whats the best ssb rig cb or export currently?

[ExitThirteen]

The new 148's are REALLY bad. Don't even think of getting one. They made some very poor circuitry design changes and causes a nasty warble on SSB.

There were 3 primary changes on the new 148's.

1) They changed out the voltage regulator from the MB3756 to a newer LM7809 regulator. This would have been fine.... had they used an 8V regulator like the old MB3756, which is also 8V. Instead they use a 9V regulator and use dropping resistors and diodes in various circuits to drop the voltage down to 8V, including the PLL and VCO circuits. Not good.

2) They changed the PLL IC. The original Cobra 148's used the venerable MB8719 PLL IC made by Fujitsu. In the mid 1990's, about 1996/1997, this changed to the RCI8719, then later on the RCI8719-99. These PLL's require a different control voltage than the old MB8719's, and they used a dropping resistor on the PLL control voltage pin to bring the voltage down. The voltage therefore was no longer stable and would cause PLL issues and the VCO to unlock.

3) The final. The original final used was the C1969 final made by Mitsubishi. In later radios this was changed to a "fake" version of that same final, usually just a C2078 that was re-screened with the C1969 number on it. Some radios used a different final number, but was still the same situation, the wrong final with the C1969 number screened on it.

You're better off getting a good Taiwan or Philly 148 and recapping it. Much better build quality, and even with the price of recapping, you'll have a far better radio.


~Cheers~

 

[RadioDaze2.0]

I cannot be sure but my Alinco DR-135UK has done everything I have asked of it so far. I mainly use SSB and this where the radio excells fortunately. I am told I am a bit quiet on FM but I never use it anyway so I am not worried. AM not sure, it works but it seems to get out ok when I have tried AM. The power mic issue might be a no, no for AM high modulation levels.

I have spoke to 100's if not a 1,000 of DX contacts anywhere from 300-10,500 miles away and lots of long point to point stations here in the UK on SSB. All on a Gain Master vertical antenna, no beam assitance at all. It has been reliable and has not broke and did not cost much £150.00 I think this is about $240.00) There is not much to dislike really at this price.

The only thing is it does not gain advantage from using a power mic as it just limits the input signal. (over rated in most cases anyway, no one likes distorted hard to listen to voices) I always get Radio 5 mod reports from the whole planet.

It may not be the best multi-mode on the planet but it works and works good enough for me to work the world with ease.

I also know stations that use the Anytone AT5555 V6 and they are very good bang for the buck radios. I always here people nicely on those. Similar to the Alinco but I think they accept power mics more gracefully. i.e. you can crank them a bit more if you so desire before they clamp down on the audio level.

The only Optima I hear locally is a little bit distorted sounding but that might be cause they cranked the audio to hard and also went through a phase of being off frequency by about 15kHz.

 

[codeman]

The new 148's are REALLY bad. Don't even think of getting one. They made some very poor circuitry design changes and causes a nasty warble on SSB.

There were 3 primary changes on the new 148's.

1) They changed out the voltage regulator from the MB3756 to a newer LM7809 regulator. This would have been fine.... had they used an 8V regulator like the old MB3756, which is also 8V. Instead they use a 9V regulator and use dropping resistors and diodes in various circuits to drop the voltage down to 8V, including the PLL and VCO circuits. Not good.

2) They changed the PLL IC. The original Cobra 148's used the venerable MB8719 PLL IC made by Fujitsu. In the mid 1990's, about 1996/1997, this changed to the RCI8719, then later on the RCI8719-99. These PLL's require a different control voltage than the old MB8719's, and they used a dropping resistor on the PLL control voltage pin to bring the voltage down. The voltage therefore was no longer stable and would cause PLL issues and the VCO to unlock.

3) The final. The original final used was the C1969 final made by Mitsubishi. In later radios this was changed to a "fake" version of that same final, usually just a C2078 that was re-screened with the C1969 number on it. Some radios used a different final number, but was still the same situation, the wrong final with the C1969 number screened on it.

You're better off getting a good Taiwan or Philly 148 and recapping it. Much better build quality, and even with the price of recapping, you'll have a far better radio.


~Cheers~

Thanks for the information, it's too bad they went the cheap route on those radios. I see the old ones on ebay and they draw a good amount of money. I wouldn't mind buying one, but worry about spending good money on a paper weight.

