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Author Message   Tech808 Moderator Username: Tech808 Post Number: 4635 Registered: 8-2002 Posted on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 7:47 am:        MAGNUM S-3200B P03-01040 This Review is for Models built after January 2004. AM/FM/SSB/CW 10 METER BASE STATION AMATEUR TRANSCEIVER Complete Specifications, Modifications, and Non - Technical Review. By Lon ~ Tech808 ~ N9OSN GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS: Emission Modes CW /AM / FM / LSB / USB Frequency Coverage 28.000 to 29.699 Frequency Coverage Expanded Mode 25.165 – 28.755, Frequency Tolerance 0.005% Frequency Stability 0.003% Temperature Range -30 to +55 degree C Antenna Impedance 50 ohm unbalanced Antenna Connector Standard SO-239 Frequency Control Digital Phase-Lock Loop(PLL) Synthesizer Frequency Accuracy Better that +10ppm from 0-40°C after 15 min. warm up Power Requirment 120V, 60Hz AC Negative Ground or DC 13.8V, 6 Amps Current Consumption 7.0 amps maximum Dimensions 19" Rack Mount Chassis 16 x 11 3/4 x 5 3/4 in (WxDxH) Weight 18 lbs (approx) TRANSMITTER SPECIFICATIONS: Power Output FM/CW: 12 Watts, AM: 4 Watts Average ~ 12 Watts PEP, LSB/USB: 12 Watts PEP Final Transistor 2SC1969 Spurious Emissions More than -50dB below peak output power Carrier Suppression More than 40dB below peak output power FM Deviation +/- 2kHz maximum Audio Response More than 30dB below peak output power Frequency Response 400 to 2800Hz Microphone Impedance Dynamic Microphone, 600 ohm RECEIVER SPECIFICATIONS: Circuit Type Dual Conversion Superheterodyne Sensitivity AM: 1.0µ V at 10dB S + N/N / FM: 0.3µV at 12dB SINAD Selectivity AM/FM: 6.0kHz (-6dB) / 18kHz (-60dB) / SSB: 4.2kHz (-6dB) / 8.5 kHz (-60dB) Clarifier Range +/- 1.5 kHz Adjacent Channel Rejection Better than 70dB IF Rejection Better than 80dB for all frequencies AGC SSB/AM: 80dB Frequency Response 250 to 3000 Hz Audio Output Power 2 watts minimum at 10% THD with an 8 ohm load Audio Output Impedance 8 ohms FREQUENCY MODIFICATION #1 ~ Disconnect all power to the radio! #2 ~ Remove handles and top case cover from the radio with the radio facing you. #3 ~ You will see a Black board located / attached to the front of the mobile frame with 2 rows of plugs and wires. #4 ~ On the TOP row from LEFT to RIGHT you will see a 5 pin plug with green/yellow/orange/red/black wires in it (DO NOT REMOVE IT.) #5 ~ Just to the RIGHT of that plug you will see a EMPTY 2 pin socket labeled BT7/8V then you will see a Plug to the Right of that with a Brown & Black wire going to USB/LSB. #6 ~ Un-plug it from the USB/LSB position and move it to the LEFT and and plug it into the empty socket labeled BT7/8V. #7 ~ Replace the top cover and handles. #8 ~ You have completed the Frequency Conversion. Your radio will now have coverage from: 25.165 thru 28.755 Band ~ A ~ 25.165 - 25.605 Band ~ B ~ 25.615 - 26.055 Band ~ C ~ 26.065 - 26.505 Band ~ D ~ 26.515 - 26.955 Band ~ E ~ 26.965 - 27.405 Band ~ F ~ 27.415 - 27.855 Band ~ G ~ 27.865 - 28.305 Band ~ H ~ 28.315 - 28.755 PROS & CONS PROS The Addition of a Frequency Counter Jack that accepts the FC-347 or FC-390 Digital Frequency Counters. DUAL CLARIFIERS (Fine and Coarse) Clarifier Controls. Very easy Channel Conversion from earlier models. No more soldering & switching wires involved, just move a jumper one space to the left. An AC Power supply which no longer requires you to turn it Off on the back of the radio after you turn the radio off with the On/Off Button on the front panel. Frequency Stability is greatly improved over the first S-3200B that was manufactured in 2003 that I tested which seemed to drift a little. Knobs/Controls/Pots are precise and firm with no feeling of being loose or sloppy. CONS Owners Manual, There are several mis-prints in the Owners Manual which do not match the results that I experienced with actual use & testing that I performed while doing this review. But the actual results and features that I experienced are much better than those printed in the Owners Manual. #1 ~ The Frequency Range for the Bands stated in the Owners Manual are incorrect and you will need a copy of this Review to keep handy to know where you are on the Band Selector. #2 ~ On Page #4 Electrical Connections under the topic titled: "IMPORTANT" It is No longer required to turn the AC MAIN SWITCH OFF on the back panel as this has been corrected/improved from earlier models. #3 ~ With the addition of the External Frequency Counter jack on the back panel it is placed right above the Ext Speaker jack and the PA jack covering the printing. With the radio facing you the EXT Speaker jack is located on your right and the PA Speaker jack is located on your Left. I would highly recommend the use of an External Digital Frequency Counter such as the Galaxy FC-347 or FC-390. This radio after conversion covers a lot of frequencies and the use of an external frequency counter will be a great help to keep you dead on frequency without a frequency chart. #4 ~ You will notice that the GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS, TRANSMITTER SPECIFICATIONS, and RECEIVER SPECIFICATIONS I have listed above DO NOT match those printed in the Owners Manual. This is only a CON as to those printed in the Owners Manual. The actual specifications that I found when doing this Review were much better than those listed in the Owners Manual. REVIEW and COMMENTS The 2004 models of the Magnum S-3200B are greatly improved over the 2003 model of this radio I that tested back in 2003. I am very happy to say that all of the problems that I encountered with the earlier model have been 100% corrected. After 100's of hours of actual on air use with this radio it has performed flawlessly. I have used it on 5 CEF Sunday Nets and the reports have been very good on the clarity using the stock hand miccrophone and it has always remained dead on frequency with no drifting when using the AM or SSB Modes. The problems that I had encountered with the previous model with the control pots and knobs have been addressed and fixed, and are tight and precise. I had left the COURSE clarifier dead on center slot and only had to move the FINE Clarifier less than 1/16 of an inch to be dead on Frequency. In Conclusion: While this radio may not have all of the bells and whistles of some of the other radios on the market today, with the addition of a FC-390 or FC-347 Frequency Counter (which I used for this Review and was supplied by Copper Electronics), I honestly feel that you can expect many years of trouble free excellent performance. Below is a direct quote from Sam Lewis Owner of RF Limited and Magnum International: The S-3200B is designed for 1 segment only of the market. The low-end, least expensive market. The 3200B is the only low end model being marketed today. The Magnum S-3200B Base Radio is a low priced HIGH Quality Radio with an entry level price for those who are new to the radio hobby or for those who are more experienced and desire a very good quality and EXCELLENT performing radio at a reasonable price. It does not have all the toys like echo, roger beep, weather bands, talkback, bright/dim switch or a channel 9 switch. It is just a Very Well Designed solid radio that does what it was designed to do and that is allow you to get on the air and talk and enjoy it without spending a bunch of money. Use with an Amplifier: I have tested this radio in use with the KL-300, KL-500 and KLV 1000 with excellent results and no modifications performed on the radio or the amplifiers. Respectfully Submitted, Lon Tech808 N9OSN