12 feet of RG58, plugged into the cigar lighter using one of those
radio shack adapters. I tried hooking it directly up to the battery
and had the same problem. Also hooked it up to a 10Amp power supply.



Nitespark wrote in message news:XHKlc.38165$NZ4.16447@lakeread05...
Dan wrote:

I just got my first mobile, a used HTX-212 (45W on high power).. When
I have the car engine off the transmit bars only light up about half
way. When I drive they go up farther but I still have trouble hitting
the repeater while my HT hits it with no problem. Are these power
fluctuations normal?

Thanks,
Dan
KE5BCC

What is the gauge of wire (for power) you have feeding the
transciever??? and how long???

Where is your power lead hooked in??? Is it hooked into the battery or
do you have it running through the fuse panel????

On 4-May-2004, (Dan) wrote:

12 feet of RG58, plugged into the cigar lighter using one of those
radio shack adapters. I tried hooking it directly up to the battery
and had the same problem. Also hooked it up to a 10Amp power supply.



Nitespark wrote in message news:XHKlc.38165$NZ4.16447@lakeread05...
Dan wrote:

I just got my first mobile, a used HTX-212 (45W on high power).. When
I have the car engine off the transmit bars only light up about half
way. When I drive they go up farther but I still have trouble hitting
the repeater while my HT hits it with no problem. Are these power
fluctuations normal?

Thanks,
Dan
KE5BCC

What is the gauge of wire (for power) you have feeding the
transciever??? and how long???

Where is your power lead hooked in??? Is it hooked into the battery or
do you have it running through the fuse panel????

RG-58 center conductor is pretty small diameter for the 10 Amps needed at 45 Watts. Also, cigarette
lighter plugs have very poor central contacts. If you have a voltmeter, DVM, etc., try measuring
the DC voltage at the radio while transmitting. If it drops much from the 13.8 Volt battery
voltage, the power out will drop drastically. For a proper installation in a mobile, you should run
two #12 wires directly to the battery terminals for positive and negative. Don't depend on a ground
wire to the car body for the negative. And include fuses in both leads at the battery. This might
seem like redundancy, but it will protect the radio from being burned up by stray currents if the
chassis ground comes loose. 73.

Ken Fowler, KO6NO

On 4-May-2004, (Dan) wrote:

12 feet of RG58, plugged into the cigar lighter using one of those
radio shack adapters. I tried hooking it directly up to the battery
and had the same problem. Also hooked it up to a 10Amp power supply.



Nitespark wrote in message news:XHKlc.38165$NZ4.16447@lakeread05...
Dan wrote:

I just got my first mobile, a used HTX-212 (45W on high power).. When
I have the car engine off the transmit bars only light up about half
way. When I drive they go up farther but I still have trouble hitting
the repeater while my HT hits it with no problem. Are these power
fluctuations normal?

Thanks,
Dan
KE5BCC

What is the gauge of wire (for power) you have feeding the
transciever??? and how long???

Where is your power lead hooked in??? Is it hooked into the battery or
do you have it running through the fuse panel????

RG-58 center conductor is pretty small diameter for the 10 Amps needed at 45 Watts. Also, cigarette
lighter plugs have very poor central contacts. If you have a voltmeter, DVM, etc., try measuring
the DC voltage at the radio while transmitting. If it drops much from the 13.8 Volt battery
voltage, the power out will drop drastically. For a proper installation in a mobile, you should run
two #12 wires directly to the battery terminals for positive and negative. Don't depend on a ground
wire to the car body for the negative. And include fuses in both leads at the battery. This might
seem like redundancy, but it will protect the radio from being burned up by stray currents if the
chassis ground comes loose. 73.

Ken Fowler, KO6NO

You are using RG58 coax as a power lead????? Through a cigarette
lighter plug????

That is probably 99% of your problem. A 45W radio is probably drawing
10 amps or so. You need to completely rewire the power lead using at
least 12 ga wire (NOT COAX). It needs to be fused on BOTH leads AT THE
BATTERY. A cigarette lighter power connection should not be used for
more than 3-4 amps.

