this_is_nascar 26 posts Jul 10, 2008 4:42 PM	I've seen several posts now that talk about "competition" radios and "competition" amps. Not being a total moron, I know what the word competition means, but what's the context of the word as it's being used in relationship to radios and amps? Are they special setups for skip-shooting contests or something? ---------- "... it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it's what you leave behind you when you go."
sheepdog 59 posts Jul 10, 2008 4:55 PM	In this context it means for key down competitions. Guys line up and try to key on one another and get their voices recorded on a receiving station a few miles away. The idea is to have more power, louder audio and a better antenna to make the tape.
this_is_nascar 27 posts Jul 10, 2008 5:06 PM	OK, thanks for the info. ---------- "... it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it's what you leave behind you when you go."
Butcher318 254 posts Jul 10, 2008 5:21 PM	These shootouts or Breaks happen all across the country like car shows. They get pretty crazy, the AC sky class has like 80,000 watt Suburbans that are run by remote. There are 2,4,8,16 pill classes. Pretty way out antenna systems used also. When I refer to a comp style amplifier I am talking about a hand built and tuned amplifier. Davemade, X-Force, No-Name, fatboy, AM Power, Skullcracka, Skywalker, just to name afew. This would be compared to a mass produced amp like Texas Star and palomar.
this_is_nascar 227 posts Sep 07, 2008 2:02 PM	So, if someone says they have a competition radio, is this a radio that's good for normal talking? What's makes the radio a "competition" radio, just the fact that it's tuned higher than normal? ---------- "... it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it's what you leave behind you when you go."
Butcher318 404 posts Sep 07, 2008 3:31 PM	I suppose most shootout setups could be comp only. The reason I have always preferred the Comp style amplifiers over factory mass produced is they are hand built one at a time. I have never had an X-Force, Davemade, MagnaForce, AM Power amplifier have a high SWR. This is because the input output matching is tuned by hand. Alot of the time with Palomar and Texas Star for example your SWR will rise when on the Hi power setting. This is due to a slight impedance mismatch. When they were made it was just not possible to hand tune them in better because they are mass produced. I do think Texas Star is a fine amplifier and is the best choice for a factory produced amplifier. I really want to try one of these bulletproof amplifiers. They are class AB which is what I need since i talk AM & SSB. From what I have heard so far they are getting exellent reviews.
Bazooka Joe 10 posts Sep 07, 2008 4:32 PM	Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't Cobra29's the weapon of choice for most of competition rigs? Whatever happened to the Messenger 450 AB and Cobra 500XL AB amps? I don't see anyone selling those currently.
PacMan 38 posts Sep 07, 2008 6:21 PM	How about a Cobra 450XL? I have that running with a Galaxy 66 with both Top Gun Mod done by Sparky, down here in Northern California, and im getting nothing but good reports on it, was thinking about the Texas 500 or the Bulletproof, can anyone tell me if there would be any difference with those two amps? ---------- PacMan 209 "Lace em up, and Do Work"