CB Radios with SSB

[swen_out_west]

I use a galaxy 99v2 that has ssb. I like it a lot but my experience is low. I think having a good tech to go over it and tun it is maybe as important as selecting a good radio and a good tech can tell you which radios currently have good build quality and which ones don't. Also lots of techs are sonic screwdriver types, get one that's into ham and does more than just cb, they probably have more advanced knowledge in radios and how to precision tune them, not just peak the power output. I've encountered both types in my short journey so far.

So how is that big boy toy going for you? (I recognize the avatar and location from another cb forum). Also a couple of months back I was DX'ing to West Virginia, one of those operators actually might have been you.

What you say is the truth. As I've set up my systems I get a lot of Amp Champs telling me to get a big Amp. Amps have their place if you want to be a big broadcasting station on AM Skip, but if you don't get that receive fully optimized what difference does it make if people can hear you good and you are digging for a comeback. 'They call them Alligator Radios, all mouth and no ears.'

Had a 99 and traded it in on a 959 setup for SSB performance. Didn't really use it enough to know whether the 99 is better or not. The 99 I had was a used one that had issues, plus I don't really like all those voice options.

 

[swen_out_west]

Honestly, it might not be a big performer, but I really like the 980SSB paired with a wireless mic. Yes, it has poor modulation (causing the purists on AM to always complain) and the clarifier can't be unlocked for SSB, but I switch over to it at night and can carry that cordless mic all over the house.

I also have found that the receive fidelity(reproduction) is probably the best with the 980, which is a big, big thing for a guy who is hard of hearing,

 

[Gniederb]

So how is that big boy toy going for you? (I recognize the avatar and location from another cb forum). Also a couple of months back I was DX'ing to West Virginia, one of those operators actually might have been you.

What you say is the truth. As I've set up my systems I get a lot of Amp Champs telling me to get a big Amp. Amps have their place if you want to be a big broadcasting station on AM Skip, but if you don't get that receive fully optimized what difference does it make if people can hear you good and you are digging for a comeback. 'They call them Alligator Radios, all mouth and no ears.'

Had a 99 and traded it in on a 959 setup for SSB performance. Didn't really use it enough to know whether the 99 is better or not. The 99 I had was a used one that had issues, plus I don't really like all those voice options.

My 99 is the 99v2 it has one voice modulation knob that I don't use and echo that I don't use, but I love the fact that it has AM FM SSB and loads of 11 meter channels plus that little 10khz button. I'm still only using the radio's own power that has been peaked to 42 watts. I have a 102" whip on the top of my silverado that is running 1.4 - 1.5 on the swr. I have an old texas star DX 500 on layaway with my go to radio tech. He's also ordered me a big heavy stainless spring to add to my antenna and hopefully get it down around 1.1 - 1.2 swr. He showed me that the linear has the older "good, no red dot" pills inside. Says the internals have more lead and silica than is allowed in newly manufactured stuff and it should have more reliability and quality than a brand new one.

My radio came from one of those sonic screwdriver type shops cause my good shop I go too didn't have any galaxy 99's and I'd read about them and wanted one specifically and this other guy had them, but he's a cb only kinda shop, retired trucker that tinkers with cb and he peaks every radio before he sells them. It was in such dire need of attention, re calibrations, tuning and what not that my good tech who fixed it can still specifically remember fixing it even a couple of years later. It would have functioned on AM at 23 watts without being obviously out of wack, but it was broadcasting a carrier on ssb for pete's sake and only peaked to 23 watts. Now that it's fixed it works great and functions really well and I probably won't buy another radio unless it's a galaxy 99. I asked my tech today about the strykers and president radios I keep reading ppl talking about. He basically said he's been working on radios for 30 years now and simply won't sell anything manufactured with disposable parts. Just like most any modern appliances, build quality just isn't what it used to be. There's a pretty select few things offered brand new at his shop.

This is the only cb forum I'm on, but I come and go months at a time with no posts so you might just remember me from when i was here and then dissapeared. On a side note that avatar should be pretty unique since it's an actual photo of myself. I don't dress like that often but it was a good joke at the time it was taken...

 

[SnowWalker]

I have a Galaxy DX 959 SSB CB that I use as a inhouse base and in my pickup as a mobile. I am one of those lucky dudes who lives near the top of mountain at 3500 ft where my Wilson 21' 5/8 wave, Ringo style antenna has an unobstructed view of East & South. On AM I have chats frequently with a fellow in Death Valley, White Fox Saskatchewan, and a CBer in Oregon (Oregon 101). Some days on AM are great while others will get me maybe three miles.

The SSB is really sparatic at most times but with the few truckers who have a SSB, the talking over others is virtually eliminated.

My house roof antenna is mounted into the plumbing vent pipe, but I have a feeling that the lack of a proper ground plane could be hurting my transmission & receive power. Does anyone have any ideas on this?

The Galaxy, when in my pickup (with a roof top mag) works like typical CB. Being that I live at the altittude that I live at, I am quite often the relay or messenger for those who can't reach another radio.

 

[swen_out_west]

On AM I have chats frequently with a fellow in Death Valley,

That's my neighbor, 11 miles away. I started using the Death Valley, even though it's 90 miles away, location after I realized, through him, that by saying upper Mojave I get confused with the guys down by Jay and get a lot more comebacks since talking to Death valley is a lot cooler than upper mojave..

Small world man, when the skip gets rolling. I think I've heard you and might of even shouted out once in a while. Desert Dog, triple 9, I'm on the side.

I've also been using my 959 pretty heavy on SSB this last week. At night I'll switch back to my 980, but that 959 works SSB a lot better.

 

[SnowWalker]

That's my neighbor, 11 miles away. I started using the Death Valley, even though it's 90 miles away, location after I realized, through him, that by saying upper Mojave I get confused with the guys down by Jay and get a lot more comebacks since talking to Death valley is a lot cooler than upper mojave..

Small world man, when the skip gets rolling. I think I've heard you and might of even shouted out once in a while. Desert Dog, triple 9, I'm on the side.

Without a doubt, radio communication and the Internet have made the world a much smaller place to live. I think the altitude that I live at has much to do with my being able to get the far reaching signals.

 

[oldnormanbates]

I'm looking to buy a CB radio with SSB. I know Galaxy has a couple of models, are there others that are well liked by users in this forum, if so what is recommended?

Thanks

So I am CB Radio DX and Ham Radio Communication. Am looking at Lincoln 2v3 and also export AT-5555(not n). Do either of these work for Data Modes or logging (HRD, via computer control over s Data/USB cable. I see connections but only so far for SW upgrade or menu controls. CB UK some data psk moving with full mode full band

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[jonwienke]

My house roof antenna is mounted into the plumbing vent pipe, but I have a feeling that the lack of a proper ground plane could be hurting my transmission & receive power. Does anyone have any ideas on this?

For any non-dipole antenna, having a proper ground plane will improve performance, and not having a ground plane will degrade performance.

Do either of these work for Data Modes or logging (HRD, via computer control over s Data/USB cable. I see connections but only so far for SW upgrade or menu controls.

You aren't going to find that feature set in a CB or "export" radio. Here's my favorite radio in that category:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AT1TF10/

60-80W AM/FM, plus SSB. Opened up, it covers 24-30MHz. Does not require a "golden screwdriver" to get good performance or audio quality, even with stock mic. It has some features that may give a serious radio guy herpegonosyphilAIDS, like reverb and musical roger beeps, but you can easily turn that crap off, and despite the gaudy chrome exterior and goofy toys, inside it's an excellent radio.

 

[oldnormanbates]

For any non-dipole antenna, having a proper ground plane will improve performance, and not having a ground plane will degrade performance.



You aren't going to find that feature set in a CB or "export" radio. Here's my favorite radio in that category:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AT1TF10/

60-80W AM/FM, plus SSB. Opened up, it covers 24-30MHz. Does not require a "golden screwdriver" to get good performance or audio quality, even with stock mic. It has some features that may give a serious radio guy herpegonosyphilAIDS, like reverb and musical roger beeps, but you can easily turn that crap off, and despite the gaudy chrome exterior and goofy toys, inside it's an excellent radio.

Thanks, I didn't expect the Stryker to be the one to do Data, nice. Yep I've looked at allot of reviews on the 955 and it sure does have gud receive and gud modulation without sitting l shouting at it and kicking in echo.. Little over this months dollar amounts almost getting in the all band HF Ham Radio there with the mcHF RS918, and the Xiegu Outdoor Model 1, both at around $450_500 the current lowest commercial non kit Radios be... But my next Ham radio Currently is the$100 uBitx all band QRP kit from India (in the mail) just needed enclosure, and commercial one on my radar is the Icom ic-7300 SDR HF Radio $1049-1200. Natural.. So been trying to be at the<$250 style. Back to the thinking before I go load my PayPal account up this month LoL [emoji41] again thanks muchly..73s Paul

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[rbomba]

Can't go wrong with the Uniden 980 SSB, KL203 Amp, and an Expansion Board to allow all the extra frequencies. A few youtube searches will provide more info. For about $275 you get a radio that has TX/RX in the 26.5 - 28.5 MHz range with Upper and Lower Sideband. Additionally, with the carrier turned down to about 3W, the KL203 will amplify to about 125 - 150W on AM (and similar PEP on sideband).

 

[BloodandRoses]

Love my 955 hp from stryker no need for an amp......

 

[oldnormanbates]

Love my 955 hp from stryker no need for an amp......

That Stryker is on the top end of things for sure a very gud Radio Transceiver. If you ever get into some very serious DX and want to add an Amplifier I would suggest looking at Bunches of YouTube Videos on LDMOS Linear Amp Designs. They use a50 Volt DC power supply running up to 50 Amp Current draw, so are not Slinky but if done right can be inexpensive. Many people are using power supplies from larger computer servers that use the 50vdc .. Amazon these can be found under$100... Or easier look at the whole stuff coming out of the Russian Federation for LDMOS Linear Amp Designs.. Can go from 1Ldmos transistor (150-300 Watt at 1 device), 2 devices up to 1kw, and to frickin 24x (3KW+++). Personally 2x or 2pill at 500 Watt is more enough being illegally parked in the DX garage.. OldNormanBates RememberTubes [emoji767]

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[rbomba]

HerpegonosyphilAIDS

For any non-dipole antenna, having a proper ground plane will improve performance, and not having a ground plane will degrade performance.



You aren't going to find that feature set in a CB or "export" radio. Here's my favorite radio in that category:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AT1TF10/

60-80W AM/FM, plus SSB. Opened up, it covers 24-30MHz. Does not require a "golden screwdriver" to get good performance or audio quality, even with stock mic. It has some features that may give a serious radio guy herpegonosyphilAIDS, like reverb and musical roger beeps, but you can easily turn that crap off, and despite the gaudy chrome exterior and goofy toys, inside it's an excellent radio.

Man, I once knew someone that contracted "HerpegonosyphilAIDS", what a terrible disease...

 

[SnowWalker]

Man, I once knew someone that contracted "HerpegonosyphilAIDS", what a terrible disease...

Is that much the same disease as "Radioognosis"? Both are non-treatable but can be soothed with larger microphone medication.

 

[prcguy]

A really nice amp can be assembled with built and tested boards from Victor at eb104.ru. I've met Victor a few times and built an amp using his BLF-188 LDMOS boards. It will do about 1,200 watts out with less than 2 watt drive and I have it attenuated for 1,200 watts out with about 10-12 watt drive.

Victor makes great protection boards that sense high VSWR or over current, over drive and shuts the amp down gracefully. If you buy one of his assembled amp boards he will send you a Youtube video of him testing your specific amp so you can see it working. His board layouts and workmanship are first class and they are also the cheapest of the assembled boards out there. Here is the specific amp board I am using:
https://eb104.ru/internet-magazin-s...er-amplifier-1-8-50mhz-ssb-cw-1200w-blf578-wi

You can also get 53.5V 1,800 and 2,000w power supplies surplus for $50 to $100 on Ebay that work great for these amps.
prcguy

That Stryker is on the top end of things for sure a very gud Radio Transceiver. If you ever get into some very serious DX and want to add an Amplifier I would suggest looking at Bunches of YouTube Videos on LDMOS Linear Amp Designs. They use a50 Volt DC power supply running up to 50 Amp Current draw, so are not Slinky but if done right can be inexpensive. Many people are using power supplies from larger computer servers that use the 50vdc .. Amazon these can be found under$100... Or easier look at the whole stuff coming out of the Russian Federation for LDMOS Linear Amp Designs.. Can go from 1Ldmos transistor (150-300 Watt at 1 device), 2 devices up to 1kw, and to frickin 24x (3KW+++). Personally 2x or 2pill at 500 Watt is more enough being illegally parked in the DX garage.. OldNormanBates RememberTubes [emoji767]

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