look what you've done!!

[huntmaster]

OK guys I recently was on here talking to you about my setup...it's a galaxy 949 that i got from pacetronics about 4 years ago...they did the delux mod which included dual finals in the radio...told me i should be pushing 30-40 watts barefoot...well let me be the first to say i have no complaints about the radio...I'd just like to know if they actually did what they said they were going to do...is there anything I can see visually that should tell me something was done...the radio has a piece sticking off the back that looks like it would be a booster of some sort, but that could be how it comes stock...it's different from the cobra's i'm used to seeing...anyways, i don't know why i care so much about this all of the sudden, but I guess I'd just like to know how my radio is actually doing...any help would be greatly appreciated!

[BigBopper]

Sounds like a heat sink on the back of the radio, kinda like the pic,

[4600 Turbo]

Buy yourself a cheap meter and see what it does. :D

[231]

I agree with 4600. If you can swing the little bit of cash it's well worth it to have a meter, even if it's only an inexpensive one.

[SmallTruckBigRadio]

It's good to see that BigBopper is still the man of many pictures!

huntmaster,
My guess is that they added the bigger finals and the heat sink like in BigBopper's pic.

If you're making regular contacts, more than 8 miles away, your probably doing more than 30 watts, on a mobile, and your already finished answering your question.

If you can hear a 20 watt radio from over 8 miles away, depending on conditions, your receive is probably doing OK too. It's kinda cool to find a small radio on flat road and check RX range.

Good advice above. Getting, or borrowing an SWR / Wattmeter will show your output power, and SWR (which is important).

[4600 Turbo]

on quiet days when there is no static you should hear a stock cb at least 20 to 25 miles. there could be quite a few reason this doesn't happen. like there radio is not set up correctly or yours isn't. Small hills and such etc...

It should also sound like its 20 to 25 miles away also :D

A good set up on both ends 20 to 25 miles very possible. With elevation even more distance.

[Becker]

I would have to agree with turbo, I have a peak and tuned galaxy 929 with a 12 W DK and it swings to about 18 W on the radios meter. I can regularly make contacts of about that distance, closer to 20 miles actually. Of course I have me squelch all the way down to hear them but they come in clear.

[SmallTruckBigRadio]

on quiet days when there is no static you should hear a stock cb at least 20 to 25 miles. there could be quite a few reason this doesn't happen. like there radio is not set up correctly or yours isn't. Small hills and such etc...
It should also sound like its 20 to 25 miles away also :D
A good set up on both ends 20 to 25 miles very possible. With elevation even more distance.

Wow, I guess I've never been in a place with so few hills, trees, curves, and silence. 10-12 miles barefoot is the best I've seen around where I've lived.

[peterbiltwyo]

If yore not sure what it is putting out, get a cheap meter, I see 100 watt meters on eBay go for around 20 bucks at times. Radio shack has one at their stores for about 35 bucks I have had one and it worked OK. Not a Dosy or anything like that but it was OK.