear me good. I could hear him in the background, but very low. I guess I'll leave my setup the way it is if it's working.543FtWorth wrote:Better antenna is a hard question to answer because we all have different needs and vehicles. You aren't doing bad now and I don't want you to buy something that doesn't really help you. If you're going to stay with a mag mount I'd call it good and talk on it. I wasn't having any trouble hearing you but don't get discouraged on a Saturday night when several base stations running power are all going at once. 35 has became a real zoo lately but hopefully the cool weather brings back some of the old 28 crowd.
A 102 whip is king but you have to use it right. It needs to be on the roof of a decent size vehicle, the bigger the roof under it the better. You can find an aluminum whip adjuster that will allow you to fine tune a whip. In the past people used the 6 inch spring if the antenna needed to be longer.
Most of the current is a 1/4 wave from the tip of the antenna that means most of the radiating is done at the base. Mounting the 102 on the bumper is shooting yourself in the foot. It will work, swr is low and people do it all the time but they could do so much better with a shorter antenna on the roof where it belongs.
I use a puck mount on the roof of my truck but it requires an 1.5" hole and 4 3/8" holes in the roof. The open coil antennas like the Predator 10k work well but a firestick or skipshooter of about the same length works as well if not better. I ran a predator for years and switched to a 6ft skipshooter recently. It handles the power I have fine, seems to be less noisy. More loading towards top = more radiation higher up. If you do switch antennas look for center or top loading vs the base load you have now. A base load can be shunt fed to make tuning easier and since they are DC grounded they can help with static. Everything has pros and cons.
Sorry I didn't really answer your question. You'll get a lot of different answers when it comes to the best antenna.
-- Wednesday, 11 November 2015, 12:44 --
1206FL, thanks for your input. I'll look into a TNT 350 for DXing. Just worried about burning out my radio. You in Florida?1206FL wrote:Breedlove does make a one hole mount, just FYI. They do have 2"and 3" one hole mounts. And as far as antennas. Like 543 stated, a 102"whip and riser would be best, but are tall!! A good all around antenna that works well that I've been using for a while now is the sirio performer 5000. They are a longer than the Wilson 5000 and height is might. At almost 7ft with mount, your not too far off from a 102" 1/4 wave and whip and riser but these antennas can fold over and most of the time the 2ft less if about the perfect length. Not too high, but high enough. The sirio antennas are of good quality. Add a 3" one hole pl259 to terminal connect on the bottom and they make a good combo. On SSB I've talked to base stations while running about 50 watts, almost 70 miles away. 30-50 miles consistently when the band wasn't filled with a million people!! And they work well for dxing as well. Just some food for thought. You might be able to add a TNT 350hd to that radio if you have the power turned back. Pep power as well as DK for AM. They are stout little amps. And they aren't bad on electronics as a 4 pill will be!! Run it at 200 watts and it will be clean! Again, just some food for thought. Have a great day. And listen to 543, he knows his stuff!!
- silvereagle1
- Donor
- Posts: 1693
- Joined: June 23rd, 2013, 4:55 pm
- Handle: Silver Eagle
- Real Name: Mark
- Antenna: Sirio Turbo 5000
- Radio: President Lincoln 2
- Contact:
Re: Need help setting up my radio
Post by silvereagle1 »
I run the Lincoln 2 with a hard mounted sirio 5000 and a RM KL503 and the setup works great.bcbadboy wrote:Hey halfwatt959,
Thanks for the welcome. I'm running a President Lincoln 2 with a Wilson 500 mag mount. So far the locals say I sound good. I would like to know, what do I need to reach out further?
I drive it at lowest setting on AM and drive it with around 10 pep on SSB. I've never had a bad report and the kl503 never gets hot just a little warm.
President Lincoln 2
Sirio Turbo 5000 Roof Mount
567 East Tennessee
Sirio Turbo 5000 Roof Mount
567 East Tennessee
- bcbadboy
- Super Mud-Duck
- Posts: 8
- Joined: December 21st, 2007, 5:25 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Antenna: Wilson 500
- Radio: President Lincoln II
Re: Need help setting up my radio
Hi Silvereagle1,silvereagle1 wrote:I run the Lincoln 2 with a hard mounted sirio 5000 and a RM KL503 and the setup works great.bcbadboy wrote:Hey halfwatt959,
Thanks for the welcome. I'm running a President Lincoln 2 with a Wilson 500 mag mount. So far the locals say I sound good. I would like to know, what do I need to reach out further?
I drive it at lowest setting on AM and drive it with around 10 pep on SSB. I've never had a bad report and the kl503 never gets hot just a little warm.
Thanks for that information. is that Sirlo 5000 magnet mounted, or physically mounted? I looked up that RM KL503 and can't find it for sale. Any advice on where to get one? What was the price on it?
