What did I just get? Galaxy 959 CB

[M Rose]

I was out clearing my junk out today when my neighbor stopped by saying he needed a new (or used) propane water heater for his motorhome that he lives in full time. I just happened to have an almost new propane/12vdc/120vac water heater out of my old motorhome that I am scrapping out. When taking the water heater inside for him he asked if I would be interested in a Radio. Since I just got my Ham License I said sure... he insisted that this 40 channel cb with SSB, was a 10 meter radio (I know better).
So any ways what exactly do I have? I am used to running Cobra 29’s and Uniden 510xl’s. All these bells and whistles are gibberish to me.
Also I need a new screen for the frequency counter and a mounting bracket. Where do I find parts for it. I think it’s stock inside, although I’m not sure because the housing has been off before.

 

[MOAK]

Decades ago the Galaxy was every CB jockeys dream and for good reason, they put out, dare I say, crystal clear broadcasts, at least as crystal clear as one can get in the CB world. The other features didn’t do you much good unless you were conversing with another galaxy that had the same sideband capability. They were dependable and well built. They also cost twice as much as comparable Cobras that with a couple of tweaks broadcast and received just as well. It’s a nice radio but is it worth restoring? Probably not. I’d put it on fleabay, some cb collector will buy it. Hells bells I sold my old, very old Cobra 25 for more than what I paid for it new. Good luck

 

[MidOH]

One of the best cb's ever. Get it tuned up by a pro and hook it up.

My DX55 was excellent, and crystal clear. But from time to time, channel 19 would end up on 4 different channels and it would need re-tuned. I gave the radio away for free to a friend with an OBS Ford. To avoid the temptation of me hacking up my 2017 SD for it. It would look stupid clogging up the dash of my truck.

I'm going to wait until radio tech catches up, and overlanders get their heads out of their @#$#, and pick one type of radio to stick with, before I invest more time and money into such ever again. Gmrs seems to winning over here. But there's a few guys with chinese hams as well. Personally, I'm hoping gmrs wins out. The licensing nonsense with Ham is a pita.

 

[M Rose]

One of the best cb's ever. Get it tuned up by a pro and hook it up.

My DX55 was excellent, and crystal clear. But from time to time, channel 19 would end up on 4 different channels and it would need re-tuned. I gave the radio away for free to a friend with an OBS Ford. To avoid the temptation of me hacking up my 2017 SD for it. It would look stupid clogging up the dash of my truck.

I'm going to wait until radio tech catches up, and overlanders get their heads out of their @#$#, and pick one type of radio to stick with, before I invest more time and money into such ever again. Gmrs seems to winning over here. But there's a few guys with chinese hams as well. Personally, I'm hoping gmrs wins out. The licensing nonsense with Ham is a pita.

So in other words, I got the radio for a steel... how do I tell if it’s already been tuned?

I found getting my Ham license was actually quite easy. Easier than getting a driver’s license.

 

[MidOH]

They need tuned every few years anyways. It's like $30 at any cb shop.

 

[M Rose]

Decades ago the Galaxy was every CB jockeys dream and for good reason, they put out, dare I say, crystal clear broadcasts, at least as crystal clear as one can get in the CB world. The other features didn’t do you much good unless you were conversing with another galaxy that had the same sideband capability. They were dependable and well built. They also cost twice as much as comparable Cobras that with a couple of tweaks broadcast and received just as well. It’s a nice radio but is it worth restoring? Probably not. I’d put it on fleabay, some cb collector will buy it. Hells bells I sold my old, very old Cobra 25 for more than what I paid for it new. Good luck

I don’t see why it would need restored, the only thing wrong is the screen for the frequency counter needs repaired... probably just set back in. The radio functions as is.

 

[M Rose]

They need tuned every few years anyways. It's like $30 at any cb shop.

Ok time to find an old timer to help me, no cb shop here.

 

[MOAK]

One of the best cb's ever. Get it tuned up by a pro and hook it up.

