Midland 79-290
Don Cotton
looking at purchasing one because it has all of the features that I want in
a radio, weather band, SSB, advanced noise filtering etc. this will be my
first experience with SSB. What kind of range and performance can I expect
from it. I plan on getting my wife the same radio and I am hoping to be able
to communicate with her around town, probably about a 10 mile radius on SSB.
Is this a reasonable distance for SSB?
--
_______________________________________
Grace and Peace to you,
Don Cotton
If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed!
Bill Eitner
>
> Has anyone had any experience with the Midland 79-290 model radio?
Yes. In my opinion, it's a decent radio.
> I am
> looking at purchasing one because it has all of the features that I want in
> a radio, weather band, SSB, advanced noise filtering etc. this will be my
> first experience with SSB. What kind of range and performance can I expect
> from it. I plan on getting my wife the same radio and I am hoping to be able
> to communicate with her around town, probably about a 10 mile radius on SSB.
> Is this a reasonable distance for SSB?
Range depends on many variables. The old rules
of thumb for stock radios are: 5 miles mobile
to mobile; 10 miles mobile to base; and 15 miles
base to base. Of course those rules are far from
being carved in stone. The 79-290 tunes up well
and can be modified for extra (quiet) channels
fairly easily. Those things combined with the
"three As" (antennas, altitude and amplifiers)
will increase your range if need be.
> --
>
> _______________________________________
> Grace and Peace to you,
> Don Cotton
>
> If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed!
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-=[Bill Eitner]=-
Link to A.M. Tutorial, rec.radio.cb FAQ
and The Dark Side:
http://kd6tas.conk.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------
steve
but was acceptable.i did have a problem with loosing my presets and
extras.no warning just poof and mthen i needed to reset all the stuff.that's
why it's a stand by radio now.
Don Cotton wrote in message <8hj6s3$se4$1...@slb6.atl.mindspring.net>...
>Has anyone had any experience with the Midland 79-290 model radio? I am
>looking at purchasing one because it has all of the features that I want in
>a radio, weather band, SSB, advanced noise filtering etc. this will be my
>first experience with SSB. What kind of range and performance can I expect
>from it. I plan on getting my wife the same radio and I am hoping to be
able
>to communicate with her around town, probably about a 10 mile radius on
SSB.
>Is this a reasonable distance for SSB?
Bill Eitner
its 12 volt source. If you don't, you lose the memory. That's
how they work. It's Midland's way of saying "don't spike this
radio with DC power."
--
Don Cotton
turn off and on with the ignition switch, I would never be able to keep any
presets?
"Bill Eitner" <kd6...@freewwweb.com> wrote in message
news:39403317...@freewwweb.com...
Julian Hardstone
Don Cotton <don_c...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:8hj6s3$se4$1...@slb6.atl.mindspring.net... on 06-06-00
> Has anyone had any experience with the Midland 79-290 model radio?
fixed to improve performance. But, cost-cutting has reduced the RF filtering
to almost useless. Will work fine across town, and will expand to cover 26
thru 30MHz, but will be disappointing as a DXing radio
Bill Eitner
>
> So if I were to connect the radio to an accessory circuit where it would
> turn off and on with the ignition switch, I would never be able to keep any
> presets?
It will hold it's memory if you turn it (the radio)
off *before* you cut its DC supply. How you want
to interpret that is up to you.
--
Andy in RI
>thru 30MHz, but will be disappointing as a DXing radio
>
Sorry you feel that way. I used mine to talk to Europe all the time... sold it
when I got a 2950 real cheap though... not a bad radio once the freq's have
been expanded and the clairifier "unlocked".
steve
it from power while the radio is turned on.
Bill Eitner wrote in message <39403317...@freewwweb.com>...
steve
turn off your car(or acc key)
Don Cotton wrote in message <8hpff7$ul4$1...@slb6.atl.mindspring.net>...
>So if I were to connect the radio to an accessory circuit where it would
>turn off and on with the ignition switch, I would never be able to keep any
>presets?
>
mopa...@my-deja.com
exellent in dx's of course, any radio can dx , they just don't have
alot of bells and whisles that 'the big' radios has but will work just
as good
As for a 2950 glad you got it cheap because they sure are junk , high
repair radio good point on them lot of channels get alot of power
output , but as with any 'radio you're only as good as you're antenna
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Knight Patrol 82
> as tight as a 2510 or an HF ham rig, and they tend to drift
> a bit (about 200 Hz on average), but all-in-all they are a
> solid all-around performer, in my opinion. My personal
> experience with the 2510 style radios is that they are no
> more reliable than the 2950s.
translation =
2510 if you like SSB, 2950 if you like AM
>Another thing to consider is that RCI has recently released
> an upgraded 2950 called the 2950DX that uses FETs in the
> front end and surface mount technology. So far, the only
> retailer that I know of that is distributing them is AES
> (Amateur Electronic Supply). I have yet to have one of
> them across my bench so I can't give out a report. If it
> is true that this upgrade improves the receiver to the point
> where it's competative with the 2510, the 2510 will have no
> advantages at all as far as I'm concerned.
i agree as long as they work out the bugs that make the radio do something
totally different then you intended when pushing a button and tighten up the
recieve. for instance all the 2950's ive had or used would do some really
bizzare shit when trying to turn on or off the beep or using the shift button
or any other for that matter, thats a real pain when driving on a busy road.
