Mobile Power Fluctuations
 

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

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

that is definetally not normal. do you have a SWR meter ? or any kind of
meter you can attach to the radio to see what is coming out of it ?

how is the 242 on receiveing in comparison to the ht ?




--
Registered Linux User #346565
http://www.tblx.net
WA5K

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

that is definetally not normal. do you have a SWR meter ? or any kind of
meter you can attach to the radio to see what is coming out of it ?

how is the 242 on receiveing in comparison to the ht ?




--
Registered Linux User #346565
http://www.tblx.net
WA5K

Hi, Since you are new to the hobby (congratulations) is your antenna
correctly mounted (grounded OK)? How is the coax cable run, could you
have "pinched" it
or cut it pulling it through metal parts of your car, maybe causing a
short in the cable?
It sounds like it is an antenna issue. It sounds like the radio is
folding back it's power
for protection. If you don't have an swr meter, get one or borrow one.
Also, see if you can borrow a magnetic mount antenna for a quick test. If
that works OK then it is an antenna / coax problem. One more thing you
can try if your antenna seems ok.
Add a small coax jumper (a foot long or so) between the radio and the
antenna coax. Once in a blue the added length of coax can cure some SWR
problems.
73 and good luck!!

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

Hi, Since you are new to the hobby (congratulations) is your antenna
correctly mounted (grounded OK)? How is the coax cable run, could you
have "pinched" it
or cut it pulling it through metal parts of your car, maybe causing a
short in the cable?
It sounds like it is an antenna issue. It sounds like the radio is
folding back it's power
for protection. If you don't have an swr meter, get one or borrow one.
Also, see if you can borrow a magnetic mount antenna for a quick test. If
that works OK then it is an antenna / coax problem. One more thing you
can try if your antenna seems ok.
Add a small coax jumper (a foot long or so) between the radio and the
antenna coax. Once in a blue the added length of coax can cure some SWR
problems.
73 and good luck!!

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

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.

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.

I have an SWR meter but it is for 10/11 meter only. I think I
discovered "half" of the problem.. The power cable was passing
directly over the antenna coax. I separated them with about 6 inches
of space and the radio now hits many more repeaters than my HT,
however the power meter still only goes up half way. The receive is
very good. I am able to pull in all of the Wx channels on 162.xx..
Can't even do that with my scanner and an attic antenna. The 1/2 of
the bars when transmitting still bugs me though..


Dan



Jeremy Salch wrote in message ...
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

that is definetally not normal. do you have a SWR meter ? or any kind of
meter you can attach to the radio to see what is coming out of it ?

how is the 242 on receiveing in comparison to the ht ?

I have an SWR meter but it is for 10/11 meter only. I think I
discovered "half" of the problem.. The power cable was passing
directly over the antenna coax. I separated them with about 6 inches
of space and the radio now hits many more repeaters than my HT,
however the power meter still only goes up half way. The receive is
very good. I am able to pull in all of the Wx channels on 162.xx..
Can't even do that with my scanner and an attic antenna. The 1/2 of
the bars when transmitting still bugs me though..


Dan



Jeremy Salch wrote in message ...
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

that is definetally not normal. do you have a SWR meter ? or any kind of
meter you can attach to the radio to see what is coming out of it ?

how is the 242 on receiveing in comparison to the ht ?

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????