Cobra or galaxy

Do you want sideband or not?

If not then stick with the Cobra 29 ltd. They are great radios for the money. In the right hands of a proper tech, they can be made to perform as good as some of the 10 meter exports.

If you want side bands then go with the 959 with the counter on it.

 

Of the 3 you listed,the Cobra without a doubt.
Both Galaxy's you referenced are low buck units that are overpriced
and will not perform like a well tuned 29 Cobra.

 

Not sure how true this is but I've heard that Galaxy SSB radios are NOTORIOUS for drift on SSB. Even more so than other SSB radios. Something to consider if you're going to use the SSB at all or not.

 

what's the ssb? which of the galaxy radios are better? 33 &48? or 949/959? i have a 959 now,so what should i have done to make it perform?

 

SSB is single side band. It's a different mode of operating your radio. In short, it allows you to talk further & more efficiently to your buddy as long as he also has a ssb radio and has his turned onto the same ssb channel you are.

For instance, say you're on 19 and so is he, but you're tired of the chatter and you're growing farther apart....you can flip to 19 ssb and have him do the same....then tune each other in....you're still on 19 but now you can talk farther and w/o all the chatter of the idiots on 19.

As for the Galaxy question, that I don't know....I do know the 33 and 48 are "export" radios and not a true CB radio...though when converted they can put you on the CB band....and also put you on the 10 meter ametuer (read:ham) bands as well....which has caused many an unknowing driver to receive warnings from the FCC which could lead to very hefty fines if you continue. The 949 and the 959 are actual CB's the only difference I know of is the 959 has the freq. counter....which if you use a lot of ssb you will want that option.

 

The 48 does not have ssb and I don't think the 33 does either. I know for sure the 48 does not that's what I run. If you want a good ssb radio it's hard to beat the Uniden Grant XL if you can find one used, they do not make them anymore.

 

The older Galaxy radios do drift a lot as they warm up, which makes them hard to use on ssb, especially while driving. My old 99v is basically useless on ssb. I got a wild hair a couple of years back and thought I might enjoy talking on ssb a little, so I bought a 93t, and it was pretty solid, it had very little drift. So I think Galaxy does have the drift issue taken care of now, with its newer (front mic) radios like the 93t or the 979. The 979 doesn't have a frequency counter, although the Grant doesn't either. The Grant will probably always be in demand, it might even go up in value, so if you have to spend $80 on a used one, you will probably be able to get your money back out of it. But Sandman-if you're happy with that 959, I'd stick with it, start spending money on this stuff and it's hard to stop!

 

Kinda sad that with todays technolgy radios drift ...