analog spectra - low power setting

[Batman]

is there a setting in spectra rss for hi / low rf power? i have a 45 watt spectra using it on ham and want to lower power if i can since i am not far from the repeater.

[Bill_G]

Yes there is. You can either set it per mode, or assign a button if your head has them. You set the actual low power value in the alignment.

[Will]

In the RSS MODE options there is a setting for the TX power level on each mode.

In the Spectra radios there is NO button assignment for transmitter power.

The VHF Spectra radios are 50 watts on the Hi setting and 25 watts on the Lo setting from the factory.

[Batman]

i looked in rss and it says "not enabled" for power setting

[Will]

i looked in rss and it says "not enabled" for power setting

Batman,
Your Spectra may have older firmware that did not provide for power setting on a per Mode basis.

[Bill_G]

That answers that.

And Will is right. I checked an archive, and I was mis-remembering the siren hi/lo button, not a xmit power button. It's set strictly by mode - apparently not available on all models which is surprising. I've never run into that, but who knows what has been sold. Not all Spectras are created equal.

[Batman]

In the RSS MODE options there is a setting for the TX power level on each mode.

In the Spectra radios there is NO button assignment for transmitter power.

The VHF Spectra radios are 50 watts on the Hi setting and 25 watts on the Lo setting from the factory.

will this is the vhf spectra you did for me last year. i would have liked to go down to 10 watts.

[Bill_G]

You can always adjust the xmit power in the alignment screens. It's a global setting, and affects all channels.

[Batman]

what is the lowest i can safely set the radio for? I am trying to find a local ham with a bird 43 and the proper slug to monitor output while i tweak the power setting.

i need to know what the minimum i can set these for without getting ill side effects or otherwise damaging radio.

if i can get down to 15 watts i think that would be acceptable for indoor use as i am using a unity gain mag mount on top of a 6ft metal rack.

[Bill_G]

I don't know of there is an unsafe low power setting. What does happen when the drive is turned down is intermittent xmit. If you don't ring the bell hard enough, class c amps sometimes look at you and shrug their shoulders. You might be able to turn it down to 15w no problem, but YMMV. You'll have to see how stable it is. This is where the tolerances of the parts used in an individual radio come into play.