Which one and why - Delta Force or DX88HL

[HomerBB]

I realize these radios are actually 10 meter rigs, but have been converted to 11 meters so I am posting this under CB radio forum.

I have a friend who is wanting one of my two 88's, both of which are great performers and reliable. He is offering a Magnum Delta Force radio in trade. I have no experience with this radio, and although I've researched several threads on the forum before starting a new one, I really need to dial in the information to these two. I'm sure there are a lot of personal opinions, and that's fine, but perhaps there is some info that compares features, wattage, band coverage, SSB performance, audio clarity, etc, anything you deem relevant.

The working word here is WHY?

I might add the type of channels mod done on the Delta Force is one that requires the "func/call" button toggle to return the radio to 11 meters after turning it on.

Thanks, Everyone

 

[Carl]

i like the 88 better. it depends if its a first or 2nd gen magnum. the 1st gens had issues, the second gens had some as well. mainly processor noise.

 

[jazzsinger]

I'd stick with the galaxy 88,if only for the reason getting about on the delta force is a nightmare,like most magnums,whoever thought out the frequency slection on them needs a good psychiatrist,if it had continuous tuning i might look at it differently,but the straightforward layout of the 88 would appeal to me much more.

performancewise as with most 10/11m exports there is probably little between them seeing as all are based on the uniden pb-010ab board,it all comes down to aesthetics and personal taste.i think the build quality on galaxy's is slightly better than magnums,but in reality that is a very small "slight".

if you plan on using 10m the deltaforce may have a slight edge,if not both have hundreds of channels which are barely used making them nothing more than a gimmick,both also cover the main fcc/freeband channels that are used.the galaxy having an led counter as opposed to the deltaforces lcd readout in my opinion is more likely to last,i doubt either of the two radios are stable enough to consider the readouts that accurate anyway.

both have echo as standard so sounding like a nugget is optional on both of them.:headbang

feature wise both are filled with pretty much useless features,in my personal opinion nothing beats a bare bones radio,features are for knob twiddlers,they add little if anything to performance,infact most actually detract from performance of having everything set to full belt.

 

[Robb]

The echo and talkback - if that is your 'thing' - is worse with the Galaxy. I don't use the Galaxy echo or talkback in my Galaxy 99V. The Galaxy echo is muddy sounding; the Magnum echo is very sharp/clean. The talkback in the Galaxy is a problem area - feedback has been an issue in these radios - no matter how they are set. The Magnum talkback - all-mode/BTW - is also very clean. Gain/feedback can be a problem in any radio; seems to be much worse in the Galaxy IMO. Personal experience with both...

 

[HomerBB]

Thanks, everyone.
I was hoping for a real leader in the run off. i guess not . . .

 

[9C1Driver]

Wow, I can't believe what I see here. The second or last run Magnum Delta Force is HANDS DOWN the better radio. The Magnum Delta has better echo and all mode variable talkback. They are rock solid on SSB, the 88 will drift like a sailboat. You can also adjust the freq in the Delta by 1kc if you want. So you can go to say 27.380 from 27.385. The Delta Force has memory channels and it also scans. Homer I would jump all over that trade.

 

[HomerBB]

Wow, I can't believe what I see here. The second or last run Magnum Delta Force is HANDS DOWN the better radio. The Magnum Delta has better echo and all mode variable talkback. They are rock solid on SSB, the 88 will drift like a sailboat. You can also adjust the freq in the Delta by 1kc if you want. So you can go to say 27.380 from 27.385. The Delta Force has memory channels and it also scans. Homer I would jump all over that trade.

Thanks for the feed back on this. I am digesting everything, but am just about there.

 

[psycho]

Wow, I can't believe what I see here. The second or last run Magnum Delta Force is HANDS DOWN the better radio. The Magnum Delta has better echo and all mode variable talkback. They are rock solid on SSB, the 88 will drift like a sailboat. You can also adjust the freq in the Delta by 1kc if you want. So you can go to say 27.380 from 27.385. The Delta Force has memory channels and it also scans. Homer I would jump all over that trade.

The Delta Force is a talker and the Galaxy 88 is a dog.
The amber faced DF should have had the receive upgrade that Magnum offered for free when operators had receive problems. The blue faced DFs (have the mods) are excellent even though the buttons and channel selection methods are annoying as screaming kids in an expensive restaurant.
I think echo is just a kids toy but the DF echo if tuned properly is better.

 

[HomerBB]

The Delta Force is a talker and the Galaxy 88 is a dog.
The amber faced DF should have had the receive upgrade that Magnum offered for free when operators had receive problems. The blue faced DFs (have the mods) are excellent even though the buttons and channel selection methods are annoying as screaming kids in an expensive restaurant.
I think echo is just a kids toy but the DF echo if tuned properly is better.

Apparently I do not have the upgraded receive. This DF is the hands-down possessor of the noisiest receive of any radio I've ever owned; the white noise is atrocious. Also, either of the two 88's I currently have/had are better talkers than this DF. I am not an avid echo user running my equipment without it mostly, but can appreciate the obvious smoother operation of the same.

Navigation of the radio is a bit weird considering the conversion choice made in this radio requires the two button toggle dance every time you turn the equipment back on to return it from 10 meters to 11 meters. That's not a real problem seeing that I leave the radios on to have the SSB ready to go at any time I want it. The receive seems good, too. Furthermore, I like the 10 meter access in the same radio thinking it should come in handy when I get a ticket (soon, this winter most likely).

That said, I've traded for it seeing I have had two 88's and no DF's until now. I have a new voltage regulator in the mail for it seeing the current one failed when attempting to improve the performance to the claimed levels the Galaxies I've owned have always had (99, 88, 55, Pluto, as well as Connex 3300, President Jackson, and several 2950s, all of which have out performed this DF with respect to wattage and modulation).

SO, thanks for the pointers and opinions, everyone. I've been a listenin'.