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whats the best ssb rig cb or export currently?
- Thread starter Bearcat
- Start date
Optima MK3. Hands down. Buy it from the actual dealer. survival systems.com, or Yeticom. You get the upgraded mic and the radio will have warranty as well. It will cost the same if not a bit less to get one off EBay and then find a real made in Japan Icom hm36 mic or wnen a 2018 extreme mic. Any 8 pin Icom type mic will work with them, but be warned if you buy off eBay you have no warranty and will need to upgrade the mic IMO. You might like the stock mic but it's just too small for me. It works but like I said you get a better deal from the dealer. JMHO. And as far as SSB radios export or CB they are the best I've used. Opinions will vary, as everyone has one. I went with what others here told me was a good radio and it really is!! You want something better for SSB, find a used HF radio like a kenwood TS50s, or Alinco sr8t or even an Icom 718. The Icom 718 and the Alinco HF radios are going to be better than any CB or export radio most likely. And the price isn't bad for what you get. $500-600. An export is going to be anywhere from $2-$400 or more. At least with the HF radio you get a radio made for SSB and it also puts out 100 watts. AM they aren't very good most say, but on SSB there are no exports that will outperform an HF radio. Again JMHO.
if you look around you can probly find a used Alinco dx-70 for around $300-450 they are a great radio,, I have had one in the SUV for a couple years now, they sound great on am and ssb
the HF rigs listed you won't go wrong with but as far as staying with export or CB RCI 2950DX with an external amp like a Xforce TNT350 if want new or used Galaxy 95T if you can find one unmolested
For what it's worth, the Yeticom Optima MK3 has been proven to be one of if not the best SSB export radio out currently. I'm not talking bells and whistles and roger beeps here, talking about just a simple yet rock solid radio for 10-12 meter SSB use. On AM they do well enough. For the money, approx. $300, you can get a new Yeticom Optima MK3. With that said, if you are serious about talking a lot on SSB and it will be your main mode of operation, an HF radio will be your best best bet hands down IMO.
Find a used HF radio. If you look around you can find them! I got a kenwood ts140s for less than $300 of eBay and it works like a champ on SSB. And it will smoke any export made. Does about 120 watts on SSB. Just gotta look around and you can find some good deals. The link the doctor posted is a good place to look as well as your local Craig's list. I've found a few radios this way as well as eBay. Just be careful and research what you're buying.
Find a used HF radio. If you look around you can find them! I got a kenwood ts140s for less than $300 of eBay and it works like a champ on SSB. And it will smoke any export made. Does about 120 watts on SSB. Just gotta look around and you can find some good deals. The link the doctor posted is a good place to look as well as your local Craig's list. I've found a few radios this way as well as eBay. Just be careful and research what you're buying.
If you're planning on using the radio in the CB band and some of the freeband, get a CB. Don't waste time buying an HF rig or an export.
Get a Taiwan or Phillippines Cobra 148GTL, recap it, and put a good mic on it. Great performance, and with a recap, it'll last a long time. Can't go wrong with it.
Or, if you're looking for a base, that opens up many options, like the President Madison/Washington, Cobra 139XLR/142GTL, Cobra 2000GTL, Realistic TRC-457/458/490. Again, get a cap kit and recap it, and put a good mic on it and you're good to go.
~Cheers~
Get a Taiwan or Phillippines Cobra 148GTL, recap it, and put a good mic on it. Great performance, and with a recap, it'll last a long time. Can't go wrong with it.
Or, if you're looking for a base, that opens up many options, like the President Madison/Washington, Cobra 139XLR/142GTL, Cobra 2000GTL, Realistic TRC-457/458/490. Again, get a cap kit and recap it, and put a good mic on it and you're good to go.
~Cheers~
Just curious, but how bad are the newer 148s? Can they be made to perform anywhere near as good as the older ones? Back when I ran out to L.A. a few years ago I would hear a guy talking on one of the older 148s and that radio sounded great.That was on am not SSB. I wish I had got into SSB a lot sooner then I did. If I remember right he was mobile but sounded like a base station.