RF Limited News . . .

[BJB]

Sam Lewis - owner of RF Limited/Magnum Int'l - gave me some news about some new products that will be available by mid to late November.

First, a handheld AM/FM/SSB 10-12m radio that has 9 watts PEP and will have a docking cradle for mobile applications. That's right; a hand-held 10-12m radio! This docking cradle will be able to access power from your vehicle and allow for an external antenna and to charge the radio's bettery. It will also boost power output up to 50 watts PEP with a small amplifier. This handheld's antenna will be capable of use on all 10 thru 12m bands. It will also be capable of European standard freq divisions too (e.g. - even numbers - 24.550 etc). Radio will be easily modifiable to include 11m as well. Radio has capability to do repeater offsets.
Sam Lewis will be sending me one to review.

Don't get your panties all bunched up laddies. I will have to send it back to him after I review it, as he is sending me the prototype unit.

This will be another FIRST on the WWRF . . .

Next, all Magnum 257's and OmegaForce S-45's are presently 'sold out' from the factory. They will be reissuing a newer version of both radios that will come with the new Toshiba CPU. This CPU will make these radios fully capable of 10-11-12m operation. There are a couple of other mods done to them as well; more info to come. These radios will not be available until after the first of the year - or later. I suspect this should put RCI back on their heels, as the Magnums will have a leg-up advantage. Due to the fact that they have built-in audio processing and the RCI's do not.

Finally, they are going to have a new line of radios that have new and many as yet unseen features offered.
More details to come very soon here on the WWRF . . .

I have been researching the S-45 HP from afar and although impressed with the specs and potential I need reassurance that if I were to purchase one I am not going to be left disappointed, considering I'm on the other side of the Pacific. That said, one member of this forum purchased an S -45HP and informed me that the unit failed to deliver the power. He sent it to a repairer who noted low power, claimed to have fixed it and when returned was still only swinging 30 to 40 watts.

Also, did the company actually make the Omegaforce capable of 10-11-12 meter? I thought it was only 10-11 meter.

Anyway the company I was speaking to ( GI JOes in KY) has sold out of the S-45 HP and hopefully the new unit will be released in the New Year and the specs known. I would interested to hear from forum members of their opinions about the S-45 HP.

 

[milkman21218]

I have been researching the S-45 HP from afar and although impressed with the specs and potential I need reassurance that if I were to purchase one I am not going to be left disappointed, considering I'm on the other side of the Pacific. That said, one member of this forum purchased an S -45HP and informed me that the unit failed to deliver the power. He sent it to a repairer who noted low power, claimed to have fixed it and when returned was still only swinging 30 to 40 watts.

Also, did the company actually make the Omegaforce capable of 10-11-12 meter? I thought it was only 10-11 meter.

Anyway the company I was speaking to ( GI JOes in KY) has sold out of the S-45 HP and hopefully the new unit will be released in the New Year and the specs known. I would interested to hear from forum members of their opinions about the S-45 HP.

I was a huge Magnum radio fan. But not anymore. I would always defend Sam Lewis and Magnum. Until I got a New S-45HP. I got it only because of seeing it on CB Magazine. I see 30-40 watts AM & SSB. Top Gun on, or off (Even on our bird 43 same readings).I called Sam Lewis at Magnum. He said that it's nothing wrong with it. Then he tells me to send it to a repair center. The repair center says it has low power. He said that he fixed it. I still see the same power output. I Called Sam he says it fixed and that it! I own a few Magnum radios. But I will never buy or recommend another. Because of how Sam responded to me. I've talked to him for years. But I now sense that he has changed. And I feel that Sam doesn't care about anyone but him self now days. If you are looking at the newer Magnum stuff I would like to say this to you. Look else where BUYER BEWARE!!! It's pure JUNK! And Sam is not the same guy who only wanted to give you the best.

