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Im4jc
Junior Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 17
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 12:53 pm: | 
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I have a chance to trade my S9 straight across for an older RCI 2970 with gold heat-sink fins. There are some things that I need to know before making the decision though. This will be my only radio, so I don't want to make a bad one.
1) Does the old 2970 have as good of a receiver as the new surface mount 2970 DX?
2) is it as good at ACR as the DX?
3) is the receiver plagued with white noise like the Galaxy's?
4) can the LCD readout display channel #'s simultaneously with frequency?
5) can the LCD readout display an S-meter, a modulation meter, and a power meter?
6) does it have a built in SWR calibration function?
Is the older 2970 a good all around radio, or are there any quirks about it that are going to drive me crazy?
And to Pat...am I stupid for even considering it, lol?
Thanks in advance  |
Boatman
Junior Member
Username: Boatman
Post Number: 23
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 7:31 pm: |
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Last time I saw gold colored fins on a heat sink it meant the radio had been run rather warm (HOT) for extended periods. Or painted gold.
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 2106
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 7:35 pm: |
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1. from what little i've seen of the originals & the newer DX versions, i think the NEWER DX versions have a bit more slectivity & sensitivity then the older ones.
2. i never really noticed a difference in ACR, but a friends 2970 at his base gets some nasty bleedover from relatively long distances.
3. it IS after all a galaxy...i have a 5054dx & IT has MORE white noise then probably every other radio i own. i know my friends 2970 has a noticeable WSHHHHHHH at all times.
4. don't honestly know, he has his set on frequency display at all times
5. it's only a 'relative' reading. if what is 'normal' changes, then there is something amiss somewhere.
6. the DX ones do, not sure about the older ones
if anybody thought i was softening up for christmas HAH!
me personally-i would not trade a radio like the S9 that is tops 18 months old for a radio that could be approaching 20 years old(unless you KNOW it is not that old-but, at best it's gotta be almost 10 years old). if it was to be my only radio, i'd explore a sale or even e*auction (& if need be use a cheapo radio for a while) & be prepared to purchase a NEW 175 watt S9 in the spring of 2006!!!
if you like the S9, i PERSONALLY do NOT think you would like the 2970 better. if it's the watts you're after, wait for the new high power S9. if it was a NEW 2970DX, i'd say put 'em side by side & see what you think-receiver-wise. you really can't compare 150 watts vs 40 watts. but a 20 year old radio....no. you could probably find 1 on e*auction for 1/2 what the S9 cost.
stupid? not at all...i think that just may have been a ploy to make me rant |
Im4jc
Junior Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 18
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 10:50 pm: |
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Pat. No, it wasn't a ploy. I knew that if I could get you to give the 2970 flowers over the S9, then it would be a no-brainer decision, lol.
Anyhoo, I guess there's no such thing as the perfect radio. Yes, I love my S9, but the quirks are many:
1)the the bleedover problem is still there something fierce...I mean really bad.
2)The volume potentiometer and the RF gain potentiometer are terrible as well, but I've covered that in a previous post.
3)Another beef that I have is the channel selector. I know that you (Pat), have said that you can't muscle it, but I tell you what, when you are bouncing down the road in an 18-wheeler on a rough road, it is very difficult...sometimes almost impossible, to get the right channel. I have a soft touch, and can be as precise as the next guy, but this is ridiculous.
4) You can't hear the roger beep through the talkback. It's easy in the course of a day to accidentally flip the switch to on at night.
5)the receive freq is 1 kc higher than the transmit freq...weird. May be a voltage thing. In other words, if I am on 27.1850, when I key up, it changes to 27.1849. No biggie, but makes a difference on sideband.
6)And I'm hoping that there is some way to add a higher value resistor to the dimmer circuit, because at night on a dark road, I have to put it on the dimmest setting plus turn off the frequency counter (which I don't like to do). Even still it can be very distracting and almost blinding.
Don't laugh, it's true. When you spend 11 hours a day behind the wheel, these little flukes become glaring flaws.
I'll just put up with these flaws...and yes, they are FLAWS, because I love everything else about the radio, although there are times that I really miss the power of my 95T, especially when I am in crowded RF nightmare truck stop environments like Ontario, CA or when the bleepin' base stations in any given city USA decide it's time to harass the truckers (Vegas, Portland, Detroit, Chicago, NYC/Newark, etc.) Man, I loved to just crank up the ol 95T and run a SQUISH session for about 30 seconds. That shut 'em up real quick like, lol. No, I'm not one of the radio hog jerks out there, but I've been known to squish a few in my time.
The pros of the S9 are many as well though.
1)Amazing receive. I mean really amazing receive, even in a mobile environment.
