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So I want a Galaxy DX-979...

AndrewGS

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Dec 20, 2008
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Who should I get it from? I don't want a clipped, overmodulated splatter box. I just want clean RX/TX with as much power and sensitivity as reasonably possible with a good alignment.
 

I have heard a couple of Clays radios and they sounded Great. Clear and not over modulated.
Bob's cranked up a friends radio so much it lasted a month before he saw smoke.
 
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So I've had a couple of 979's and I liked them a lot. While they still drift a bit on SSB I thought they drifted less than the 959.

Here's what I would do if buying one

#1 Buy from Amazon or someone else who has free shipping. Amazon is the best bet, if there is an issue in the first 30 days you can return it and get a refund. Most CB shops aren't going to let you return an item with an issue, they'll try to fix it and you'll be paying to ship things back and forth.

# 2 If you do a lot of SSB talking pick up the galaxy frequency counter to add on for $50. Don't buy the 979F with the counter built in, it's only 5 digits.

# 3 Don't let a shop do a tune on the radio (unless you find it needs it). Modulation and power adjustments inside that radio are easy to do. If it's off frequency then get someone to do an alignment. The radio might be good right out of the box, no reason to pay for nothing or risk someone screwing your new radio up.

$169 + free shipping=$169

Clays radio shop - $159 + $55 tune up + $20 shipping = $234

# 4 If you like the Galaxy 979, maybe consider the Stryker 955. You'll spend around $300 but you'll get extra channels, echo, 4x power, and more features right out of the box. Also way better frequency stability on SSB.
 
If your going to spend around $300 for a cb rig, consider a used hf rig As in a ts440 or 430
 
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If your going to spend around $300 for a cb rig, consider a used hf rig As in a ts440 or 430

Another good suggestion! I was suggesting the 955 only because people that like the 979/959 series tend to lean towards CB style radios but you never know.
 
I have been buying from Clay's for over 20 years...He use to be over off I-20 west of Fort Worth for years before first moving to Weatherford, then to down near San Antonio...Guy has been around forever it seems like...His prices on somethings maybe a little higher than some of the other shops, but he does good work...He's gotten allot of my payroll checks over the years.:D...

nothing wrong with Bells either. mater-a-fact I just bought another radio from Bells, waiting on it to get here next week...

For as the 979 go's...for just a little bit more you can get the Galaxy 979F...(has a frequency counter)...I have a 979, not a bad radio, smaller case than the 949 and 959.

May check GI Joe's too, they usually have the best prices.
 
So what you really want is a stock 979 with 100% modulation and 4 watts carrier swinging to 16 watts and an external amp. Something like a 2-5 transistor amp. I would recommend a 1x3 AB amp. SRA 198 mic or SL41 mic. If you want any more power than stock output get a different radio because you will never get enough improvement even with a hacked up butcher job to make any difference on air or on a meter. Do not waste time or money paying somone to do the 2 final mod to this radio money better spent on an external amp than bench time.


If you do decide to get an amp I would recommend you use Mot, Macom, or Toshiba transistors while you can still get them.

I would recommend 1 MRF455 driving 2-3 MRF454's or Toshiba 2SC2879.

If you go with a stock 979 you should not even have to worry about who you get it from you can get it Home Depot if you like because it will not matter.

You will not have to worry about a stock radio being a splatter box, overheating the regulator or audio amp. Likewise, the radio should be durable and last almost forever.

For the record Mot transistors need far less input drive to output the power they are rated for. That is why I like using MOT transistors as a driver and Toshiba's downstream. Best real world combo ever. LOL

If you do not need that much power an amp with 2 MRF455's or 2 MRF-454 could be made to work nicely with that radio set up for 5-6 watts carrier swinging to 20-24 watts. Again the Mot transistors do not need as much input as the Toshiba's do to reach their rated power output.
 
Is this going in a vehicle or is it going to be used as a base station? If it is for mobile use, I prefer the traditional style like the 979 because it has dedicated knobs for the different functions and once you learn where they are you don't even have to look at them while driving. For a base the newer menu driven units wouldn't be as much of a problem.
 

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