Make sure your mobile has low SWR before installing an amp. You should be
using an exact half-wave length of coax in your mobile which, depending on
what coax, will be around 12 to 13 feet but not 18 feet as so many people
say. A 102" whip will not match perfectly but is a great antenna with an
SWR around 1.4:1. Many people have been able to get their 102" whip to
"flatline" by experimenting with coax length but all they really did was
cause their coax to act as part of the antenna while the antenna itself
didn't work any better. It's also important to run a heavy ground cable
from the base of your antenna to the vehicle frame for proper operation.
There is a formula,which I can send you if you want, for calculating the
exact length of your particular coax needed to achieve an exact half-wave
length on your desired frequency. I assume you have mounted the 102 on the
vehicle where there is plenty of metal (ground plane) all around it and have
used a ball and spring mount. Good Luck

Scorpio
"TheHairyBeast" Emort007ATdway.com wrote in message
...
What's the smallest amps in terms of wattage that will have a effective
increase in range? I currently have a range of 7 to 12 miles from my Base
to
a mobile. I need to get that to about 15 to 22 miles. Both the mobile and
the base will get amps.

Currently I have a Uniden Washington (with Peak/tune/extra channels) and
a
A99 on the roof (about 33 feet up)

The Mobile is a stock Cobra 29 with a 102 steel whip.

I thought about getting side band for the mobile, but it seems like a
hassle to tune a signal while driving down the road. I has a Grant LT in
my
old truck, and I don't think I ever used the sideband while in motion.

So what do I need? a mini 40watt wasp?
or one of those 100 watt palomars?
or something near or over 200watt.

I'm not looking for over kill, or to spend more then I need, I just want
to
be able to talk from work to the house.