 

[VA3ES]

I was a huge Magnum radio fan. But not anymore. I would always defend Sam Lewis and Magnum. Until I got a New S-45. I got it only because of seeing it on CB Magazine. I see 30-40 watts AM & SSB. Top Gun on, or off (Even on our bird 43 same readings).I called Sam Lewis at Magnum. He said that it's nothing wrong with it. Then he tells me to send it to a repair center. The repair center says it has low power. He said that he fixed it. I still see the same power output. I Called Sam he says it fixed and that it! I own a few Magnum radios. But I will never buy or recommend another. Because of how Sam responded to me. I've talked to him for years. But I now sense that he has changed. And I feel that Sam doesn't care about anyone but him self now days. If you are looking at the newer Magnum stuff I would like to say this to you. Look else where BUYER BEWARE!!! It's pure JUNK! And Sam is not the same guy who only wanted to give you the best.

Hmmmm..... Are you sure you have an S45HP??? The regular version S45, only puts out about 40W PEP. The RFX75 RF deck should put out 75W PEP to 100W PEP. I don't have an S45HP here, but I did test a Magnum 257HP, and it put out 80W!.

Does your rig have the RFX75 RF deck on the back?

 

[milkman21218]

Hmmmm..... Are you sure you have an S45HP??? The regular version S45, only puts out about 40W PEP. The RFX75 RF deck should put out 75W PEP to 100W PEP. I don't have an S45HP here, but I did test a Magnum 257HP, and it put out 80W!.

Does your rig have the RFX75 RF deck on the back?

Yes it does have the RFX-75 on the rear. I know what it should put out. But it does not. That's why it when to the Magnum repair center. The repair center said it was low and he had to order parts from Sam. It was back at my door 2 days later. Which seemed very strange. I check it same low out put. I then called Sam. Sam than told me that it was fixed by his repair center in Delaware. And to call him. I did and he said that it was fine when leaving his shop. So he & Sam both told me that the radio works and no matter what I say he's not doing thing else to it. I use to think of Sam as a friend. We would talk often before this. Not anymore. I'd tell many people how he stands behind his prouduct. And if he screws a friend, what will he do to you? And I do know how to read meters. I tried 3 meters. All give me the same reading. My S-45HP puts out about the same as my President Lincolns. And it should read twice that.

 

[VA3ES]

Yes it does have the RFX-75 on the rear. I know what it should put out. But it does not. That's why it when to the Magnum repair center. The repair center said it was low and he had to order parts from Sam. It was back at my door 2 days later. Which seemed very strange. I check it same low out put. I then called Sam. Sam than told me that it was fixed by his repair center in Delaware. And to call him. I did and he said that it was fine when leaving his shop. So he & Sam both told me that the radio works and no matter what I say he's not doing thing else to it. I use to think of Sam as a friend. We would talk often before this. Not anymore. I'd tell many people how he stands behind his prouduct. And if he screws a friend, what will he do to you? And I do know how to read meters. I tried 3 meters. All give me the same reading. My S-45HP puts out about the same as my President Lincolns. And it should read twice that.

If true, then that is very disappointing!!!! I have an OmegaForce S45HP coming to me very soon, and if it does not perform as expected, I will be pissed too!

Having said that, here is what I think transpired between you, the repair center and Sam:

I believe the repair center, for whatever reasons is incompetant. There is no reason for them to state the "it works" when it doesnt. I can't begin to speculate on what transpired in that shop. To suggest that "it works" when it puts out half-power is shoddy work indeed. At some point, the shop (if it is doing it's work correctly) will email the manufacturer (i.e.: Sam) to advise him of that week's work orders so Sam can refund the work. (I have run many repair shops, and warranty repair centers, so I know how they work.)

Somehow, your unit did not get repaired, but passed through the shop anyway. Sam got his email telling him so, and passed that info on to you. (You would not believe how often this happens in very busy shops.)

Frankly, in todays market, I just cannot imagine a company owner treating customers in a shoddy fashion. It's just not done.

You might want to communicate with Sam again, and let him know your doubts and concerns, and suggest that that unit was never repaired, though it passed through the shop.

Good luck.

