Are the Magnum S9's worth the money?

Hello: The Magnum is a nice SSB/CB. You should have posted the cost that you are looking to pay. If you are a DXer and use a very good steel coil antenna you have the possibility of making great long distance contacts. Make sure you use the proper grounding straps/ bonding especially around your vehicle. I recommend you checking out the following ham radio posting about mobile radio installations.

www.k0bg.com (0 as in the number!)
SCROLL DOWN TO (list is in alphabetical order)

-ALTERNATORS & BATTERIES
-OTR & RV
-SAFE MOBILE OPERATIONS

You will learn more from this site than whatever answers you'd get from here! Hope you pass up the Magnum S9 and get a used ICOM 706MKII, YAESU 857D OR ALINCO DX 70TH. Take a look at the Lil Tarheel Auto Screwdriver Antenna (www.tarheelantennas.com) OH! And get that ham ticket for real radio ops.

 

I don't have any experience with the S9....

I do with the S45 and the 257HP...both are nice but the 2011 models suffer from QC issues....good thing is Mr. Sam Lewis will take good care of warranty repairs, bad news is your radios may have to go back more than once...both of mine have been back once and need to go back again for silly stuff....

Of course I see the S9 sells for $389 at Walcotts with 40 watts on SSB/45 watts on AM....GI Joes sells them for $359 aligned and tuned....Clays sells them for $359....so I don't know if I'd pay that kind of coin for one....take a look in the classifieds here....might score you a deal....I see there's a Galaxy DX 98 VHP in there f/s for $400.....it has 4 times the power of the S9....

 

How much? Where did you find it?
JMO one of the best SSB radios ever made. However I tried trading in my s-680 on a new stryker and told my radio is worthless cause parts are not available if it ever broke. Only offered me $100 on trade/ $75 cash.

 

I agree with turbo if I was going to spend that kind of money I would go with the galaxy 98vhp I have this radio in my truck and it can stomp almost any radio out there along with good clean audio I got mine a gijoeselectronics alligned never had any problems but it does draw some amps

 

I have always loved the Magnum S9, I have owned a few S9s and one 980.....great radios when setup right. Mine were always loud and clear.

 

Got news for you if your looking for a S-series radio from Magnum...They are being discontinued! And for good reasons. Like Turbo-T was saying, be prepared to send it in at least a couple of times for warranty work...And then be prepared to wait 3 weeks before they even get to it, once they receive it...

Last Magnum I bought was the S45HP...Had it less than a week, and had to send it in for warranty work...Month later I get it back, with the same problems it had to start with...Sent it back again...Month later I get it back, two days later, I have the same problems plus a few more!...Sent it back again...Month later I get it back, and guess what...New problems...Didn't send it back again tho...last time I sent it back where I bought it, and told them I would not be back, and they could shove the radio where the Sun don't shine...Ended up being out over $400+ on the radio and shipping back and forth to the warranty shop without nothing to show for it...And Sam Lewis never once offered to reimburse me for the shipping...

Here's what I think now of Magnum and RF Limited radios...