TexasRanger TR 696F- SSB

[mjk3997]

Low and behold my aunt presented me with this radio in the box.never opened.She said my passed away uncle hand intended to set up a base station years ago but never got away from his mobile activity.It appears to have been peaked and tuned.Over the the back case there are two seals saying removing will void warranty from "CB CITY" along with a technical certificate in the box concerning the upgrades.Also there was an Antron 99 Base Station CB Antenna still packaged.I am familiar with an antron,low priced but capable antenna.Doing a web search this appears to be a fairly high end quality piece.We mated it with a Wilson 1000 sitting on a mettle roofed pole barn.Got a 1:2 swr and amazingly called CQ and had a great QSO with a trucker about 45MI away,During QSO.He praised the audio quality as pristine even with an S-5 signal.We were transmitting showing 22-24 SSB watts so it wasn't stock QRP power.I'm a HF utility/military/areo/,digitlal monitor hobbyist but have listened a lot over the years on the R75 to 38 LSB and the like.Thought I might dip my hand in the water strictly QRP.Anyone have experience with this rig,any tips would be appreciated with the ins and outs of this aspect of the hobby.I'm not a local type CBer by nature.thanks

 

[LoyalServant]

It looks like a Galaxy Saturn, which was a decent radio that I am familiar with.
If it's the same then it's just a so called "export" radio in a box.

I owned quite a few Saturns and the Saturn Turbo which was a 2950 in a box also.

Do you have any concerns about the radio?

Toss the A99 up and have fun. That's a good setup.
Use good coax tho!

 

[mjk3997]

No I really don't have any concerns with the radio other than age.It's not an import though.It was manufactured in Texas.Shipping label was from Fort Worth.Texas Ranger made them for years down there.I was aware of there mobiles but didn't know they had a base in there inventory.The thing is huge,lots of bells and whistles.Seems to be quality built.Yes I'll be sure to use quality low lose coax.Will be mounting the antron on my fireplace chimney(strong constructed).about 44ft up at the base.80% is about it on the mic gain before clipping appears on the scope.So the talk power tolerance was well engineered.

 

[LoyalServant]

It was manufactured in Texas.Shipping label was from Fort Worth.Texas Ranger made them for years down there.

I don't mean to be argumentative but they wouldnt possibly have manufactured stateside for both economic and legal reasons. This is not a radio that's legal to use here in the United States.. even North America....

 

[mjk3997]

Oh no your not being argumentative at all. I understand what your saying.I think my uncle ordered the radio from Texas Ranger then had it go to CB City to have it gone over.It appears the peak and tune was an alignment so the radio would transmit and receive on the actual frequency it was tuned to.The transmit /wattage meter on AM does show about 3 watts over legal power as long as you have a good SWR reading.It in no way has any extra amplification added per say.I think everything is just peaked to the limit of the circuit design.The manual shows the rig as type accepted for the usa.Atleast before CB City got their hand on it,Who ever they may have been

 

[mjk3997]

Also loyalServant you are right in another regard.Like most radios you can clarify an incoming SSB signal but the mods have allowed this radio to actually transmit on that tuned frequency making a contact much easier.Even though its only a few tens of hertz,your still off the assigned fcc frquency .I always assumed these channels were locked in by design. Like I said I'm only an SWL so I could be wrong about this. Interestingly it seems a number of incoming signals are off frequency slightly both above and below the assigned channel on SSB...

 

[kc2kth]

Nice find there, nice rig and nib! So I've done a lot of reading on these "exports" over the decades and really all of this stuff comes from the same place for the most part which is why they are all so similar. Ranger manufactures radios under "private label" for pretty much anyone who wants to purchase a run of radios. That means they will take one of their designs, possibly customize for you based on features you want, buld the radios, have the front panels screened with your name and brand, and you'll have a few dozen radios to go and sell through Copper or your ebay store. No idea what the minimum purchase is. So there you go, curtain pulled back.

 

[prcguy]

If you look on the back it should be silkscreened "Made in Malasia" or something similar.
prcguy

 

[zzdiesel]

Refresh my memory; where was CB City? I remember the name real well.

 

[ChetsJug]

Here we go again...

This is not an export & NOT illegal to run in the USA. It was the result of Ranger (RCI) needing a legal CB for the US market. TEXAS Ranger is a C.B., not a 10 meter converted. Look again at the face panel, do you see a "band" knob with ABCDEF selections? Nope. Also look for the tag. Next to the cerial number you will see the "FCC ID: 969****" number.

This is a 40 Channel CB and nothing else. If it were a 10 meter Ranger it would certainly do much more than 22 watts on SSB. Ranger 10 meter "exports" dead key 20 watts and swing to 100 watts. There are Rangers that hit 400 watts! But the TEXAS Ranger has 10 watt mosfet final amps and swing to about 30 watts topps.