 

[davegrantsr]

Yes it does have the RFX-75 on the rear. I know what it should put out. But it does not. That's why it when to the Magnum repair center. The repair center said it was low and he had to order parts from Sam. It was back at my door 2 days later. Which seemed very strange. I check it same low out put. I then called Sam. Sam than told me that it was fixed by his repair center in Delaware. And to call him. I did and he said that it was fine when leaving his shop. So he & Sam both told me that the radio works and no matter what I say he's not doing thing else to it. I use to think of Sam as a friend. We would talk often before this. Not anymore. I'd tell many people how he stands behind his prouduct. And if he screws a friend, what will he do to you? And I do know how to read meters. I tried 3 meters. All give me the same reading. My S-45HP puts out about the same as my President Lincolns. And it should read twice that.

rick jordan? he's done work for me on a couple 257's, S9 & omega plus went over a couple ar3500's for me. nothing but good. the S9-175 i sent him for repair had the same issue as ALL the mosfet magnums. SSB audio was TRASH. even AM was nothing spectacular. he reinforced my belief in mosfet CB's-they are just substituted in for transistors & NOT designed as mosfet radios like ham rigs. some work, some work better then others, NONE are built around mosfets & therefore are not perfect. i told sam that if i was 3000 miles closer to washington, the S9-175 would be planted on his desk-through the front window. he reimbursed my costs, with which i bought 2 more magnums & promptly disposed of on e bay. my 180 degree turnaround on magnum happened long before yours, iz, but 10-12m HP omega, 257 or redesigned S9 intrigues me enough to take a gamble. that said, my brother-in-law calls me clark-after chevy chase/vegas vacation-whenever we go to the casinos........
try giving bob in PA a call......

 

[hotrod]

Yes it does have the RFX-75 on the rear. I know what it should put out. But it does not. That's why it when to the Magnum repair center. The repair center said it was low and he had to order parts from Sam. It was back at my door 2 days later. Which seemed very strange. I check it same low out put. I then called Sam. Sam than told me that it was fixed by his repair center in Delaware. And to call him. I did and he said that it was fine when leaving his shop. So he & Sam both told me that the radio works and no matter what I say he's not doing thing else to it. I use to think of Sam as a friend. We would talk often before this. Not anymore. I'd tell many people how he stands behind his prouduct. And if he screws a friend, what will he do to you? And I do know how to read meters. I tried 3 meters. All give me the same reading. My S-45HP puts out about the same as my President Lincolns. And it should read twice that.

im sure ya know this but gotta ask. do you have ANY other equiment
hooked up when testing power output?also are you using a dummyload?
what mike are you using?wheres the rf power knob?sure your meter
is pep and not just rms.cause rms dont read that modulation completely.
heres a test to try with locals u know well .on am turn your topgun on/off
and dont tell them just turn it on then next time yas keyup turn it off
see if they notice.if there real close they WONT notice.if they notice then
id say its the meter. i just cant believe your radio wasnt fixed .but guess
it could happen

 

[milkman21218]

im sure ya know this but gotta ask. do you have ANY other equiment
hooked up when testing power output?also are you using a dummyload?
what mike are you using?wheres the rf power knob?sure your meter
is pep and not just rms.cause rms dont read that modulation completely.
heres a test to try with locals u know well .on am turn your topgun on/off
and dont tell them just turn it on then next time yas keyup turn it off
see if they notice.if there real close they WONT notice.if they notice then
id say its the meter. i just cant believe your radio wasnt fixed .but guess
it could happen

Dale as you well know that I do know something about radios. I compared the output on 3 meters. One being a Bird 43. Into a dummyload. Also I still tested the output of my Amateur & CB equipment. Yaesu FT-857D, Icom 706mk2G, Alinco DX77T, Kenwood TS-2000, 2 President Lincolns, 2 Galaxy 99's, 2 Magnum 257's and others. Everything read what it should but the S-45HP. It still puts out between 30-40 watts. I just got screwed by Sam & his Tech.

 

[hotrod]

sorry milkman if i offended ya. i was only going thru the variables
i know of. obviously you know already and done all that. i got
a magnum s45 last version before the hp with blue lights ,mosfets ,open clarifer
i works as stated.id call/email bob at bobscb.com.hes my magnum tech
ask him about your wattage. maybe it dont put out as much as stated
by magnum.

 

[BJB]

Dale as you well know that I do know something about radios. I compared the output on 3 meters. One being a Bird 43. Into a dummyload. Also I still tested the output of my Amateur & CB equipment. Yaesu FT-857D, Icom 706mk2G, Alinco DX77T, Kenwood TS-2000, 2 President Lincolns, 2 Galaxy 99's, 2 Magnum 257's and others. Everything read what it should but the S-45HP. It still puts out between 30-40 watts. I just got screwed by Sam & his Tech.

