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| Product FAQ |
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1. How can you be certain that the Model XXX will work with my radio? Back to top All of our amplifier products have what are called isolated inputs. Each input is isolated from ground and from each other using a transformer. By using this configuration, the source radio essentially “sees” a 16 ohm speaker load. The radio can’t tell the difference between the amplifier and the speaker it would normally be connected to. Individual level controls also make matching volume levels a snap. It is, quite simply, the best way to connect an audio source to the amplifier. 2. Will the Model XXX run on 24V or 28V electrical systems? Back to top Unless otherwise specified, our products are designed to be used on 12V negative ground systems only. For special applications, please contact the factory. 3. What makes the Model XXX so incredible? Back to top From the beginning, we have designed this amplifier to be a high-performance product that is rugged and foolproof. Unlike similar products, these have been designed for commercial applications. The cast aluminum case, extensive power line noise filtering, RF filtering, and output circuit protection is unique to our product. With normal use, there’s not much a user could do to damage the product. We feel so strongly about our quality, we back all of our products with a full 2-Year “No Questions Asked” warranty. You won’t find that kind of guarantee anywhere else. 4. How can I possibly listen to 4 radios at once? Back to top It's doubtful that anyone could listen to and keep track of 4 ongoing conversations. The good news is that you really don't have to. Assuming that you have all 4 inputs filled with radios, rarely will they all, or even two or three, be receiving at once. You will find that when multiple radios are "talking" at the same time, your brain is more than capable of picking out an individual conversation and ignoring the rest. It is a situation very similar to being in a crowded room with many different conversations going on. People have the innate ability to selectively pick out signals from individual conversations without having to think much about it. With all of these signals coming from only one speaker, you won't have the benefit of spatial separation to help you pick out the different conversations, but it is still easily done. 5. What makes a good home speaker for HF/VHF/UHF/Scanner operators? Back to top A speaker for this type of listening activity should be one that is designed to accurately reproduce the type of signals you’re listening to. For most of us, we’re talking about voice frequencies in the range of approximately 300-3,000Hz. Most speakers are designed for music and therefore made to reproduce nearly the entire audible spectrum from 20-20,000Hz. That capability can come with some tradeoffs. It may also reproduce some of the low hums and high frequency hiss that we’d rather not hear. So, we’re better off finding a speaker that is specifically designed to reproduce the voice band only. Fortunately, there is such a speaker and it’s more common than you may think. Meet the center channel speaker from your home theater system. Center channel speakers are designed to accurately reproduce the voice tracks of DVD’s, movies, tv shows, etc. Their key design elements include an essentially flat response across the voice band, good horizontal dispersion and a wide, although usually short, cabinet. All of those things work together to give us a natural sound which helps with intelligibility and makes listening for long hours a little more comfortable. In our opinion, one of the best speakers for home use is VCS-10 by Bose (shown below). They’re pricey at about $200 new, but you can easily find on online for less. The sound is rich and full and the slim design easily integrates with most station layouts. Adding Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology can also dramatically improve your listening experience by reducing noise and removing tones. We have had some success using DSP modules by SGC. Their DSP algorithms seem to be more effective than most, although, their price pushes many people out of the market. These stand-alone DSP boards can be easily integrated into our existing line of combiner/amplifiers. One thing that shouldn’t be overlooked is speaker location. Speakers can be likened to antennas in that they have somewhat of a beamwidth. Be sure to locate the speaker so that it directs the sound directly toward you. Many people make the mistake of putting them in the corners of the room, or up high on a bookshelf. 6. What makes a good mobile speaker? Back to top Many of the same qualities mentioned above also apply here. In this application, though, size, shape and mounting constraints usually drive the speaker selection. Commercial two-way speakers from Motorola, Kenwood and Icom seem to be a pretty good compromise between durability and performance. 7. How should I connect multiple speakers together? Back to top There are many ways of doing this based on the number and type of speakers you are using. We can’t possibly include a schematic for every possible scenario, but we will be happy to help you design the layout. Call or email us and describe what equipment you have, and how you want it to work. 8. How do I switch on an external speaker without affecting the volume of the interior speaker? Back to top This is a fairly common application for customers in the utilities or public works department. The solution is to keep the amplifiers load impedance constant whether the external speaker is on or off. A resistor and simple SPDT switch are all that is required. We have electrical drawings of this setup. Please contact us and we will be happy to send them to you. |
