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Bc910
Junior Member
Username: Bc910

Post Number: 42
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 8:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey, I know the radio doesn't really need anything, I mean it's all pretty much done already. However are there any mods available other than the freq mod? I'm just curious to see if you could actually get even more out of it. Also has any one run into any improvement type mods? Like front end etc? Again I know it doesn't need it but I am a very curious person...
Any info what so ever on this one other than the freq mod would be great, thanks
BC
PS I know curiosity killed the cat but I still have 2 lives left :-)
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Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808

Post Number: 3337
Registered: 8-2002


Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 9:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bc910,

Sorry But there are No other Mods that I know of for the MAGNUM S-9.

This radio has EVERYTHING and a Lot of New Features / Parts that NO other radio on the market has.

There is Nothing the the Owner of one needs to adjust or mess with as it is already set up for 100% MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE right out of the box.

And with the Price of this radio I myself would NOT Touch anything that may VOID the WARRANTY.

From Testing / Using this radio and doing the Review there is NOTHING that needs to be changed or adjusted.

Just my personal Thoughts & Experience from several hundered hours of operating / using this radio under every condition possible.


Lon
Tech808
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Bc910
Junior Member
Username: Bc910

Post Number: 46
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 11:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That's what I thought.
As far as the warranty goes
If you mod it for freq, wouldn't that void it any way? If so then nothing else matters...
Just my thought :-)
BC
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Jake949
Junior Member
Username: Jake949

Post Number: 12
Registered: 5-2005


Posted on Monday, October 03, 2005 - 8:47 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

galaxy still honors the warranty after the mod, i would be surprised if rf limited didn't
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Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808

Post Number: 7493
Registered: 8-2002


Posted on Monday, October 03, 2005 - 9:08 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bc910,

No your Warranty from Magnum is not Voided if you do the Conversion Modification.

Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop

Post Number: 420
Registered: 11-2002


Posted on Thursday, October 06, 2005 - 1:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

From the looks of the PCB, it's the same thing as any Galaxy. So why not do the usual Galaxy mods, or whatever you want to call them?

I have yet to clip anything in mine. Still haven't heard it yet, wondering what it sounds like??
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Hatchet
Junior Member
Username: Hatchet

Post Number: 23
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, October 06, 2005 - 6:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I wouldnt advise cliping anything but yes, look at the schematics and the radios are VERY similar. Look at the reciever section in the S-9 and the Galaxy 99V. Id like to know the differences?
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Troublemaker
Intermediate Member
Username: Troublemaker

Post Number: 213
Registered: 2-2004
Posted on Thursday, October 06, 2005 - 8:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The MAIN difference is the MAGNUM is better!!
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 1609
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Friday, October 07, 2005 - 5:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

look at the values of the parts, & the parts that are missing from the galaxy(to save $$), & as troublemaker said...S9S9S9S9S9S9S9S9S9S9S9!!!



<<<<<<<<<<<NO GALAXY RADIOS ALLOWED HERE!!!
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Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop

Post Number: 422
Registered: 11-2002


Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 10:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well just for you know what and giggles I decided to experiment on my S-9.

I did some the usual things to it that you seen done to a lot of Galaxy radios. The R249 thing where you clip it, it didn't work so great. Everything you can think of, unless I don't know as many of the "tricks" as I think I do, I tried. Nothing...NOTHING...made an improvement.

So in conclusion...there is nothing more you can do to them. They are already 10-8 and straight just about right out of the box.

I like the receive, but I still think it lacks a little something or my antenna set-up is still not up to par. Today I couldn't hear people that my buddy right behind me could...and he is using a Galaxy...
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 1757
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 11:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

antenna...at my base, on maco v5/8 i have 5 radios on mfj antenna switch, 6th position is for 'other' radios. forgetting about S-units, but actual readability-MY ability to copy what the other station is saying-my S9 on AM can 'OUTHEAR' any OTHER radio i have or have had here. on SSB, my ic735 i'd say can outhear it, as well as several other HF rigs(ft757, 767, ts830). as for ANY other CB ever outhearing it-NOT even close! i even switch between it & ar3500 when i need more watts/better receive during long distance local evening communications. my XL in my mobile can outhear some base stations i know. my S9 in my mobile can outhear my XL.

so, just for you, chop,
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Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop

Post Number: 424
Registered: 11-2002


Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 12:18 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yeah, but you tell me why me and this other guy both have the same style truck. Same antenna, mounted in the same place. He's always had a better SWR than I can get, and he's always been able to hear what I can't. Now I work on this guys radio, so I know it's tuned just like my own stuff is.

