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The few RF Bonds (four at cab corners plus four on door hinges) may have made a difference.
I check Calibration on the 980 into the KL203 and don’t set interior lights on or off depending on switch position.
So, maybe, RF has a better path to follow.
Maybe.
The RG8X connects to the antenna mounts (cophase) via Mini-UHF adapters. Don’t know if their power-handling is xtra-low.
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I check Calibration on the 980 into the KL203 and don’t set interior lights on or off depending on switch position.
So, maybe, RF has a better path to follow.
Maybe.
The RG8X connects to the antenna mounts (cophase) via Mini-UHF adapters. Don’t know if their power-handling is xtra-low.
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The Scanner Stack
Used it this way about a week. (In another thread: “11–Meter Scanner”).
Back to 980 + 203 + DSP Speaker.
A bumper crop of ferrites
Noisy as is a 980, this one is now I’m feeling fairly sure there’s little I’m missing — if anything— compared to the Galaxy 86v.
Mix 31 & 61 on everything.
Two cube filters otherwise.
Next step is power cord to steel.
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Got the new POWERWERX 12V PowerPole 4+1 Distribution Panel plus 75A connectors ordered.
Looking forward to putting that with 6-AWG into truck once home, assuming it arrives this coming week. (See pic several posts above; was running out of room on current 3+1 panel).
RM ITALY KL-7405v ordered, as well.
Will be figuring dimensions and what rack to use to mount this. (And what radio).
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Looking forward to putting that with 6-AWG into truck once home, assuming it arrives this coming week. (See pic several posts above; was running out of room on current 3+1 panel).
RM ITALY KL-7405v ordered, as well.
Will be figuring dimensions and what rack to use to mount this. (And what radio).
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7405v still out of stock at DNJ (88 can’t get PayPal to work), and the 6-AWG I have isn’t long enough by a few feet. Received the other items, though.
So the noisy U-980 came out (I did find best low-hiss settings of gear to listen all day, but . . . ), and I started to install a McKinley before realizing I’d need bolts and spacers to adapt it to a standard Cobra 29-width rack. (Back to box).
Put the 86V back in, instead. (Sorta like going from AM broadcast radio to near-silent FM; 980 to 86).
Gotta dig around to find to Red Devil Astatic mike. Try some Super Lube to get that PTT scratch out.
Have the newer KL203 inline, and with both boxed filters, it’s hard to argue being able to run zero squelch plus max RF Gain most of the day (midday the exception).
The 980 really does have excellent ears. One can listen to layers of conversation (near to far) where attention to noise reduction is taken seriously.
When parked, engine & APU off, it’s as good as anything I’ve tried. It’s when one or both of those are in use that the noisy receive has to be juggled via radio and DSP speaker controls to find acceptable day-long hiss bearable.
Showed a constant xtra-low SWR across channels with only small variance (an antenna system I’m not happy with YET).
I've got semi-decent ears for SSB, but not the lungs to get heard (75W, approx. More power doesn’t appear to help).
The 86 (I think) has modulation down a little.
The Astatic power mike may help with that.
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So the noisy U-980 came out (I did find best low-hiss settings of gear to listen all day, but . . . ), and I started to install a McKinley before realizing I’d need bolts and spacers to adapt it to a standard Cobra 29-width rack. (Back to box).
Put the 86V back in, instead. (Sorta like going from AM broadcast radio to near-silent FM; 980 to 86).
Gotta dig around to find to Red Devil Astatic mike. Try some Super Lube to get that PTT scratch out.
Have the newer KL203 inline, and with both boxed filters, it’s hard to argue being able to run zero squelch plus max RF Gain most of the day (midday the exception).
The 980 really does have excellent ears. One can listen to layers of conversation (near to far) where attention to noise reduction is taken seriously.
When parked, engine & APU off, it’s as good as anything I’ve tried. It’s when one or both of those are in use that the noisy receive has to be juggled via radio and DSP speaker controls to find acceptable day-long hiss bearable.
