Are Mobile Radios With Built In Power Over Priced?

[Chief_River]

I've been pondering this for awhile now... should I buy a foot warmer for my Cobra 29LX Classic, or buy a radio with the power already in it? Granted, my Cobra 29LX doesn't even have side band let alone FM, CW and a host of other frequencies, as does say a Galaxy DX98VHP or a Stryker SR-955HP, but is the price of those radios worth it? Between my Cobra 29LX, peaked and tuned, and say a Palomar 250, I'd have maybe $250 invested. So with a new Stryker costing $340, and a New Galaxy costing $415, both prices for mentioned model radios, and cheapest price I can find, is the extra cost for that sort of radio with built in power really worth it when compared to a flat footed radio with a foot warmer? Are the extra channels really worth that much more money? Does anyone feel the radios with the built in power are over priced?

I am surely curious about other people's opinions.

[str8stroke]

Well Chief thats a darn spiffy question. I have a simple answer. If you have mechanical problems, you will have the whole unit out of service. Kinda like buying a Motor coach RV, if the motor goes out no camping. If you get a bumper pull camper, you can always use a different tow vehicle.

They do serve a purpose. Like some trucking companies won't allow someone to mount a "box". so the get a hot radio.

Me, I run a stock cobra 25 or 29 with a Astatic 636L mic. Things go wrong on the road (and it will), I can hit any Loves Truck stop and be back on the air no matter what!! Make sense?

Is it worth it? Well.. you have to decide what fits your application. But for me NO WAY!!! Never EVER< Nada Nunka, Ain't Happen Captain, Not Gonna Do it! Just Say No.

[721HACKSAW]

As Stroke posted its what features you need in your radio...
The Cobras price and reputation speak for itself, they make a solid radio that is great for driving an amp. You are never going to talk on SSB on a Cobra 29 though... LOL
I've had both over the years, standard stock CBs and hi-power export radios. For me the standard CB had far less troubles.

[Z-MAN]

Look into a used but loved Cobra 148 gtl with Xtra channels, open clarifier and dial a watt for $100 + ?? Instal a RFX-150 for $80 then youve got a poor-boy rockin mobile radio. Heck, put a turbo echo board in too for cheap. Change out the stock lamp in the signal meter to a red LED since the channel display is already red, poor mans galaxy. Just thinking out loud, lol, gee i just might do this myself, lol.

[KP68]

So if a person wants the extra channels, are they better of doing a channel mod on a CB. The only reason I would buy an export radio would be for the extra channels. The last radio I worked on was the Galaxy 94HP. Very poor design. Too much crammed into such a tiny space which was the root of some of the problems. Are all those high power radios like that?

[MDYoungblood]

I like keeping my power separate from the radio, I have 6 different radios I can run, all I need to do is slide it into the mount and hook up the coax. Like str8stroke said, if there is a problem with one I'm back on the air with another. As far as being overpriced, figure out the cost of a radio, the wattage you want to put out, and all the extra connections you have to make, and it really is cheaper to get a high power radio.

3's

Greg

[Chief_River]

I like the replies so far, and have to agree with those that say they like to have things separate, I do too. When I lived out in Reno I bought a Galaxy DX959, BNIB and then had it peaked and tuned all at one stop, this little CB shop that was in the Flying J truck stop in Sparks. I then bought a Palomar 250 foot warmer to go behind it, and for the love of GOD, I have no idea why I ever sold that setup. It was the best mobile setup I've ever had in my life, along with my Wilson 5000 magnet mount, which I still have, thankfully. I think I'm going allocate the Cobra 29LTD as a back up, and just re-buy the above mentioned combo. I really enjoyed several things about the Galaxy, the large meter, the talk back, the roger beep, SSB, tone control, the frequency counter, that was a sweet radio. Looks like GI Joes is going to get some business. He's got a killer price on the Palomar 250. That last Galaxy DX959 and Palomar setup I had was a real talker. There was a scenic pull off about half way up the mountain out of Reno going up to Virginia City. I'd pull off there, probably around 6,500 feet elevation, and I could talk all over out through California on a good day. Yeah, I think I'll go back to what I know works.

As far as these high powered 10 meter radios go, well, real cool I guess, to have all those frequencies, options and power all in one unit, but like mentioned, it's a lot to cram into one small box, and one thing goes down and you're dead in the water. I don't truck anymore so, my mobile is just for use when I'm out and about in my POV. I don't believe I'd ever be searching through hundreds of different frequencies while driving now. Really just not in the Tahoe enough to worry about it. I'm still not convinced they're worth the price either.