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info on the TR-696FD-1 ???

Thanks junon600 for going the distance and finding that link. I was also looking today for the same thing and found it - too. CB Radio Magazine made a video on YouTube that showed removing D75 to get talkback. Using a SPST switch between the lifted leg of that diode and its board contact would turn talkback on/off.

What is it about talkback that you find useless? I noticed that even if this mod is made, the audio quality isn't so great, is that why? But it is nice to know that mod is there. After what you said about talkback, I was wondering if this mod was really a good idea. But I really appreciate the effort and thank you for the note.

I think I'm going to put just three switches on the back of the radio and make the first two for the extra frequencies and the third for the roger beep.
Thanks again!
 
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Personal preference Rob. I monitor my audio in a receiver, and headphones so I already know where it is. I set my mobile up that way. Talk-back is a non issue for me. I can see where some people like it, just not my thing. I prefer to hear how it sounds in a receiver as opposed to having talk-back which can be picky. No prob on the link, glad you found it.
 
I wonder what the true story is on these radios ? It's a lot of radio for 100 bucks ? It reminds me of the (RF Limited) Magnum Millennium radios of a few years back , those too were fairly decent radios at about 100 bucks.

Refurbs ? red l.e.d.s ? the American flag face plates ? the plastic covering over the covers ? whatever the reason for there cheapness ? they sound good so far. Years ago , I never got a answer on why the low cost of the Millennium's either ? bottom line .......these radios were very decent for the cost. (no matter where they were made)
 
I like mine a lot. Cheap; I dunno about that - maybe. They seem to have it together where it counts. I bought it as a backup radio while I seek a nearby shop to fix my CPI/CP2000.

Sparky's has it for $10 less than when I bought it a couple of weeks ago - now its $89 instead of $99. A great deal either way - IMO. But I'm not complaining mind you, since I can do the freq mods/roger beep myself. Or adding a Viagra board will give it the 'Full Monty" freq's.

The built-in freq counter is a really nice thing to have - as it does away with the need for a road map or depending on one's own memory. And if I choose to get more modulation out of it, I can always buy a DIY 'Top Gun' modulator kit for $25/post paid. Not as though it really needs it - as it does pretty well - and would work great with a kicker as is. I will say that the flag appliqué on the front does make it a bit hard to read - but once you've gotten used to the radio - no problemm-o!
 
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A friend of mine ordered 2 of these from CustomCBRadios.

He got one that was a final version, and one, surprisingly, was a mosfet version. The final version one was DOA, so he sent that one back (which the fellow at CustomCBRadios was wonderful to deal with, took it back, no questions asked and was sending another one out). Perhaps my friend will get another mosfet one for me, it's hard to say. My friend had me do the mods on his, including my clarifier mod (13kc down, 2kc up) and it works fantastic, it pulls about 30W on my Bird 43A wattmeter on SSB, with just the ALC turned up, no clipped limiters or any of that nonsense.

It's a great radio, I hope mine arrives soon!(y)

-Exit
 
Switch Kit said:
I wonder what the true story is on these radios ? It's a lot of radio for 100 bucks ? It reminds me of the (RF Limited) Magnum Millennium radios of a few years back , those too were fairly decent radios at about 100 bucks.

Refurbs ? red l.e.d.s ? the American flag face plates ? the plastic covering over the covers ? whatever the reason for there cheapness ? they sound good so far. Years ago , I never got a answer on why the low cost of the Millennium's either ? bottom line .......these radios were very decent for the cost. (no matter where they were made)
Click to expand...


I was told by the sales rep that the transistor (1969) final radios are being discontinued for the mosfet version...
 
One arrived on my door stoop today. It's missing the outer sleeve on the box. Couple that with the previous comment of someone receiving two radios each with different versions of final and I'd be inclined to state they are rebuilds...but what the heck for $89 + S/H, if it works.

Now my curiousity will force me to break the seal and see if I was fortunate enough to get a MOSFET version.
 
