Common CB Amplifiers

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There are possibly thousands of various Citizen Band amplifiers floating around out there including import models, homebrew, thinly disguised amplifiers made to look like amateur radio amplifiers, amalgamated units, and many knockoffs. Here are some highlights of common C.B. amplifiers and relative information. The quality of C.B. amplifiers is always sub par when compared to amateur radio amplifiers in terms of spurious emissions and over all output quality. However, with that being said some models to approach amateur radio quality and few have been used by amateur operators. As a general rule C.B. amplifiers cause a lot of interference and energy is wasted on broad spurious emissions.

Hy-Gain 600 Bi-Linear Amplifier

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  • Type: Vacuum Tune (2) GE 8908
  • Output: 150AM, 300CW/SSB
  • Modes: AM,FM,SSB,CW
  • PSU: external
  • Addit: 26-35MHz, rec amp

Hygain Afterburner Plus Model 482

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  • Type: Vacuum Tune (2) 6UJ6
  • Output: 160w - 200w
  • PSU: internal
  • Addit: 50-100 watt dead key

LA Tronix LA200

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  • Type: ? probably (2) GE 8908
  • Output: ?
  • PSU: external
  • Addit: In production circa 1984. Made by Hy-Gain Lincoln NE. I think this is the mobile version of the Hy-Gain 600 Bi-Linear Amplifier.

LDO Electronics 100 Watt bi-linear amplifier

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  • Type: Solid State
  • Output: 100 watts Linear

Palomar Elite 450HD

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  • Type: Solid State (4) 2290 Transistors
  • Output: 400-500w
  • Modes: AM, SSB (high drive)

Palomar TX 75

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  • Type: Solid State
  • Output: 75w
  • Modes: AM,SSB (low drive)
  • Addit: Palomar TX 75 Broadband Bi linear amplifier uses (2) SD1074 NPN RF output transistors

Pride DX300

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  • Type: ceramic tube - 4CX250B ceramic (metal tetrode) drive
  • Output: SSB 650 watts / 500 watts on AM
  • Modes: SSB, CW, AM
  • PSU: internal high voltage supply
  • Addit: up to 1000 watts PEP on SSB

Texas Star DX-350

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  • Type: Solid State (2) Toshiba 2879
  • Output: 225-260 watts PEP
  • Modes: AM, FM, SSB, CW (class AB1)

Texas Star Modulator V-Plus

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  • Type: ?
  • Output: 80w

Skipshooter One

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  • Type: Solid State
  • Output: ?
  • Addit: AM & SSB. Made in California. Subminiature Instruments Corp. Claim bands 20-10m.

Wawasee Black Cat 150A Modulator

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  • Type: Vacuum Tube (1) 8417
  • Output:
  • Addit: This is a modulator. You can drive this with the CB to bring up the audio, or you can place this between a CB and larger amplifier to drive in stages.

Wawasee Black Cat JB-2000

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  • Type: Vacuum Tube (2) 3-500Z amp tube and (1) 6AU7 driver
  • Output: SSB 1200 watts / 600 watts on AM
  • Modes: SSB, CW, AM
  • PSU: internal high voltage supply
  • Addit: up to 1800 watts PEP on SSB. This was once a very sought after amp for its high output. The tubes are still common enough to keep one of these going.

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