Showed a constant xtra-low SWR across channels with only small variance (an antenna system I’m not happy with YET).
I've got semi-decent ears for SSB, but not the lungs to get heard (75W, approx. More power doesn’t appear to help).
The 86 (I think) has modulation down a little.
The Astatic power mike may help with that.
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Both. Other radios (Galaxy) are “quieter”. I’m going to guess that digital radios at the low end of the price spectrum will be similar.
My comments are about AM.
That said, Radio & DSP Speaker controls had to be (all of them) adjusted multiple times to find a “tone” (so to speak) which wasn’t grating.
I like the U-980 for a lot of reasons. Once dialed in there was some better clarity (sharper-edge) to voice than the other radios.
A $120 radio isn’t a $280 radio. Etc.
The biggest audio quality adjustment is in dialing back the Speaker volume (at night). Up the Radio a little. (Daytime, reverse).
The RF Gain on my 980 needs help. “Local” receives nothing. “Distant” is overwhelmed.
Don’t take my words as complaint about the U-980. What’s said about the 2950, 70, 80 RCI Rangers is far worse. But guys are buying them.
A NEW 980 should be the backup to your mobile. Always ready. Home 300-miles away.
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So I spent some time with the McK in my jeep and decided I don't like the audio on AM even though its a solid radio on SSB. It's great for getting the message across but seems real narrow banded. And the microphone issue was bugging me. I could fix it with a powermic but don't want to worry about batteries in the thing. Was going to just put the C29 back in. It will be interesting to hear your take on the McK with the DSP speaker.
This morning I was getting fuel at the Pilot and walked through and saw that they had the 980 on sale for cheaper then Amazon. Now I have my own.
It sounds great on AM and the SSB is Meh. AM is my primary mode in this thing so I am ok with that. Also the mic and channel selector are in a better spot for my setup. Have a 6 pin mic plug on order so i can ditch the adapter on the NC mic I like. Life is good.
This morning I was getting fuel at the Pilot and walked through and saw that they had the 980 on sale for cheaper then Amazon. Now I have my own.
It sounds great on AM and the SSB is Meh. AM is my primary mode in this thing so I am ok with that. Also the mic and channel selector are in a better spot for my setup. Have a 6 pin mic plug on order so i can ditch the adapter on the NC mic I like. Life is good.
If you long press the RF Gain button it lets you adjust the gain level on the "Local" setting. I upped it 3.
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Hooks up a KENWOOD KES-5 Mobile Speaker to the U980 swapped back in.
Leaving aside lack of DSP this is night & day better audio quality than the typical truck stop or CB Store external speaker.
(See thread).
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Leaving aside lack of DSP this is night & day better audio quality than the typical truck stop or CB Store external speaker.
(See thread).
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Just ran a microphone comparison test between seven (7) of different brands and types using first the U-980 I’ve run the past two trips. Then the Galaxy 86v.
With any ordinary CB Shop external speaker, the mic differences could be hard to detect.
The KES-5 is so much better, it’s not even a fair comparison speaker to speaker.
The differences between the microphones were profoundly different while listening (by contrast to the CB shop offerings).
Virtually no need to re-test. The biggest contrast of all. The last two microphones to make the grade were re-tested (and nothing new noted).
Using a headset afterwards to the second (receiving) radio didn’t add much past setting MIC GAIN a few degrees.
This last was performed on both radios and in swapping them.
The mic test revealed what I didn’t really expect: a speaker to speaker test.
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The last: setting U-980 RF Local Gain was a huge help. It never stuck in memory before.
I wound up with it in “3” as best compromise.
Made using this radio the pleasure it should been from the outset.
Thanks!!
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MICROPHONE COMPARISON TEST
Without a question the ASTATIC 636L had it over the ROADKING RK56 as to vocal clarity.
Both had the punch I’d wanted.
The following did not (past any other problems):
PALOMAR SL41
RANGER SRA-198
Astatic D104-M6B
Astatic RD104-M6
Galaxy stock mike
Road star RM452
Uniden stock mike
The deciding difference at the end was the sheer better clarity of the 636 (bought 2014) over the RK56 (bought 2012).
