In this case the K30 probably is actually rated for 150 watts and even then I wouldn’t recommend running that much power into that antenna. Now here’s a little hint you need to know – manufacturer ratings are generally pretty overstated. One very important thing to know is that antennas have maximum wattage ratings for example, a K30 magnetic antenna has a manufacturer rating of 300 watts. There are many people who run out and buy an amplifier without realizing that there is a lot to learn before setting one up for the first time. Adding an amplifier might also give you a boost of 30% or more with your current system but what’s the point of adding nitro to a station wagon? Get your current system set up correctly and if you still want to talk further…add the amplifier.ģ) Is your current system capable of handling more wattage? If you currently have a wilson 3 ft fiberglass antenna on the bumper of your truck, you might easily gain a 30% improvement in performance and distance by moving to a longer antenna such as a Wilson 1000 or Wilson 5000 mounted in the center of the roof of your vehicle. More power = more distance right? While this is definitely true you can also achieve more distance with a properly tuned radio and antenna system.
This is the starting point for most CBer’s and if you’re reading this article I’m guessing you want an amplifier because you want to talk further. Still want to add an amplifier? Okay…read on at your own risk.Ģ) Have you optimized your current setup? If you are still fuzzy on the legality you might read through my article Legal Mumbo Jumbo, or better yet read through the FCC rules on amplifiers. So while adding an amplifier won’t put you on America’s Most Wanted it’s best to be smart in how you operate and try not to cause problems for yourself or others. If you use your amplifier wisely you most likely could be on the radio for 100 years and never have an issue with the FCC, but if you plan to be an idiot and play music through your 1000 watt amplifier you might just get a visit from the man. If you don’t believe in speeding, you probably shouldn’t use an amplifier, but for a large part of the CB community amplifiers are just another tool they use everyday. Scary right? While the FCC and most ham radio operators will frown upon your purchase and use of an amplifier, it’s a simple fact that there are thousands of people in the United States (and in other countries where it’s illegal) running CB amplifiers and none of them have ever had an issue with the FCC.
Using an amplifier with your CB radio is illegal and you can be fined and even be given jail time by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Okay, so some of the more seasoned CBer’s might laugh at seeing this question but I wouldn’t be doing my due diligence if I didn’t mention this from the very start. So before you consider adding an amplifier you should sit down and think about some answers to the following questions….I know this sounds like going back to school, but it can save you a lot of money and trouble in the long run. It’s absolutely possible to talk long distances and even talk pretty far locally with a legal radio and a good antenna. Ham radio operators love to tell stories of using 1 watt on a dipole antenna to talk to a station 9000 miles away, but what they are saying is really the truth. Once you’ve been in the hobby long enough you’ll hear many stories of people saying their signal doesn’t go very far, so they purchase high power radios or amplifiers not realizing that the problem from the very beginning was a poor antenna setup. These output numbers are more than enough for basic local in-town communications if an operator has properly set up their antenna. Single Sideband models (SSB) will normally have output of 12 watts, with some models hitting around 18-20 watts after tuning. Once the carrier is modulated, output on the radio may reach 10-12 watts on average with some models hitting around 15-18 watts. Do you actually need an amplifier?Ī standard CB radio is going to have an AM carrier (also know as deadkey) of around 3 to 4 watts. Before we get into a discussion on buying an amplifier, first let’s pose another question.
If you’re asking the question “Should I buy an amplifier?” then you’ve probably decided you need more power output, or someone you know has told you to buy one. Things to know before you buy an amplifier for CB Radio
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