Galaxy DX979 tips

RM ITALY KL203 amp (eBay)

Runs off 15A circuit

I’ve had this with my 979 quite some time

Upgrade Coax and antennas to topload reaching 13’5”. (Skip shooter). Needs tuning with antenna analyzer. But use an SWR meter to get started.

Upgrade mike to RK56 or Astatic 636L. Clean DC power.

WEST MOUNTAIN RADIO CLEARSPEAKER has DSP circuitry to kill noise. That 979 is better than you think. Cheap, for performance boost.

Nights in rural areas I have to back from running Zero Squeelch and Full GAIN because too many voices all at once.

 

Radio will run amp fine at 3-4W. Higher becomes problem. Don’t let anyone peak radio. And only tune if off. Box stock best bet.

“Top Load” versus Center (like Wilson 2000) or base load (coil at base). Trucks usually best off with top as no interference issues.

W900 fine with mirror arm & 2000s

108” quarter-wave whips are “ideal”. But not enough clearance. So, compromise antennas.

RG8X Coax a good bet. Routing is the problem.

 

One problem I had with Galaxy is the with the female 239 connector on the back of the radio. Instead of having V shaped notches cut into the end they had shallow square notches and the connector on the coax end would never seat quite right. like the square notches were too shallow to make a good connection.

This is one with the "V" shaped notches. Not sure if Galaxy is still using the square style. if so, maybe you can file down the "prongs" inside (probably two just inside the outer ring) to make a better fit.

 

The "square" notches galaxy Uses/Used? With the V notches on connector in the background.

 

It should have a knob to vary the output power. I would dial it way down until you get time to checkout the bouncing SWR issue.

 

Without variable power, I would leave it alone. Forget the RM Italy amp for now. (A cross-needle power/SWR meter tells me (sorta) in Power Forward versus Reflected if that 25W is getting used). Okay, done there. What’s next?

1). Focus on antenna system details, Best quality Coax and Amphenol connectors? Best install?

2). and in reducing noise seen at the Receiver. Noise from coax or truck? How to reduce?

“Noise Reduction” has seen me spend money, and I’m not sorry to do so.

Big trucks are a bear. Sometimes it’s buckshot, and sometimes it’s solids.

If only in this truck 60 more days, then start gathering info on the best W900 installs you’ve seen.

All vehicles need bonding. RF not DC. Going to need a loooong roll of braided copper strap (BELLS; plus industry suppliers) and the access to tools, etc, that allow you a first class amount of work. (Take pics of locations and label for future; gotta tune up that system once in a while). This is the job none of us want to do on something we don’t own.

But the truck is one half the antenna system

Read at www.K0BG.com for best info on Mobile in one place.

Buying stuff is fun, granted. Making it work best is another thing . Your 979 can outperform the $700 Super Whack-Pack BUT it’ll come down to a PLAN and EXECUTION.

(When I say “outperform” I don’t mean 12% better. I mean YOU can HEAR & BE HEARD where the other can’t.).

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