My old friend President Jackson.

[Watergate]

I've had mine on all day. Made a few DX contacts today. Spent a couple hours this evening with a few guys on SSB.

Holding up real well, not major noticeable drift issues. Everybody likes. Thing is very quiet... +++++

So I guess the question I would ask is do you feel like you are getting your moneys worth, misrepresentation aside?

They aren't the "go to" presidents from back in the day. Not like the Grant, Lincoln, Madison, or the 2510. But I wouldn't blink at paying $100 for a good shape original. If this is just new old stock, you can expect some age problems, but is it worth $170 to you?

 

[Robb]

So I guess the question I would ask is do you feel like you are getting your moneys worth, misrepresentation aside?

They aren't the "go to" presidents from back in the day. Not like the Grant, Lincoln, Madison, or the 2510. But I wouldn't blink at paying $100 for a good shape original. If this is just new old stock, you can expect some age problems, but is it worth $170 to you?

Did you buy one then?
Bet you could get your old Jackson fixed if you just replace all the caps in it. DIY for ~$14; or pay a shop $50 plus shipping. Providing it isn't a problem with the final.

From all of the pictures I've seen so far, I would say that this radio I have isn't an original/real Jackson. The original Jackson had a plug in board/socket for the 4-bit counter board next to the PLL chip. But it still very old just the same. Very old. As well as being old enough to be needing repairs. Mine still has a problem with final bias circuit; perhaps Wayne had something to do with that. Or it is a problem due to its age. Who knows when it will have a failure?

Does anyone have any idea when SuperStar started to mfr these radios? Because I'm betting that it had to be more than 20 years ago when the MRF477 was readily available and easy to find if a replacement was needed . . .

 

[Mudfoot]

I can't truthfully answer that right now. The way these were represented and the overall condition they are in is troublesome.

If Ranger honors some sort of warranty, then maybe I'll feel it was worth it. I can't argue with how well its working so far.

 

[IMD262]

I have not seen how Ranger has misrepresented these radios, if anyone has it has been the resellers.

 

[Mudfoot]

You are correct so far.

 

[Robb]

I have not seen how Ranger has misrepresented these radios, if anyone has it has been the resellers.

The second they used the word 'new'; they are on the hook.
Had they said 'Very old stock radios' then it would be clear and unimpeachable.

I wonder how Ranger/RCI represented these radios to their retailers?

 

[Watergate]

Did you buy one then?
Bet you could get your old Jackson fixed if you just replace all the caps in it. DIY for ~$14; or pay a shop $50 plus shipping. Providing it isn't a problem with the final.

From all of the pictures I've seen so far, I would say that this radio I have isn't an original/real Jackson. The original Jackson had a plug in board/socket for the 4-bit counter board next to the PLL chip. But it still very old just the same. Very old. As well as needing repairs, as mine still has with final bias circuit. Who knows when it will have its next failure?

Does anyone have any idea when SuperStar started to mfr these radios? Because I'm betting that is when this radio must have been built. Had to be more than 20 years ago when the MRF477 was readily available and easy to find if a replacement was needed . . .

I didn't buy one Robb. I've been on the fence about it. My old Jackson may well have a dead final. The bias diode over the final is fried, but the printing on the final can still be read. I haven't pursued it any farther.

I'm just a stubborn fan of a brand that doesn't really exist anymore and got both excited and cautious about this radio. I have to been known to buy a basket case or two, but they all have pedigree.

I was just curious about how you felt about the radio as a piece of equipment, and not as how it was presented.

I think it's more than disgraceful to market these as new radios. But if they can perform, even if they need some TLC, and the price is right, then maybe I'll be on board with it.

 

[Robb]

I was just curious about how you felt about the radio as a piece of equipment, and not as how it was presented.

At this point:

SSB works fine; but that wasn't true until the AGC and fine clarifier mod was done.
Gets flowers for quality and clarity.
Drifts a little too.

Channel mod was easy for a vet or the experienced hobbyist; not for a new operator.

Receive is fine; haven't checked it for sensitivity yet.
But it was the one thing that didn't need to get tuned up so far.

Haven't anything to say about FM yet; other than it works.

The jury isn't back out for AM mode; but its TX doesn't look very promising. Done one mod for AM and adjusted it for 100% modulation. Just haven't found the happy spot for the carrier point.

