im looking at a refurbished cobra148gtl and a galaxy dx949,. the cobra is new and pro tuned, aligned and peaked, 2 year warranty around $ 150 shipped and the Galaxy is around same price, labeled manufactior refurbished. has a 2 year warranty thru galaxy and is also tech tuned, aligned and peaked. I am most interested in using it as a base with a home made dipole antenna. and most interested in talking skip and long distance. any advice? this is really my price range, so im kind of limited, definalty interested in side band. also what are the extra channels people add, are they legal? and where can i get some?
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making purchase today...need advice
- Thread starter cjruger
- Start date
RatsoW8
Supporting Member, W9WDX ARC Member - WD8T
Personally I would avoid any radio from someone who says it "pro or tech tuned". That usually means their buddy or some hack has gone in and clipped smething that shouldn't be clipped and turned up all the "VR's"....not good.
The other thing is, if you look around, you can buy both of those radios brand new for less than $150.00. Why buy refurbished and possibly hacked up???????
The other thing is, if you look around, you can buy both of those radios brand new for less than $150.00. Why buy refurbished and possibly hacked up???????
Ebay electronics scare me, regardless of what it is. I like to buy electronics I can put my hands on unless it's NIB and untampered. I got my Uniden 980 through Amazon with the tape still on the box.
like is said it is on ebay but the seller is a shop in Ill. and seems to be quite reputable, and i believe a authorized repair shop thru Galaxy or Cobra. im quite familiar with ebay and some of the junk on there, but i get great stuff from there all the time, it just depends on the seller. im more or less looking for input on the radios and their performance
thanks for any input
thanks for any input
keep your eyes peeled for a Magnum 257, or 257 HP, and maybe a hr2510, even an RCI 2950 (My least favorite choice)
Beware of tunings, all that really needs to be done is ensuring that its on freq and maybe increase the modulation.
SSB is happening right now and with 12 watts and a good antenna you can talk some good skip.
Both radios are good, galaxy is easier to modify for extra channels.
Extra channels are illegal but can be added to both radios.
Some may say to go with an export but remember that you can get into frequencies that may get you into trouble so keep that in mind.
no cobra
Avoid the newer cobra radios they aint what they used to be.The galaxys are no charm either believe me i own one and compared to my 2950dx its a paperweight on sideband.It likes to drift and the receive is crap.You buy one of those and u better start looking at alot of upgrades that will end up costing u as much as a 2950dx new.Get yourself a new 2950dx spend the xtra 150 and be satisfied with a radio that will outperform those others 10 fold.
Avoid the newer cobra radios they aint what they used to be.The galaxys are no charm either believe me i own one and compared to my 2950dx its a paperweight on sideband.It likes to drift and the receive is crap.You buy one of those and u better start looking at alot of upgrades that will end up costing u as much as a 2950dx new.Get yourself a new 2950dx spend the xtra 150 and be satisfied with a radio that will outperform those others 10 fold.
I'll have to say, that the person who started this thread just gave a choice between the two radios mentioned. Because that is true, I would have to say to go with the Galaxy.
Talk to the guy who is tuning the radio. Ask him if his tune-up includes snipping parts that favor AM performance - at the cost of SSB performance. If that is way he works on radios; then pass on buying a radio from him. In fact, if he insists on snipping anything - pass on him on that basis alone.
The Galaxy radio - when properly tuned - will easily out-perform MANY other radios in AM mode. No problemmo. Yes; the Galaxy will drift in SSB mode until it warms up in 10 minutes. But that never stopped me from keeping and using one in SSB mode in my mobile for the last four years - and counting. Whoever said that these radios have lousy receive has never had one that was tuned right; the audio and sensitivity are both xlnt.
A properly tuned Galaxy will work as outstanding on SSB as well as it does on AM mode w/o snipping a thing.
Ask for a 'full alignment' and not a 'peak and tune'; they are two different things!
EDIT:
If you are going to get a refurb; then opt for the 959 instead. I've seen refurbed 959's for about ~$125. Look around before you buy.
"Measure twice; cut once".
In addition, look for a used Ranger TR-696FD-1. It is the same radio/chassis as a Galaxy 949/959. Cheaper still; often found for $100 or less. Includes a six-place freq counter instead of the five-place freq counter/'959' has too. All of the same 959 radio mods can be applied to it as well.
http://www.cbradiomagazine.com/Radio Reviews/Texas Ranger TR696FD1/Texas Ranger TR-696FD1 Review.htm
Talk to the guy who is tuning the radio. Ask him if his tune-up includes snipping parts that favor AM performance - at the cost of SSB performance. If that is way he works on radios; then pass on buying a radio from him. In fact, if he insists on snipping anything - pass on him on that basis alone.
The Galaxy radio - when properly tuned - will easily out-perform MANY other radios in AM mode. No problemmo. Yes; the Galaxy will drift in SSB mode until it warms up in 10 minutes. But that never stopped me from keeping and using one in SSB mode in my mobile for the last four years - and counting. Whoever said that these radios have lousy receive has never had one that was tuned right; the audio and sensitivity are both xlnt.
A properly tuned Galaxy will work as outstanding on SSB as well as it does on AM mode w/o snipping a thing.
Ask for a 'full alignment' and not a 'peak and tune'; they are two different things!
EDIT:
If you are going to get a refurb; then opt for the 959 instead. I've seen refurbed 959's for about ~$125. Look around before you buy.
"Measure twice; cut once".
In addition, look for a used Ranger TR-696FD-1. It is the same radio/chassis as a Galaxy 949/959. Cheaper still; often found for $100 or less. Includes a six-place freq counter instead of the five-place freq counter/'959' has too. All of the same 959 radio mods can be applied to it as well.
http://www.cbradiomagazine.com/Radio Reviews/Texas Ranger TR696FD1/Texas Ranger TR-696FD1 Review.htm
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Update, .. I got the galaxy dx959 refurb for 146 shipped. I missunderstood the description, it said they are available peaked and tuned. Anyway its prob too late to cancel order, so thats what im getting. Ive read there are lots of mods that can be done to these, i would love if i could do it myself, but dont have any equipment to check. And not really electronically inclined.