My DX55 was excellent, and crystal clear. But from time to time, channel 19 would end up on 4 different channels and it would need re-tuned. I gave the radio away for free to a friend with an OBS Ford. To avoid the temptation of me hacking up my 2017 SD for it. It would look stupid clogging up the dash of my truck.

I'm going to wait until radio tech catches up, and overlanders get their heads out of their @#$#, and pick one type of radio to stick with, before I invest more time and money into such ever again. Gmrs seems to winning over here. But there's a few guys with chinese hams as well. Personally, I'm hoping gmrs wins out. The licensing nonsense with Ham is a pita.

Yup, I wish they’d just all go back to cb. GMRS is line of sight, useless in the hills of Pennsylvania or any other less than flat terrain. My old cobra 25 ( pre Chinese made) tuned up, used to get out 12 miles. I had regular conversations with a buddy at work that had a Galaxy. He’d be home in his driveway and I’d be in the yard at work. He was surprised what that old cobra and a red devil mic could do.. I’m all for CB, inexpensive, reliable and no liscence. I’m currently using a little uniden that needs to be swr’ed

 

[MidOH]

Gmrs crushes cb over here. Way greater range and clearer, with small antennas. I am getting a bit impatient with the five mounted radio guys, f'ing everything up, everytime we're 90% set on a single type of radio.

I don't think anyone bothered with the gmrs license, since it isn't enforced in any way.

 

[M Rose]

@MOAK , funny you mention the Cobra 25 LTD Classic, that was the rig I was going to restore and put into my FSB. Now I’m not so sure... I also have a Cobra 21XLR... both Cobras need restoring.

 

[diabetiktaco]

Ok time to find an old timer to help me, no cb shop here.

Funny enough, there's a place by me. Newport Bay Electronics in NJ. They've been there as long as I can remember. If you were really interested in getting it checked out I'm sure you can send it to them. I would def. trust them w/ it.

 

[M Rose]

Found some “old” guys here that are willing to pass on their knowledge. I would rather work on it local and learn how to do this kind of stuff myself... radio repair is a dying art in my area, and since I have nothing better to do with my time, learning how to fix them is probably a good idea.

 

[J.W.]

Cool acquisition. I can remember when the Galaxy was THE radio to have. Depending on where you live, it might be good as a base radio. If you live close to any interstate or in an urban area, you could definitely hear some chatter with the right antenna. If nothing else, like you say, it‘s just a chance to tinker with some RF tech and learn a thing or two. If you meet some new people along the way, all the better.

I remember growing up there were all sorts of people who would just talk around town all night on CB because it was more cheaper than a party line. I thought those times were past but imagine my surprise when I hooked up my new CB last year and discovered a bunch of old guys in my area who play golf all day and yap on the CB at night.

It. Is. Hilarious.

Seriously, my wife listens in to them sometimes because they are so funny. I know they must live pretty close because CB range isn’t that great (and honestly I have a pretty good idea) but I think it’s great that they sit in their garages, drink a few frosty cold ones, and talk on the CB instead of the phone.

Enjoy it!

 

[M Rose]

Cool acquisition. I can remember when the Galaxy was THE radio to have. Depending on where you live, it might be good as a base radio. If you live close to any interstate or in an urban area, you could definitely hear some chatter with the right antenna. If nothing else, like you say, it‘s just a chance to tinker with some RF tech and learn a thing or two. If you meet some new people along the way, all the better.

I remember growing up there were all sorts of people who would just talk around town all night on CB because it was more cheaper than a party line. I thought those times were past but imagine my surprise when I hooked up my new CB last year and discovered a bunch of old guys in my area who play golf all day and yap on the CB at night.

It. Is. Hilarious.

Seriously, my wife listens in to them sometimes because they are so funny. I know they must live pretty close because CB range isn’t that great (and honestly I have a pretty good idea) but I think it’s great that they sit in their garages, drink a few frosty cold ones, and talk on the CB instead of the phone.

