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Message |
    
Vanillagorilla
Junior Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 23
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 30, 2005 - 9:49 am: | 
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Looking to buy a new radio..(how many of you are already tired of answering this )
I did read A LOT of your reviews and obervations but not "many" include SSB.
Not having much to spend and having certain requirements narrows down the selection:
I'm looking for simplicity (I think)
Mobile CB to be used as base and or switched with my Grant XL when the mood suits me.
Prefer Sideband and easily modded for good power.
Been looking at the copper products page and am looking at:
Galaxy 959 (like the freq counter)
Galaxy 55 conv. for 11meter (would this include SSB?)
Voyage VR9000 (which is similar to above after 11mtr conv. same as Pluto or 88DX ?)
REALLY liking the Magnum M-1!
any more suggestions? I really like the Grant but am looking to buy a "new" radio with a warranty under $200.
Thanks for looking~
Hank `905
CEF 559
LI New York |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 592
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, April 30, 2005 - 12:11 pm: |
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SSB is superior on the Magnum 257. The ears on this radio are great and it has so many functions on it that radios costing twice as much don't have it is a shame on the more expensive radios. Do on search (left) on 257 and see what you find out.
Mikefromms |
Moderator136
Moderator
Username: Moderator136
Post Number: 7
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 30, 2005 - 12:40 pm: |
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Vanillagorilla
I to in the near future will be looking at a new radio to put in the car. Or run it as a base.
Its a hard decision to make but this is my 2 choices:
Voyage VR9000 It has AM/FM/USB/LSB/CW
Magnuum 257 AM/FM/USB/LSB
I also had the old style Magnum 257 and it was a talker and was real pleased with the performance. The new reviews on the Magnum 257 sounds like they made it better (CP1 speech compressor)and (Variable power).
The Voyage VR9000 has CW on it, (Im also a ham)and great reviews on this radio.
All the ones you mention are all good choices and a lot of radio for under $200 . So i hope this helps you.
Also COPPER prices are the best you can find anywhere.
Hank let us know what radio you get?
Good Luck
moderator136
CEF136
KCØSVC
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 2543
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, April 30, 2005 - 5:32 pm: |
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Here in florida with 180 deg temps in your car I have found the HTX-10's AKA MAG-257 are the best 10 meter radio out there. Some of the ones im using have gone 5 years and never had a failure.
Now i had a galaxy 959 and a HTX-10 in the car at the same time ..... the 959 drifed on ch 35 ssb it just never seened to stay put however the htx-10 on 28.470 after a few min would settle down nicely ..... remember the car is at 180+ and after the air is on a while its at 90+ ....
No doubt the mag-257 is one fine radio i would recomend it. |
Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack
Post Number: 395
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 30, 2005 - 6:42 pm: |
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It appears the the Magnum 257 can't be beat for features, cost, and ease ovg modification. |
Vanillagorilla
Junior Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 25
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 30, 2005 - 8:12 pm: |
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I read a bit about the 257 (thanks Mikefromms for pointing out the search!).
I'll agree for the money it looks good as long as I won't give up my reg 40 AND standard SSB. A plus is certainly expanding to upper and lower freqs which is a mod planned for my Grant XL and next new radio. My only problem with it, and I'm sure it strictly personal taste, is the lack of an old fashion analog type meter! I prefer a freq counter and an open clarifier and this has that in a buck rogers kind of way. GREAT radio for the money but was looking for a little more traditional.
Someone tell me why I should NOT look at 949 or 959 Galaxy radios? What are the dislikes of some of you guys? I've heard things about cold solder joints and the like? True? Unfounded? What else is out there that I'm missing? Wish I had a Copper catalog in my hands! Should be here soon I hope!
Thanks for the input guys~
Hank '905 |
Dx431
Senior Member
Username: Dx431
Post Number: 1026
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, April 30, 2005 - 8:42 pm: |
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Vanillagorilla take a look here:
Copper Electronics
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Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack
Post Number: 396
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 30, 2005 - 8:54 pm: |
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The 959 is a good radio,
Cost as much as a 257, and the mods are limited and lind of "rinky dink" to get the expanded channels. If you go with a Viagra Board, it would cost a about 100.00 over the cost of the radio and you still only have a few extra freques.
