| Author |
Message |
    
Little_john
New member
Username: Little_john
Post Number: 2
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 1:28 am: | 
|
I've been doing a lot of reading on the RCI 2970DX and the Magnum S9 (175). I can't decide weather I should go with the 2970DX now or wait a few more months for the Magnum S9 175 watt version to come out. The 2970 DX has a proven track record as a good SSB radio with good audio and has a big following. The S9 is fairly new and guys are ranting and raving about how good they are and that they have awesome audio. I talk SSB 95% of the time. Truthfully I'm leaning a little move toward the 2970DX because of it's proven past and design. I'm a little hesitant about the new S9 175 because it could have some bugs in it that need to be worked out and hasn't been around that long.
So what would you do?
thanks..Little John |
Dx431
Senior Member
Username: Dx431
Post Number: 1188
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 1:05 pm: |
|
2970dx |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 845
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 3:18 pm: |
|
I LOVED my S9 in the 40w version...it did everything well and as you stated "Loud as Heck".
It's also my STYLE radio.
I worked my RCI2950 (SommerkampTS2000DX) on sideband and got terrific reports like "Clearest I've ever heard you" That dual final RCI did an easy and CLEAN 40w sideband. On AM with the stock mic was just as clear but not what you'd call loud. As Izzy here told me..the M6B D104 woke it up a bit and only regret I never had the chance to try a few good mods that promise to REALLY wake them up.
Sorry...not siding either way...just providing food for thought.
If SSB is your thing I'd also echo what N8XFJ said.
Hank CEF559 |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 846
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 3:20 pm: |
|
...by the way..you not the "Little John" in Yaphank L.I. are you? If-so-fact-so  we spoke the other night 
Hank |
Little_john
New member
Username: Little_john
Post Number: 3
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 6:41 pm: |
|
no I'm not, but I'm glad to see a few other folks from Long Island are on these forums as well. ;) thanks for your input |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 2132
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 6:47 pm: |
|
the S9 175 will be the same S9 on the inside, it will just have an amplifier built in like the 2970.
the amp design is tried and true, and most people on here really like their S9's.
all i can give you is my opinion, which may sound funny or even stupid to others, but i would choose the S9 beacuse i HATE!!! the digital bar meter on the 2950/2970 chassis.
MAN that thing is useless!
matt |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 11466
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 6:58 pm: |
|
Copper Forum Member's,
Sorry but NO the S-9-175 & S-9-250 WILL NOT be the same inside and it WILL NOT have an Amplifier built inside.
PLEASE go to the area below to read the LATEST UPDATES direct from Sam Lewis that he gave us in the Saturday Night Voice Chat on: 09/23/2006
Manufacturers Questions
» RF Limited / Magnum
» 09/23/2006 MAGNUM UPDATES!
Hope this help's,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2 |
Johnbrowning
Junior Member
Username: Johnbrowning
Post Number: 16
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 7:33 pm: |
|
If you like SSB best to go with a proven winner! We already know that the RCI2950-2970 and their newer DX models are rock solid on SSB. The extra watts is not going to make a difference on SSB but freq. stability sure will!!! You also get a bunch of useful feature on the RCI if you decide to get liscensed and work 12 meters. I personely hate bands and with the RCI you get continious tunning of the VFO if you like.
I am not a big fan of "NEW" models. I rember when the RCI 2970 first came out it had amplifer issues. The fix was to add some feedback into the amplifer. Latter version fixed this problem. It was so bad that when I got my RCI I got a 2950 and added a 1 pill amplifer called the DX100 Kit. In stock form with my RF output knob in the 12 O'clock postion it gave me a 10 watt dead key swinging to about 45 watts on am and gave me a solid 100 watts on ssb. latter I I went from a 2SC2290 to a 2SC2879 and I reworked the voltage regulator in the radio and all of the pre-driver,driver and final transitors. That radio always got great reviews from other mobiles and base stations. No one ever belived me when I told them I was a mobile. I DX'ed all over N.America and Eruope,Caribean,Cuba....
Is this going to be a mobil instalation or a base??? I always had the best result's useing an old SS 102 inch whip. I like to use LMR400 in mobil applications. 18 feet of coax to make it easy to see what your SWR is and about 6-12 inch's of stand off from the vechile. |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 2135
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 9:40 pm: |
|
oops, sorry for the misinformation!
i guess i need to read the manufacturers update more thoroughly.
johnbrowning, i dont understand what you mean by this:
"18 feet of coax to make it easy to see what your SWR is and about 6-12 inch's of stand off from the vechile."???
matt |
Dx431
Senior Member
Username: Dx431
Post Number: 1189
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 2:31 pm: |
|
Yeah, that statement confused me too. |
Johnbrowning
Junior Member
Username: Johnbrowning
Post Number: 17
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 4:52 pm: |
|
The length of the coax is not going to affect the SWR at the antena. It can though make it hard to get an accurate reading at the radio of what the true swr is. This is why I like MFJ's 269 it is a great tool for reading swr,resonate freq.,velocity factor etc..... at the antena and on feedline in odd ball lengths. |
Little_john
New member
Username: Little_john
Post Number: 4
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 6:00 pm: |
|
Johnbrowning it will primarily be a mobile. I've been using 9913 flexible for years in the shack and it is pretty close to LMR400 preformance. I think it would be good in a mobile application as well. I have a quality meter to check the SWR's and such.
