Thinking about a cb upgrade...

I glad you said that, I have been bashed for my comments in the past.

I understand, using sideband it seems to be sometimes a shift or drift to it because of the tight filtering in the IF section but AM will not show that drifting. I know in a few cases with some of these export radios that the components themselves in the IF chain actually cuase the shift. I've got a CPI that I used for years that has to be the most stable CB I even owed. I can put it on a station and it stays right where you put it.

The problem with the counters is most are standalone units that have their own clock and not really designed for stability, using cheap crystals and components. I've got a 2000 gtl that was given to me and I can sit it on the desk with my freq counter hooked up to the input of the counter and watch the counter itself drift 5 or 6 khz while it warms up. I calibrated it a couple times and gave up on it. The same thing with this 655, the counter drifts a little bit when it is subject to cold but the radio seems to stay within tolerance.

Well I would consider anything with a channel control knob not needing one at all, but it is odd that people like to see them when I think they clutter up the radio.

Speaking of an s-6nx, I had one here that the guy fried he gave to me for parts and it took me about a week to get it going again. The thing is he had the clear knobs on it (I think they are called blue knobs) and also had a custom face plate made that was like the Uniden PC78LTW, all back lite - it was really cool. It was an OK radio, not something I would rave about but I have has a few 29s that would do better once they were fixed up.

 

Does anyone know of a good radio shop near memphis

 

The one right before the entrance to the petro across from McDonalds. Can't remember the name of the shop, but it's not the one that advertises on channel 5. West Memphis that is.

 

Do you know if they do good work? Are do they charge a arm and a leg?

 

Thanks for the come back

 

I think it is Ray's CB, or something like that. He has been around for years and knows what he is doing. In Ray's case, you will get what you pay for, so cost doesn't matter, and he will stand behind it.

 

Thanks I think that is were ill be going.

 

Drifting is only of real concern on SSB, and Stryker only came out with one SSB capable radio and it is fairly stabile (as far as exports go). Most radios SSB radios that do drift, only have this problem until the radio is up to operating temperature and then stay much more stabile. If your radio drifts bad enough to be noticeable on AM, then you have some problems that should be looked at by a tech. AM is much more forgiving as far as being off frequency.


To the original thread starter: Your set up is awesome. I wanted a high power radio so I spent $400 on a big Galaxy 95t2. It has a built in amplifier section with two Toshiba 2sc2290 transistors and it puts out 150W PEP. Along with a high power radio, comes lots of hassle of spatter and harmonics. This is a common problem with the export radio market that can limit your performance. Sure you might see 200W on a wattmeter, but if you are broadcasting on 10 channels at once, out of 200W you might only be transmitting 50W on your desired frequency. Many CB enthusiasts end up back with a good quality, FCC type radio with amp combination and have better results. Also, the high power produces high heat. Inside a radio chassis, that heat doesn't dissipate well. That is why many of the Connex 4800-300 radios have such a high failure rate. Spend an hour chewing it up and you can fry an egg on it. External amps tend to do much better at staying cool, unless they are overdriven. But it sounds like you have your system spot on. I bet you sound good. If it were me, id leave it.

 

Forgot to mention...One thing that sets the export apart is the banks of channels. I don't transmit out of the normal CB bands, but sometimes I do flip around and just listen. 27.5550 USB is cool to listen to. It is the international version of ch 6 AM or 38 LSB. If you do desire to venture into HAM territory, an export may be what you want. But most HAMs take their bands very seriously (as they should) and you do run the higher risk of being turned in to the FCC.

 

I'd recommend a Palomar 250 kicker, that's what I'm running and it works great.