| Author |
Message |
    
Eryoung
New member
Username: Eryoung
Post Number: 2
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 1:15 pm: | 
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Hi,
I'm going to be getting a new cb radio for my truck and am deciding on these two radio's I want SSB and a good sounding reliable radio. What is your opinion.
Thank you and take care
Eddie |
Nobodyknows
Intermediate Member
Username: Nobodyknows
Post Number: 129
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 7:27 pm: |
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I like my DX959, bought it here 2 weeks ago.
My likes and dislikes are, Hard to see the digits on the freq counter if any kind of light is hitting the radio. Noise blanker really doesn't blank all that well. Lower sideband is severely off frequency out of the box, when someone does tune to you they say it sounds good though. I'm a SSB'er and that irks me that it's that far off new in the box.. It yields about 60 extra channels when you do the simple switch mod, and it does get 26.735 for you drivers out there.
Positives are, It talks really good if you turn up the modulation in it.(AM) (out of the box it did maybe 60%) I like the functionality of it, switches are easy to get to and feel good. knobs are good and not wobbly, I get great radio checks on it. I haven't tried the stock mic, I use a RK-56 and get flowers on how it sounds. It has pretty good ears on it. You'll like the dimmer knob for nighttime driving. the recieve audio sounds good and the hi med low tone is a great idea!!
I'd buy it again if i had it to do all over again, It's my first NEW Galaxy and it does pretty good, Also concider the MFG's warranty is 2 years i think.
I have no input on the Sherman, never had one so no comment. Hope that helps you deciede. Ask away if you wanna know more. |
Goat373
Intermediate Member
Username: Goat373
Post Number: 207
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 7:51 pm: |
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sherman is a classic 8719 chassis i believe...8719 over ANY galaxy ANY day |
Therealporkchop
Advanced Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 561
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 9:29 pm: |
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Well I've had a 959 myself and it is a nice radio. I like echo and it doesn't have it, but I added it from another Galaxy parts radio I had laying around.
However...
Even though I really liked the radio, I wasn't happy with it until I added dual finals and echo. And even then the power output wasn't what I was use to with a Galaxy radio. Very nice looking radio and it sounded good to me once I modded it. And I got great radio checks as well with it. It must have been a good sounding radio, because after about 7 or 8 radio checks, someone ask me if they could come buy it. So I sold it.
My recommendation for a SSB radio. In a Galaxy the 77HML. Even though it doesn't have the freq counter built. It's dual final and in my opinion the best Galaxy radio I've ever owned. If you want an awesome all around radio, then I would suggest the Magnum S9, of course. If all the power and echo isn't an issue, then the 959 is a really good radio.
77 is easy to mod like all other Galaxy radios.
959 kinda easy to mod, but not a lot out there.
S9 doesn't need nothing - it has it all
This is my two cents. Maybe not a great review but I tried. |
Yankee
Senior Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 1157
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 12:28 am: |
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You answered your question with the way you wrote it. (General Sherman over Galaxy). That is the ticket General Sherman over Galaxy. |
Eryoung
New member
Username: Eryoung
Post Number: 3
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 11:31 am: |
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Nobodyknows,
Did you get the Galaxy DX959 peaked and tuned? did that improve it?
Thanks
Eddie |
Nobodyknows
Intermediate Member
Username: Nobodyknows
Post Number: 130
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 8:11 pm: |
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Eddie, I turned up the modulation to about 99.9% and adjusted it's low and high dead keys. I use an amp when i need punch otherwise the radio by itself does just fine. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 2776
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 4:28 pm: |
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over the years i've used ALL the watts-from-the-radio tricks. i have all but stopped doing the all-out-super-duper-wattage-from-the-radio tweaks. 6 watts vs 7.275 watts does nothing to help anybody hear you. the grant XL-the radio that the sherman is a copy of-that i have in my mobile can key from almost 'Ø' watts to just over 5, externally variable, & will swing around 15 PEP. not too impressive? putting a decent sounding signal into the amp, gets a decent sounding signal out. i am more then satisfied with my xmit. ask anybody who's heard it . the receiver mods available improve upon an already excellent radio.
i'd go sherman over galaxy any day of the week. see sidebar
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< no galaxy radios |
Black_hawk
Junior Member
Username: Black_hawk
Post Number: 21
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 11:50 pm: |
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Hello Patzerozero,
Where can I find the receiver mods?
I'm thinking about buying a Sherman.
Thanks. |
Mayor513
Member
Username: Mayor513
Post Number: 79
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 2:09 am: |
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--Eryoung, go with the General Sherman, you will not be dissatisfied...Patzerozero knows what he is talking about, hehe. I love my General Shermans. Super receive. |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1255
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 11:04 am: |
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Yeah I would go Sherman too! I used to have a 959. Nice radio but could be better in my opinion. AM was great but SSB needed some work. I have heard a few that I was impressed with on sideband after they was modded on.
