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NEED SUGESTIONS FOR MODERN SSB BASE
- Thread starter Stellasarat
- Start date
My guess is that the reason he's asking about modern CB bases is because he intends to operate within FCC rules on 11-meters, as opposed to using 10-meter or other HAM radios (illegally modified) to operate on 11-meters.
NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR A NEW OR NEWER SSB BASE.
I'm shocked at the lack of modern (3 years or less) ssb cb's produced. That's why I'm begining to look to the past. All these imports with bells, buttons and whistles I don't need. It's apparent there are no ssb am 4 watt 11 meter radios made. With the exception of the galaxy 2547. I noticed there are quite a few mobiles with the features I'm looking for but I don't want a mobile. Besides the sbe V. I'm reading some information and reviews on the ge super base. Besides the clock it looks like a really nice ssb transciver. I'm gonna do more research on the ge. I really want the cb to use on ssb as for am I will always use my Sonar 2340. It's really sad Sonar never made a2340 with ssb. I've heard many people say tube radios just aren't good ssb talkers. From the reports I got on the Browning mklll and lV this maybe true. Although I know collins and some other tube ham ssber's were hands down second to none on ssb. I think tube cb ssb manufacturers just didn't put the quality parts to create a superb ssb talker as it would have just made the final consumer cost way to much. Taking my time. Taking sugestions and for sure research research research.
I'm shocked at the lack of modern (3 years or less) ssb cb's produced. That's why I'm begining to look to the past. All these imports with bells, buttons and whistles I don't need. It's apparent there are no ssb am 4 watt 11 meter radios made. With the exception of the galaxy 2547. I noticed there are quite a few mobiles with the features I'm looking for but I don't want a mobile. Besides the sbe V. I'm reading some information and reviews on the ge super base. Besides the clock it looks like a really nice ssb transciver. I'm gonna do more research on the ge. I really want the cb to use on ssb as for am I will always use my Sonar 2340. It's really sad Sonar never made a2340 with ssb. I've heard many people say tube radios just aren't good ssb talkers. From the reports I got on the Browning mklll and lV this maybe true. Although I know collins and some other tube ham ssber's were hands down second to none on ssb. I think tube cb ssb manufacturers just didn't put the quality parts to create a superb ssb talker as it would have just made the final consumer cost way to much. Taking my time. Taking sugestions and for sure research research research.
Wow, did I hit a nerve? I wasn't calling cb people crappy just the crappy equipment that is produced today. Now go back 20 years and the landscape changes completely. There are no quality bases produced anymore. CPI, Tram, Browning are gone taking the quality with them. If it was still available I would instantly say get a Stoner Pro-40 if you want to run ssb. Today that's not possible so that leaves a converted ham rig or the hit or miss exports.
Working SSB with a tube era radio is probably the last choice of those in the know. Doesn't matter if it's VFO or crystal controlled, you'll drift around like a raft in the ocean for the first half hour and that's if you're lucky. SSB on a rig that does not have a feedback loop for frequency control as found with a PLL is a poor choice.
Power output on these older rigs is often less than 12 watts PEP on SSB and that's before you consider all the other receiver drawbacks. Many older sets didn't even use crystal filters to separate USB from LSB. Early Browning Mark III's are a prime example before the use of the Collins filters.
I think W9Cll had the best advice. At least try an HF rig. The first time some moron chucks a carrier on AM and you hit the notch filter kissing the heterodyne goodbye, you'll be pleased. The next time you're on 38 USB and someone is on LSB clogging your ears, turn the IF shift to the right a little and that can go away too. Transmitter features like speech processing and the cleanest 100 watt fully adjustable class AB linear money can buy are included.
The sad thing is most of the China CB junk sold today can drift as bad as the older tube stuff so your choices for quality are slim. Quality control has been abandoned for cost efficiency. Producing cases where a radio made during one time frame may function quite differently than the same model made a few years later as better parts were swapped out for cheaper junk.
Power output on these older rigs is often less than 12 watts PEP on SSB and that's before you consider all the other receiver drawbacks. Many older sets didn't even use crystal filters to separate USB from LSB. Early Browning Mark III's are a prime example before the use of the Collins filters.
I think W9Cll had the best advice. At least try an HF rig. The first time some moron chucks a carrier on AM and you hit the notch filter kissing the heterodyne goodbye, you'll be pleased. The next time you're on 38 USB and someone is on LSB clogging your ears, turn the IF shift to the right a little and that can go away too. Transmitter features like speech processing and the cleanest 100 watt fully adjustable class AB linear money can buy are included.