Enjoy it!

I was one of those guys back in the late 90’s early ‘00’s staying up all night rag jawing and trying to hit the dm skip. I had a Cobra 21 XL that a buddy hopped up for me as my base station set up in my grandfather’s attic. I was seldom walked on, but I remember a trucker passing by that “lit” me up from the truck stop which was about 5 miles away, and we talked all the way until he got on top of the pass about 50 miles away. He was running really hot, lol.

I currently live about 2 miles from the fore mentioned truck stop, and less than half a mile from the freeway, so I should be able to pick up truck traffic. Local traffic here is dead, it seams that everyone uses Facebook around here. Ohh well, when I get my equipment all set up, I wI’ll be talking on the HF instead of AM in my trailer any ways.
I went to my first Ham Club Monthly Breakfast this morning. A big talk around the table was how people had been hitting Japan quite a bit the last few weeks. I can’t wait until I get my gear to make those long legal DXs. The President of the club is really big into doing the FT8 stuff, which sounds interesting to me.
Another Member (actually he father of the Club), is the one that is going to help me with learning the insides of these radios.

Breaker 21, Breaker 21, This is PartyWagon, any one got their ears on? Over

 

[Road]

Cool acquisition. I can remember when the Galaxy was THE radio to have. Depending on where you live, it might be good as a base radio. If you live close to any interstate or in an urban area, you could definitely hear some chatter with the right antenna. If nothing else, like you say, it‘s just a chance to tinker with some RF tech and learn a thing or two. If you meet some new people along the way, all the better.

I remember growing up there were all sorts of people who would just talk around town all night on CB because it was more cheaper than a party line. I thought those times were past but imagine my surprise when I hooked up my new CB last year and discovered a bunch of old guys in my area who play golf all day and yap on the CB at night.

It. Is. Hilarious.

Seriously, my wife listens in to them sometimes because they are so funny. I know they must live pretty close because CB range isn’t that great (and honestly I have a pretty good idea) but I think it’s great that they sit in their garages, drink a few frosty cold ones, and talk on the CB instead of the phone.

Enjoy it!

.

I was coming up from Memphis one night and had my CB on, listening to these two guys jawing back and forth. They must've been a mile or two ahead or behind me.

One would say something, and the other guy would just go "yep." Then the first one would say something else and the other guy would go "yep." This went on for a good while, 'til I couldn't help it and when the first guy said something I went "yep" before the other guy could. Longggg silence. Then they continued, going back and forth the same way. Then I did it again, holding back my laughter best I could.

CB's were wicked good fun in the day, listening to the rants and raves and back n forths of truckers, exit ramp businesses along the way, and the occasional local out on a joy ride.

.

 

[J.W.]

.

I was coming up from Memphis one night and had my CB on, listening to these two guys jawing back and forth. They must've been a mile or two ahead or behind me.

One would say something, and the other guy would just go "yep." Then the first one would say something else and the other guy would go "yep." This went on for a good while, 'til I couldn't help it and when the first guy said something I went "yep" before the other guy could. Longggg silence. Then they continued, going back and forth the same way. Then I did it again, holding back my laughter best I could.

CB's were wicked good fun in the day, listening to the rants and raves and back n forths of truckers, exit ramp businesses along the way, and the occasional local out on a joy ride.

.

Yep. ;)

 

[Munga Brown]

When I was 20, I heard a couple locals gossiping about me & the (ex) old lady on her uncles CB (we were only 17, married with a kid & had just moved to Ft. Bragg, CA-small town). He reached over & turned it down. I went to the recruiter & joined the AF shortly thereafter just to get out o’ there. I won’t do a CB. I had thought about GMRS, but it’s hilly here in the coast range. I’ll end up going for HAM.

 

[M Rose]

I have the cb hooked up temporarily in the Bronco, dead airwaves for the most part these days.