New Superstar SS88HL (Galaxy DX88HL)

[Mr.715]

I called Brian today to ask about distribution of these as Ranger Communications emailed and said he is the only one with the distribution rights on them. Push come to shove the price point is just much too steep IMO overall. I agree with the many unanswered questions of these boards. 405 per unit if buying in singles and 3653 and some change for a set of 10 with a 10% discount. (Ouch) I could see these being purchased on wholesale around $170 then with conversion tune and alignment out the door for $325-$375. But $500 for a radio after tune with 20-30 year old components just doesn't seem to fit the bill. Seems almost as if someone is trying to capitalize on a large profit margin for operators that want to run a nostalgic rig.

Cool project and dream come alive in modern era, but with current events the tariffs may also be playing a part who truly knows. Just my two cents.

 

[nomadradio]

Hey, come on now. Selling a product nobody else has is every capitalist's wet dream, right? No worries about pesky competitors undercutting your price and taking away customers.

Brian is in business to make a buck, after all. If he doesn't, the lights get shut off and the landlord files eviction papers. No more business.

I say more power to him. It's a limited run of the product, so he needs to make hay while the sun shines. They'll be sold out soon enough.

73

 

[Mr.715]

Hey, come on now. Selling a product nobody else has is every capitalist's wet dream, right? No worries about pesky competitors undercutting your price and taking away customers.

Brian is in business to make a buck, after all. If he doesn't, the lights get shut off and the landlord files eviction papers. No more business.

I say more power to him. It's a limited run of the product, so he needs to make hay while the sun shines. They'll be sold out soon enough.

73

Though I agree. I still think the margin is too high for a radio of the caliber that it truly is. I am also one that had my mouth drooling when I first saw it but when the push comes to shove to spend $515 all around and done for one of these units as a customer just isn't for me. And I wouldn't want to push that price point onto my own customers doing so for what overall is available to purchase now currently at this price point. I have a lot of respect for Brian overall for making this dream happen and support the project just not the pricing of it lol 73's.

 

[AudioShockwav]

Those pre lead-free parts had to come from somewhere. Finding one or two for repairs is one thing. Finding a thousand or two for your factory probably won't happen. Makes it look as if the boards were assembled before 2006, even if the radio was built with it decades later.

73

Have to wonder if as 2312's ran out they had radios completed,less the finals,
these sat waiting for a final shipment of transistors that never came to be?
Mr Fan was already working on the radios with mysterious RT1 devices and they got shoved on a shelf in the back of the plant until today?
More questions

73
Jeff

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

This is an interesting scenario. Galaxy and RCI are two separate companies. Does RCI make the boards complete and ship them to Galaxy? Or does Galaxy make their own boards? Just curious.

 

[AudioShockwav]

This is an interesting scenario. Galaxy and RCI are two separate companies. Does RCI make the boards complete and ship them to Galaxy? Or does Galaxy make their own boards? Just curious.

Ranger builds the radios for Galaxy out here in CA and they distribute them, but they don't manufacturer any radios here.
The boards had to originally be built by ranger and left over from pre-2006 times.
I get the question, if they are shipped in that package with a current serial number, have to figure that the complete radio is being shipped to the retail shop so someone at ranger put them together.
I mean I get the retro thing, lots of old timers cut there teeth on the five star galaxy 99 with echo and the other variants.
He must have been talking to someone at ranger trying to get them to build him some old school style radios and they remembered these leftovers and they cut a deal.
I give him credit for picking a niche in the market, it's good timing, the cycle is up, CB is active because of it and even at that price they will sell I am sure.
But time will tell if they suddenly become a warranty problem for him due to dated components and unobtainable repair parts.
Galaxy is not going to warranty them, and I don't think ranger will either.

That's rolling the dice

73
Jeff

 

[AudioShockwav]

 

[Mr.715]

View attachment 72617

Jeff though ranger has posted about it. They are not supplying them or selling them. The only person that has distribution rights is Brian over at Truck 73s.

 

[AudioShockwav]

I just sent them a email to ask if the factory is going to warranty them , that's one burning question for me.

73
Jeff

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

I just sent them a email to ask if the factory is going to warranty them , that's one burning question for me.

73
Jeff
View attachment 72619

Wow, after reading all that, I don't know why I haven't bought one yet...

But seriously, I wish it had the big Galaxy meter. The surface mount board would have been great too. Presumably the capacitors are about 20 years old. So maybe the first thing I would do is recap it. And it costs how much???

 

[dave457]

At that asking price.... A recap should be included

 

[AudioShockwav]

Jeff though ranger has posted about it. They are not supplying them or selling them. The only person that has distribution rights is Brian over at Truck 73s.

They are supplying them to Brian , I asked Ranger if they are going to provide factory warranty for the 88, I got a one word answer
Yes
(I should have thought about the name super star (RCI) not galaxy like old.. ramble)
Anyway, Brian just hit one out of the park if ranger is going to deal with any headache of aged components with warranty.
I still wonder how they are going to warranty a radio with unobtainable replacement parts unless that shipping container has more inventory than even I imagined .
If the reference of future 99's and other models from the past plays out maybe a lot more.
This will be interesting.

73
Jeff

 

[AudioShockwav]

I talked to a dealer today that actually has one, he said same main board as the old 88 with a new echo, adder board plus parts to use dual mosfets in place of the 2312 and the one he has does have a 2166 driver.

You know, today's market, the crazy price of vintage radios, nostalgia factor,
I bet a dozen donuts the price goes up

73
Jeff