Current stack is:
Galaxy 86v
Palomar CMNF-500 Filter
RM ITALY KL203 (non -p)
Morgan 411cb Bandpass Filter
Co-phase coax with each leg having both a Mix 31 and Mix 61 FT240 toroid wound into it.
Atop cab are a pair of Wilson 2000 antennas
Power is ANCOR 10/2 Duplex to Batt and Frame. Fat toroid at distribution end.
SOTA BEAM 12V Distribution
All lines treated with Mix 31 & 61 ferrites.
If I remove Radio & Antennas, the replacement cost of (the set of) systems is at about $500 (of which $225 is speaker).
Labor was not expensed.
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Without a question the ASTATIC 636L had it over the ROADKING RK56 as to vocal clarity.
Both had the punch I’d wanted.
The following did not (past any other problems):
PALOMAR SL41
RANGER SRA-198
Astatic D104-M6B
Astatic RD104-M6
Galaxy stock mike
Road star RM452
Uniden stock mike
The deciding difference at the end was the sheer better clarity of the 636 (bought 2014) over the RK56 (bought 2012).
Current stack is:
Galaxy 86v
Palomar CMNF-500 Filter
RM ITALY KL203 (non -p)
Morgan 411cb Bandpass Filter
Co-phase coax with each leg having both a Mix 31 and Mix 61 FT240 toroid wound into it.
Atop cab are a pair of Wilson 2000 antennas
Power is ANCOR 10/2 Duplex to Batt and Frame. Fat toroid at distribution end.
SOTA BEAM 12V Distribution
All lines treated with Mix 31 & 61 ferrites.
If I remove Radio & Antennas, the replacement cost of (the set of) systems is at about $500 (of which $225 is speaker).
Labor was not expensed.
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I’d think it fair to say that a big truck co-phase Radio System for Eleven-Meter AM/SSB is going to run $750-$1,000.
The price mix for another truck brand or drivers taste could vary that, as could other choices.
I’m now at the point where additional RF Bonds might continue to drop the noise floor. Truck has eight (8) installed at present. Cab corners and doors.
Have hung both graphite grounding strap and aircraft static dissipator at rear frame edge.
Antennas are at a hair under 14-ft clearance (trailer requires 13’5”).
APU & Inverter lines left alone. Neither in use while driving. Minimal Interference otherwise (for local CB performance).
I’ve had the antennas on Hustler QD-2 disconnects. Haven’t used that feature enough to matter, so will go to short risers. May or may not make a difference, but that may as well be the subtitle of this thread.
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The price mix for another truck brand or drivers taste could vary that, as could other choices.
I’m now at the point where additional RF Bonds might continue to drop the noise floor. Truck has eight (8) installed at present. Cab corners and doors.
Have hung both graphite grounding strap and aircraft static dissipator at rear frame edge.
Antennas are at a hair under 14-ft clearance (trailer requires 13’5”).
APU & Inverter lines left alone. Neither in use while driving. Minimal Interference otherwise (for local CB performance).
I’ve had the antennas on Hustler QD-2 disconnects. Haven’t used that feature enough to matter, so will go to short risers. May or may not make a difference, but that may as well be the subtitle of this thread.
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Slow, I think the roadking shoes in the mix would be a better fit with a Telex Turner version if you could find one. In my opinion the telex version rk56 sounds amazing on just about any radio. The newer or you could say current version has less gain and the clarity is nowhere near that of the Telex or even the ones further back than that one. I think it would be a more fair playing field.
Those real rk56 mics go for good chunk of change these days. If they're ever on eBay for a decent price they're a good grab.
It's just finding a virgin one that hasn't had the golden screwdriver butchering the insides of it
Those real rk56 mics go for good chunk of change these days. If they're ever on eBay for a decent price they're a good grab.
It's just finding a virgin one that hasn't had the golden screwdriver butchering the insides of it
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