So what gives? Even when I was running a Galaxy, and I owned numerous Galaxy radios until I bought my S-9, now I only own 2. Regardless, he could still out hear me.

A few days ago I said hmm-it. I changed my coax completely, not what I wanted to change to, but it was like 10 at night and my original coax had been slammed in the door latch. I removed the ground plane kit I had, I think I can receive better without it. I had the antenna grounded, and removed that wire as well. All of that I had done trying to match my buddies receive.

Although now I think the receive is better, Galaxy or Magnum, I still can't seem to hear what he does. I even moved up to a 5000 and changed over to the tri-mag setup.

And Cheesy, I've been toying with the idea of cutting my coax shorter. What do you think of that? Are you suppose to stick with that 18ft krap or can you use what will reach from the radio to antenna?
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 1778
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Friday, October 28, 2005 - 4:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

hollowpoint disagrees with me on cutting coax(not to IMPROVE SWR's, but for IDEAL electrical length), BUT i ALWAYS cut whatever i use, in this case 9913, to 1/4 wavelength @ 27.2 mHz TIMES the velocity factor of 84% & use a piece of coax approx 13' 9" long(off the top of my head). my wattmeter has a remote attached DIRECTLY to rear of amp with a barrel connector, so the ONLY jumper coax needed was between amp & radio. 6' piece rg8x DOUBLE SHIELD with sliver/teflon amphenol ends was used. shorter piece caused HIGH REFLECT . you need EVERY edge you can get, on a low power setup the LEAST coax i'd use would be rg8x double shield, any power & 9086/9913, something with double shield there as well.

'Even when I was running a Galaxy radios... Regardless, he could still out hear me.' right there suggests that it is not neccessarily a problem with the radio, but in everything else concerned. swr's being higher for you then him is also a possible cause. could be ANY little difference causing the discrepancy. could he be 'fibbing' as to what he hears? ...my XL in my mobile while parked in a friends driveway can outhear his saturn turbo on A99 WAY UP IN THE AIR, he is amazed to this day, 10 years i've been doing it! and i don't mean just a little, but i can talk with NYC, S3 signal or LOWER & hear them fine, & he hears NOTHING! closer stations may give his base S7+ signal, & i only see S3, but i still hear 'em fine...my S9 can OUTHEAR the XL!!! as for his 148 in HIS mobile, with both coily & now predator on roof, we can be on docks next to each other & what is totally inaudable to his radio is completely readable in mine....


whoops...almost forgot
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Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop

Post Number: 436
Registered: 11-2002


Posted on Saturday, October 29, 2005 - 12:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

No, I don't think he's fibbing. As I've been right in front of him and heard him talking to someone that I could only hear pieces of, only once or twice. If it were anyone else, I'd say they were yanking my chain, but me and this guy are pretty good friends and I trust him.

I don't agree with SWR causing a receive problem. According to Lou Franklin, SWR has nothing to do with receive and everything to do with transmitting. I have to agree, because I use a regular ole CB mag mount sitting on top of my shack hooked to my scanner to receive freq's in the 440's. And you know it's not tuned to transmit on those high a freqs.

I can out-talk him, but I'm running a 'better' radio and the Dave. I've always been able to out-talk him, but hardly ever can I out receive him. So I don't know.

Like the Water Boy said "thank you for being my friend".
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 1784
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Saturday, October 29, 2005 - 8:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

1.1:1 swr's vs 1.5:1 swr's, i'll agree with. there is a point where receive gets cut. ever take off your antenna, while listening to someone with 9 S-units, screw on a new un-tuned antenna & noise drops out & the 9 pounder is hitting you with 3 S-units? as you adjust, his signal increases...anyway...27-54-108-216-432, your mag mount isn't that far from 440....