My final, driver, voltage regulator, and audio ICs all needed to have the heat compound cleaned off and replaced.
Thoroughly dried out compound; and that is a formula for disaster.
It's an old radio.

Not a radio for a new operator on many different levels.

If you decide to get one because you like nostalgic radios, then go through DTB Radio.
Think he will do it right.

 

[26sd782]

Shipping to the UK

Hi Which dealers would ship to the UK ?

 

[Grogan]

IN looking for a SSB radio there isn't many radios that fit the bill under 200.00 bucks and new, NEW The Cobra isn't worth the price paid and 40 channels. The Uniden 980 a good stock 40 channel Radio Most people would spend over 200.00 more for a amp they can use for ssb TS350HDV etc. because of the lack of power of Dual finals of even 50 to 75 watts. The Galaxy line of radios are big money for SSB unless you want low power 40 channel the 949 and 959 But are they not drift boxes, and wouldn't be better off buying the Uniden 980 Does Connex Have a SSB radio???? then you have Stryker will put you at the 400.00 range and drift? to much money to find out. Next step up is the Magnum 257HP and reading the forum this is a great radio but there is a fair percentage of lemons and failure rate.The Ranger 2950 DX nice but again 250.00+ align and tune.and not alott of watts. The superstar Ja sorry to say is a gamble. I also noticed copper has the date the radio was added for sale and they have changed the date to "This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 24 January, 2013."
wonder why the would change that. Can somebody place a call to Sam Lewis with the proper questions and will he answer to talk about the JA.????and if the radio was to be marketed as new, New case nos board, A special or what? I may save some money and buy an entry level ham rig like the Alinco DXSR8T for 500.00 solder the bridge inside the radio and have 100 watts built in fan still 40 watts am but other nice features also.

 

[Grinder74]

It also appears that my main buddy Wayne cranked up the bias pots all of the way to the right.
Check your bias current if you bought a radio from Wayne !!!

The driver bias was set at 270mA (supposed to be 50mA) and the final bias was set at 0mA (supposed to be 80mA). I am putting in a new .22uf/50v cap and replacement MV1Y biasing diode and see if I can get a reading better than 25mA (again, it should adjust to 80mA) that I have been getting for the final. Wayne will be getting a call from my credit card company and eat a radio.

Also going to pull out TR26 and add a 1.5kohm resistor to the center leg and put it back in the radio. This will remove the compression from AM transmit WITHOUT taking out the AM Limiter altogether. The way it should be done - right. Yup yup . . .

I checked bias on my original and the driver is now at the recommended 50mA but the final would not move past 67mA(should be 100mA). I may change out VR9 for a new one because half the range I got the same readings.

I would like to know how the TR26 resistor addition works out.

 

[Low_Boy]

What kind of wattage are you guys seeing in AM and SSB.

 

[GRUMPY]

After finding out these radios were available I sent a few emails out to two well known retailers to see exactly what these radios were before I bought one. One of the shops was DTB Radio, here is what Dave told me via email.....

This radio is 100% Jackson. Its apparently a batch of original Jackson boards (numbered in the thousands I'm told) that someone was hoarding and is now assembling into full radios again. I'm not sure what final, but its labeled MRF477. It doesnt look like the original motorola part to me, so I'm not sure what it actually is. Numbers vary a bit, but 30-35 AM, and a bit more SSB on my bench

The other shop that I sent an email to also told me the same thing, they don't have them as of now.

I ordered one from Dave at DTB, it should be here this week sometime!

 

[Watergate]

Can somebody place a call to Sam Lewis with the proper questions and will he answer to talk about the JA.????and if the radio was to be marketed as new, New case nos board, A special or what? I may save some money and buy an entry level ham rig like the Alinco DXSR8T for 500.00 solder the bridge inside the radio and have 100 watts built in fan still 40 watts am but other nice features also.

The only thing Sam Lewis has to do with this radio is smile every time another irate owner posts something bad about it. Sam Lewis is Magnum.

I have heard more bad than good about alinco. Enough to talk me out of the dxsr8t.

 

[The Mad Scientist]

I checked bias on my original and the driver is now at the recommended 50mA but the final would not move past 67mA(should be 100mA). I may change out VR9 for a new one because half the range I got the same readings.

I would like to know how the TR26 resistor addition works out.

That's what I was thinking. That the control was corroded causing a non-linearor, and or erratic settings. Let me know if you find the control shot. Maybe a common problem with the origonal and these rigs as well?