• You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.

Need suggestions on a radio... AM/SSB

You can always do what I have done....buy the Optima 3 as I have...Best radio that I have ever owned and keep the General Lee as well...Then install both radio's in your vehicle as I have and when you get tired of one GREAT radio and want to use your other GREAT radio you just have to switch the coax out...very simple! you now have the solved your dilemma ...Just buy the Optima, you will not regret it..
 
Mustang GT 350 take that 949 and get it on Ebay or Craigs List for a good deal and get the Optima before they are all gone

I think i will actually do that. I just like the way the 949 looks more than the optima.

I'll try to pull it and toss it on ebay in the next day or 2 and buy the optima after i sell the 949.
 
I would look at the TNT 350HD, 2 2879's, biased b, and are well built. Max input is 120 watts pep with a 2-4 watt dead key. Made by xforce. That will get you to the 300-400 watt area with the optima radio behind it. And they do a great job on ssb. I get compliments all the time, I run an older version of the TNT 350hd, the magnaforce 350hd, with a magnum 257hp. I have made contacts all around the world in mobile with this setup and have always been told that it sounds good. Had one guy say it sounds bodacious!! JMO. Look into the TNT amps by x-force, they are well built amps and can handle a good deal of input power as well. The TNT 350hd specs are as follows:
Transistors 2 x 2SC2879
Dimensions H 4 1/4' x L 7 1/8' x W 41/4'
Amp Draw (maximum) 29
Class B biasing
SSB Delay auto
Pre-amp yes
No Driver Required But T100-M Optional
Max Dead Key 100 Watts
Modulated Output (RMS) 150 Watts
Modulated Output (PEP) 400 Watts
install recommended with 8ga wireand 50a fuse.
Max input carrier of
5w or 100w max carrier from amp.
Max peak input 120w.
 
just curious if ya get the optima from yeticom does it come converted over or not???
and how about e bay do they come converted from there[ that would be my last option]
dont like soldering especially inside radio
 
You guys got me looking at getting one lol. Dang you guys!! Stop trying to give me the bug!! all joking aside, I am now considering one of these for my base setup. I don't have a large power supply, just a 10amp pyramid regulated supply. Seems like this would be about the perfect match, unless you want to take the full one HF radio route and really spend some money. The optima mk3 is a great radio from all the reviews I have seen and even on other forums they get respect as they are a rock solid ssb radio. As camaro1 stated you don't hear much about them as they don't have many issues. That's usually a good sign it's a good radio. JMO, I know these guys and they know what they are Talking about, if they are recommending the optima mk3 like they are, it's a GOOD radio. JMO, like I said, they have me looking at them and I don't even really have to have another radio lol. But yes, I have read on other forums that this radio is a rock solid performer and is built well.
 
I would look at the TNT 350HD, 2 2879's, biased b, and are well built. Max input is 120 watts pep with a 2-4 watt dead key. Made by xforce. That will get you to the 300-400 watt area with the optima radio behind it. And they do a great job on ssb. I get compliments all the time, I run an older version of the TNT 350hd, the magnaforce 350hd, with a magnum 257hp. I have made contacts all around the world in mobile with this setup and have always been told that it sounds good. Had one guy say it sounds bodacious!! JMO. Look into the TNT amps by x-force, they are well built amps and can handle a good deal of input power as well. The TNT 350hd specs are as follows:
Transistors 2 x 2SC2879
Dimensions H 4 1/4' x L 7 1/8' x W 41/4'
Amp Draw (maximum) 29
Class B biasing
SSB Delay auto
Pre-amp yes
No Driver Required But T100-M Optional
Max Dead Key 100 Watts
Modulated Output (RMS) 150 Watts
Modulated Output (PEP) 400 Watts
install recommended with 8ga wireand 50a fuse.
Max input carrier of
5w or 100w max carrier from amp.
Max peak input 120w.

I dont think i would ever hit 2 100watt transistors with that much input and besides i believe the yeticom is just dual finals so you would never see that kind of output from that radio anyways probably 50 watts at the absolute most. if you want to do a bit more power than that TNT350 i would go with either a texas star dx500 or a dx400 whatever you can run in your vehicle. i have a Texas star 667 and when i key it down when my 4cyl audi is idling it almost cuts the car off from all the draw on the alternator (time for an extra battery)
 
Well that's your opinion, I know who you are so let's just stop here before things get ugly. You must not know much about the amp that I have posted about I guess. I know for a fact that 50 or even 100 watts input will not hurt this amp. It's got some attenuation so that it can accommodate the higher drive. I have been using my magnaforce 350hd, same amp as the TNT350hd, for almost a year now with a magnum 257hp that does 60-80 watts SSB, I have never had anyone ever tell me I sounded bad. And I have not experienced any issues with the amp. The specs on a real toshiba 2879 are underrated, they will handle way more than 12 volts. It's all a matter of opinion anyway, both amps are good, but IMO I would go with a TNT, they are well built. So to the poster, in the end it's up to you, how much power do you really need, the jump from 50 watts to 300-400 watts, will be plenty. And it won't make the TNT 350hd even break a sweat. Like I said this is JMO, and opinions are like buttholes, everyone has one. Go with what makes you happy. And by all means don't skimp out, is that means waiting and saving up then do it that way.
 
just get the radio / coax / antenna and run it ,, you will make plenty of contacts,,

today I was just trying out my wire made (gainmaster) I hung it in a tree about 45' to the top of the wire and 100' of cheapo rg8x and my hr2510 at 25watts ssb and made contacts all over with no problem, even made a contact with Robb from this site.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Get a load of this, got a new Stryker 955 2 days ago, works ok if I don't turn the power past half way on SSB if I do it goes into some kid of oscillation, contacted Stryker, they are sending me some kind of kit to help this out. I was a bit upset but I know that all radios are not all the same. So at this time I an running it at 35 to 40 watts and it works ok doing that. What happened to quality control for most companys
 
my 2nd replacement 955 lasted about 3 weeks then one day I turned it on and no receive . sent it back again and they sent another new radio, that one got sold right away when I got it back,, for the price these 955's are going for I figured it would be a good time to upgrade so I got a Alinco DX-SR8T for about $100 more than the 955's were selling for and its 10 times the radio!
 

dxChat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
  • @ Wildcat27:
    Hello I have a old school 2950 receives great on all modes and transmits great on AM but no transmit on SSB. Does anyone have any idea?
  • @ ButtFuzz:
    Good evening from Sunny Salem! What’s shaking?
  • dxBot:
    63Sprint has left the room.
  • dxBot:
    kennyjames 0151 has left the room.