Everyone is combining a lot of different thoughts and points from this thread together into 1 giant issue and confusing what I think is really being said by a few on both sides of the issue. Regardless of where you come down on the issue, there are a few truths that need to be evaluated and looked at by each consumer when determining where you want to spend your cash:
1. If you're the type that is going to buy every other new CB or Export radio that comes out, thinking you're getting the latest & greatest thing, you are dumping a whole lot of cash and not getting much in return. Practically every CB / Export that has been introduced lately is just a re-packaging of something else that already exists. Technology $$ are not really being put into CB / Exports these days. If you buy 3 $200 radios trying to find the one that suits you, you could have just bought one better radio and been done with it.
2. Not everyone is going to drop $600 on total radio equipment. For the guy with a budget of around $200 for a radio that is only going to talk on 11m, has no desire to try different bands or modes, then buying one of the better CB / Export is your better investment. You can have a lot of fun on 11m and it doesn't have to cost a fortune. DXMan is a perfect example of this. It's pointless to recommend buying a $600 radio to this type of person because they're not going to have any more fun with a fancy radio than they would with a CB / Export.
3. If you're going to buy a scanner, a Short Wave receiver, a CB / Export, pre-amp, and who knows what all else, you're still better off buying one quality $600 rig like the 706. You'll get all that in one package and you will spend less.
4. If you're into keydowns, echo, roger beeps, noise toys, raspy audio, and all that, then buy the CB / Export. You won't be happy with a ham rig and how it sounds. But please don't get fooled by the manufacturers every time something new comes out.
5. If you're a serious DXer, then there ARE some features on ham rigs that make it a whole lot easier, even if you are only going to do 11m. That doesn't mean you can't do it just fine with a CB / Export. DXMAN has already shown us that. But there are NO, (and I really mean NONE) CB / Exports that have changeable SSB / AM RX filters, adjustable pass band tuning, 32 bit DSP selectable TX and RX filters, DSP noise reduction, 20db and 40db pre-amps, 20db RX attenuators, and auto or adjustable notch filtering. All that stuff helps you A LOT on the RX end. How many export users can say that they can literally make someone 1 or 2 khz adjacent in their RX while trying to make that tough contact go away just by some simple tuning of the knob? Or how about filter out the Mexico bleed that's on the opposite SSB? Or get rid of the annoying heterodyne you get when too many stations are transmitting on close frequencies? There are a few things that make your TX be heard better, also. Features like speech compression and adjustable carrier frequency (helps adjust your TX voice characteristics) help you bust through a pile up with the power you have. Take two operators next to each other. One on a 100 watt export and one on a 706. If both running same power and antenna, the 706 will likely be heard over the export because of the features I just mentioned. All of these things are what makes the radio more expensive. Are they absolutely necessary for having fun? NO. But if you're constantly buying $200 radios trying to find the latest technology and features to assist the serious DXer, you're looking in the wrong place.
6. If you're the the "strickly keep it legal" operator, then use a Type Accepted CB on 11m only and don't modify it. And don't DX, either...that's illegal on 11m <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/ohwell.gif ALT=":"> If you want to also run on the ham bands, then use whatever you want on them as long as you follow the RF emissions rules.
BTW, last time I checked, F.G.Best doesn't even sell ham rigs, except those on consignment. So I don't think Frank's trying to pad his wallet by recommending better radios. I think if everyone takes a look at the points they way I listed they can make the $$ investment that suits themself.
Moleculo
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