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154 Posts
Some history first: A few weeks ago I installed a CB in my new FJ. I had wanted a radio that was 'good enough' for use on trails to stay in touch with the group during a run. I bought a Midland 1001z for $26 because it was a popular radio. After installing it with Firestik cable, 3' antenna and mount I adjusted the antenna to a low SWR of 1:1.25. While outside my garage about 2 miles from I-10 I tried several times over 20 minutes to get a 'radio check' from a passing truck on channel 19. No one answered. I tried on other days; no answer. A short time later I helped another member install his CB and when he departed we talked until he was about 2.5 miles away but it was very weak and broken. The radio worked ok on a couple of runs but I was told it sometimes sounded weak even not far away. I decided I needed a better radio.
Galaxy CBs have always had a well respected reputation with truck drivers and I liked their many features. I ordered the Galaxy DX-929 from Amazon for $128 total. There are similar and more expensive models, one with a frequency counter (LCD with actual freq. of channel; '27.155') or some with additional sidebands, but I wanted a basic radio of good quality. I installed it today. While still parked in my garage I turned on the radio and asked for a radio check on channel 19. I got an immediate answer from someone that sounded nearby. He said I sounded good but 'a little tinny'. I turned down the gain control for the microphone and he said I sounded better but still a little weak. I backed out of the garage and told him I had just installed a new radio. He replied "I don't know what you did, maybe you're closer now, but you sound much better than before". I asked where he was, expecting him to say he was passing my location on the freeway to the south. He replied he was near the Phoenix International Raceway 4 miles south of I-10 and 9 miles further east of me. He commented that I had a very good radio if it was 'barefoot' (stock). I kept talking to him until he parked at PIR. He was more than 12 miles from me in a straight line. Two other truck drivers also commented I sounded good.
The Midland had been mounted in the bin at the rear of the console but the Galaxy was slightly too large to fit there. I didn't want to attach it to the rear of the console, out of my direct sight and possibly interfering with folding the rear seats. Since my wife often carries her own gear, handbag and crochet goodies, I didn't want to take up any of her space. I decided to mount it on the driver's side of the console. My leg doesn't normally touch the console so it's not in the way and my leg can comfortably rest against it if desired. Rather than put holes in the console for the mount I used strong velcro tape, one strip at the top and bottom edge of the radio. The surfaces were flat so it holds very tightly. Seriously, it's not going anywhere even off-road. The Midland had been mounted with just one strip of velcro and never moved. Even the microphone clip is attached near the fan control with velcro and stays put with repeated removal of the mic.
The radio has some nice controls besides the usual Squelch, RF Gain and PA. It has a very nice, detailed meter showing Signal Strength, Modulation, Power output and SWR. There's a control for Microphone Gain that allows you to talk without the mic being right near your mouth. The faceplate is backlighted to easily see all controls at night and has a variable Dimmer control. A Power control allows you to tailor transmit power to your needs; less for close contacts or more for distant communications. For noisy situations it has a Noise Blanker and Automatic Noise Limiter. A Talkback feature allows you to hear your own voice from the radio, most useful if you have a powered microphone or one with an echo function and need to know how you sound. There is also the common Red light to indicate you are transmitting and Green for reception. Also, a red light to warn you if your antenna is far out of tune, above an SWR of 1:3.1.
I highly recommend the Galaxy DX-929 (or similar 939/959..more $$) if you don't mind spending over $100 for a quality radio. :cheers:
Galaxy CBs have always had a well respected reputation with truck drivers and I liked their many features. I ordered the Galaxy DX-929 from Amazon for $128 total. There are similar and more expensive models, one with a frequency counter (LCD with actual freq. of channel; '27.155') or some with additional sidebands, but I wanted a basic radio of good quality. I installed it today. While still parked in my garage I turned on the radio and asked for a radio check on channel 19. I got an immediate answer from someone that sounded nearby. He said I sounded good but 'a little tinny'. I turned down the gain control for the microphone and he said I sounded better but still a little weak. I backed out of the garage and told him I had just installed a new radio. He replied "I don't know what you did, maybe you're closer now, but you sound much better than before". I asked where he was, expecting him to say he was passing my location on the freeway to the south. He replied he was near the Phoenix International Raceway 4 miles south of I-10 and 9 miles further east of me. He commented that I had a very good radio if it was 'barefoot' (stock). I kept talking to him until he parked at PIR. He was more than 12 miles from me in a straight line. Two other truck drivers also commented I sounded good.
The Midland had been mounted in the bin at the rear of the console but the Galaxy was slightly too large to fit there. I didn't want to attach it to the rear of the console, out of my direct sight and possibly interfering with folding the rear seats. Since my wife often carries her own gear, handbag and crochet goodies, I didn't want to take up any of her space. I decided to mount it on the driver's side of the console. My leg doesn't normally touch the console so it's not in the way and my leg can comfortably rest against it if desired. Rather than put holes in the console for the mount I used strong velcro tape, one strip at the top and bottom edge of the radio. The surfaces were flat so it holds very tightly. Seriously, it's not going anywhere even off-road. The Midland had been mounted with just one strip of velcro and never moved. Even the microphone clip is attached near the fan control with velcro and stays put with repeated removal of the mic.
The radio has some nice controls besides the usual Squelch, RF Gain and PA. It has a very nice, detailed meter showing Signal Strength, Modulation, Power output and SWR. There's a control for Microphone Gain that allows you to talk without the mic being right near your mouth. The faceplate is backlighted to easily see all controls at night and has a variable Dimmer control. A Power control allows you to tailor transmit power to your needs; less for close contacts or more for distant communications. For noisy situations it has a Noise Blanker and Automatic Noise Limiter. A Talkback feature allows you to hear your own voice from the radio, most useful if you have a powered microphone or one with an echo function and need to know how you sound. There is also the common Red light to indicate you are transmitting and Green for reception. Also, a red light to warn you if your antenna is far out of tune, above an SWR of 1:3.1.
I highly recommend the Galaxy DX-929 (or similar 939/959..more $$) if you don't mind spending over $100 for a quality radio. :cheers:
