If you have a spare rx, run the Argonaut into a dummy load with the mic on
it and headphones on the rx. Pick a clear frequency on a dead band (75 m.
at 1 PM let's say) and yack to yourself while listening through the cans on
the receiver. experiment with different mic gain settings, different power
settings (important to listen with it running at max watts at some point),
try talking at different voice levels and into the mic at various angles,
mess around with all this and the speech processor if there is one, and
note how you sound and what your meter(s) and alc light are telling you
through it all. This will get you in the ballpark for when you put the rig
on an antenna, and give meaning to the nonaudio feedback you get from your
meters and alc light for when you aren't listening to your sig. Then, when
other guys tell you how you sound on the air, you will be able to look at
your indicators and have a better idea of what they mean. It's desirable to
avoid a hot active band because dummy loads have been known to transmit
(don't use a lightbulb) a little bit, especially if ur not well grounded.
This becomes increasingly important as you up the power into the dummy load
(several hundred watts on up, so not as big a deal with the argo). If you
borrow a receiver listen with it for a while to different stations to see
how its audio quality is before you try it on your signal. hpe this helps.
73,
Rob Atkinson
K5UJ
k5uj@hotmail.com
hey Bill, I keep hoping TT will post a pic of the UPS truck leaving the
factory so all you guys with orders can look at them going out the door.
Alpha did that with the 99--they got the whole staff at the dock waving bye
at the first 99 which was sitting on the truck with the tailgate down. Hope
they pop some Champaigne or something in S'ville when the big day arrives.
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