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Hotwire
Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 81
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 10:45 am: | 
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First Galaxy ever owned DX959. Bought it used for 50 bucks. My problem is this; sideband seems to have a terrible crackling sound when I recieve as well as transmit.The audio clears up after about 10 minutes of talk and then goes back to crackling soon after. When I switch to AM its there for a little and then goes away. Does this sound like a bad tune? To much SSB power? I get almost zero white noise just kinda like crackles and pops.I did open it up and seen some black electric tape on something near the antenna connect. It has been tuned down for low DK. 2 watts. Now my preamp will pull in some white noise but not much. This is mobile setuo and if not for the lights I would forget it was on because its too quiet. Since AM works pretty good I think I'll sale this to a trucker at the local truckstop. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 2219
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 11:37 am: |
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Hotwire cold solder joints are a common problem i would start looking for them. |
Hotwire
Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 85
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 8:32 am: |
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Thats seems to be true I hear that alot. I dont thimk this radio is worth the time. Over the past year 3 years I have had the opertunity to play with many different radios and can tell major qaulity differences. |
Patzerozero
Intermediate Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 469
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 4:14 pm: |
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'galaxy'-that's enough of an issue right there |
Bc910
Intermediate Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 304
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 8:37 pm: |
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I second that Pat
I just heard a guy today that sounded over modulated and over driven BAD! I asked him what he was usin' he said "Galaxy 99V" proudly... WOW a nother one bited the dust...
I asked him how i sounded he said, "Good, clean and LOUD, just like it should be" then he asked what I was using and I told him "A bone stock Magnum S9" well to make a long story short he had never even heard of Magnum and now he wants one.
Oh yeah one more funny little thing, he said his just got out of the shop for cold solder joints.
BC |
Mikefromms
Intermediate Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 465
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 3:57 pm: |
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Bc910, is that S-9 as loud as the Galaxy 95T? Also, can you use split frequencies on 10 meters when the radio is set up for 11 meters? Does it come already set up for 10,11 and 12 meters? And, truly, IYHO, do you think it's the best mobile radio on the market?
Thanks,
mikefromms |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 103
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 6:25 pm: |
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Found the problem. SSB is off freq. bad. Am sounds great. Communication on sideband is nearly impossible now. Not going to waste my time anymore. If your a truck driver and all you need is 19 AM.....get a Galaxy. I checked the prices on the 959 brand new and was shocked. Wonder what it costs to build these radios? |
Bc910
Intermediate Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 310
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 7:06 pm: |
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in order mike
YES, louder
no, no splits at all
no, easy "jumper" mod
YES! best one I have ever played with at least in it's price range, allthough the 257 is close.
Once again
"this is just my opinion and if you disagree, well, your wrong! In my opinion, of course  " |
Scrapiron63
Advanced Member
Username: Scrapiron63
Post Number: 748
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 2:35 pm: |
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Boys and Girls, you are comparing oranges and apples. I'm not partial to any one brand as I have galaxys, ranger, connex and magnums, all export versions, but 40-50 watts ain't gonna talk with 150+ watts.
Now talking about which is the loudest, at a few miles the magnum will be as loud as the 95t, but at 20-30-40 miles or more, no way.
I don't own a 95T YET, but helped a friend install one in his truck a few days ago. It replaced another good radio and a TS250. I hear it every day running the same route and distance from me as before, and i'm telling ya this badboy 95T is out talking the other setup, and its on the same antenna. He says the receive is better also, but you know how that is, it's hard to tell from one time to the next.
I know they are fairly new and haven't been time tested, but from what i've seen, this 95T is the best mobile rig I can remember since RF limited came out with the Ranger 3500 about 20 years ago, that radio still hasn't been beat for SB or AM.
I'm not gonna get into those urban legends, myths, and wild hysteria about the export galaxys not being dependable, not talking sideband, and all having cold solder joints, that would take a 100 page short story and may cause a shooting or two.
This is just my opinion and if you don't agree I ain't gonna fight about it, too old.  , scrapiron |
Bc910
Intermediate Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 315
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 4:55 pm: |
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The term "loud" refers to audio not signal.
40-50 watts verses 150 isn't as big a difference as most think, remember "the antenna is 90% of a radio"
the 95T may be a good radio and from all accounts so far seems to be holding up, but from my (and MANY others) experience Galaxies just don’t hold up over time.
20-30-40 miles away is no problem with my 40 watt S9 in my mobile, the audio DRIVES it through.
It boils down to the fact that I am not impressed with the design of the 95T. They finally got a 6 digit freq. counter but now there is no echo controls on the outside? What's up with that? What’s the use of an echo without accessible controls? As far as the power goes... well I'm not impressed by that either all they did was strap a 150 watt linear to the radio and packaged it as one, a trick that has been used for YEARS! Cool idea but I don’t always want to run a linear sometimes 10-20 watts is fine, heck most of the time.
BC
Once again
"this is just my opinion and if you disagree, well, your wrong! In my opinion, of course " |
Vtwinn
Junior Member
Username: Vtwinn
Post Number: 28
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 7:01 pm: |
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I love my 95T , its been banging around in my truck for a while now and not a problem,it walks all over my buddies S-3 and General lee ,as far as the echo controls set it and forget it ,why do you want to keep changing the echo anyway? It has variable power So you dont have to run it a 150watts on 19 , I run mine around 15 watts and if I want to play a little crank her up. I like the fact that I dont have to run more wires through my cab to have a little more power keeps everything nice and tidy .Now if the S-9 is the same radio as the S-3 minus the ssb then I dont think it is as loud as a properly tuned 95t and thats just my opinion.
Bob................ |
Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 156
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 7:15 pm: |
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I've just got to chime in on this. I've owned many Galaxy radios. Thankfully I've never had a cold solder joint radio, yet. The only one I've been disappointed in was my 93T. I expected more power than what I got, but it's still a nice radio. I've recently added a Ranger 2970, the older one, to my list of goodies. Also got a General Lee, which I'll have to say is a talking radio. I will admit this, even though I love a Galaxy radio, it'll have to get up real early in the morning and eat a lot of wheaties to beat my Ranger. I'm interested in laying claim to an S-9 next but I want the 257 as well. Hard for me to decide. |
Bc910
Intermediate Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 319
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 7:48 pm: |
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Vtwin:
the key words were "Now if the S-9 is the same radio as the S-3 minus the ssb then I dont think it is as loud as a properly tuned 95t" that's the problem "properly tuned" if both radios are properly tuned and running the same wattage, I firmly believe the S9 would be louder, cleaner, and actually win in a double key situation. Now as far as running more wires thru a cab, all you need is 2 then tap both amp and radio off of that. I agre with the set it and forget it thing accept, I don't believe in opening my radio up AT ALL unless needed and I don't appreciate having to just to adjust something as meaningless as echo. All that being said, I am sure it is a fine radio these are all just opinions here and nothing more! I have played with the 95T in the past and did think that it seemed to be a decent radio. However the reciever just wasn't as cleen, that's probably my biggest complaint. Other than that everything else is petty and doesn't realy matter, the type of things that i may hate and you may love! One mans trash is a nother mans treasure!
BC
Once again
"this is just my opinion and if you disagree, well, your wrong! In my opinion, of course " |
Mikefromms
Intermediate Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 467
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 10:19 pm: |
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The Magnum 257 is a very impressive radio. A guy recorded several of us talking tonight and played it back to us all. The other guys agree (they were running bases) my radio my the cleanest and loudest in the bunch. I run mine as a base with an Imax 2000. At this rate, I'm never going to be able to justify that S-9!
mikefromms |
Patzerozero
Intermediate Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 478
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 10:54 pm: |
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MY PERSONAL OPINION is that somebody should stop putting echoes into these radios, ESPECIALLY magnum, & put something more useful in there. anything. i don't care. as long as it's not an echo. hang a cup holder where the echo controls go. plug for a maplight. anything. even the endless echo on the S9 doesn't keep my kids entertained anymore. the strange language we speak on channel 6 is more entertaining to them. |
Bc910
Intermediate Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 324
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 11:29 pm: |
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Hey i don't mind echo either way (there or not)
but you hit on my point a bit Pat;
If it's there just don't make me open the radio just to adjust it
BC
Once again
"this is just my opinion and if you disagree, well, your wrong! In my opinion, of course '
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Scrapiron63
Advanced Member
Username: Scrapiron63
Post Number: 749
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 10:44 am: |
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I'm not a big echo fan either, a little will make a radio sound good, but too many overdo it, an old man with hearing problems like me can't understand them. These magnums have a good agrivating/payback echo, but I haven't used mine on the S-45 enough to get it set right. I use a sedelta me-3 power/echo mike on a couple of my radios with just a touch of echo. My old 12 year old connex and galaxy 88 are easier to set the echo on, and my old galaxy saturn has to have the echo set inside, I have put that on the "tone" control before on other saturns but haven't on this one because I don't use it anyway.
BC, I think your giving those guys in your hometown a snow job, you tell them your covering'em up with a barefoot S-9, then I look in your profile and see that you run a Palomar 250. Now that would get you up with a Galaxy 95T. Your learning, heck you might make a good cb'er. ;) |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 116
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 11:21 am: |
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Hey Scrapiron you made a very good piont. All the radios we use are good radios and I should not judge one just because I had some bad luck. You are right about a radio sounding good or better day to day. I have one of the most hated radios around, New model Cobra148 NWST. I have worked the country with this radio barefoot and mobile. So I didnt mean to put down Galaxy radios. People use them and love them and just prefer what they like. |
Bc910
Intermediate Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 326
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 11:23 am: |
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Hey now, just havn't changed that
THE PALOMAR IS GONE!!!!
BC |
Scrapiron63
Advanced Member
Username: Scrapiron63
Post Number: 756
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 11:51 am: |
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Hey Hotwire, sounds like you've got that Cobra 148NWST taking pretty well, i've never owned one, but I have had a couple used 2010 cobras, the ones I had were nice little radios and the people I sold them to are still using them. That radio got a lot of bad marks also as people were comparing them to the cobra 2000. I think the reason they didn't catch on more was because of the exports.