- bcbadboy
- Super Mud-Duck
- Posts: 8
- Joined: December 21st, 2007, 5:25 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Antenna: Wilson 500
- Radio: President Lincoln II
- MDYoungblood
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10774
- Joined: June 12th, 2010, 8:05 pm
- Handle: MDYoungblood
- Real Name: Gregory
- Antenna: HyGain AV-6160
- Radio: Icom IC-746 (non pro)
- Contact:
Re: Need help setting up my radio
Post by MDYoungblood »
bcbadboy wrote:10-4 I'll look it up. Thanks for the info.1206FL wrote:**Non Sponsor** might sell them. The KL503.
1206FL wrote:**Non Sponsor** might sell them. The KL503.
(edited by MDY, removed non sponsor)
Not long ago there was a big scare to the stores and shops from the FCC sending out letters to them about selling illegal amplifiers and a lot of the stores/shops pulled the items off their online sites but that doesn't mean they don't have them, there is also a sponsor site that sells them if you look.1206FL wrote:**NON-SPONSOR** might sell them. The KL503.
Posting of *Non Sponsor* site is against the forum's rules and that was why they were removed and especially when a sponsor sells the product/items. Please use our sponsors whenever possible, they have some of the best prices on the internet and they help keep the forum running, thanks.
If you have a particular specialty item that you would like to share with a member you could always send it to them via a PM.
3's
Greg/MDY
- bcbadboy
- Super Mud-Duck
- Posts: 8
- Joined: December 21st, 2007, 5:25 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Antenna: Wilson 500
- Radio: President Lincoln II
Re: Need help setting up my radio
MDY, Thank you for that information. I'll take a look at the sponsor links.MDYoungblood wrote:bcbadboy wrote:10-4 I'll look it up. Thanks for the info.1206FL wrote:**Non Sponsor** might sell them. The KL503.1206FL wrote:**Non Sponsor** might sell them. The KL503.
(edited by MDY, removed non sponsor)Not long ago there was a big scare to the stores and shops from the FCC sending out letters to them about selling illegal amplifiers and a lot of the stores/shops pulled the items off their online sites but that doesn't mean they don't have them, there is also a sponsor site that sells them if you look.1206FL wrote:**NON-SPONSOR** might sell them. The KL503.
Posting of *Non Sponsor* site is against the forum's rules and that was why they were removed and especially when a sponsor sells the product/items. Please use our sponsors whenever possible, they have some of the best prices on the internet and they help keep the forum running, thanks.
If you have a particular specialty item that you would like to share with a member you could always send it to them via a PM.
3's
Greg/MDY
- silvereagle1
- Donor
- Posts: 1693
- Joined: June 23rd, 2013, 4:55 pm
- Handle: Silver Eagle
- Real Name: Mark
- Antenna: Sirio Turbo 5000
- Radio: President Lincoln 2
- Contact:
Re: Need help setting up my radio
Post by silvereagle1 »
I drilled a hole with a unibit on top of my car toward the rear center. It calls for 5/8 but that's a little too large is the reason I used a unibit. The rubber seal on the bottom side won't seat with a 5/8 hole.bcbadboy wrote:Hi Silvereagle1,silvereagle1 wrote:I run the Lincoln 2 with a hard mounted sirio 5000 and a RM KL503 and the setup works great.bcbadboy wrote:Hey halfwatt959,
Thanks for the welcome. I'm running a President Lincoln 2 with a Wilson 500 mag mount. So far the locals say I sound good. I would like to know, what do I need to reach out further?
I drive it at lowest setting on AM and drive it with around 10 pep on SSB. I've never had a bad report and the kl503 never gets hot just a little warm.
Thanks for that information. is that Sirlo 5000 magnet mounted, or physically mounted? I looked up that RM KL503 and can't find it for sale. Any advice on where to get one? What was the price on it?
My amp came from Louisville Kentucky if that tells you anything. $149.00 They have them but they don't advertise. A phone call and credit card should be all you need. It's been a couple of years ago but I haven't seen them anywhere else. You could shoot dnj an e-mail or phone call and ask them. They are a sponsor and I've bought amps in the past from them. Very reliable store.