I would suggest you get with someone experienced an knowledgeable about
installing communications equipment in vehicles and get their guidance.

I would be surprised if your VCO even locked up when you were running
high power.

Dan wrote:
12 feet of RG58, plugged into the cigar lighter using one of those
radio shack adapters. I tried hooking it directly up to the battery
and had the same problem. Also hooked it up to a 10Amp power supply.



Nitespark wrote in message news:XHKlc.38165$NZ4.16447@lakeread05...

Dan wrote:


I just got my first mobile, a used HTX-212 (45W on high power).. When
I have the car engine off the transmit bars only light up about half
way. When I drive they go up farther but I still have trouble hitting
the repeater while my HT hits it with no problem. Are these power
fluctuations normal?

Thanks,
Dan
KE5BCC

What is the gauge of wire (for power) you have feeding the
transciever??? and how long???

Where is your power lead hooked in??? Is it hooked into the battery or
do you have it running through the fuse panel????

--
One lawyer can steal more than a hundred men with guns.

You are using RG58 coax as a power lead????? Through a cigarette
lighter plug????

That is probably 99% of your problem. A 45W radio is probably drawing
10 amps or so. You need to completely rewire the power lead using at
least 12 ga wire (NOT COAX). It needs to be fused on BOTH leads AT THE
BATTERY. A cigarette lighter power connection should not be used for
more than 3-4 amps.

I would suggest you get with someone experienced an knowledgeable about
installing communications equipment in vehicles and get their guidance.

I would be surprised if your VCO even locked up when you were running
high power.

Dan wrote:
12 feet of RG58, plugged into the cigar lighter using one of those
radio shack adapters. I tried hooking it directly up to the battery
and had the same problem. Also hooked it up to a 10Amp power supply.



Nitespark wrote in message news:XHKlc.38165$NZ4.16447@lakeread05...

Dan wrote:


I just got my first mobile, a used HTX-212 (45W on high power).. When
I have the car engine off the transmit bars only light up about half
way. When I drive they go up farther but I still have trouble hitting
the repeater while my HT hits it with no problem. Are these power
fluctuations normal?

Thanks,
Dan
KE5BCC

What is the gauge of wire (for power) you have feeding the
transciever??? and how long???

Where is your power lead hooked in??? Is it hooked into the battery or
do you have it running through the fuse panel????

--
One lawyer can steal more than a hundred men with guns.

On 4 May 2004 06:36:19 -0700, Dan wrote:

12 feet of RG58, plugged into the cigar lighter using one of those
radio shack adapters. I tried hooking it directly up to the battery
and had the same problem. Also hooked it up to a 10Amp power supply.

That's probably your problem. The conductor size in RG58 is
teeny-teeny for a transmitter that is 'sposed to put out 45 W.

Get rid of the RG58 for the power lead and get yoursrelf some
16-gauge red-black Zip cord. Most ham radio stores or trailer.RV
places should have it. Run it directly to the battery with fuses in
both leads at the battery. I run mine through a fused headlight
relay next to the battery so I can control it with a simple
on-off-on switch (hot-off-accessory). It will make all the
difference in the world.

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon

On 4 May 2004 06:36:19 -0700, Dan wrote:

12 feet of RG58, plugged into the cigar lighter using one of those
radio shack adapters. I tried hooking it directly up to the battery
and had the same problem. Also hooked it up to a 10Amp power supply.

That's probably your problem. The conductor size in RG58 is
teeny-teeny for a transmitter that is 'sposed to put out 45 W.

Get rid of the RG58 for the power lead and get yoursrelf some
16-gauge red-black Zip cord. Most ham radio stores or trailer.RV
places should have it. Run it directly to the battery with fuses in
both leads at the battery. I run mine through a fused headlight
relay next to the battery so I can control it with a simple
on-off-on switch (hot-off-accessory). It will make all the
difference in the world.