Otherwise, they are great radios, I kiked mine. |
Vanillagorilla
Junior Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 26
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, May 01, 2005 - 10:41 am: |
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DX431..thanks for the link. Wish that TR696 were still available! I'd even look at the Grant "LT" if it were still around. Other than that there are not many choices for AM with SSB. Suppose the Magnum 257 is looking better. The TR296 looks like a Grant in many ways and I wish the 396 had SSB to go with the freq counter! Ahh whatever! So many yet so little choices. May have to save a few more bucks and look at 10meter radios to open up to 11mtr....yup hello again Mag257.
Crackerjack..point taken on the Galaxy radios. Thanks for the input...I'll be hunting.
All part of the fun~
Hank '905 |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 734
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 01, 2005 - 4:23 pm: |
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905, after working on both, i prefer the tr296 over the 696f mobile. it doesn't have a freq counter, but i feel it's a better radio, the 296. & most xl/148 mods work on it. i posted a ton of mods on another thread here somewhere. had to take my 'stuff' out of mobile to have some warranty work done, hope to get it all back in tomorrow. your xl is an awesome radio. mine flat out SMOKES. & i've done a few 296's that are comparable.
i DETEST galaxy & would never recommend one, export or legal. if you want SSB, i'd look S9, omega force, delta force, rci6900-25 or ftb, or connex 4800dxl. other then those, modded ham rigs are the way to go, & $$$ go up too! |
Wendy
Intermediate Member
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 100
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 01, 2005 - 8:59 pm: |
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Magnum 257 Great Radio! |
Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 400
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 7:56 am: |
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Vanillagorilla,
The 696 is still avalible, just search the internet, it is called 696FD1 now, the only thing changed is the faceplate to American flag.
I modded mine myself and it was so easy.
I like it very much and get real good reports on air and it is stock except the DM 452 power/echo mic that Kicks Butt!
it stays on frequency after about 10min. of warming up and has the 6 digit counter that is great.
I paid $169 for it, well under $200!
AP |
Vanillagorilla
Junior Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 27
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 3:22 pm: |
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Zerozero, we'll have to hook up some time and you can shake some sense into my head! I know your mod posts! I've printed them and put them in my "notes" binder.
Detest Galaxy huh!? Wow. Point well taken..I can take a hint How about S-3? May have a deal on one already converted. No freq counter but I can always buy an external.
AIRPLANE1 : I saw it was Disco here on Copper (I think?) But have seen them as leftovers elsewhere. Think they call them "freedom one". Good lookin radio that fits my needs nicely.
Again..the hunt is on
Zerozero....PS...if you'd like to try me again I'm on every night "ususally 19" for a while after dinner till 10 or so. If I hear you out there we could go sideband where I can stretch the signal a bit. I usually end up on 31 upper or 40 upper modulating with Conneticut.
Hank '905 |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 740
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 8:34 pm: |
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the S3 is actually a very good radio-AM/FM only, however, no SSB. speaking of freq counters, i've seen myself, also a couple others on this forum & more on another forum, prefer the TR296 over the original 696F & newer 696FD1, or whatever they call it. it mods down 10 channels lower then the xl/148/296, to keep it out of 10 meter ham band after modded, & it's receiver is a bit noisier & possibly less sensitive-though that could be an illusion created by the excessive white noise. as for transmit, it's good, but i've been able to get more from the 296.
with poor dx conditions, i spend a bit more time on SSB then usual, mostly 38 lsb, but if dx is elsewhere on SSB, i'll move to it. otherwise, AM, i'm on 26.835, 6, 11 & 13. m-f i'm hit or miss, sat & sun is the same deal, but i do get to spend more time on the radio at nite on weekend. |
Vanillagorilla
Junior Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 46
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 23, 2005 - 2:58 pm: |
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Well,time to revisit another one of my old threads..ya'll wanted to know what I ended up with and here it is..
Superstar 3900 Gold HP (10mtr AM/FM/SSB...dual final..already 11mtr modded and peaked/tuned tp 65w Am and 100w ssb. Only removed from box to do mods..$129.
Wasn't exactly what I was looking for but think I'll be happy for a while (any input here?)
Gives me a reason to try for a Ham ticket
Thanks everyone for the input..only regret was that I spent that money before saving enough to buy a 257 from Copper...now I gotta start all over again!
Thanks again~
Hank CEF 559 |