>I've performed "A-B" receiver tests
> between 2950s, 2510s, Kenwoods, 79-290s, and old 858
> chassis' like TRC449s and 138XLRs. Believe me, the
> differences are not dramatic.
i have too and my test were for long time use and the higher price radios were
always better and easier on the operator by a good margine
>In other words, when all
> other things are equal, I honestly believe that you won't
> hear signals on one that you won't hear on another. The
> difference lies mostly in how pleasant one or another is
> to listen to. For example, 2510s are more pleasant to
> listen to on SSB than 2950s. That doesn't mean you'll
> hear anything on the 2510 that you won't hear on the 2950.
i agree, if a person does any type of extended radio operations the 2950's and
midlands shrill sounding reciever that lacks rejection is really a pain and can
cause a headache fast. you might not here any more with the 2510 but what you
do hear will be better sounding
Best Wishes And Good DX,
Tim Kp82 Knight Patrol USA
Hottest and Most Current 11 Meter DX News:
http://www.dwnews.de
Kp Main Site:
http://www.gate.net/~kp
Most Complete Source of 11 Meter And Amateur Radio Links:
http://www.dxzone.com
Andy in RI
>
>2510 if you like SSB, 2950 if you like AM
>and
>midlands shrill sounding reciever that lacks rejection is really a pain and
>can
>cause a headache fast.
I use my 2950 almost exclusively for SSB and I don't have any problem with any
"shrill sounding" receiver.. it sounds great...
>i agree as long as they work out the bugs that make the radio do something
>totally different then you intended when pushing a button
>for instance all the 2950's ive had or used would do some really
>bizzare shit when trying to turn on or off the beep or using the shift button
Sounds like you had a bad internal battery. A very simple fix. That happens if
you keep the radio turned off a lot (Such as in a mobile setup). Since I use
mine as a base, I need it turned on all the time and just turn down the volume,
to conserve the internal battery.
killrwat
those EARLY battery backed up units have been out of production for quite
some time!! I won't even mess with the early ones......... Junk in my
opinion! some of them work, some don't!
Andy in RI <rirad...@aol.comspamsux> wrote in message
news:20000612155916...@ng-cs1.aol.com...
killrwat
problems you refer to, were early battery backed up units, yes they were
erratic and unstalble, those have been out of production for a couple years!
The 2510 has a SLIGHT EDGE OVER the 2950 on TX, i repeat SLIGHT! the average
person would not notice a difference, The 2510, 2600, needs some major mods
and a pretty good chunk of money stuck into it to match a 2950 for features
and functionality! The 2510 won't come close to a 2950 on AM! Some minor
mods to the receieve/transmit on the 2950 and it WILL work better than a
2510! Erratic behavior has been eliminated in the later 2950's, 2510's
Are much more likely to develope a serious problem than a 2950! An owner
of a 2510 has a 25 percent chance he WILL have a major problem within 1 year
of purchase, the 2950 is about 2 percent! This would NOT take into
account units with operator caused problems! Again These are facts
based on my experience with the radios, not an opinion or conjecture!
It basically Boils down to i like Chevys and you prefer Fords, They
are both ok radios... However neither one stands as a clear WINNER. This
is a Fact. Another fact is the 2950 has outsold the uniden by a pretty
good margin.....
KW
Knight Patrol 82 <knightp...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000612110741...@ng-cl1.aol.com...
> >I too have owned 6 and sold many 2950s. The receiver isn't
> > as tight as a 2510 or an HF ham rig, and they tend to drift
> > a bit (about 200 Hz on average), but all-in-all they are a
> > solid all-around performer, in my opinion. My personal
> > experience with the 2510 style radios is that they are no
> > more reliable than the 2950s.
>
>
>
> translation =
>
> 2510 if you like SSB, 2950 if you like AM
>
> >Another thing to consider is that RCI has recently released
> > an upgraded 2950 called the 2950DX that uses FETs in the
> > front end and surface mount technology. So far, the only
> > retailer that I know of that is distributing them is AES
> > (Amateur Electronic Supply). I have yet to have one of
> > them across my bench so I can't give out a report. If it
> > is true that this upgrade improves the receiver to the point
> > where it's competative with the 2510, the 2510 will have no
> > advantages at all as far as I'm concerned.
