HFU HF Underground

Loggings => 10/11 meters => Topic started by: Lambretta on April 08, 2020, 2007 UTC

Title: Trying to understand and set up galaxy 2 1st post
Post by: Lambretta on April 08, 2020, 2007 UTC
Hello all, I have a galaxy 2 radio that I picked up used a few years ago. (looks like this)https://rigreference.com/storage/uploads/rigs/24/4761/galaxy-ii.jpg (https://rigreference.com/storage/uploads/rigs/24/4761/galaxy-ii.jpg) I can't find any information or manuals for it online. To make matters worse (or better depending on the quality of work) I believe someone's added a knob/pot to it, which I'm not sure exactly what it does. It's not extra channels because it rotates smoothly, and doesn't change the frequency counter. I set up a president base station next to it to see if I could figure it out. Seems to as I dial it up the signal distorts on on the president. So maybe an amplifier? Another thing I'm trying to understand is; the FM switch. Is the FM UHF? I'm wondering if I can get some FM walkie talkies that would work with this radio. Any information would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Title: Re: Trying to understand and set up galaxy 2 1st post
Post by: ThaDood on April 09, 2020, 0700 UTC
Huh... The Galaxy II was a very popular Export-type CB, not really legal to use in the USA, since it covered the non-USA FREQ's from 26MHz to 28MHz into the 10M Amateur Band. I've found PIC's and alignment from CB Tricks, but not the manual,   http://www.cbtricks.com/radios/galaxy/plus/index.htm    So, I hope that helps, somewhat. FM, (Frequency Modulation), is just the modulation mode, not a FREQ band. The USA and Canada are actually the few countries to not use FM in the 40 CB channels. As far as the added knob goes? Might be to control the transmit RF power output. I've never had the Galaxy II rig, but quite a few of my friends did on CB. Anyway, I hope that helps some. CB walkie-talkies should work on that, as long as they are the ones that are within the 40 CB channels, and not UHF FRS radios.
Title: Re: Trying to understand and set up galaxy 2 1st post
Post by: chanito on April 10, 2020, 1513 UTC
Probably some sort of 'swing' mod or adjustable power output. Could also be a talkback level control. I had one of those radios back in about 1992 or thereabouts. It was just an OK radio. I did use the FM mode a lot with the local talkaround bunch. There were lots of AM/FM mobile CBs in use and we'd use it to get away from the skip heterodyne or to annoy truckers.


To answer your question about FM talkies for 11m, yes. There is such an animal. You will find them on eBay from the European market as FM is the accepted CB mode there. There are also some of the Cherokee/Titan/Dragon/Tomahawk all mode talkies still around, and they too pop up on eBay from time to time.


If you just need short range, there is an old 80's Midland 75-160 model that is "maximum FCC-Allowed power", and FM, three channels, 27.095, 27.145, and 27.250. It's operating on the channels reserved for radio control, and since it uses a 9v battery , I suspect the power is 50mw or so. Again, look on eBay,


Why, here's 4 brand new ones now...


(https://i.imgur.com/lmTnzxx.jpg)





Title: Re: Trying to understand and set up galaxy 2 1st post
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on April 11, 2020, 1254 UTC
I had a GE walkie talkie type CB back in the 90s, it was one of the radios they marketed for "emergency car use". Ran off either 12V DC from the cigarette lighter, or a bunch of batteries. I wonder if I still have it... I need to look in the shed.
Title: Re: Trying to understand and set up galaxy 2 1st post
Post by: Lambretta on April 12, 2020, 1736 UTC
Thanks for the replies! I was wondering if those baofeng FM programmable units would work, but I reckon they don't get to 27mhz. I will be looking for the models recommend. All the best, and stay healthy! From San Diego
Title: Re: Trying to understand and set up galaxy 2 1st post
Post by: Lambretta on April 15, 2020, 1615 UTC
I've been reading a bit online about FM crystals working in AM radios. Can anyone chime in on that? I have a vintage Lafayette 5w 3 channel walkie talkie that I'd love to use. Thanks you
Title: Re: Trying to understand and set up galaxy 2 1st post
Post by: R4002 on November 09, 2023, 2006 UTC
Bumping an old thread because I stumbled upon some of these 3-channel 27MHz FM walkie talkies.

Midland model 75-160

FCC ID F9GRC-3000

FCC Rules Part 15C

Approved on 13 June 1991

Operating frequencies 26.960 MHz - 27.270 MHz

https://fccid.io/F9GRC-3000/amp

And Google Translation of a post from an Italian forum thread about them:

They low-power citizen band (CB) stations, with a range of 2 ... 4 km, work in the 27 MHz band (most likely 27.120 MHz).

Usually, the date of their manufacture is written on the electrolytic capacitors, so the station must have been produced approximately in the respective period. By all appearances - types of parts, design, way of making, etc. - it can be a model from the mid-90s

Note, I changed the formatting from 27,120 MHz to 27.120 MHz. 

Since they’re 3 channel radios, and the main PCB clearly shows two sets of three crystals, presumably a pair of crystals for each channel, one transmit and one receive, with the 455 kHz TX/RX difference. 

The channel selector simply says MULTI-CHANNEL

1
2
3

I’ve read that they use 26.995 MHz, 27.045 MHz, 27.095 MHz, 27.120 MHz, 27.145 MHz, 27.195 MHz, 27.250 MHz, 27.255 MHz and 27.270 MHz. 

Use of the RCRS channels would make sense.  Some sources call these 100mW output radios, others call them 50mW.  They remind me of the 100 milliwatt (actual output was 50 milliwatt) RadioShack single-channel CB walkie talkies like the TRC-92 and I know there were many many others. 

Sort of intrigued.