So what I am hearing now that it could be hit and miss with some Magnums straight out of the box whether the unit will perform as advertised? I also heard some CB chatter yesterday concerning a guy who purchased a Galaxy that had to be tuned up after purchase. Could it be worth the money to pay the dealers to perform their 'super tune' . At least you would know if the unit has been checked before shipping.

Just a thought.

 

[davegrantsr]

So what I am hearing now that it could be hit and miss with some Magnums straight out of the box whether the unit will perform as advertised? I also heard some CB chatter yesterday concerning a guy who purchased a Galaxy that had to be tuned up after purchase. Could it be worth the money to pay the dealers to perform their 'super tune' . At least you would know if the unit has been checked before shipping.

Just a thought.

i don't have the time to work on radios like i used to. that, and the fact that a lot of my past (trucker) customers drive vehicles that don't agree with ANY stray RF or their company prohibits them from using anything other then what they provide.
that said, almost ANY new radio i see these days needs some work. while i feel magnum quality control went out the door about 10 years ago, galaxy/ranger is beating a path to the same door.

starting with xmit, out of the box, i've seen splatter boxes that rival anything joe screwdriver could do. what is up with that??? this past summer i came upon a brand new rci69ffc2. i SWORE the user had the 200 watt radio driving a comp-type driver box before the comp-type amp. WRONG. it was the stock radio, out of the box, with everything turned up fully clockwise. SSB was un-usable. xmit & rcv were over 1 khz off! exacerbating the problem was the fact that it xmitted nearly 2 khz from where the freq display claimed, and 3 khz from where an ic7000 was listening. i closed it back up & told him to send it back. that was his 3rd try at a 'cb', he tried another ranger radio. needless to say, 'radio' is no longer a hobby of his.

i haven't heard too many new galaxy or ranger radios lately. most locals are going to magnum and they aren't fairing any better. over the past few years, locally, a group of upwards of 20 people-newcomers & oldtimers returning to cb-only to be discouraged by the quality of their newly purchased exports, and the fact that they can't get their names called because they can't comprehend how their 4, 5 & even 8 transistor texas star & davemades can't get through the big boys on channel 6. i'd say at least a dozen magnums have gone the way of e-bay, many after visiting magnum repair centers more then once.

so, should you pay the dealers to perform a super tune? absolutely NOT, no way, no how. as the saying goes, that's just throwing good money after bad. most of the super tunes are transmit ruining modifications. those that claim to align & tune the receive as well.....well, let's just say I DON'T THINK SO. save your money.

actually, save your money all the way around and don't pad the lewis's or peng's pockets. i haven't seen a person in YEARS that actually USED an export radio to its maximum usefulness-usefulness being a relative term. they don't use SSB. they don't sit on 27.555 usb looking for exotic DX, they don't sit on 26.330 am looking for exotic DX, they don't use FM, they don't go 10 up or down or for that matter anywhere 'off freq', they aren't hams so they don't go to 10 or 12, and most grow sick of the built in noise toys. they'd be way ahead of the game by buying a cobra 29, or those that use SSB, a cobra 148 or search out an NOS grant. in the end, they will be far happier. easier to set up that dx500 or dx667 for sure, less audio issues, better receiver, the useful mods can be had relatively inexpensively, and they'd get far more pleasure out of their hobby then listening to people telling them how crappy their audio is or how bad they're bleeding over. for the same money you'd spend on a 69ffc2 or S9-175, you can get an ic718, or any number of used HF rigs that perform far better on SSB for the same cost or less, and if they just listen to people who REALLY know, they can get some decent AM out of the same HF rig.

sorry for the rant, BJB, but in answer to your question, it's more miss then hit with most new exports, and don't waste your time on the dealers tune up claims.

