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is the magnum 257 still made ?

went to yeticom . i'm really liking the magnum 1's easy to read informative display . the optima mk3 has the smaller 257ish display . anyone have any idea how the modulation and receive compare to each other ? is the M1 modulation near the level of their S9 ? do the M1 and mk3 have build quality and components that are similar ? or is one definitely more solid that the other ?
 
how does the M1 receive compare to the Mk3 ? does either offer a locked clarifier in their menus ?
 
Probably no new old stock left anywhere by now. Or, I have a like new Magnum 257HP.TB in the box with all the factory accessories plus the matching Magnum 257 Echo Mic. A nice feature of these is that both the Magnum stock power mic and the Magnum 257 Power Echo Mic run off the transceiver's internal power. This is truly a Magnum Radio collector's setup. I would let it go for $350 (+shipping to lower 48)

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went to yeticom . i'm really liking the magnum 1's easy to read informative display . the optima mk3 has the smaller 257ish display . anyone have any idea how the modulation and receive compare to each other ? is the M1 modulation near the level of their S9 ? do the M1 and mk3 have build quality and components that are similar ? or is one definitely more solid that the other ?
All I can say is my Optima mk3 gets good reports on ssb, mic gain set at about 2 o'clock, and power at 100%. On AM, I think I have used it two maybe 3 times.... I like my Optima mk3 But I like my FT 450D better....
 
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thought about getting the ticket and a used ham rig , just wanna freeband a little an don't want so many freq. to go to where i might get myself in trouble . yeticom says they have the M1 in stock , or is their sight not kept updated ? thanks for the offer BBB but i want something new and i have a EXTREME mic that should still work .
 
The Magnum 257's are made in the philipines and are also sold in Europe under the Albrecht label and downunder as the dragon 485.
I am sure Eric could still release them if he saw fit but the screen is a little bit changed now...different fonts. The design is getting old but it is still a pretty good stable SSB performer. Goes down to 24mhz now and nothing like the Optima MK3 except in looks.
Not as good as the Mag One but not as expensive either
 
All I can say is my Optima mk3 gets good reports on ssb, mic gain set at about 2 o'clock, and power at 100%. On AM, I think I have used it two maybe 3 times.... I like my Optima mk3 But I like my FT 450D better....

Why is the radio setup to work such that you have to have the mic gain at anything less than 100%? I have never understood why anyone would set up a radio that way? Is it a stock mic?
 
i recall the 257 series being stable decent radios . are they still made ? don't see them for sale new anywhere ...... if they're not , whats a decent budget SSB 10 meter/CB radio ? don't need high power , will put a simple 2 pill behind it .
thanks
I picked up a NOS 257 HP on eBay about a year ago, but lately I haven't seen any for sale.
 
Why is the radio setup to work such that you have to have the mic gain at anything less than 100%? I have never understood why anyone would set up a radio that way? Is it a stock mic?

That is so you get it to work with different mics of differing sensitivities and still get full audio. Also you may not need full mic gain on SSB but you usually do on FM.
Show me a Ham rig that runs with the mic gain on full. Mostly you run them at about 50% or so with the standard mics they come with.
It is done for you the user!
 
m1 out of the box goes into compression all modes with any thing over 31 on the mic gain (31 out of 63 steps) out of the box
probably why they are default setting for 31 on the mic gain when you reboot the radio after doing the expansion to them

if you ran a m1 with a power mic or compression mic it would would horrible (especially on ssb) at 63 on the mic gain setting even with alc turned back to limit rf power as the compression is in the audio circuit not a result of over zealous alc adjustment

some people like magum some dont personally i am not a fan of the cp-1/sp-1/md-1 and glad they didnt get the factory to add that to it because it would of totally ruined it
the voyager 8800 which it was based off never had that compression in it and to me it was a nicer ssb radio
of course to a cber what seems "loud" is loud to them but to some one with a scope they would give this face

as magnumman (dave) said you dont run a ham rig ..yasesu /kenwood etc at full mic gain on a STOCK mic the alc would be tripping balls if you did ..in many cases this is the same for stock ssb cb radios however they dont have a alc meter (wish they would) and most cbers stare at their rf meters........

as for my optima i run a IC-251a mic (dont know the model of it) with a HC Heil insert and mike gain around 12 o'clock as the mic is a bit hotter than any stock icom mic (from the 1980's when icom used preamps in their mics) suits me but does not fix my accent

ps: i am not a heil fan boy however in this combo it works fantastic for me as i am not a loud speaker and have a monotone voice
With max rf power of 40w pep its just hitting the 2db compression on the monitorscope with voice peaks
 

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