If you find you cannot get rated power from the transmitter when converting a highband unit to 2 meters, the bandpass filter that exists between the exciter, and power amplifier in a VHF station or mobile may need to be taken apart, and retuned.
 

Follow these instructions to retune the bandpass filter to the 2 meter ham band.

Tune the exciter as per the manual on your 2 meter frequency, but into a Bird wattmeter and dummy load.  Normal power output is 400 mW or slightly more even with a 3 foot test cable of RG-58.  Note the power output of the exciter.  Connect the filter to the exciters output, and the wattmeter and dummy load to the filter's output.  Tune the filter for maximum power on the Bird (minimum insertion loss).  The case will affect tuning so I have found it beneficial to mark and drill holes in the casting to gain access to the tuning slugs.  Here is a picture example of a drilled high-band BPF:

Drilling the cover allows the unit to be tuned with the cover on.  There will be some insertion loss, this is normal, just tune for minimum insertion loss, or maximum transferred power.

** NOTE **  The Station BPF is *usually* glued with epoxy to prevent it from being retuned.  If you find this is the case, get a mobile and steal the BPF from it.  It is physically and electrically the same and likely won't be glued.

Reinstall the unit into the radio set and retune the last stages of the exciter, and then the PA as per the manual.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Text and HTML Copyright 11-26-1999  Kevin Custer  W3KKC
W3KKC updated the page on March 18 2005 by adding the picture of the drilled case.
All Rights Reserved.