| Author |
Message |
    
Cuddlebear
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 3:29 pm: | 
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Please help me.
I'll try and keep this brief, as I know how busy you are. I'm a Disabled man that was hit by a drunk driver several years ago. Because of this, I am trapped in my house like a prisoner most times. The only contact I have with the outside world is this old computer, and the cb which I love. Well, to keep this short and sweet I'll cut to the chase. I don't have much money at all. It took me 2 years to save enough to buy a brand new radio after my old one finally gave it up. (with help from a Truck stop cb shop) anyway, I bought the Cobra 2010 Base based on Cobra reputation. Big mistake. This radio was the worst I've ever seen. Big trouble right out of the box. Anyway, Cobra won't support it anymore. So, here I am, once again torn by all the radios that are out there. I've done some research and I feel like the radio I want is the Texas Ranger 696F-SSB-Base. It seems to be a solid radio that I've heard a lot of good about. And it fits the money I have. So I ordered it. But in the course of conversation with another guy at a Truckstop CB Shop over the Phone. He told me NOT to buy it cause he knew a guy that has one and it's a peice of junk compared to the RCI-2980-85-90 He said I wasted my money and I will be very dissapointed cause it's not what the manufacturer claims it to be as far as radios go. So now I'm scared He thinks I shoulda bought the 2980 Please help me. Did I just make another dumb choice here? Your the guy I trust cause I've seen your video's and since you've worked on these rigs. You are the one that knows. I want a radio that will last me my lifetime. This may sound terrible 307, But the radio is the only enjoyment I have at times. So if you and anybody else out there can help me get the straight story on this radio, I would be very greatful. Thank you for your time....73's to you and your family.
CuddleBear Base. Idaho |
Sintronic_Cpu
| | Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 11:36 am: |
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I know where you're coming from, I just picked up a Cobra 2000 the other day and can't get more than 15 watts out of it. As for the 696f base, it's really about the same unless you have it turbo tuned by someone, then you'll get about 27 watts out of it, BUT IT WON'T LAST LONG LIKE THAT!!! But check out the chart here: http://www.megatronicdistributing.com/prodpage.cfm?CFID=58528&CFTOKEN=92106982&Cat_Selected=19&Subcat_Selected=109&Group_Selected=199&product_Selected=808
Hey, if you do decide to send it back though, get a Galaxy Melaka!!! AWESOME RADIO, AWESOME PRICE, and it definately lives up to the Galaxy reputation, I have a Melaka and a Ranger 2990, sure the 2990 is 150 watts, but the Melaka talks just as good really, only time I crank out the 150 watts is when bleedover is bad and people lose out on my signal! I live out in the country and sometimes I just can't get it, you know?
Anywho, check out that Melaka, 307 will tell you all about it, go to the subscriber preview and check out all the stuff they posted for it, GREAT RADIO!!! It's really about the same as the 2980, just no counter, echo, or roger beep, but it's half the price of the 2980!
Just my two cents. |
Cuddlebear
| | Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 5:12 pm: |
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Any other Techs Have an opinion on this rig?
Anybody? |
Taz
| | Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 2:31 pm: |
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If you dont like the ranger, TRY THE GALAXY MELAKA! 307 KNOWS THE MELAKA LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND. And for the price differance between the melaka and the 2980 you could add all that in and still not have as much invested in it!
Dont listen to what the guy at the truck stop has to say right away. Get a second opinion here first. |
Bullseye
| | Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 1:42 pm: |
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I agree. I have no idea about the 696 but its Ranger so it should be alright. The Melaka is an outstanding radio though. Good price and a lot more modifiable than the 696. I have the "307 Special" that is in the subscriber section of the web site but any of them can have the same mods done to them. You could also get one of the higher priced Rangers or Galaxys but for the price difference you can get the Melaka and a KLV 550 amp and have more power. The only difference would be having less channels but I think 240 in 5 modes is enough. |
Warlock
| | Posted on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 2:30 pm: |
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The 696 is basically a mobile version of a 148F with weather. Nothing wrong with it, nice rig.
I prefer mobile radios as bases because:
Not as bulky
Less expensive
More bang for the buck
Easier to sell if liquidation is necessary |
Taz
| | Posted on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 1:42 pm: |
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ABCDEF = MODES
240 CHANNELS BUT YOU CAN PUT A PANTHER BOARD IN THERE AND GET ALOT MORE!!!!!!! |
Cuddlebear
| | Posted on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 11:29 am: |
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Thanks Guy's,
That's what I thought as well Bullseye. I have heard from some people that you really can't buy a bad Ranger. But since I've never owned one, I don't know. I guess we will see. I was very impressed with what I saw on the website about it. And it's not cheap plastic like the cobra. This is a 28 pound radio make of steel. Granted, from what I've heard, there's tons of room inside. But hey, It's a ranger. Taz, I've been waiting for 307 to give his opinion, But he hasn't been on here yet. |
Bullseye
| | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 9:01 am: |
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Well I look at it this way a friend of my Dads has been into CB since the early 70s. After he bought his first Ranger the only thing he bought afterwards that was'nt is his Cobra 2000 base. He swears by them and I trust his opinion. Although thats just my opinion I'd go with the Melaka if possible. I be a Galaxy man myself. |
Taz
| | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 3:18 pm: |
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Well cuddlbear the melaka weighs 28 3/4 pounds. |
Bullseye
| | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 6:28 pm: |
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I'm sorry for my ignorance on this matter but is weight really a factor? My old President Zachary T ,as I recall,weighed about 9 or 10 pounds and talked as good as my Melaka it just was'nt as versatile. |
Taz
| | Posted on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 2:48 pm: |
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No weight dosent matter, I guess i cant have a joke anymore |
Bullseye
| | Posted on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 7:37 pm: |
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I'm just rattlin' yer cage a little Taz. I know weight does'nt matter and I get a kick outta most of your posts. Lighten up SHEESH. |
Taz
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 02, 2002 - 2:08 am: |
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Hehe, ok bullseye |
Cuddlebear
| | Posted on Thursday, April 04, 2002 - 3:55 am: |
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Well,
Got the new 696F Base today. Been playing on it some. Gets great compliments on Modulation & output. Although I must admit that the freaks are somewhat off a bit. My external freq counter shows it at 27.1856 while the internal counter shows 27.1850 A minor problem easily rectified. After about 4 hours of having it turned on but not transmitting, the freq drift is about 2 points. 27.1848-49 Not bad actually. I'll let you all know what I think of it after a day or two. I'll create a new sub Topic here called "a serious look at the 696F-Base" Just because you never know who will want to know. 73's |
Taz
| | Posted on Thursday, April 04, 2002 - 10:20 pm: |
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cool,glad to know |
Cuddlebear
| | Posted on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 3:00 pm: |
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ok folks:
I'm now ready to make my evaluation of this radio and am going to post it under a new sub catagory called "A serious look at the 696F-SSB-Base" You'll want to know this. This evaluation is a serious no jokes look at the rig. |
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