 

[RadioDaze2.0]

Sorry just to correct I made a mistake the Optima was not 15kHz off frequency, my bad. I meant 150Hz. I recall having to constantly clarify downwards to get the station clear.

 

[222DBFL]

Someone most not know how to use the radio then as the RX/TX are both unlocked and track together on the optima MK3. He was probably using the stock mic as well. They don't sound very good IMO. But as far as being off freq, that is user error IMO. User must not know how to tune to a voice properly on SSB. Not that hard as long as the other stations you talk to are truly on frequency as well. When I am on freq I see the following, 27.385.00. I can adjust any of the digits seen above. The optima has no last 2 digit display like this so what I did was to just sit for a bit and listen to a few stations thst sounded the same and tuned to them. Not all radios are on freq and quite honestly I hear more off freq radios on 38lsb than ones that are on frequency!! JMHO.

 

[RadioDaze2.0]

I can only report what I heard maybe it was operator error. But the only radio local to me that sounds properly off.. so you cannot even understand what he was saying. There is a little off and unintelligible.

I generally find that 100Hz clarification is an acceptable margin but when you are 200-250Hz off then that is going to cause you problems being heard DXing. (even 10-15 miles away, lol)

90pct of the time I never bother clarifying as I can normally hear people fine.

I think he sorted it out in the end but not sure how. I never made mention of it last time I heard him and have not heard him on for a while now.

 

[222DBFL]

As I said, the clarifier is unlocked and moves together on RX/TX. Must have been user error. I can make mine off. No problem. Just turn the clarifier LOL! Some people it takes a while to get used to SSB operation and how to properly use the clarifier. Not saying the radio might not have had issues, but I haven't heard many if anyone at all complain about them being off freq. Just my experience.

 

[rabbiporkchop]

Anyone?

That all depends on who tunes the radio because most of them look like this out of the box.

 

[Bearcat]

my trc-465 cost 30$ and gets compliments from operators running kenwoods and yaesus.

Really? I had one in my truck in the 80's good Lil ssb rigs...but hardly HF like?

 

[Bearcat]

That all depends on who tunes the radio because most of them look like this out of the box.

Oh boy

 

[Bearcat]

The new 148's are REALLY bad. Don't even think of getting one. They made some very poor circuitry design changes and causes a nasty warble on SSB.

There were 3 primary changes on the new 148's.

1) They changed out the voltage regulator from the MB3756 to a newer LM7809 regulator. This would have been fine.... had they used an 8V regulator like the old MB3756, which is also 8V. Instead they use a 9V regulator and use dropping resistors and diodes in various circuits to drop the voltage down to 8V, including the PLL and VCO circuits. Not good.

2) They changed the PLL IC. The original Cobra 148's used the venerable MB8719 PLL IC made by Fujitsu. In the mid 1990's, about 1996/1997, this changed to the RCI8719, then later on the RCI8719-99. These PLL's require a different control voltage than the old MB8719's, and they used a dropping resistor on the PLL control voltage pin to bring the voltage down. The voltage therefore was no longer stable and would cause PLL issues and the VCO to unlock.

3) The final. The original final used was the C1969 final made by Mitsubishi. In later radios this was changed to a "fake" version of that same final, usually just a C2078 that was re-screened with the C1969 number on it. Some radios used a different final number, but was still the same situation, the wrong final with the C1969 number screened on it.

You're better off getting a good Taiwan or Philly 148 and recapping it. Much better build quality, and even with the price of recapping, you'll have a far better radio.


~Cheers~

Ya I know this...I'm a unidens guy anyways

 

[ExitThirteen]

Codeman was asking about it, that's why I posted that info. If you like Uniden, get a Uniden Madison, or a Uniden Grant. Same board as the 148's.


~Cheers~

 

[vkrules]

Optima MK111 by a big margin.If you cant afford a hf ham set.

 

[Bow]

Optima Mk III gets my vote for an Export.

If you want to go better on HF/SSB, Icom IC-718 is a lot of radio for the money.

I have both... great rigs

 

[9C1Driver]

Ya I know this...I'm a unidens guy anyways

Uniden has made some of the best ever SSB cb sets ever. All the good Cobra & Realistic SSB radio's were built by Uniden as well.