Hello! I'm pretty new here and and was looking to possibly get an ssb radio. I'm a truck driver and I use a.m. alot, but wanted to dip into the ssb world and was wondering what would be a good mobile radio to start with? I run a Galaxy 929 right now and was looking at maybe getting a Uniden 980 or maybe a Magnum 257. I saw one on ebay for $159 a non hp model and started to pull the trigger, but was curious on what the users in here prefer as a mobile unit. I have read until my eyes have crossed lol. Just can't make up my mind. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I'm not dead set on just those 2 options, any others that will perform on a.m as well as ssb will work for me. Thanks!
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Truck driver looking for an ssb radio.
- Thread starter drifter42
- Start date
Myself, I would go with the Magnum 257. It's small, compact and has great audio on AM and SSB. The 980 is a decent radio, but is impotent in my opinion. The clarifier is locked on the 980, which sucks. The 257 is easy to modify and the clarifier is already open. The Optima MK3 is a damn good SSB radio that employs the Magnum 257 chassis, but it too, has tame AM audio.
You will save money by going with the 257 or Optima. Both radios just need to be expanded, which is easy and a DIY project. They don't need to be peaked and tuned by a money hungry CB shop.
You will save money by going with the 257 or Optima. Both radios just need to be expanded, which is easy and a DIY project. They don't need to be peaked and tuned by a money hungry CB shop.
The 257hp works well on both am and ssb. The optima is definitely more tame on the am side but ssb is awesome on the optima mk3. Have both and run the optima in the mobile now. Couple the optima with a real icom hm-36 mic and it rocks! But for both am and ssb the 257hp definitely packs more punch. It will do 70-80 on am from a 2 watt deal key. Ssb wil do about 60-70 watts. And the audio is loud with the stock mic. Both good radios IMO. God bless
Hmmm.....Dunno; think I'd steer clear of any radio that has more freq than a CB radio does.
There is a Cobra 148GTL for sale on the forum ATM from 'Shift Kit'. It's an old school model, which is the only kind to consider. Only $100/shipped too. That is radio you may want, as it is a solid AM performer as well as being a SSB giant.
http://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/first-run-cobra-148gtl.173462/#post-493370
There is a Cobra 148GTL for sale on the forum ATM from 'Shift Kit'. It's an old school model, which is the only kind to consider. Only $100/shipped too. That is radio you may want, as it is a solid AM performer as well as being a SSB giant.
http://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/first-run-cobra-148gtl.173462/#post-493370
I like simplicity while rolling 80,000 lb down the road myself. I think the 257 or the optima would take some getting used to if you've never used a radio like that before.
I run a Ranger 2970N2 in my 379 Pete and works great. Have mine running thru a predator 10K and have had no issues with it. Do need to make sure that you have the antenna set up right with that radio. AM audio is loud with a road king mic and SSB has allowed me to talk all across this screwed up world with no problems.
I really like the 257HP I have. Very easy to run and it gets good reports both on AM and SSB. You can get the echo mic for it as well, and it will give you talkback if that's your thing. On the other hand, an old 148 or Grant XL makes a great all around rig, and the KL203 will work great with one.
73,
Brett
73,
Brett