| Author |
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Damyankee
| | Posted on Saturday, November 30, 2002 - 3:22 pm: | 
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Help!!! I'm at the point where it's time to upgrade the mobile or put the base back in operation. I was wondering if anyone has anything good or bad to say about either of these radios. I will be upgrading from a Superstar 3900 (mobile) or starting from scratch on the base set-up. While I like my Superstar I'm ready to spend the bucks for a quality radio that is more stable on SSB and gives me more "uumph" without running an amp. I know that there are some 100 watt radios available but I would like to be able to run the rig without draining the battery in my pickup with the engine off. I don't really care about the voice toys, don't need 'em, won't use 'em. I see that the 93 is rated for 20 watts AM/FM & 50 watts SSB. That sounds fine for a single final radio. How come the 2517 isn't up there power-wise? Now I'm not locked in to either of these choices but as I said, I'm willing to spend some cash for quality. I haven't heard anything yet on the 93. New main board, good or bad? Are these power figures "stock" or after the radios are peaked? I'd like to buy a new base AND upgrade the mobile but it really depends on my better half's blessing for the base unit. I know... but you don't have to live with her...lol. Any help here would be appreciated techs, owners, whoever, but please understand that for the money I DO like my Superstars. I'm not particularly brand-loyal, in this case performance and quality are priorities. Anyway, this is long-winded but I want honest opinions. I'll be out of town until Tuesday which should give ya'all plenty of time to help with the decision. I value your input or I wouldn't ask... Thanks and 73's
Ron - 340 Arkansas |
Highlander
| | Posted on Saturday, November 30, 2002 - 5:55 pm: |
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I have a Dx2517 and I love it. It was completely aligned by SS8541, and the regulator, af amp, and noise blanker/am detection diodes upgraded. He even used a pulse generator to set the noise blanker! Another nice base is the 2985dx.
The 93T uses the same circuit board as the 2517, rci2980wx, and the ranger 6300/6900 series radios, so it should operate similarly. It has a toshiba 2290 for a final, which is a higher power device than the dual finals in the 2517, so that's why it has more umph. For a mobile, you might look at the rci2950dx or 2970dx. The 2970dx will give you the umph!!
I, however, prefer a barefoot radio and an amplifier to the high power mobiles--I think it gives you more flexability.
Hope this helps! |
307
| | Posted on Saturday, November 30, 2002 - 7:19 pm: |
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Highlander..Good for you! You see there are many great techs alive and well out there...SS8541 is the man...He should start taking some more of this work!
307 |
Tech671
| | Posted on Saturday, November 30, 2002 - 10:37 pm: |
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Between the two I'd lean toward the 93. You can use it mobile or in the house on a power supply. Better yet, put it in the mobile and run the 3900 in the house! |
Ss8541
| | Posted on Sunday, December 01, 2002 - 12:41 am: |
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yankee, like highlander said the 93 and the 2517 both use the ept-6900 board(non-smt). and once again the 93 uses a 2sc2290 single 'pill' amp. after a tune up the 2517 can produce about 50wpep while the 93 can produce about 80wpep or more. but when you run them at this level, the rf trans are going into gain compression(no longer completely linear). this is why the manufactures set power levels to 25wpep for the 2517 and 50wpep for the 93(they are completely linear up to this point and even a little past these points). but if tuned in moderation past this(not turning alc wide-open) the rf transistors will keep most of its linear characteristics(this also keeps bleedover at a minimum).
both radios have a little more sensitive rxer over the 3900. they are also more stable in the freq area when it comes to ssb work. all-in-all both radios are basically the same radio with a few different features that the other doesn't have. both radios also have the latest generation board that is a step above the 3900's board(not that this is a bad radio, but progress is progress).
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Damyankee
| | Posted on Sunday, December 01, 2002 - 4:22 pm: |
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Guys, Thanks for the insight here. I have the blessing from the wife for the base unit...almost. So the plan to use the DX93T with the power supply sounds pretty logical at this point. If things get rough I can always slip it in the mobile or put an amp on the base. This leads me to a couple more questions. Power Supply - I was looking at the PR20 (16amp continuous). Is this enough or overkill?
Antenna - Again, since my Starduster was trashed in an ice storm the base has been off the air. I was leaning toward a Maco V... Any better/other suggestions for this combination? It will only be about 20' AGL but my roof is all metal. I read the review on the "new Starduster" but I don't want to fight the assembly & tuning issues.
I snuck back in here Sunday but really won't be able to check the forum again until Tuesday. Is there anything that I should let you techs do to the radio, or is stock good for now? I appreciate your time and this forum. Copper will be getting my order Wednesday!!!
Ron - 340 |
Dx431
| | Posted on Sunday, December 01, 2002 - 6:52 pm: |
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Damyankee, go with the Imax 2k or the A-99. No tuning and they assemble and install in minutes!
As far as the power supply,if you're going to run the radio alone go with a good 20amp continuos like an Astron. They are a little more money but well worth it.
431 |
Damyankee
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 3:11 pm: |
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My thanks to all for helping me with the homework. It's ordered!!! - 93T, Imax 2000 & PR30 power supply. If I get some cooperation from UPS & Mother Nature it should be on the air this weekend |
Mikefromms
| | Posted on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 7:25 pm: |
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Damyankee, how did your set up turn out? Did you like everything?
mikefromms |
Damyankee
| | Posted on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 10:43 pm: |
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Mike,
I loved it. The IMAX is still where I put it a year ago. I brought another 93T and have one in each pickup. The power supply is currently in the closet. I tried a KL400 and a KLV550 behind the 93's. They really rocked on AM but I just couldn't turn the SSB down far enough so a Galaxy Saturn and 550 are now doing base duty. My old Superstar 3900 (which did work GREAT with both amps) is keeping the power supply company. One thing about it... I have options! LOL
73's - Ron |
Bigbob
| | Posted on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 5:53 pm: |
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How many watts go from your sarurn to your klv550 on ssb.Bigbob |
Damyankee
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - 6:17 pm: |
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I keep it down to about 8-10 watts PEP. I put 15PEP to it with my SS3900. I could probably run more but I get too many compliments running at 8-10 to mess with it. That still puts 250 or so out on level 3. Don't run much AM but deadkey is 1.5w when I do. |
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