See, People say "Oh, it's a Galaxy Saturn", but Ranger makes the Galaxy boards, not the other way around. If you open the General Lee, the Super Star, the Galaxy and a couple others (Connex?), you will see the Ranger logo painted right there on the circuit board, all known for being 40 watt radios; the newer ones reaching 60 watts. Ranger makes each companies boards custom and ships them out for assembly at the respective plant. Since the Texas Ranger is made by Ranger, they all look the same, less the band selector knob... and the big finals.

Use your radio with the knowledge that it's not going to get you busted. The FCC does not look for a few watts over legal. I'm sure it's peaked too. you probably get 10ish watts on AM dead key and is should swing to about the same as side band. Somewhere from 25-30 watts. That's all the stock mosfet's will do.

There are great people in the Antenna forums here that will let you in on tips for placement and such. I've read over and over that height makes all the difference. Your barn should put the Antron 20-30 feet in the air. That will equal an antenna on your car with a 100 watt kicker. So no need for that. Just get that thing up as high as possible.

My suggestion is that you set up the Base antenna where the Wilson is, hook up the base station and monitor it a week or two to hear who is out there. Nice people hang out on CB. Your rig there will be awesome on side band (Channels 35-40). Being new to the CB band, don't forget it's like any chat room or platoon. There are cool people, boring people, know-it-all's, know nothing's and haters. Listen carefully so you don't get sucked into drama and be known as "the guy who keeps firing up Bob" lol. Better to be one of the cool people who only talk when there is something worth saying.

It's a hobby, so you can take it in stride when you have time. No obligation to be there 24/7

 

[LoyalServant]

Here we go again...

This is not an export & NOT illegal to run in the USA. It was the result of Ranger (RCI) needing a legal CB for the US market. TEXAS Ranger is a C.B., not a 10 meter converted. Look again at the face panel, do you see a "band" knob with ABCDEF selections? Nope. Also look for the tag. Next to the cerial number you will see the "FCC ID: 969****" number.

This is a 40 Channel CB and nothing else. If it were a 10 meter Ranger it would certainly do much more than 22 watts on SSB. Ranger 10 meter "exports" dead key 20 watts and swing to 100 watts. There are Rangers that hit 400 watts! But the TEXAS Ranger has 10 watt mosfet final amps and swing to about 30 watts topps.

See, People say "Oh, it's a Galaxy Saturn", but Ranger makes the Galaxy boards, not the other way around. If you open the General Lee, the Super Star, the Galaxy and a couple others (Connex?), you will see the Ranger logo painted right there on the circuit board, all known for being 40 watt radios; the newer ones reaching 60 watts. Ranger makes each companies boards custom and ships them out for assembly at the respective plant. Since the Texas Ranger is made by Ranger, they all look the same, less the band selector knob... and the big finals.

Relax.

I said it LOOKED like one. I did not say it was.
Been around enough to know they do shenanigans like turn one control into another by moving a plug.

If it's not... fine.... no need to go into full lecture mode.

 

[ChetsJug]

I was speaking to a man that said he was new to the radios. Don't take reply's personal.

 

[mjk3997]

Thanks for the feed back guys.I should have been more specific in my earlier posts.The TR 696F is a 40 channel CB radio only.It has been peaked and tuned either by CB City or done for them.Dead key on AM shows about 6-7 watts.Before distortion on SSB it will show 18-21 watts with the antron at about 40ft high at 1:3 SWR.The amazing thing with this rig is its efficiency in modulating energy on that little of power.I was able clarify a signal on 38 lower out of Finland in the predawn hours at my QTH and to my astonishment established contact with the operator.He was impressed not only with a QRP station showing basically a noise floor signal but the 100% copy and quality of the received sound.Checked with other electronics in my house and the neighbors,no sign of any splatter so I guess I will give this new (for me) aspect of the hobby a go.Thanks again guys..

 

[mjk3997]

Let me try to post a picture of the radio.Never tried this before...

 

[ChetsJug]

Now I'm really jealous lol. Very nice "Radio Shack".

 

[mjk3997]

Thanks,communications has been a great hobby for me going on 50yrs now.As far as the TR 696F goes it has been a great addition.It has exceeded my expectations.Though like one of the guys above said.I'm sure the height of the Antron has much to do with it.Last evening I was able to make contact with a Vancouver station.It all just blows me away! I know using sky waves to communicate is against regulations so I'll be keeping it to a minimum.But if some night propagation allows an Australian to make the trip in here I'll be keying the mic Thanks again for the feed back and to everyone associated with RadioReference have a great new year.Now its time to see how many new years I can hear ring around the world on shortwave radio....