-
You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.
What does everyone think about the Galaxy dx-959
- Thread starter Bandit14
- Start date
Noisy receiver, not bad transmitter, especially after npc-rc.
Useless freq display.
Mike
Useless freq display.
Mike
Galaxy radios are a Ranger product, and Friends don't let friends buy Ranger products.
Totally agree with sp5it about the noisy receiver, though it's not the worst one out there. Some of them drift like a rudderless boat on SSB, others aren't so bad once they warm up. And the frequency counter isn't a counter at all, it's just a display that isn't especially useful.
Quality control is sorely lacking, which is a big Ranger problem. Cold solder joints are often an issue as the radio ages.
The 959 was actually one of the better Galaxy offerings.... so credit where credit is due, but it doesn't hold a candle to a vintage Uniden or Cobra product or a modern Anytone 5555N2. Those radios are much more solid, reliable, and stable.
Totally agree with sp5it about the noisy receiver, though it's not the worst one out there. Some of them drift like a rudderless boat on SSB, others aren't so bad once they warm up. And the frequency counter isn't a counter at all, it's just a display that isn't especially useful.
Quality control is sorely lacking, which is a big Ranger problem. Cold solder joints are often an issue as the radio ages.
The 959 was actually one of the better Galaxy offerings.... so credit where credit is due, but it doesn't hold a candle to a vintage Uniden or Cobra product or a modern Anytone 5555N2. Those radios are much more solid, reliable, and stable.
Once set up correctly they can do pretty good and if you like yours that's great. They're a good looking classic radio.
If it's working for you brother then that's what matters!
Lot's of mods out there too if you're into that.
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
There is an adjustment that can be made to clean up the receive. The frequency is stable after it warms up as long as the temperature doesn't change. It is closely related to the 86v, which I played with a while back.
www.worldwidedx.com
Galaxy DX86V mods
Just put a 10k across C158, initial testing sounds great. Getting ready to put it on the scope in the shack. Curious, did you restore r176 back to stock or did you leave it with your trimmer?
I love mine, but I bought it from Pronto CB in Omaha. For a premium they went trough Transmit and Receive and set it up right. It's a boomer on TX and Rx is better than any radio I had. My stand alone freq counter shows no drift at all. The stock Mic is crap!
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
The best mic I have found for the Galaxy radios is the pro com power mic. And the price is right too.
I don't own a 959, but have worked on plenty. I do own a 20+ year old 949, which is the same sans freq display. I made it work okay (AGC mod, UN-schottky'd). Talks well, RX is not great out of the box. Old ones seem to be more stable than newer.
Last edited:
I agree Mike. TX can be made to look good, but the frequency instability is a big problem on SSB TX too. At least it was on the few I have had here.
- I'll also add one to the list: that awful starlite faceplate inverter noise (model dependant).
I repaired and aligned these ones recently. I got them for a steal, because they had been attacked with the golden screwdriver from hell (broken and completely missing slugs, the works!). Whoever did this must have taken them out of the box, watched an "all the way" video and then proceeded to destroy them. Then they must have realized they didn't work anymore, so put them back in the boxes. They still had the plastic protection on the cases.
My 979 is more stable than the 959. The 979 has a slightly nicer 2-tone waveform and nicer AM mod on the scope. Similar performance otherwise but I would choose the 979 overall (which is similar in many ways to my DX86V which I also like). I got the 86V new, but it also needed a LOT of work to straighten it out. It's fun radio though.
"Friends don't let friends buy Rangers" - unless they have a bench full of test gear to sort them out. hihi
Attachments
Last edited:
"Friends, don't let friends buy Ranger built radios." Copyright 2022 By SuperLid Enterprises LLC USAI repaired and aligned these ones recently. I got them for a steal, because they had been attacked with the golden screwdriver from hell (broken and completely missing slugs, the works!). Whoever did this must have taken them out of the box, watched an "all the way" video and then proceeded to destroy them. Then they must have realized they didn't work anymore, so put them back in the boxes. They still had the plastic protection on the cases.
My 979 is more stable than the 959. The 979 has a slightly nicer 2-tone waveform and nicer AM mod on the scope. Similar performance otherwise but I would choose the 979 overall (which is similar in many ways to my DX86V which I also like). I got the 86V new, but it also needed a LOT of work to straighten it out. It's fun radio though.
"Friends don't let friends by Rangers" - unless they have a bench full of test gear to sort them out. hihi
Last edited:
Drifting radios, heard many. Called out and asked what model the operator was on. Got the response asking how I knew it was a galaxy... It Drifts...
Yeah, I miss mine. It was stolen by a mutant from LaBelle, FL several years ago. I've thought about getting another, but don't really want a mobile 11M only rig at the moment. I used the one I had in the shop and it was on all the time. I let the scum borrow it. It's the last loner I EVER lent-out while working on their radio. Never again.
I did recover SOME of the loss by selling his 3600 after I fixed it.
I did recover SOME of the loss by selling his 3600 after I fixed it.
a tech went through my new 959b, i was new to ssb. he fixed the awful high pitch noise, there is no drift (winter, summer, or long qso), and it swings lots. doesn't get hot on long qso like the chopped 86v i got from ebay that he also worked on. useless freq counter imo. several options to reduce rx bacon from the factory. will never buy another, but it is still doing good in the car after a year