Let go on record and state that the two radios that my friend received were, in fact, 1st quality radios, no refurbs. I took a peek at both radios and they are as new, nothing redone. For 99 or even 89 bucks these are a great deal. I'm just waiting for mine to come back. (y)


-Exit
 
After running the radio in the mobile for a couple of weeks I noticed some slight drift in the cold weather (below freezing) where the TX and RX were warming up at different speeds.

Unlocking the clarifier solves this issue if anyone runs into it since then they will track together.

I've been talking to a local friend 35 miles away from the mobile this week and he said the radio sounded very loud and clear. He was impressed with the audio which hadn't been the case with some of the other RCI radios.

The clarifier mod is super easy to do - I think CB tricks has all the info, as well as the mod to add channels.

You won't see a brand new SSB radio with a freq counter for under $100 very often....well probably never :)
 
IRF520 Dual Upgrade New Galaxy DX959 with Single IRF520 - eBay (item 390025518119 end time Jan-26-09 20:40:01 PST)

Anybody seen this?
Or, has everybody seen this?
I'm guessing that if one has a TR-696FD-1, they can turn it into a dual-final radio - or buy it and save it for a rainy day when the single final takes a dump. It's $19 + $3 shipping. I'm sure one can get all the parts separately from a local supply house and save 1/2 of the money spent. But since they have put it together in a single package - WITH the instructions - the few extra bucks they ask isn't really that much more.
Anybody use it or bought it before?
 
formulamojo said:
The dual finals IMO aren't worth the $$ for the extra few watts you will get that wont be noticed on the receiving end...

A good NPC mod on the 696 with a 1969 final should do you justice though.
Click to expand...
"NPC Mod" - Could you give some detail on this, I would appreciate lookin it up - if you don't mind too much. Not that I'm going to chang it anyway, would like to find the page that shows this mod so I can print it up and keep it with the radio.
Thanks
:unsure:

EDIT: Found it for those who don't know about it - like me!
http://www.cbtricks.com/miscellaneo.../galaxy_dx949_959_2547_erf2030_mod_rev1-2.pdf
I thought it was kinda interesting that the mod page siad not to do this mod for the base station radio, as it will draw too much power and pop the power supply. That would mean that the output is drawing far more current - of course.
Someone else on WWRF said that is mod will just cause splatter.
But one would need to retune the radio for peak output when it is done anyway.
So why would anyone bother to go the distance to make this mod if it isn't any good.:unsure:
Just why is that.
?!?!?
 
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cbradiomagazine.com said:
You won't see a brand new SSB radio with a freq counter for under $100 very often....well probably never :)
Click to expand...
I agree. And as far as refurbs go from given company , I've seen so many of them over the years that I personally COULD NOT tell that they had been else were let alone used. Your 1969 comment could make sence as well f-mojo with them going with Mosfets as well.

So there was a sticker on one of them .....Hmmmmmm . Back to refurbs , I surely DO NOT have a problem with those what so ever. I remember Uniden doing a major refurb on the Original PC-122s 2166 driving a 2312) right before they went to the XL versions. This was 1991 and I worked for a shop at the time and he bought like 20 refurbs from Uniden for about 75.00 a piece at the time and they were all like brand spanking new !! Refurb or not ! with the same warrenties .

IM by no means putting this radio down , IM impressed to say the least ,as I was with the Magnum Millinium radios of a few years back.
 
Rob,

Don't do ANY kind of swing mod on this radio, or remove Q39, which is the mod limiter. They sound really nasty when you remove the limiter or put any kind of swing mods to them, especially on SSB. This radio preforms really well, and talks very nice with just a simple AMC/ALC adjustment.

We got drivers around here that had those swing mods done and they sound absolutely horrible. I won't talk to 'em until they get it fixed, or they come see me so I can remove that trash out of their radio.

NPC and swing mods are a waste of time, IMHO.

Formulamojo is dead on when he mentions that the dual final mod really isn't worth the money for a few extra watts. Enjoy the radio for what it's made to be, a single final AM/SSB that talks well. :D


-Exit
 

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