The sad thing is most of the China CB junk sold today can drift as bad as the older tube stuff so your choices for quality are slim. Quality control has been abandoned for cost efficiency. Producing cases where a radio made during one time frame may function quite differently than the same model made a few years later as better parts were swapped out for cheaper junk.
Ive got 2 of those Cobra 2000's, but at the time I got them, I was working on a deal to trade them for a 2000 in mint condition, but that deal fell through due to a hurricane hitting the guys area...
But anyways, the 2000 that has the mods, Ive been talking on it for a year now and it talks better than any 2000 Ive ever owned over the years, and have no idea why it talks like it does....and when I ran those amps with it talked really well....someday, Ill send them off one at a time and get some work done to them and hold on to them....as you can see I like those old school Cobra radios...
As for a new SSB radio, Id like to try one of those N2 radios out sometime, have read a lot of good things about them...
Also have read a lot of good things about those Kenwood radios....I used to own a Yaesu FT 840, used it some but it didn't impress me like I thought it would talk on SSB........but for the time been Ill just run my ol 2000..
But anyways, the 2000 that has the mods, Ive been talking on it for a year now and it talks better than any 2000 Ive ever owned over the years, and have no idea why it talks like it does....and when I ran those amps with it talked really well....someday, Ill send them off one at a time and get some work done to them and hold on to them....as you can see I like those old school Cobra radios...
As for a new SSB radio, Id like to try one of those N2 radios out sometime, have read a lot of good things about them...
Also have read a lot of good things about those Kenwood radios....I used to own a Yaesu FT 840, used it some but it didn't impress me like I thought it would talk on SSB........but for the time been Ill just run my ol 2000..
You can get easily a older Cobra 148GTL remember it's got to be a side mic input basically they are all good if the mic install is on the side. They run around $75.00 sold on ebay and that is half the price of a new one and remember the new ones are nothing compared to the old ones. The Galaxy 959DX aren't so bad they do drift as they warm up on SSB but after a while you get used to tuning them as they are predictable. I would recommend on the Galaxy 959DX to get it modified such as getting the clarifier opened and a alignment I got a switch to bypass the ALC and the audio screams now also. Basically any SSB radio's are good radio's in general. Good luck!
I realize you originally said new CB. Many of the guys that recommend the Uniden chassis rigs are right on target. There is nothing new (legal) that is worth a darn on SSB. I had a Galaxy 2547 and a 959. Not only did they drift, they would shift frequency on their own. So, you're stable at 27.384.6... next day, stable at 27.385.7 just enough to annoy other operators and tell you you're off frequency. Many debates have been had on these particular rigs, but that was my own experience. And it was in my home, so temperature variances were not an issue.
The guys that recommend the RCI and Alinco/Yaesu/Icom's are on target as well, since they are offering up transceivers that are stable on SSB, and offer plenty of power. As stated before, it's illegal to use them.
I still have a Cobra 139XLR base that is bone stock. I love playing on this rig, and it still gets compliments on the air for it's audio quality, even when using a Road King 56. The receive is top shelf. You may have to put new wheat lamps in (or LED's if you prefer), and swaps some caps, but the old Uniden chassis are very stable and work well on SSB.
73,
Brett
The guys that recommend the RCI and Alinco/Yaesu/Icom's are on target as well, since they are offering up transceivers that are stable on SSB, and offer plenty of power. As stated before, it's illegal to use them.
I still have a Cobra 139XLR base that is bone stock. I love playing on this rig, and it still gets compliments on the air for it's audio quality, even when using a Road King 56. The receive is top shelf. You may have to put new wheat lamps in (or LED's if you prefer), and swaps some caps, but the old Uniden chassis are very stable and work well on SSB.
73,
Brett
For the money you'd spend on a cb base station, you could pick up a kenwood TS50, TS430,TS440,Even a good TS570D all second hand in good condition, some will cost you less than a CB base,
Then there's the Icom 706 MK1/Mk2,Mk2g, Ic 718,Alinco dx70TH all will sound better on SSB,
most offer 100 mem channels you can easily programme your 2 favourite CB bands in, here its generally UK40FM on Mem 1 - 40 and 41 - 80 is FCc/EU/Cept frequencies. Mem 00 is generally put for 27.555 int calling frequency and most rigs can switch from Mem/VFO, I always at end of session leave VFO A on 27.555.000 USB and VFO B on 26.285.000 USB. Far better buy than any CB homebase export or otherwise.