The 959 is a very good radio to work and learn on. Almost all the mods are so easy to do for a first timer. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 2792
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 2:10 pm: |
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http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/discus4/show.cgi?tpc=34&post=90428#POST90428
this isn't ALL of the mods for the MB/RCI8719 radios, black hawk, but it is a good amount. |
Therealporkchop
Advanced Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 568
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 5:47 pm: |
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You knowing, if you think about it real hard either way you go you are still buying the same brand radio.
If you buy the 959, it's a Galaxy and has it wrote on the front of it. If you buy the Sherman you are still buying a Galaxy it just says something different on the front.
Same PCB as other radios Connex and Galaxy etc.
I don't understand nor have I ever understood the wattage ratings people give around here. Now I know I don't know it all and I could be using 'cheap' meters. Maybe I'm just misunderstanding the whole thing. But regardless of whether I'm checking average power on my Aries or Coaxial meter, I can see about 12 watts max out of my Galaxy radio. On the PEP side I can see about 40 watts PEP without really hunting the last few drops. On my 77, I see 50 watts PEP on my Coaxial Dynamics meter with the Bird PEP reading kit installed. Almost the same thing I see from my S9, except it shows a few more watts average and around 5 more PEP @ 14.5 volts.
If you plan to run a amp, then by all means the 959 would be the way to go. Cause you'll have a radio with a counter built in which is helpful on SSB. However be advised that some of those radios had cold solder joint issues and some of them show off freq a bit until warmed up. Oh and I didn't find the clarifier mod 1 bit helpful.
But for the price, you can't beat that radio. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 2795
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 9:39 pm: |
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'chop, the 959/949/2547/696/900-series TR radios are all the same, based on an rci8719, but built on the ept0696 chassis. the sherman is a clone of the 148/XL using the rci8719 in the exact same configuration as the original mb8719. while the ept0696 goes a few channels lower in freq, the uniden chassis is better
15 watts PEP from my XL vs 35PEP from my S9 into my davemade driver shows about 50 watts more PEP, & there is NO difference other then audio tone. into my big dave box, i don't even see 100 watts difference.
my XL outhears my untouched 966 hands down. stock 296, LT & sherman also outhear my 966. |
Therealporkchop
Advanced Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 573
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 11:59 am: |
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I won't argue with you about hearing differences between radios. I don't doubt that one bit. But out of what you own, what hears the best?
Dudes question was over 959 or a Sherman. The way I see it the Sherman is just like buying a Galaxy 33 or 44 or Connex 3300. If I wanted something for just straight AM, personally I'd buy a 44 or 3300 something like that. If I wanted something for SSB between his choices I'd take the 959. It's cheaper and already has the counter. It's got the large meter although I don't think it's got all those bands in it which you don't need anyway cause you ain't suppose to be on them to start with.
But dollar for dollar I know you can get your hands on a echo board right out of a Galaxy radio and install it in the 959. If you are a tinker you can add the dual finals and perform the mods and have a really nice sounding radio and a nice looking radio.
So if I wanted the counter and SSB radio I'd get the 959. If I wanted a straight AM radio with echo and all that already inside I'd go the Sherman route.
We all know what my other two choices would be, so I don't need to give that again. But which ever he chooses, I feel like he'll get a good radio and be happy...cheezy. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 2800
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 3:31 pm: |
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i think you may be confusing the sherman with another radio, 'chop .
'Dudes question was over 959 or a Sherman'-the sherman IS an SSB radio, a clone of the TR296, which is an exact copy of the XL/LT/148 etc. it is a straight 40 channel+SSB radio, no FM, no extra bands, it is a copy of a legal CB. it's cheaper then the 949, the new 148 & the old 296. add a freq counter(& you really don't need 1 unless you add channels & open the clarifier) & it's a couple bucks more then the 959. for my money, i'd pay the extra for the sherman & add-on counter over the 959. the sherman doesn't have echo, only talkback. (even my S9 should NOT have echo, AMT or a beep .
for the record, i own both modded & stock 148's, XL's, LT's, 296's, & shermans, & stock, unmodded-only TR696fd1 & TR966(which are the same as the 949 & 959). the 696 & 966 are pretty quiet, & rather respectable, until you switch over to ANY of the others-even the unmodded ones. switch to the modded ones-no competition! i don't care what a scope or sig generator hears, it's what i can hear that matters. when vanillagorilla is talking on the low side, i use him as a reference! i know where he stands on all of my radios, at low power & high. i cannot copy his signal, though i know it's there, on the 696fd1. on the stock sherman, i can hear him pretty good. on any of the rcv modded radios, he's in there 3-5 S-units & sounding strong.
the sherman is the current choice for the best 40 ch SSB CB radio, rcv & xmit. if you've ever owned a 148/xl/lt/TR296, you'll be perfectly happy with the sherman. |
Therealporkchop
Advanced Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 575
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 6:18 pm: |
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Yeah I believe I must be confused. But you and I aren't gonna battle cause we're buds!!
