Copper Talk » Open Forum » Archived Messages » 2001 » 4/01/2001 to 7/31/2001 » Looking for the best CB for 250 bucks « Previous Next »

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Archive through July 02, 2001Mark Metrovich7-02-01  1:49 am
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FlaGator66
Posted on Monday, July 02, 2001 - 5:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey Steve I was looking at Unidens Like new store online and they have a Uniden Grant LT for $150 + tax Maybe this guy is in the same situtation I am, Needs a radio that can take a beating, Put a KL40 amp behind it and he'll blow his buddies doors off the next time he keys up
Flagator66
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Copper_Fan
Posted on Monday, July 02, 2001 - 8:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

go to the nightly auction on copper click here you can get a radio,,, go for the 2950DX just make sure you meet the reserve


http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?category=Radios
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FlaGator66
Posted on Monday, July 02, 2001 - 9:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Oh yeah I like the Galxy 949 same radio as the 959 except no digital read out $130 for that radio which would leave you about 120 bucks to throw into an amplifier Good Ol copperelectronics.com nightly auctions has some real nice Amps
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CQDX181
Posted on Monday, July 02, 2001 - 11:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mark,

The Voyage VR9000 is a SSB radio. SSB is the all encompassing definition for sideband. LSB (lower sideband) and USB (upper sideband) are considered part of the SSB. Like a cow and a bull and a heifer and a steer are all considered cattle. Got me so far?

The DX949 is a AM/SSB radio. The DX959 is the same as the DX949 except is has the digital frequency counter. The Voyage VR9000 is a 10 meter radio which means it can operate on the CB bands as well as the ham bands. The 949 and 959 are strictly CB radios.

The DX88 is the same radio as the Voyage VR9000. Same board, same features, different name. Both of these radios are a step above the 949 and the 959, but are built on the same chassis.

With any of these radios you will be able to talk to all your regular CB buddies.

These radios offer the best power in their price range. Radio range has a lot to do with conditions (weather, atmospheric, etc.)

For around $250 you can get any of the radios we have spoke about, AND a good antenna.

Skipping, Ship Shooting, DXing, Shooting Skip, etc is where you try to contact distance stations that you cannot normally hear because they are too far away. For example when the atmospheric conditions are favorable you may be able to converse with stations over 1000 miles away! This occurs on both AM and SSB, but mostly on SSB. This is the part of the hobby most addicting to me. So when you get your radio, go up on that hill, turn the channel knob to 38 and turn the mode selector knob to LSB and listen for awhile. You will see what I mean!

BTW, I am located in South Central PA. I hang out on channel 38 (27.385) on Lower Sideband. My call is 181. Talk to you soon!

Steve
181
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CQDX181
Posted on Monday, July 02, 2001 - 11:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

FlaGator66,

For a first time radio that works good, has decent power, and is easy to tune, convert, and will take a spankin' you can't go wrong with a Galaxy radio.

Steve
181
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CQDX181
Posted on Monday, July 02, 2001 - 11:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mark,

I do believe Copper will convert and peak and tune your radio if you want before it is shipped. I don't want to speak out of turn here, so you may want to call them and find out the prices, etc.

If not, whichever radio you buy, let us know and we'll have you screaming with the best of them in no time!

Steve
181
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707
Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2001 - 2:04 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

IF I were spending 250 on a CB(notice "CB" not 10m...40 channels only) setup for a Jeep(ragtop), I'd go with the Galaxy 949, Solarcon 20KLA, side mount or bed mount, and a KL60 amp. I like the 20KLA because of the reactance stubs. I've added those to antennas for years for improved audio response(yes, it matters, just ask any AM radio engineer :-)).

That leaves a bit of room for coax and shipping. Don't cheap out on coax. If you can route it nicely, go RG-8 or 8x instead of RG-58. You'll get better reception and keep the amp happy.

The antenna choice requires considering exactly WHERE on the vehicle you are planning to mount the antenna. If you have a hardtop, go with a Wilson base loaded whip up top. If you want a side mount or bumper mount, you need a 90 degree ball mount for side(would be great with the 20KLA), or bumper mount.

If you plan on bumper mount..nothing beats the traditional 102" steel whip with 6" heavy spring. Whichever you choose, remember you got some big iron in the air before you go through the car wash!

BTW...be sure to check the antenna without the amp on the first time. You may need to do some adjusting b4 you go full blast.
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Copper_Fan
Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2001 - 8:05 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

if you do alot of offroading and maybe in a club consider that most clubs do not allow the 102inch whip because of just that its a whip when on the trail and people are guiding you across the SHIAT!!!! go with a 4 foot firestick 2 or something similar and try to stay away from the ball mounts on the side of the jeep they just LOVE snagging trees bushes and such on the trail and it "ventilates" the jeep body real fast if its a YJ wrangler use the tire bump antenna mount if you need help i have alot of jeep related links for that stuff i own a TJ Wrangler copper_fan@yahoo.com email me if you like

look at the auction on copper you will get a good deal on a radio and a AMP just havent seen antennas HINT LOL
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Mark Metrovich
Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2001 - 8:59 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

OK Mr. Stevie Smartypants,
Lets see if you can answer this one!! LOL, I noticed that the Voyage has FM too. If I am not mistaked that is the band that those cute little Motorola Talk-a-bout's use. Some of my buddies have started using only those cause they can use them out on the trail once we get to camp as well as on the road, also some guys have a couple of them so they give one to any greenhorns on the trip. That will be awesome if I can use the Voyage to talk with the Motorolas. As of now, I am leaning very close to the Voyage, it sounds like it is an all around radio, SSB, AM, FM oh and CW I think it was? what is that? Thanks I'll be yakin at ya soon!

Mark
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CQDX181
Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2001 - 1:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mark,

Be sure to take the advice of 707 and Copper Fan regarding the antennas above. Especially if you're involved in an off-road club....

If you opt for antenna without coax already attached to it, get the RG8X (also called mini 8).


Okay,

In FM mode you will transmit in FM but only on the frequencies your radio is capable of. FM will transmit a constant carrier that does NOT deviate with your voice, therefore in my opinion range is lessened. You will NOT be able to talk to your buddies using the FRS or GMRS walkie talkies. They are nestled in the 460 Mhz frequency range and the radios we are talking about here operate in the 24-32 Mhz range.

Those little radios are a lot of fun. I use them in the mountains of northern PA when I am up there hunting and fishing (drinking and playing cards). They will provide approximately 1 - 1 1/2 miles of range on a good day. However you can't put an external antenna on one of those radios. The FCC mandates that the antenna be an integral part of the radio.

CW stands for Continuous Wave. This is the mode you would use for morse code if you plug a keyer into the back of your radio. This is almost exclusively a ham application especially on 10 meters and below. I don't know anyone who uses morse code on CB bands. I guess, if you wanted to get into morse on CB you could, but your "conversation" would be a little one sideed. CW, unless you're looking at getting your ham license, is useless for our uses with these radios.

Steve
181

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