| Author |
Message |
    
Alsworld
| | Posted on Friday, January 03, 2003 - 11:18 pm: | 
|
Okay folks, here's the deal. I hooked my brother on CB DXing over the Christmas holidays and now he wants a CB. He really enjoyed talking skip much more than I ever expected. He wants to try CB radio and see how he really takes to it but ham could be in his future as well. His job has him traveling long distances in a vehicle so trucker reports (traffic, accidents, detours) could help him out.
He has also expressed interest in putting up a base antenna using the same radio on a power supply as a hobby. OBVIOUSLY I am directing him to this website for all his ordering needs but I'll probably buy him his first radio within a few days/week. Here is what I'm looking for and need help with:
1) I need a good 40 channel CB with sideband.
2) I want to keep him 100% legal so I'm purposely avoiding "export" or 10 meter modified radios.
3) Texas Ranger or Galaxy's appear to be my option. Any better than the other?
4) Cobra, as of the recent years (non Uniden boards) have had a bad rap. Need those Techs to address the reality of this issue. Night watch problems? E-mail is OK.
5) No power mics yet because I do not want to create TVI if he puts up a base.
Bottom line, he lives in another state than I. He needs something swapable between work trucks and his own (pickups, not 18 wheelers).
I am thinking a Wilson 1000 mag mount with a Galaxy 949 but would like opinions. It's simple, easily swapable with a cigarette lighter plug and would keep SWR's low. All would be new. I know a 102" whip is better but he cannot mount to work trucks and knows nothing about SWR's and everything else.
His birthday is this month so I might as well introduce him into radio with new and "unbutchered" equipment (except maybe a 307 or Copper tune). By gawd I may just breed a clean and legal operator yet LOL!
What do ya'll think?
Alsworld |
Ironmask
| | Posted on Friday, January 03, 2003 - 11:55 pm: |
|
Alsworld,
NO, I'm NOT a tech, just too many years. This is my 2cents!
Galaxy DX 959 AM-SSB, Wilson 1000 mag mount, Magnum filtered power cord. Trip-Lite 10amp power supply for base power. I-Max 2000 w/GPK.
I feel this would make a good starter pack.
Hope this doesn't spend too much of your money!! |
Tech671
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 12:08 am: |
|
Al I think you're on the right track. |
deadlyeyes
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 2:57 am: |
|
Re AlS....
Check this out
http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/checkitout/checkitout.cgi?catalogSTORE:CKIE:prodV10-06064+
Ask copper if this will take the wind load of a 102 in stainless whip. It looks like it just might.
|
Buck
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 4:13 am: |
|
for $129 the 696F moble looks like a great deal AL |
Bigbob
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 8:12 am: |
|
Re de: yes it will,have one,can pull 102 down over tailgate still sticks and this with no spring(just for testing purposes).The only thing better would be 2 stacked front rear, super sticky!! |
Highlander
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 7:41 am: |
|
The Texas Ranger 696f is on sale right now. Seems like a great price for a full featured radio. I know Bruce was not impressed with the Galaxy mobile he tried (It was either a 949/959)
The other recommendation I have is not a product Copper carries (unfortunately), the Midland 79-290. But maybe they can order you one. Email me if you need more info, Al.
Can't go wrong with a Wilson 1000 for an antenna, or the Imax 2000 for the base.
Also, both radios I recommended can be "freebanded" later on if your brother wants to go that route. |
Dale
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 10:11 am: |
|
i think id get the galaxy 949 with wilson 1000 and imax2000 with gpk sounds like that would be an excellent choice |
Znut
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 7:38 pm: |
|
I think the Texas Rangers sound better on SSB. The Gal. 949's and 959's don't sound quite as good on sideband as the Galaxy 77 or 99, but the TR series that I've heard on the air sound good.
However, I love the meters on the Galaxies. |
707
| | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 11:44 pm: |
|
Just another 2 cents..
IF the guy is going to stay on regular 40, then a freq counter is unnecessary. It's just a distraction. For the money, the 949 and 1000 sounds like a good entry level setup.
You mentioned you hooked him on DXing. I think by now we all know that while it is certainly possible to shoot skip barefoot on the regular 40, it's not something for the faint of heart. I talk to lots of guys out there running barefoot mobiles and at best, they have about a 50/50 chance of making any given contact for more than a quick "wavin' a hand". On occasion, there will be a good opening. Just today, before I got with bigbob on ch38usb, I was talking to a guy running a barefoot Galaxy with 102" whip in Kentucky. He was doing good job, but the channel was absolutely clear on my end at that particular moment.
In any case, you might consider sweetening the deal with a cool trucker mic like the BUM(I always figured if I ever became a trucker, that's what I'd want hanging on one of those mic lanyards).
As far as him ending up a ham someday, by then, he will be looking at some VHF/UHF gear, unless he plans to go all the way on the first round and go General. 11m will be the last thing on his mind, except for road reports.
If you've ever listened to ch19 daytime in the real world of trucker radio, though, you know he'd better have a thick hide if he's gonna run barefoot ;-) I'd be willing to lay money on him asking about more power within a few weeks. |
Karatebutcher
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 9:22 am: |
|
Alsworld, your brother is going to want to be able to get out there like his brother, and he will be limited in his choice of frequency lsb 38, he will want power, he will want to go where his new friends can go, get him a good DX 10 meter radio, with some power in it, and get it over with.
Just my thought |
Scrapiron63
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 1:13 pm: |
|
I agree with Karatebutcher, he won't be satisifed with a 949 or 959 very long, and for a little more money you can get a lot more radio. |
CM 3885
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 1:26 pm: |
|
This isnt the 1960s were you could talk to anyone pretty much anywere barefoot with 4 watts. Ill bet he will end up being dissapointed with the reg 40 channel 4 watt radio then he will end up getting a radio like a galaxy 88 or another high power rig then he will want an amp and bigger antenna system These days its power that will get you out.. |
Znut
| | Posted on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 1:47 pm: |
|
http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/checkitout/checkitout.cgi?catalogSTORE:CKIE:prodE00-07004+
Great Price! |
ron hile
| | Posted on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 7:17 pm: |
|
how about a 6900 ranger modulation trick? |
|