Now if you want to do it cheap any budget Uniden sidebander and KL 203P amp will give just about same kick minus a few usefull features Donald Shockwave mentioned earlier, Madison, Washington, Stalker XX or Cobra 2000 GTL or 142 GTL. Along with the Kl203P or even many of the early Uniden sets
for Mobile, Jackson,Grant,Stalker 9,Cobra 148 GTL/DX/ Superstar 360 FM,
if you prefer the export versions,Madison, Washington and Stalker XX I believe were all sold as 80 ch exports in Europe with FM added too.
These are all far better propositions than a new Basestation and a lot less to lose if the wolf comes calling.
I personally use a President Richard (Cobra 148 GTL DX MK2 upgrade) or ss3900 with KL203p as its a lot less to lose than a base station and sounds as good as any HF unit when used properly, I've had HF sets, base stations and been busted, and trust me when/if the wolf visits you'll be glad you chose cheap with quality than expensive lacking it.
My whole setup including mobile antenna like hp 4000 or homebase sirio tornado including psu's would be between 180 and 250 quid maximum and can give any hf set up a run for its money both audiowise and signal wise, I sold all my expensive radios, they do a few extra things, but the one thing they don't do is give me a better signal or sound much better. And on the rare occasion I get out on air these days I get asked the same question repeatedly, what HF set are you running,
that can't possibly be a CB. I picked both the Richards and the ss3900 up for pennies with the odd fault, within minutes they were up and running, they sound as good as any hf set I've ever used and that's loads and they've never let me down and neither did the host of Jacksons,Grants and 3900's I had before them, they may not be fancy but they work, and work damn well at that.
Hf rigs are brill on 11m SSB right up to the point the FCC or our ofcom knock the door and walk away with them,Fucking lot of money to lose, been bitten once, ain't gonny make that mistake again when I can do it at a fraction of the price almost as well, if not better in the case of some HF radios. Pays to be shrewd when pirating.
Then there's the Icom 706 MK1/Mk2,Mk2g, Ic 718,Alinco dx70TH all will sound better on SSB,
most offer 100 mem channels you can easily programme your 2 favourite CB bands in, here its generally UK40FM on Mem 1 - 40 and 41 - 80 is FCc/EU/Cept frequencies. Mem 00 is generally put for 27.555 int calling frequency and most rigs can switch from Mem/VFO, I always at end of session leave VFO A on 27.555.000 USB and VFO B on 26.285.000 USB. Far better buy than any CB homebase export or otherwise.
Now if you want to do it cheap any budget Uniden sidebander and KL 203P amp will give just about same kick minus a few usefull features Donald Shockwave mentioned earlier, Madison, Washington, Stalker XX or Cobra 2000 GTL or 142 GTL. Along with the Kl203P or even many of the early Uniden sets
for Mobile, Jackson,Grant,Stalker 9,Cobra 148 GTL/DX/ Superstar 360 FM,
if you prefer the export versions,Madison, Washington and Stalker XX I believe were all sold as 80 ch exports in Europe with FM added too.
These are all far better propositions than a new Basestation and a lot less to lose if the wolf comes calling.
I personally use a President Richard (Cobra 148 GTL DX MK2 upgrade) or ss3900 with KL203p as its a lot less to lose than a base station and sounds as good as any HF unit when used properly, I've had HF sets, base stations and been busted, and trust me when/if the wolf visits you'll be glad you chose cheap with quality than expensive lacking it.
My whole setup including mobile antenna like hp 4000 or homebase sirio tornado including psu's would be between 180 and 250 quid maximum and can give any hf set up a run for its money both audiowise and signal wise, I sold all my expensive radios, they do a few extra things, but the one thing they don't do is give me a better signal or sound much better. And on the rare occasion I get out on air these days I get asked the same question repeatedly, what HF set are you running,
that can't possibly be a CB. I picked both the Richards and the ss3900 up for pennies with the odd fault, within minutes they were up and running, they sound as good as any hf set I've ever used and that's loads and they've never let me down and neither did the host of Jacksons,Grants and 3900's I had before them, they may not be fancy but they work, and work damn well at that.
Hf rigs are brill on 11m SSB right up to the point the FCC or our ofcom knock the door and walk away with them,Fucking lot of money to lose, been bitten once, ain't gonny make that mistake again when I can do it at a fraction of the price almost as well, if not better in the case of some HF radios. Pays to be shrewd when pirating.
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