No problem on the discussion on galaxy radios, like I said i've owned all brands and it's fun to talk about. If BC thinks they don't last, that's his right and opinion, I think a national survey would show different, sure there's been problems but look at the thousands if not millions that have been sold since about 1990. I dealed in the galaxy/connex radios since they came out for several years untill I retired again 7 or 8 years ago, put lots of them in over the road rigs, dump trucks, off the road trucks, and I know for sure lots of those are still going. Most of the problems I remember were caused by operator errors like shorted antennas, it's heck teaching some of those drivers the importance of an antenna. Just on my personal use, my galaxy 88 is 12 years old, being mobile all it's life, and no problems. My saturn is around 10 years, my Ranger 3300 is 20 years, and I traded for an old connex 3300 a while back, I sold the guy about 13 years ago, it's been in an off road log truck all that time, it looks a little rough, the meter is stuck, but its still working fine.
That's another internet thing, i've seen arguments on the internet about a galaxy or connex being better, and I wonder if they have ever looked in say a connex 3300 and a galaxy 33.
Speaking of the internet, it's one of the most enjoyable develoments of my lifetime next to radio, and excepting my wife of almost 50 years, but there's lots of bad information out there.
In reality nobody is gonna pay much attention to what most of us think about a product, but I saw a well known tech give a real bad review on an Omega Force S-45 a few days ago. He based it on ONE radio he just had in his shop for repairs. I think it was the first one he had seen, and he gave the bad review and a recommendation not to buy because of this one radio that had problems. I answered it because I have at least used one for a year and half without any problems, but who do you think a someone thinking about one would listen to.
On another personal note, I know just one person here local that has bought a S-9 so far, don't know the details, I can find out, but he had some problems with it, I believe it was sent back to the company. Since then i've heard people locally on the radio saying they would buy the S-45 over the S-9 because they know i've had no problems, and they've heard about that one S-9.
That's how those myths and urban legends get started. I better quit, sorry about the rambling, I know people don't read long post.  |
Freebird
Intermediate Member
Username: Freebird
Post Number: 212
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 6:14 pm: |
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galaxy radios are drift boxes on side band.great am radio though. |
Bc910
Intermediate Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 335
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 6:59 pm: |
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I have had bad luck that doesn't mean they are all bad, however Freebird brings up a good point too. Don't get me wrong I loved my 99 just found something far better
BC |
Scrapiron63
Advanced Member
Username: Scrapiron63
Post Number: 758
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 9:14 am: |
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I guess i've been lucky, don't have any problems using sideband on the galaxy radios and i've use them since they've been out. If I had they would have been gone long ago since i've talked sideband every since there's been sideband. This has been discussed on this forum several times in the past years, and I remember one of the techs who would test more radios in a month than most of us would in several years said he could see no difference in the Galaxys than in others as far as drift goes. Some people really have trouble with sideband, and wouldn't be able to use it on the best HF rig made, I know some of them.  |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 122
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 12:28 pm: |
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Yeah Scrapiron. You sure are correct about antennas. A radio is a radio. Some are more powerful than others but if they work right there all about the same. 99% of all problems I encounter is the antenna. Some people neglect, don't know better, don't care. Its the beginners most the time. A rookie will read all the hype they see on the box. Thinking a fancy looking mobile antenna or something that LOOKS COOL on their ride will work right. I use 2 different mobile antennas. 96 inch fiberglass and 102 inch steel whips. No need to spend big bucks on a Monkey Made or other type mobile antenna. Not knocking Monkey Made. They are supreme elements. Where I live? A Monkey Made wouldnt last 1 night on my car. I cannot tell what kind of antenna somebody uses by listening. Getting back what I was saying. Antenna is everything. Longer is better. Some people expect plug and play. Put antennas next to the truck cab next to the back window so no sinal can transfer. Maybe a few inches going over the top of cab.I mean if your doing something at least do it right. I have Wilsons Firesticks ,Francis Astatics Hustlers K 40 Radio shacks blah blah blah. Its seems to me that the simplest of antennas do a better job.
Just screw them in, good ground plane area on car, good ground, good coaX WITH good terminators solder very good. All should be better than good.Just my 10 cents of the day. |
Bigbilly
New member
Username: Bigbilly
Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 12:41 am: |
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Galaxy radios are not drift boxes on SSB. They are PLL synthesized radios. If it's drifting frequency you have a problem that could happen to any radio. I see a lot solder joint problems in brand new galaxies, connexes, cobras, unidens, how far should I go? Whoever said that 40 or 50 watts simply would not out talk 150 watts was wrong. I have a 4 watt radio that will be heard over your "150" watts. Don't believe me try RF clipping. It's a form of speech compression. It's funny I have a 100% legal CB that will outdo some of these export radios out there.
bigbilly
KE5BBC
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