By the way I like your handle,are you a big 1911 fan? I am.. |
Johnbrowning
Junior Member
Username: Johnbrowning
Post Number: 18
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 10:13 pm: |
|
YES! I can not think of a John M Browning design that does not make me weak in the news! I really like his BAR!!I think that the 1911 and the Browning High Power both have merits. THen you have the M2 MA-Duce that is still in service!!! JB was a great designer! |
Therealporkchop
Advanced Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 898
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Friday, October 06, 2006 - 12:37 am: |
|
Hands down...2970DX. I like my S9 also, but no S9 ever built will match the 2970DX. I could kick myself in the teeth for ever getting rid of mine. I had one of the older units too and I even swapped it over to blue LED's. I hate myself. |
Little_john
New member
Username: Little_john
Post Number: 5
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, October 07, 2006 - 12:20 am: |
|
I took the plunge and bought a 2970DX today. thanks to everyone for your valued input. I'll let you know how I like it |
Spring
Junior Member
Username: Spring
Post Number: 19
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, October 07, 2006 - 11:29 am: |
|
Little John,I have used the old model RCI-2970(NOT DX).And I know it out talks a most radios including a lot of them running amps. I am very sure you'll love everything about your new 2970DX. As for the price I think that it's one of the best kept secrets (BIG POWER,GOOD EARS,little price)Excellent radio. JUST GET COPPER TO DO THE 11M MOD.
ANN
SPRING
CEF800
CVC77 |
Therealporkchop
Advanced Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 901
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, October 07, 2006 - 7:07 pm: |
|
You aren't going to like it...you're going to love it. And if you don't I'll buy it from you. You can't ask for a better deal than that.
I was very pleased with mine and it was the best SSB radio I'd ever owned. Not trying to take anything away from any other radio made, but this radio (or mine anyway) was an excellent radio. The only thing that's been close to it as far as a CB radio goes is my 2995DX. Which is basically the exact same radio only in base radio version.
Now HF rigs and the such are another animal altogether but weren't talking about that were we? Let us know what you think.
Chop |
Kc8pdp
Junior Member
Username: Kc8pdp
Post Number: 16
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, October 08, 2006 - 2:04 pm: |
|
both radios are good radios, I assume it would be the preference of the person and what they like. |
Little_john
New member
Username: Little_john
Post Number: 7
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 2:46 am: |
|
well a few months have gone by and I really like the radio on SSB. I've been getting good DX reports from all over the world. I do go on AM once and a while and my audio doesn't have enough punch even though my carrier is very good. So I want to pick up a good power mic. Years ago I liked the Astatic 575 but they're not making that model any more. maybe a Road King? Any suggestions for a mobile power mic for the 2970DX? I need some AM punch! And I don't want the radio butchered by yanking the limiter out. thanks! |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 956
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 8:59 am: |
|
Depends what you like your voice to sound like.
If you like it crisp and clean go with the D104-M6B. If you like more punch with maybe a touch of echo then go with the DM452.
Since you seem to mainly be a sidebander...
I'd vote for the D104 in your case. Sounds stock but certainly will wake up the radio.
Hank~CEF559
Long Island NY
|
Linx
Member
Username: Linx
Post Number: 82
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 9:04 am: |
|
I'd go with the Astatic power MIC. The square ones.
Let me warn, I have a 2950 that has had a super mod done. I like the super mod, but when running my power mic (Astatic Silver Eagle) I have to turn the MIC gain about half way down to sound good b/c it has so much modulation. Now, if I run a RK56 or a standard dynamic mic it sounds good. You may want to think about a super mod.
Rob
CEF# 830
Portland, TN
|
Teham
Intermediate Member
Username: Teham
Post Number: 128
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 13, 2011 - 3:49 am: |
|
I'll keep my magnum. I have both 2970's and a magnum. Magnum has better receive and better xmit audio. tony/n5jva/cef 259 |
Sitm
Intermediate Member
Username: Sitm
Post Number: 430
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 13, 2011 - 11:03 am: |
|
I would say that if you are operate primarially on AM and like the "LOUD" audio you might favor the S9. If you are a licensed amateur radio operator you will prefer the frequency coverage fo the 2970-50. You will also prefer the crystal clear audio that is highly respected in the ham world. The other night I was on 28.450 USB and talking to an operator on the west coast. When he asked me what equipment I was running, because I have learned that "old school" hams look down on people who operate RCI or other 10 meter conversion radios, I told him that I was on a Icom 718 with stock mic. He responded, "I have heard alot of Icom 718s, but that is the best audio quality that I have heard coming from one." Now if I would have told him that I was on a 2950 Ranger, he would have told me I sounded like crapola. I always and I always get unsolicited flowers on 10 meter from operators on $5000.00 rigs and I always tell them I am on a Icom 718. Over and over again I am told that it is the best Icom 718 that they have ever heard, crystal clear audio. In fact I was told a month ago that it was better audio than the Kenwood 480 SAT that the other guy was QSOing with at the time. I am not about to tell the guy that I am on $250 mobile Ranger so he call tell me out of spite that I sound like crapola. If you talk on 10 meter (legally) the Icom 718 is a good cover radio to use and you don't get the haters telling you you sound like crapola, when you really sound "crystal clear". |
