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N4ari
| | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 6:45 pm: | 
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I recently bought a TR-696F (mobile) from Copper. In the years past, I always went with the Uniden boards (Cobra 148, Grant, HR2510, etc.). I became very handy and comfortable with modifications for them.
I researched for a while and (as is part of my research before I buy) spoke with a tech at Ranger. I decided to buy the Texas Ranger. I am a ham so the overpriced 10 meter radios were not attractive to me.
It performs VERY well out of the box. Great receive and transmit. It is right in line with my expectations of any single band radio. I like it better on 11 meters than my HR-2510.
The day I got the radio I modified the clarifier (unlock) and peaked the radio. Wow, did this thing peak! I had to hold it back. And the radio was super clean inside. The engineering was impressive. No more miles of wires that snake around like the Uniden/Cobra radios. Lots of plugs and sockets and less hard wire to the PC board. After studying the '696 service manual and the service manual for the 10 meter version (I told you I researched), I quickly learned and saw that the main board on the TR-696 IS the same board as what is used on ALL the other versions with FM, added bands, course (and wider) clarifier, dual RF final, etc.! The missing parts were even drilled and marked on the PC board! This was amazing and what a treat.
I went to mouser.com and to Ranger parts and ordered the parts for a dual final and dual pot clarifier.
I've had my radio for ONE WEEK now and it already has upper/lower channels, peak RF, dual final, +10 KHz switch, expanded/unlocked clarifier. And thanks to OEM parts, it looks stock and factory original!
What's next? Maybe a roger beep and upgrade the lower performance parts (Schottky diodes, etc.).
Like my Camaro SS, I like to see how this "stock" radio can perform when allowed to with a few basic mods.
Techs rejoice! This is a fun/easy radio to work on and Ranger support is awesome. |
Weakeststation
| | Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 8:36 am: |
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To top it off, it's a easy radio to do these kinda mods to it... I like a radio that is easy to play with inside... Plenty of power mods out for it to... |
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