Copper Talk » Open Forum » Archived Messages » 2002 » Archived Messages 02/01/2002 to 04/31/2002 » RCI 5054DX « Previous Next »

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Znut
Posted on Monday, March 11, 2002 - 7:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey folks!

Guess what I just ordered? A Ranger 5054dx! I wish Copper carried them! It looks and has the same features as the 2950dx except it covers a different band. If I like this rig, I'll have to thank Bruce (just to see if I got his attention)!

Znut
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bruce
Posted on Monday, March 11, 2002 - 9:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Zunt good radio you dont have to do a thing to it but ENJOY IT It is the same as the 2950dx so all who like that radio will like this one QST revewed it and even that picky person addmited that it worked well ive had mine since last year one of the first and no problems sounds good on the air and dosent drift like some of the older sets ..swan 250 the pits. Well now frequencys to look for SSB 50.110 and 50.125 AM ( if any) 50.400 and FM 52.525 by the way for ALL you can program 52.525 in your scanner and when 6 is open like 29.60 on 10 meters treat your ears to world wide dx on FM.... have fun with your new toy.... i got a new one too a 2nd dx-70
bruce
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Znut
Posted on Monday, March 11, 2002 - 10:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks for the reply Bruce. I figure with our locations (I'm in middle GA) we may get some friendly ducts (tropo), maybe with my 3 el. beam we can talk some morning.

I will be posting about my experiences on 6, although this is mostly a CB forum. These folks on the forum are great and I think the similarities with CB, 12, 10, and 6 meters offer a great diversity since everybody here loves radio.

Znut
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bruce
Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 4:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Im still getting my station back up since the room was built most of my gear sits in boxes ... or is moble now Sometime ill have to digitize some old ststion photos from the 60's showing a room full of WW2 surplus that gave me one channel on 2 meter am and 4 watts and only took 100 lbs of radio to do it...... now i carry 300 ch 2 bands and 4 watts in my pocket
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Znut
Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 8:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I GOT IT! I GOT IT! I GOT IT! I GOT IT! I GOT IT! I GOT IT! I GOT IT!
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Znut
Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 8:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Now that I've composed myself some...
It looks like a 2950DX, except it has a blue lighted display. It came with stainless mounting and chassis hardware. I was right on freq on sideband, you know so many parts per million of tolerance is doubled on 6 meters, right?(compared to 11) So I have an inkling that the 2950DX is a good radio. I have to go and play with my new toy now.
By the way, the CB'er in me had to find out how it does on AM, it kicks $%*!
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bruce
Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 10:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The problem with the ranger 2950 and less with the dx is it overloads too easy this is why i piled on the channel guards SR-688 which i travle every day to my work at the jail is a extreamly conjested road LOTS of cb ham and you name it radios and the ranger got clobberd but not the radio-shack it is clean. But now because the 5054 was NOT setup to be broadband and the frount end gain is somewhat less it is vety stable remember your MIXING to get there and overloading ( on mine ) is NOT a problem it simply for 300 bucks is a great set if you want 6 this is the radio to buy... unless your rich.
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Znut
Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 10:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Gentlemen,

I don't have much time to post right now. I'm getting a cup of coffee and going back by my new radio. There is much discussion on 50.135USB right now.

I've made 9 contacts since 5:20pm(5 1/2 hours ago) and have had conversations the whole time. A couple of those folks are almost 80 miles away.

I am beside myself right now. Every time I stamd up, I have to jump up and down...!

Znut
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bruce
Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 11:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

PLEASE NO NOT DIE ON US new radios can be fatal.... but i KNOW the feeling of NEW toys !!!!
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Znut
Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 11:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I ............ gotta go!
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Znut
Posted on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 10:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'm taking a short break from my new radio. OK, I'll see you folks later!

Take Care,
Znut
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bruce
Posted on Sunday, March 17, 2002 - 3:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

z-nut are you ok??????speak to us......????
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Znut
Posted on Sunday, March 17, 2002 - 9:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hello,

I'm still here! I have even posted some. Check out the LMR 400 FLEX thread. When I raise my 3 el. beam up 10 more feet, and get it clear of branches, I'll give you a shout some time, Bruce.

Znut
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Bulldog
Posted on Sunday, March 17, 2002 - 10:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Znut come up for air!! Now I'm sorry I sold my six meter stuff.
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bruce
Posted on Monday, March 18, 2002 - 12:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

bulldog i made that mistake about 220 mhz years ago now i dont sell gear that i cant back up
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Bulldog
Posted on Monday, March 18, 2002 - 9:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Live and learn I guess. (sometimes the hard way)Hey ZNUT what kind of watts does that rig put out on 6?
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bruce
Posted on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 11:57 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

bulldog
i get about 8 watts am 12 watts fm and about 20 peak on SSB out of my 5054 now i have done nothing to it and fine right out of the box it does EXACTLY what they say it will do. The reciver is clean no images no TV noise the blanker works limeter works fm mode is clean and the reciver quiets nicely. For 300 bucks hard to beat even during band openings it holds its own well even with my limited antenna i worked around the country bare foot into a squalo ( a 1/2 wave ant bent into a square) Ten-Tec offers a 6/2 meter radio for about 600 dollars that seems nice but unless you want both bands go with the ranger... now for that RCI-144 cool.... what do you think??
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Znut
Posted on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 7:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bruce,

What you talkin' bout Willis? RCI 144?