 

[milkman21218]

i don't have the time to work on radios like i used to. that, and the fact that a lot of my past (trucker) customers drive vehicles that don't agree with ANY stray RF or their company prohibits them from using anything other then what they provide.
that said, almost ANY new radio i see these days needs some work. while i feel magnum quality control went out the door about 10 years ago, galaxy/ranger is beating a path to the same door.

starting with xmit, out of the box, i've seen splatter boxes that rival anything joe screwdriver could do. what is up with that??? this past summer i came upon a brand new rci69ffc2. i SWORE the user had the 200 watt radio driving a comp-type driver box before the comp-type amp. WRONG. it was the stock radio, out of the box, with everything turned up fully clockwise. SSB was un-usable. xmit & rcv were over 1 khz off! exacerbating the problem was the fact that it xmitted nearly 2 khz from where the freq display claimed, and 3 khz from where an ic7000 was listening. i closed it back up & told him to send it back. that was his 3rd try at a 'cb', he tried another ranger radio. needless to say, 'radio' is no longer a hobby of his.

i haven't heard too many new galaxy or ranger radios lately. most locals are going to magnum and they aren't fairing any better. over the past few years, locally, a group of upwards of 20 people-newcomers & oldtimers returning to cb-only to be discouraged by the quality of their newly purchased exports, and the fact that they can't get their names called because they can't comprehend how their 4, 5 & even 8 transistor texas star & davemades can't get through the big boys on channel 6. i'd say at least a dozen magnums have gone the way of e-bay, many after visiting magnum repair centers more then once.

so, should you pay the dealers to perform a super tune? absolutely NOT, no way, no how. as the saying goes, that's just throwing good money after bad. most of the super tunes are transmit ruining modifications. those that claim to align & tune the receive as well.....well, let's just say I DON'T THINK SO. save your money.

actually, save your money all the way around and don't pad the lewis's or peng's pockets. i haven't seen a person in YEARS that actually USED an export radio to its maximum usefulness-usefulness being a relative term. they don't use SSB. they don't sit on 27.555 usb looking for exotic DX, they don't sit on 26.330 am looking for exotic DX, they don't use FM, they don't go 10 up or down or for that matter anywhere 'off freq', they aren't hams so they don't go to 10 or 12, and most grow sick of the built in noise toys. they'd be way ahead of the game by buying a cobra 29, or those that use SSB, a cobra 148 or search out an NOS grant. in the end, they will be far happier. easier to set up that dx500 or dx667 for sure, less audio issues, better receiver, the useful mods can be had relatively inexpensively, and they'd get far more pleasure out of their hobby then listening to people telling them how crappy their audio is or how bad they're bleeding over. for the same money you'd spend on a 69ffc2 or S9-175, you can get an ic718, or any number of used HF rigs that perform far better on SSB for the same cost or less, and if they just listen to people who REALLY know, they can get some decent AM out of the same HF rig.

sorry for the rant, BJB, but in answer to your question, it's more miss then hit with most new exports, and don't waste your time on the dealers tune up claims.

Very well said Dave and to think that I was going to get rid of my 2 Lincolns. And replace them with new S45HP Magnums. I must have been out of my head.

 

[davegrantsr]

Very well said Dave and to think that I was going to get rid of my 2 Lincolns. And replace them with new S45HP Magnums. I must have been out of my head.

um, well, uh.....you'd know better then i would, iz ;-)

and keep them lincolns.....one with a chipswitch?? ;-) ;-)

 

[BJB]

I'm now looking elsewhere having been swayed to consider that some radios don't live up to the hype. Remember the Cobra 200 GTL's.???..all the bells and whistles but later suffered problems where as now I think they have been discontinued.

I have been informed that Magnum may be attending to some re design of the S 45 HP. I can't seem to find anyone that has them in stock which may indicate that the factory wont restock until all the issues have been addressed. Now some may say that their radios work fine but I haven't been knocked over in this forum with a stampede of content owners. Perhaps Robb can give us the current low down on this radio.:mellow:

 

[ajm1571]

I'm now looking elsewhere having been swayed to consider that some radios don't live up to the hype. Remember the Cobra 200 GTL's.???..all the bells and whistles but later suffered problems where as now I think they have been discontinued.

I was gun shy when I was offered a cobra 200 GTL in a trade because of all the issues I heard with them. I honestly LOVE mine as (knock on wood) I have NOT had any issues with mine! It is doing 125w on SSB, NOT the 150 or so watts most guys were trying to get out of them. I have MANY contacts on .385 with just the radio and 4ft skipshooter antenna on a 3 mag set up on the roof of my mini van

Just my .02