you're probably just beating your head against the wall on this one, OK, he IS hearing somebody, but IS he responding to WHAT they are saying? do you KNOW he is hearing any more then the bits & pieces you're hearing? last weeks net, vanillagorilla at his base, 35 miles east of me & my mobile on the docks, 808's signal was 'reversing' itself to us, one key i could barely here him & hank heard him fine, next time it was the other way around. & lon once or twice responded, though not to what was said...other times vg could not hear what i was responding to, same radios & he was on base antenna...MOST of the stations we both copied had little IF ANY signal strength, it was just audio through the silence.

or, a tiny difference in antenna placement, height, dump bed resting spot, etc etc etc could be causing gain or rejection in a particular direction on 1 of the trucks.

or you can key over him everytime he keys,nobody will hear HIM, & he'll think his radio ain't getting out...

i give up
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Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious

Post Number: 754
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Saturday, October 29, 2005 - 10:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

have you aver thought about the differences in the ground connections between the two trucks when they were being built?
you may be dealing with a problem that doesnt exist anywhere except inside this particular truck.

maybe his truck is just a better ground plane.
the only way i can see to test this, is to take both radios, hook them up in the same truck, to the same power source, through an antenna switch, and find a faint signal, and switch back and forth between the two radios. do they both receive the same signal at the same reading? if yes, try them both in the other truck, if both are still the same reading, then the difference is his antenna system, which includes the entire truck grounding system.
hope this helps,
matt
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Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop

Post Number: 439
Registered: 11-2002


Posted on Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 1:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well, dag-on. I've added extra grounding on my truck thinking that was the problem. It didn't hurt, but I don't know if it helped or not.

How about placement? Should I place it closer to the front of the cab or the rear (bed)?

Trying to find a better whip, I cut a 102" whip down to the length of my original whip. The only problem is it's a lot stronger than the tiny little whip Wilson used. So now, everything I hit moves the tri-mag mount. Before I didn't have that problem. Would adding a spring help or hinder the setup. I know it would help the moved problem because of the larger whip, but what would that do to the receive and transmit?
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 1792
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 4:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

the antenna is going to be directive TOWARDS the most metal, or the rear of the truck. depending on HOW much metal is in front or back will increase or decrease the amount of directivity. of course, if there is 'truck' at or above the coil placement, you are throwing a little kink into the works & the patterns shape will change again. moving my predator to mid roof or farther forward decreases forward directivity, putting it behind the roof rack at rear of truck makes a noticeable difference in what i hear off the back.

what it may do is require the whip to be shortened. the thicker size COULD broadband it a bit, like another channel or 2 . t's probably not enough size difference to change anything, but no harm in trying.

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Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop

Post Number: 442
Registered: 11-2002


Posted on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 9:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I went with the bigger diameter whip for one because I was tired of straightening out the bent whip. Two, since I wanted to change to a straighter whip, it was all I had that late at night. Three and most importantly, I was looking for better receive, which "I" believe I got.

But it could be my mind playing tricks on me. I'll try moving it farther back in the morning and let's see what that does. I think I might better put a tennis ball on the lower section though to keep it off the headboard of the dump body. The COIL is slightly below the headboard, so maybe I need to raise that, but I'll have to do something about it clanging on trees and getting hooked on the plant.

Seems I've high jacked this post...sorry.
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Dd18
Member
Username: Dd18

Post Number: 60
Registered: 11-2004


Posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 7:42 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Just starting to see some mods appearing for the S-9.
Glen in NZ has worked out several mods to improve the SSB audio, Making the compressor adjustable and switchable in and out, getting the S-9 down to 24.6mhz for 12m and various stability, biasing and balancing mods for the finals. All in all a huge difference and way better sounding audio in and out.
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Bc910
Advanced Member
Username: Bc910

Post Number: 634
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 4:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dd18
Well? Where do I find these mods? I would like to look at 'em to check 'em out...
BC
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Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop

Post Number: 447
Registered: 11-2002


Posted on Wednesday, November 02, 2005 - 10:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yeah BC I'm with you. Post them here and let's have a looksey!
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 1820
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Friday, November 04, 2005 - 4:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

haven't had a chance to contact 'glen', yet, dd18. but i did get your e-mail & will investigate further
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Dd18
Member
Username: Dd18

Post Number: 60
Registered: 11-2004


Posted on Saturday, November 05, 2005 - 8:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Better check with Glen first as he is doing all the work. Mods mainly aimed at SSB operation.
He will post them on his web site shortly and I will post the link here. Hope a few other folks can try them out and prove they work before we get too carried away...

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