>
>
> i agree as long as they work out the bugs that make the radio do something
> totally different then you intended when pushing a button and tighten up
the
> recieve. for instance all the 2950's ive had or used would do some really
> bizzare shit when trying to turn on or off the beep or using the shift
button
> or any other for that matter, thats a real pain when driving on a busy
road.
>
> >I've performed "A-B" receiver tests
> > between 2950s, 2510s, Kenwoods, 79-290s, and old 858
> > chassis' like TRC449s and 138XLRs. Believe me, the
> > differences are not dramatic.
>
>
> i have too and my test were for long time use and the higher price radios
were
> always better and easier on the operator by a good margine
>
> >In other words, when all
> > other things are equal, I honestly believe that you won't
> > hear signals on one that you won't hear on another. The
> > difference lies mostly in how pleasant one or another is
> > to listen to. For example, 2510s are more pleasant to
> > listen to on SSB than 2950s. That doesn't mean you'll
> > hear anything on the 2510 that you won't hear on the 2950.
>
>
>
> i agree, if a person does any type of extended radio operations the 2950's
and
> midlands shrill sounding reciever that lacks rejection is really a pain
and can
Bill Eitner
>
> >I too have owned 6 and sold many 2950s. The receiver isn't
> > as tight as a 2510 or an HF ham rig, and they tend to drift
> > a bit (about 200 Hz on average), but all-in-all they are a
> > solid all-around performer, in my opinion. My personal
> > experience with the 2510 style radios is that they are no
> > more reliable than the 2950s.
>
> translation =
>
> 2510 if you like SSB, 2950 if you like AM
Or new 2950DX.
> >Another thing to consider is that RCI has recently released
> > an upgraded 2950 called the 2950DX that uses FETs in the
> > front end and surface mount technology. So far, the only
> > retailer that I know of that is distributing them is AES
> > (Amateur Electronic Supply). I have yet to have one of
> > them across my bench so I can't give out a report. If it
> > is true that this upgrade improves the receiver to the point
> > where it's competative with the 2510, the 2510 will have no
> > advantages at all as far as I'm concerned.
>
> i agree as long as they work out the bugs that make the radio do something
> totally different then you intended when pushing a button and tighten up the
> recieve. for instance all the 2950's ive had or used would do some really
> bizzare shit when trying to turn on or off the beep or using the shift button
> or any other for that matter, thats a real pain when driving on a busy road.
I agree, but there are alot of mods around that tighten
up many of those problems. You have to keep in mind
that the 2950 has been around since '88. To my knowledge
the DX model represents the 4th generation. Many of the
early problems are (or should be) solved. I've tested
some 3rd generation units. Many of the little annoying
problems of earlier units are gone. I'm hoping the 4th
generation proves to be the best yet. Sooner or later,
the 2950 will become the next generation 148.
> >I've performed "A-B" receiver tests
> > between 2950s, 2510s, Kenwoods, 79-290s, and old 858
> > chassis' like TRC449s and 138XLRs. Believe me, the
> > differences are not dramatic.
>
> i have too and my test were for long time use and the higher price radios were
> always better and easier on the operator by a good margine
See below. I agree when operator comfort is the
issue. When raw sensitivity is the issue, they
are all about the same.
> >In other words, when all
> > other things are equal, I honestly believe that you won't
> > hear signals on one that you won't hear on another. The
> > difference lies mostly in how pleasant one or another is
> > to listen to. For example, 2510s are more pleasant to
> > listen to on SSB than 2950s. That doesn't mean you'll
> > hear anything on the 2510 that you won't hear on the 2950.
>
> i agree, if a person does any type of extended radio operations the 2950's and
> midlands shrill sounding reciever that lacks rejection is really a pain and can
> cause a headache fast. you might not here any more with the 2510 but what you
> do hear will be better sounding
I agree completely.
> Best Wishes And Good DX,
> Tim Kp82 Knight Patrol USA
>
> Hottest and Most Current 11 Meter DX News:
> http://www.dwnews.de
>
> Kp Main Site:
> http://www.gate.net/~kp
>
> Most Complete Source of 11 Meter And Amateur Radio Links:
> http://www.dxzone.com
killrwat
not....
KW
Bill Eitner <kd6...@freewwweb.com> wrote in message
news:39459504...@freewwweb.com...
Bill Eitner
>
> Bill have they come up with a mod for the latest version? i've heard
> not....
As far as I know, both are still modifyable (the 2950DX and
the 79-290). I just modded a new 79-290 today and it worked.
It didn't tune up as easily as I would have liked, but the
frequency expansion mod worked properly.
> KW
--
Richard Smith
>is a Fact. Another fact is the 2950 has outsold the uniden by a pretty
>good margin.....
Which Uniden radio are you referring to ?
Thanks,
Richard.