Nice looking radio. Anyone have any opinions On this radio? Now I know I am going to get some haters Im just asking questions!!
Bobby
Bobby
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Ranger 69FFB4
- Thread starter undertaker
- Start date
I bought 2 of these from a driver some years ago got them both for $400 because he took them to a tune-up artist and he said nobody could understand a word and the receive sounded like S**t. I said I would straighten them out for him for less than half of what he offered them to me for but he wanted nothing to do with the idea. So I sold him a whole new outfit installed. I put them on the bench and within an hour I had them both working real good I kept the one and ran it in my F150 on a Wilson 5000 for some time never had a problem using them on SSB or AM. I sold the other one for $550 and later while driving down the road in MO. a drive I was talking to wanted so bad he offered me $600 and pulled over and sold it to him. I don't trash a radio for the sake of trashing, as a matter of fact, I just don't trash any equipment I may point good/bad points about them but that can be subjective as well and in the mind of the beholder. When I except the responsibility of repairing or fixing equipment It's my intention to make that equipment as good as it can be and then explain why it's as good as it's going to get.
Ok, Don't expect stability at the level of a Kenwood, Icom or Yaesu if you don't mind touching up the clarifier control once in a while it proved to be a great SSB radio when it was used in my F150. Again you sometimes find yourself chasing someone that is constantly touching up their clarifier as well to suggest that all issues are local is not always the case. I will say this I would not hesitate to put one of these in my new F150 with the idea that SSB was going to be my focus as long as this radio is set up properly it will perform. Now for the disclaimer what I experienced with my radio and what someone else experiences with the same radio can be completely different for any number of reasons so don't file suit against me if you purchase a Ranger it doesn't pan out to be all you were hoping for. But again I never experienced a complaint level issue with mine.
OldTech
I'm curious as to what pills they're using in the amplifier now. I know the last of the 4300hp with the single pill were using a colored in red pill with slightly less power than Toshiba but nobody would ever tell me what they were. My guess maybe dei but that's just a guess.
Well, back then they were 2879's what they are now is whatever the market is offering that looks like a 2879 put your guess is most likely the right one if it's a late production.
Hmmm why's wouldn't they just leave the original makings on them I say but may it's classified info right? Kind of of like the new Ranger with the big unmarked Mosfets that nobody knows. Not to derail the thread just curious. The new pills seem to work ok though aside from from a little less power
The last version high power rangers I tested all had mosfets in them. After all my experiences with older high power radios that had the pills vs the mosfets I would take the old ones any day. Example would be the 2970DX vs the 2970N2.
Many of the mosfet radios had weird issues, power fluctuations, overheating, etc. The older high powered radios just seemed very consistent in their operation in comparison.
That being said I would never buy a high power radio - radio plus external amp is always the way to go if possible.
Many of the mosfet radios had weird issues, power fluctuations, overheating, etc. The older high powered radios just seemed very consistent in their operation in comparison.
That being said I would never buy a high power radio - radio plus external amp is always the way to go if possible.
If you use SSB, I'd stay away from them. They have the drift issues of the galaxy radios, and because of the PA being mounted below the main PCB, all the heat from the PA rises right into the main PCB which causes more issues. There were a couple of locals here that had them for a short while, but they went down the road pretty quickly (sold them) because of the SSB drift and the heat issues. They're fine for AM, though, if you don't try to squeeze every last watt out of them.
~Cheers~
~Cheers~
Thank you for the replies .. Think I will just leave it alone .. I have a 2950CD and a tx star 250 that should work...Just need to know where to run the rf power on the 2950cb for ssb..
I don't know if you have a good watt meter and a dummy load; but perhaps this is time to consider it.
If you already have a decent watt meter; then get a dummy load and set up the radio to go into your 250. The 250 requires no more than 10w/peak to fully drive it efficiently. Sooooo, you need a dummy to do the job right. A good one will run about $40 and will handle 300w (MFJ).
If you go that route, there are enough forum members that can guide you thru the process if you start a thread. It is easy to do and once you do it, you can set up any system after that. Good stuff!
Thanks Robb I do have a an MFJ dummy load. Just don't know how to use it. And I have an astatic meter.. I don't know where to put the dummy load.
You can either start another thread; or we can use this one. It's up to you. Go for it.