2)Very clear transmitted audio. I am almost daily getting unsolicited positive reports. "Hey driver, what kind of radio is that you're runnin'?" "A Magnum S9...why?" "Man that thing sounds crystal clear. How much do they cost?" etc., etc., etc. (of course I got the same compliments on my 95T)
3)Very good reports on sideband
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 2107
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 24, 2005 - 2:58 pm: |
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Im4jc...why don't you e-mail or call sam lewis at magnum, directly & talk to him & see what he may suggest to resolve your problems. i know, it already cost you whatever to acquire the S9 & why put more $$ into it....well, if i remember, it was previously used & just may possibly have been mistuned along the line. hey, a phone call or e mail costs you NOTHING!
look at your 3 pros-quite possibly the MOST important performance characteristics to look at in a radio.
yeah, the 6 quirks ARE considerable, but, hey i think 2, 4, 5, & 6 are EASILY resolved. i understand your complaint on #3, & unfortunately it is more in the design of the electronic 'channel-changer', then a defective or weak 'switch', & not neccessarily on the 2950/2970, but the same freq selection problem could arise on numerous other radios such as the delta/omega, ar3500, etc because they select freq by pressing buttons as opposed to turning a knob, which may be difficult whenever & whatever you are driving.
as for #1, i don't find it to be a problem in my S9 at my BASE. but, even my channel guarded grant XL can be WIPED out while on the long island expressway, or any interstate highway trips, as well as by my buddy running 25kw from his suburban across the river from me, at times less then 1 mile away. again, contacting sam & voicing concern over these 'quirks' may yield satisfactory results.
the main reason i say NOT to make the trade for the available 2970 is AGE. sure, my XL is 10+ years old-has gotten wet, snowed on, sand blasted while flipping over & another time endoing on the beach...& it keeps on ticking. but, i would NOT pay big bucks for it even if i DIDN'T know its history.
i also know that adding a dx500 texas star may or may NOT be an option for you for ANY number of reasons, but it is a thought-if you're looking for a few more watts & do get the 'quirks' resolved. or, as i said, e*auction, el cheapo for a while & await the 175 watt S9-though if you resolve those pesky little quirks, the dx500 may just be a cheaper & easier alternative!
a small sum of cash for the 2970-maybe, but in no way a straight up trade. good luck however you decide to go...just call sam 1st |
Im4jc
Junior Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 20
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, December 24, 2005 - 4:44 pm: |
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Roger that daddy-o. I'll have to contact Sam Lewis. I'm guessing that my radio hasn't had some of the updates that Sam offers to warranteed radios either. Does anyone have a list of the updates to the s9's that RF Limited offers? If I could get my hands on them, maybe I could bring the info to my tech and have him perform them.
I did have my tech take a cursory look at mine and compare it to a new S9, and the only difference we could find was on the new one there was a red jumper wire on the solder side of the board that was a few inches long, and mine didn't have it. My serial # is 954771 if that helps. Mine is probably a first run or something.
Hey Pat, did you have a chance to read my post under reviews/amplifiers? I'd be interested to get your input on that too.
Thanks!!! |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 2111
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 24, 2005 - 9:36 pm: |
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YES!!! i did see it...will provide detailed response to your question either tomorrow nite, or monday....gotta go clear off some space for santa to land later |
Therealporkchop
Advanced Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 522
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, December 25, 2005 - 1:23 am: |
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Well I know it can't read a channel number and a freq at the same time. Or atleast mine wouldn't.
I know the SWR is self calibrating and you can only use the meter to either read SWR or key power one at a time. The S meter function is in receive only.
I had a DX version, and I think it was an awesome radio. I have to disagree strongly with my buddy Pat. It's not a Galaxy, it's a Ranger. Ranger builds Galaxy radios to their specs not the other way around and you know this Cheesy. Stop taking those cheap shots at a Galaxy.
Personally even though I loved my 2970, there is no way in 'you know where' that I'd swap my S-9 for another 2970. I'd like to own another 2970, but I won't be giving up my S-9 for one you can believe that.
Why buy a radio with an amp built in? If you ever want real power, you won't be able to do it with that radio unless it's a really big amp.
I will agree that there are plenty of really great sounding Galaxy radios out there, but I know for fact there aren't any that sound like a S-9, not rock stock for stock.
But you will have to decide that for yourself. I'd personally keep it and get myself a good amp. And then I'd get myself a good antenna (Predator 10K) and some good coax. The lighting isn't an issue for me in my truck and I run mine on low all the time. I agree with the channel knob thing, but I kinda like it now.
Good luck!! |
Im4jc
Junior Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 22
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, December 25, 2005 - 10:57 am: |
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Thanks for the feedback, Porkchop. I will definately not be trading my S9 for an old 2970. Man, I really can't afford an amp that will work with the S9 though....one with at least 4-2879's. Mucho dinero. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 2116
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, December 25, 2005 - 11:25 pm: |
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keep your eyes open in the truck stops-you never know when some driver needs some cash! at least there you MAY have a chance to see it operate, if you're not into taking a chance on e*auction.
you could PROBABLY make a texas star dx400(4x2290) work with the S9-if you adjust front controls a bit. 2x2879 or 4x2290 custom amps should work as well. that gives you a bit more to look for, not just 1 particular amp.
'Stop taking those cheap shots at a Galaxy'-there are NO cheap shots when it comes to galaxy! any shot i can take is a GOOD shot 
oh, yeah... |
Therealporkchop
Advanced Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 524
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, December 25, 2005 - 11:39 pm: |
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I run mine with a 2 pill Davemade. The 200 not the variable M200. Of course my buddy will say they weren't made for each other, but boy howdy it's been working great and I mean great. |
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