You must be hypothesising. They could do it easily! The display does not need to have the 1 (as in 146.52) in front. I have an FM icom rig that only has the 44.00_ on the display, less resolution than the ranger would be. The ranger would need it for SSB. Cool Idea! You should contact them. I wrote them several times as well as cherokee starting a year and a half ago and Ranger listened! (about a 6 meter rig)

Randy
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bruce
Posted on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 10:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey we can dream cant we ????? you know i was thinking out loud but you know ranger could do it as for the display my icom fm rig used wheels you turn them for 4697 the rest is up for your mind to fill in rangers name would give them a place in the makert place in short it could happen. Now my next project a ranger for 1750 meters just THINK of that car wip!
( 1/4 wave length ( inches) = 2270/.16 at 1750 meters )
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Znut
Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 12:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Whatchu talkin' 'bout willis?

That's not 6 meters!

Randy(Znut)
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Phineas
Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 2:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yeah, its too bad more people are not hip to 6 meters. I have been talking on nothing but 6 meter FM for the last week on my Icom with a guy WA0BOF in the area that has one of those 5054dx. Both of us running 5- 10 watt hitting a repeater 40 miles away full quieting. And man is that radio loud.

Phineas
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bruce
Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 9:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

one more week and i have power to my shack.... and radios going from dc to daylight
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Znut
Posted on Monday, March 25, 2002 - 9:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey folks,

I just enjoyed another net. Checked in with a station 120 miles to the north. Contacted people from KY, SC, GA, AL, FL, and the coast of Chile from middle GA.

Take care,
Znut
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bruce
Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 9:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

ZNUT sa soon as my builder gets done im with ya !
my 5054 is sitting awaiting the chance to be put to good use..o do i love 6 meters even got a mini MFJ 6 fm for the car !!
hey on 10 meter fm ... worked france on 29.6 moble he gave me +60 !!!! not bad from the car !!
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Znut
Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 9:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I sure am glad I have a 3 element beam for 50.2 mhz.

Znut
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bruce
Posted on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 7:07 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

ZNUT it makes a diffrence i got 2 4 el beams in storage but will settle for a couple of stacked squalos about 3 db gain. I liked hygain beams over cushcraft but MFJ bought hygain o'well cant win. Another but kinda costly way to get on 6 is TEN-TEC makes a transveter it goes in on 2 meters and out on 6 very nice but about 120 as a kit 200 wired ( www.tentec.com ). Now for the builder to get out of my way.
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Znut
Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 7:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey guys,

I'm setting up SSTV(slow scan television). You really just send pics. I'm working on phase 1 tonight, receiving. I'm going to work it on 6 meter, USB. It could be done on any band, wink.

If you are interested in checking it out it's a free download. Search for "MMSSTV". You have to hook your radio to your soundcard. I'm trying receive first because I don't have to wire a mic plug and match the output of the soundcard on my PC to my mic input on my radio to do so. As I get a feel for it I will begin phase 2(sending).

Randy(znut)
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Znut
Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 11:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

It works!
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Bulldog
Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 12:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Watch out your talking ham stuff here, chromapix works really good for sstv to. I think I'm gonna get a transverter for 6
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bruce
Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 2:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

bulldog

www.tentec.com
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bruce
Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 4:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

ive built a lot of ten-tec stuff its pricy but well made like the old heathkit i had a 2 to 6 transverter and sent to my buddy in austraila the thing was everything they said very good on recive and about 6 watts out about 120 as a kit

bruce
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Znut
Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 5:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think it's time to order a couple 6 pin(Ranger) mic plugs!

I held my mic to the speaker and sent my first "CQSSTV", two folks copied and returned my image!

Randy
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bruce
Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 5:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

copper has them
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Taz
Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 6:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bruce must be a major ranger fan!?!?
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bruce
Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 8:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

no except for the 5054dx the rpsy-485 uses that connector and i just bought 3 for thoes radios
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707
Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 11:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The last I heard from the folks at Ranger, back about 6 months ago, is that the next version will be for 20 or 40 meters. Just coincidentally, Magnum already has a Tomahawk/Cherokee/CBS lookalike that runs on 40 meters. I suggested to the Ranger sales guy that 2m all-mode would be a good market for them. He agreed, and put me on a mailing list for new product info.
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707
Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 11:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Oh, BTW, I forgot to add:

for those considering the TenTec transverter, I have one, and it does work OK, but in retrospect, I should have just plunked down another $200 and got the Ranger. With the transverter, it turns out to be kind of a pain to switch back and forth between 2m and 6m, when I really want to monitor both, plus, by the time you add an amp and power supply, even only around 25-50w, you've spent the price of a new 5054. I will likely put the transverter up on Ebay and turn it into a 5054.
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bruce
Posted on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 12:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

i would aggree with 707 with the ranger 300 bucks it dont make sence to go with anything else
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Znut
Posted on Thursday, April 04, 2002 - 6:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well,

I ordered my mic plug and have picked up some necessary stuff(1/8" plugs and jacks, DPDT switch, banana plugs,ETC.) at rad shack to make my interface for digital stuff.

This stuff is really fun!

Take Care,
Znut