-- Thursday, 12 November 2015, 13:59 PM --
Lincoln 2
RM KL503
Gamber Johnson 212 rack
image.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
President Lincoln 2
Sirio Turbo 5000 Roof Mount
567 East Tennessee
Sirio Turbo 5000 Roof Mount
567 East Tennessee
- bcbadboy
- Super Mud-Duck
- Posts: 8
- Joined: December 21st, 2007, 5:25 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Antenna: Wilson 500
- Radio: President Lincoln II
Re: Need help setting up my radio
silvereagle1 wrote:I drilled a hole with a unibit on top of my car toward the rear center. It calls for 5/8 but that's a little too large is the reason I used a unibit. The rubber seal on the bottom side won't seat with a 5/8 hole.bcbadboy wrote:Hi Silvereagle1,silvereagle1 wrote:I run the Lincoln 2 with a hard mounted sirio 5000 and a RM KL503 and the setup works great.bcbadboy wrote:Hey halfwatt959,
Thanks for the welcome. I'm running a President Lincoln 2 with a Wilson 500 mag mount. So far the locals say I sound good. I would like to know, what do I need to reach out further?
I drive it at lowest setting on AM and drive it with around 10 pep on SSB. I've never had a bad report and the kl503 never gets hot just a little warm.
Thanks for that information. is that Sirlo 5000 magnet mounted, or physically mounted? I looked up that RM KL503 and can't find it for sale. Any advice on where to get one? What was the price on it?
My amp came from Louisville Kentucky if that tells you anything. $149.00 They have them but they don't advertise. A phone call and credit card should be all you need. It's been a couple of years ago but I haven't seen them anywhere else. You could shoot dnj an e-mail or phone call and ask them. They are a sponsor and I've bought amps in the past from them. Very reliable store.
-- Thursday, 12 November 2015, 13:59 PM --
Lincoln 2
RM KL503
Gamber Johnson 212 rackimage.jpg
Very nice setup. I'm looking into that antenna as well as the amp. Thanks for the info. How do you like your President Lincoln II? I love mine so far. I have the Galaxy 98VHP 10 years ago, and I thought that radio was the **Censored**! This one is better. Smaller and louder.
- silvereagle1
- Donor
- Posts: 1693
- Joined: June 23rd, 2013, 4:55 pm
- Handle: Silver Eagle
- Real Name: Mark
- Antenna: Sirio Turbo 5000
- Radio: President Lincoln 2
- Contact:
Re: Need help setting up my radio
Post by silvereagle1 »
It's the best radio that I've had so far and I've had a galaxy 99v2 and president grant 2 and neither come close to the Lincoln 2. The Grant 2 is close just less features. The sirio 5000 is a more broad banded antenna which matches well with the Lincoln. The Lincoln is a decent radio on 10 meters too because it tunes in 1khz steps instead of 5's and 10's like the grant 2.
President Lincoln 2
Sirio Turbo 5000 Roof Mount
567 East Tennessee
Sirio Turbo 5000 Roof Mount
567 East Tennessee
- milkman21218
- Donor
- Posts: 117
- Joined: November 11th, 2012, 5:07 am
- Handle: Milkman
- Real Name: Izzy
- Call Sign: W1ASA
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Re: Need help setting up my radio
Post by milkman21218 »
I ran Wilson 1000 & 5000's for years. And will say that they are pretty good. Then I got a Sirio PL 5000 w/mag mount and now I say that I have a really Great antenna. I did my own little test switching out the Wilson and Sirio. I saw while parked a 5-20 mile increase over my Wilson's. And I use it to cover both the 10 & 11 meter bands. With a SWR of 1:7 or less on both. If you can use a 102" it should give you everything that you want. If not follow Silver Eagle's set up you can't go wrong. Just feel that 503 with 2 watts or less and you will enjoy yourself for years.
Central Maryland
73
73
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- Wordwide & Qualified
- Posts: 574
- Joined: January 30th, 2015, 3:23 am
Re: Need help setting up my radio
I got about the same results as you milkman21218. I switched from Wilson 5000 mag mount to the Sirio performer 5000 and there was definitely a noticeable difference in both RX & TX. The newer Wilson antennas, as of last year anyway have had some QC issues. I had 2 new ones that I tried to help a friend tune with an MFJ269 and we couldn't get the vswr below 1.7:1. And the R and X readings were bad as well. 2 brand new antennas! Switched it out for an old Wilson 5000 and it tuned flat then. The older Wilson antenna is most likely 15-20 years old. It's an old one. But it worked. I've now talked the local into installing a 3" Breedlove one hole mount and a sirio performer 5000 onto his E350 ford van. Man it's long and has a lot of metal under the antenna. The mount is installed. Just need to work on the rest when time permits. Need to run a good flat braid for ground from the bottom of the mount to frame and then run coax and such. It will come together. Will be a nice setup when done. He uses a 2950DX stock other than the conversion. Should work well. Anyway. To further on your post, I saw the about the same distance. I went from about 20-30 miles tops with the Wilson 5000 on SSB and 50 watts, to 50-70 miles consistently. I was able to talk to Daytona Beach from Orlando to some guys I know there. I was about 60 miles away right across from the the airport and had all the hills and buildings to contend with and was still able to make contact. Just some of my experiences between the 2 antennas. Good day.
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