Is that speaker really worth 5the price? What makes it better than a standard external?
A standard externa speaker gives one the option to buy something both larger and the ability to mount it for best performance, both relative to what one’s ears can best receive and cab resonance. (A Uniden BC-20 preferred over a Cobra S500. Don’t bother with others).(As a further aside on standard external speakers, take a cue from the past and try mounting it as the car makers used to mount the single AM piece: dashboard center, firing upwards. This uses the windshield to reflect it equally. May or may not be ideal. But it’s generally better than aiming at one’s self. It’s where to start).
The DSP speaker takes away the hash, static and just plain old noise. Or mutes it’s effect on one’s ears.
Your radio (speaking here of CB and 10-Meter Export) is better than you think it is (is how I address this to others). But the environment it has to work in is less than ideal (mobile).
There are conversations going on of which you barely hear one side. And still others not at all perceptible.
But they will be now.
Compared to an otherwise identical rig in identical vehicle (etc), you’ll hear things the other guy can’t. Or you’ll hear them several miles earlier.
And besides the best rigs broadcasting, all others will come in more clearly. The general run of things.
The filtration amount is variable. Generally, you’ll have it to one position while driving. Stays there 95% of the time. Maybe once parked on a good night you’ll open up everything to see what you can receive.
There’s a set of relationships to work out with:
Radio Volume
Mike Gain
RF Gain
Talkback Gain
Speaker Volume
Filtration Gain
I run my radio volume low. And use the speaker volume to change cab perceptions. The others are sort of set-and-forget. Have another give you feedback as you go thru the steps. As if a whole new radio rig and mike were installed. (You may not be able to use Talkback per speaker position).
Example is that crossing OKC afternoons & evenings on IH40 from W-E I can now decipher the base & mobile crowd chats from the scale house at El Reno to just barely past Tinker AFB. Downtown at the 35 & 40 crossing is midway (meaning strongest reception). That’s many TOTAL miles farther than before. (Because this crowd of regulars have some outstanding rigs, I can also get accurate feedback. In a different truck with co-phase 7’ Skipshooters, I heard some disbelief).
A DSP Speaker (West Mountain or BHI):
It will change your life
Might be hyperbole. But less than you think. Especially when you realize
that $130 AM/SSB Uniden 980 is MUCH better than you thought it was. You thought it was, “yeah, okay for the money” (Ha!).
Does the DSP speaker take the place of all other antenna & clean power improvements? No. But it knocks the snot out the first 70%+. And as further changes (bonding, CMC chokes, clean power, etc) improve the radios working environment, the speaker still shines.
A guy with a company truck is limited in what he can do. And even O/Os reach the end without perfect satisfaction having started from scratch.
So slap a 70W baby amp & ClrSpkr to a digital Uniden. $400 total. You won’t find comparable performance with a radio of that price. It may be “better” in important respects, but it WON’T have comparable reception filtration.
A guy has a well-sorted 955 Stryker. By now you shouldn’t have to ask if it will benefit.
A guy wants a “big radio” this is where he starts. Put in this rig. And begin working on the attendant Transceiver Environmental Problems. Leave more expensive radios out until that “TEP” is done.
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