Talkback feature

[Mtn Lynx]

Maybe a dumb question.. But is the talkback feature a sample of what you may sound like to other people? I got a new to me linear and was testing it out, I went on talkback and adjusted the rf power, when I powered up, the talkback started breaking up. As I powered down, talkback sounded normal again on AM. Same on ssb.

[Deleted User 14541]

The talk back is a sample of audio from the audio amp in the radio. Just because you sound good through the talk back doesn't mean you sound good on the air. If you go into a radio and cut the modulation limiter it may sound bad on the air but the talk back sounds the same.

It sounds like you have an RFI issue. If your audio is breaking up it probably sounds that way or worse on the air.

[jessejamesdallas]

Never had a Amp mess with the TB on a radio...The Amp is down-wind from the radio so can't see it backing-up

Guess it could if the Amp is "in" the radio

[MDYoungblood]

I could see that happening sitting there with the covers of the radio off. With that much RF leakage there are probably other issues. What are you trying to tune up, radio and amp?

3's

Greg

[Mtn Lynx]

I'm trying to tune the radio. I noticed when I turn the RF power all the way down, and I touch the knob the needle twitches. maybe there is a loose wire or solder inside. I'm not much of a electronics repairer, but I may have to re solder a connection inside. Sure hate to ruin my radio though. I might take it apart when my new radio comes in.....

[Deleted User 14541]

When the amp is on he could be getting RF into the mic cord or audio circuitry in the radio. Not that it's backing up like a toilet but the cab if full of RF for one reason or another.

When he says the needle twitches when he touches the knob it sounds like common mode current. Could be a bad knob, solder or something else but cmc is responsible for most RFI issues in a mobile. If it is he will see the needle twitch (swr changing)when he touches the radio case, grabs or moves a piece of coax, maybe the metal mic grille burns your lips, ect.... If this is happening he needs to do a better antenna install or try a choke at the antenna feed point. Some guys will put ferrite on mic cables and anything else within reach but that doesn't really correct the problem.

[Mtn Lynx]

when I installed the antenna, I put a piece of rubber between the antenna base and the metal pole I am using. Should I have not done that? Maybe I have to take it down and remove the rubber? It seems to be receiving ok.

[Deleted User 14541]

when I installed the antenna, I put a piece of rubber between the antenna base and the metal pole I am using. Should I have not done that? Maybe I have to take it down and remove the rubber? It seems to be receiving ok.

I jumped to the conclusion that you were working on a mobile set up. Tell us some more about your situation and the antenna you're using

[Mtn Lynx]

I have a used galaxy 959. I installed a Antron a99 last month. I've been hearing skip once in a while. I just noticed yesterday that when I turn my Rf power all the way down and touch the knob, the needle jumps. I went to my dads house and had my son test the radio. It's transmitting fine. When I turn on the talkback feature the speaker breaks up when I turn the rf power up. I have a macgyvered jvc MP3 speaker Connected to the ext speaker jack. I just realized just now that I may have been overdriving the speaker .

As far as the rubber insulating between the antenna and the pole, is that a good idea?

I was using a Pride 100 linear yesterday. Today I got a Palomar 225. I'm using a car battery to power the linear until my 30 amp power supply comes in.

[sonoma]

if you are tuning the radio as you stated in one post you should be doing this with a dummy load and not the antenna or even the amp in line. do a basic tune on the radio and after you have it peaked you can put the amp in line and see how it is doing as far of too much power to the amp. the only time you have it hooked to a antenna is after you get it tuned and you are talking to some one. I always ground my antennas on the pole because any rf feed back you get is coming back into the radio through the braid in the coax. the only ground you have for the antenna is the coax to the amp or radio.

[Mtn Lynx]

Ok, thanks for the tip. I'm going to take it down and redo the antenna.

Update, I took down my antenna and re did it. Even made some makeshift radials

[sonoma]

one other thing I forgot to mention is the A99 antenna has a cap in the base on the main feed center pin of the coax. it could be holding a small charge and if the ground is not present on the antenna it could be giving you a small voltage drain off causing a jump in the needle. may not be doing it but any thing is possible. so hopefully grounding the antenna could help your problem. using a amp puts more power into the antenna.
hope you have solved your problems.
you said with the power turned up the speaker is getting over loaded. what mic are you using to test the talk back? a power mi9c will cause a feedback problem or even a stock mic when talk back is on.. there is so many variables that can cause problems . I have seen a guy using a rk56 noise canceling mic get shocked from the mic with a static charge if the rig was not grounded good. the metal grill on the mic would let a nice spark to your lips trying to get rid of the static build up. a buddy had one doing this and at night you could see the spark jump to his lip just as he mput it up to his mouth. until we found the problem when he would go to talk he would put the mic close to a metal part in his truck. he was a long haul trucker so he was on the radio a lot. ran with a partner and they both talked a lot. they drove for the old Lee Way trucking company. so that would tell you how long ago that was.

you mentioned you made some radials to put below the antenna, I put a old TV antenna on the pole with mine about 1 foot below the base on the antenna. not sure if it helps any but at least it gives you some thing to talk about. a guy came over last year to mark my power wire locations for a digging crew and that was one thing he said when he walked up. he asked what kind of antenna was I running. he said he had never seen one like that.

[Mtn Lynx]

forgot to mention that I have an astatic noise cancelling mic. now that you mention it, there was a couple of times when I did get a little shock from the grille of the mic.

-- Wednesday, 16 November 2016, 20:11 PM --

Thanks to you fellas that helped. Sure hope to get as good at these things as you guys. After I took off the rubber barrier the needle doesn't jump around when I touch the rf power knob.

[Marc_uk]

i was always puzzeled what the actual point of talkback was .. !

[Mtn Lynx]

i was always puzzeled what the actual point of talkback was .. !

Maybe some dudes like to hear themselves while they are talking to make sure they are speaking the right language. lol

[Marc_uk]

i was always puzzeled what the actual point of talkback was .. !

Maybe some dudes like to hear themselves while they are talking to make sure they are speaking the right language. lol

Yeah, i guess they do.. back in the day i used to put a small wire link across the RX pins on the CBs with DIN mic sockets, so i could RX without the mic plugged in.. thing was, if i forgot to take this filament of wire out when i pushed the mic into the CB i would accidentally get a kind of Talkback.. and i hated it.. i would say it's more of a fault than a feature !

[army1975]

like the talkback myself. lets me know what the mic is doing and love hearing my awesome voice.

[jon6667]

i dont need talkback. i get that from the wife. lol

[army1975]

i dont need talkback. i get that from the wife. lol

been there, done that 2 times. learnt my lesson, not going for a 3rd.

[jon6667]

never say never.

[army1975]

lol, u haven't the slightest clue with what I had to put up with the exes. if ever in need of a lil luvin, to the truck stops I will go. cheaper and no mouth.

[jon6667]

rofl i know the feeling dude.

[army1975]

[DevilDog66]

Hey army, are you sure there is no mouth involved????