Ham Radio Amplifiers
Ham radio amplifiers can turn a mediocre radio into a veritable beast capable of communicating with the rest of the world. Ideally, the right antenna would boost reception more so than an amplifier, but the sheer wattage cannot be ignored. Basically, when choosing an installing a ham radio, the wattages need to match. Specifically, the amplifier input level must match the one on the radio. The average amplifier requires between 50 and 100 watts, but always check the manual beforehand. If the wattages don’t match up, the radio output can be adjusted down, within reason. If the difference is too great, then the amplifier will simply explode unless a resistive attenuator is installed to decrease the wattage. When actually installing the amp, five connections will be made: amplifier power supply, transmit-receive control, ground connection, radio signal connection, and last, the antenna itself. The most important thing to remember when setting up an amplifier is safety, as the voltage can kill. When connecting the antenna if the power is on, the resulting shock will most likely cause death, due to the fact that amplifiers operate on 220V, with a 10 amp draw.
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