Me personally, I'd opt for the counter either way. I just think it looks nice to have it built into the radio. I'm a echo person myself but can't stand talk-back. I don't like to hear myself that much.
Well I guess then that it's up to the end user. I just tried to tell what I knew about the 959 and what I thought I knew about the Sherman. So being schooled by my buddy, I retract all Sherman statements but my 959 statements remain...
Mr Chairman...the floor is yours. |
Yankee
Senior Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 1168
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 2:46 am: |
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I couldn't help myself on this issue, had to say something about it.
I don't like Galaxy radios either.
I've owned several good quality export radios, but like Galaxy after I sent the money I wasn't happy with them.
I like the down to earth sideband rigs that started out as a type accepted radio. It's more enjoyable to experiment with a radio the likes of a General Sherman, just to see what you can get them to do, it's also simple to add an after market frequency counter. My Grant XL has come the whole route since it came from the box, plus a hard wired frequency counter.
There are many good top quality type accepted sideband radios that you can do so much with. |
Moderator1516
Moderator
Username: Moderator1516
Post Number: 206
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 9:44 am: |
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from the skilletlicker:
they say different strokes for differnt folks
i have had my galaxy 88 for five years and no problems,i try to use it for what it was intended for ,and have not added any thing to it ,some people like fords,some like cheverolets ,i like buicks i think it all boils down to what each person likes,so if any one wants to throw their galaxy in the trash can ,send them to me instead.
moderator1516 |
Nobodyknows
Intermediate Member
Username: Nobodyknows
Post Number: 131
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 11:13 am: |
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I went with the DX-959 mainly because of the price and it had a built in freq counter, i'm pretty happy with it. I'll be happier when i get the LSB reasonably on frequency though. |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1273
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 1:33 pm: |
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The 959 is a great radio for AM no doubt. But after using a Grant, 148, S-9 or 4800 you get spoiled and the 959 is not very satifying for SSB work anymore. I'm not happy with just satisfied. If I pay my hard earned money for a radio it better perform without a flaw or it goes back! Save up and get what you pay for. Its worth it! If your a serious SSB'er spare no expense. You will be glad you did and save money in the long run by not having to buy the radio you wish you bought. |
Therealporkchop
Advanced Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 578
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 9:47 pm: |
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True Hotwire. But take heed to what 1516 said. He said he has had his Galaxy for 5 years. With no problems but he uses it for what it was intended without adding anything to it.
I'll assume he hasn't performed the usual mods of clipping and removing this and that. He might have, he didn't say, but I draw from that that he didn't.
The usual clip this, remove that, usually results in a crappy sounding radio on SSB. There are probably radios that DO perform better on SSB. The 959 I got came from Copper and was rock stock in the box. My brother-in-law bought it and I got it from him. He worked SSB with it with great reports. Once I got it and started trying to make it into something it wasn't then it went down hill.
Not that this is an accurate way to check. But on my S9 which has had nothing done to it. Well nothing aside from the channel conversion thing. I was checking SSB and using the headphones that are hooked to my meters to monitor the outgoing signal. Well, it sounded really really bad. Regardless of what I did to the radio, and no matter what I tried to adjust or switch on my meters. And I have another radio that is SSB and it sounds excellent on the same meter/headphones.
However I don't use the S9 for SSB, just AM in my truck. But I made that point to say that even the high dollar units can have problems from the factory. |
Yankee
Senior Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 1170
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 - 2:19 am: |
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I guess I'll have to say a few words about my Grant XL.
Yes, it was a great radio from the factory. But that is where it all started, My Grant XL is a clip this, change that, remove TR/Q24 completely. Mod this and that over there. Therefore my Grant XL has been redesigned and came out to the good. Several first model 148s,2000 GTLs and Grants in and around the Oklahoma City area have been done up in this manner. Any one who has them will not part with them at any price. They scream on AM and sound great on sideband. Ask any CEF member that's heard my Grant XL on the Sunday Nets.
It comes down to this story, it's not what was done to the radios. It's why it was done this way and who did the work. The gent that did them all before his untimely early death, was an electronics design engineer working for the Air Force at Tinker Air Force Base at the time of his death, I want to think he was in his late 40s or early 50s. An honored Air Force Veteran of 21 years, when his heart condition came into view that took his life so early. |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1278
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 - 12:03 pm: |
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Agreed Porkchop, I'll admit I have heard some poor sounding S-9's and similar. I feel that some people should keep their fingers out of a radio including myself until they learn to read and operate an oscilliscope and be able to understand what they see on the screen and how and why the radio is operating in the manner it is. The golden screwdriver should be renamed the stripped rusty screwdriver. |