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon

Your using RG-58 to power the radio?
BAD idea. The wire inside is very small and won't be able to handle the
current the radio needs to run at full power.
Use at least 18 gauge wire or better yet, 16 gauge for BOTH plus and minus.
Don't forget to put a fuse on BOTH wires.
Give that a shot and report back.
73
----------------------

Dan wrote:

12 feet of RG58, plugged into the cigar lighter using one of those
radio shack adapters. I tried hooking it directly up to the battery
and had the same problem. Also hooked it up to a 10Amp power supply.

Nitespark wrote in message news:XHKlc.38165$NZ4.16447@lakeread05...
Dan wrote:

I just got my first mobile, a used HTX-212 (45W on high power).. When
I have the car engine off the transmit bars only light up about half
way. When I drive they go up farther but I still have trouble hitting
the repeater while my HT hits it with no problem. Are these power
fluctuations normal?

Thanks,
Dan
KE5BCC

What is the gauge of wire (for power) you have feeding the
transciever??? and how long???

Where is your power lead hooked in??? Is it hooked into the battery or
do you have it running through the fuse panel????

Your using RG-58 to power the radio?
BAD idea. The wire inside is very small and won't be able to handle the
current the radio needs to run at full power.
Use at least 18 gauge wire or better yet, 16 gauge for BOTH plus and minus.
Don't forget to put a fuse on BOTH wires.
Give that a shot and report back.
73
----------------------

Dan wrote:

12 feet of RG58, plugged into the cigar lighter using one of those
radio shack adapters. I tried hooking it directly up to the battery
and had the same problem. Also hooked it up to a 10Amp power supply.

Nitespark wrote in message news:XHKlc.38165$NZ4.16447@lakeread05...
Dan wrote:

I just got my first mobile, a used HTX-212 (45W on high power).. When
I have the car engine off the transmit bars only light up about half
way. When I drive they go up farther but I still have trouble hitting
the repeater while my HT hits it with no problem. Are these power
fluctuations normal?

Thanks,
Dan
KE5BCC

What is the gauge of wire (for power) you have feeding the
transciever??? and how long???

Where is your power lead hooked in??? Is it hooked into the battery or
do you have it running through the fuse panel????

I think he meant he is using the cigarette lighter for power (though he also
has hooked to the batteray and to a 10A PS), and he is using RG-58 [for the
antenna] but he has not stated the gage of the power leads. Agree RG-58
would be a disaster for power lead for anything drawing over a fraction of
an amp.

Heavy lines, directly to the battery, *both* fused, twisted for noise
immunity, is the recommended procedure by several major auto makers for 2
way radio installations.

"Nitespark" wrote in message
news:isQlc.38442$NZ4.17231@lakeread05...
You are using RG58 coax as a power lead????? Through a cigarette
lighter plug????

That is probably 99% of your problem. A 45W radio is probably drawing
10 amps or so. You need to completely rewire the power lead using at
least 12 ga wire (NOT COAX). It needs to be fused on BOTH leads AT THE
BATTERY. A cigarette lighter power connection should not be used for
more than 3-4 amps.

I would suggest you get with someone experienced an knowledgeable about
installing communications equipment in vehicles and get their guidance.

I would be surprised if your VCO even locked up when you were running
high power.

Dan wrote:
12 feet of RG58, plugged into the cigar lighter using one of those
radio shack adapters. I tried hooking it directly up to the battery
and had the same problem. Also hooked it up to a 10Amp power supply.



Nitespark wrote in message
news:XHKlc.38165$NZ4.16447@lakeread05...

Dan wrote:


I just got my first mobile, a used HTX-212 (45W on high power).. When
I have the car engine off the transmit bars only light up about half
way. When I drive they go up farther but I still have trouble hitting
the repeater while my HT hits it with no problem. Are these power
fluctuations normal?

Thanks,
Dan
KE5BCC

What is the gauge of wire (for power) you have feeding the
transciever??? and how long???

Where is your power lead hooked in??? Is it hooked into the battery or
do you have it running through the fuse panel????

--
One lawyer can steal more than a hundred men with guns.