DX959 main board mods

[dime196604]

I have a Dx959 and am going to be doing some mods to it, the mods are not what i'm asking about. I have a nice big list of mod from another site i don't think i can say the name here but any way, all the mods i have are for the EPT06960Z board witch mean nothing to me, my radio has the EPT069610Z board in it. Are these the same boards? would the mod work on both boards? If not i am screwed, because i just ordered a bunch of parts from a member on this forum

[TheCBDoctor]

I have a Dx959 and am going to be doing some mods to it, the mods are not what i'm asking about. I have a nice big list of mod from another site i don't think i can say the name here but any way, all the mods i have are for the EPT06960Z board witch mean nothing to me, my radio has the EPT069610Z board in it. Are these the same boards? would the mod work on both boards? If not i am screwed, because i just ordered a bunch of parts from a member on this forum

Hi dime196604,

The boards are very similar. The DX-959 board is legal and is made by the same company, RCI. What mods do you want to do? I have always been a believer that if you want a feature on a radio you should buy the radio that comes with that feature. When it comes to power you must quadruple the power to make any significant change in your output.

I found that if you want a better receiver you should buy the radio that has a better receiver. If you want a better Noise Blanker, then buy the radio with a better noise blanker. If you are just into it for experimentation, then go for it because it is the only way to learn, but if you want a better radio , then you should buy a better radio. If you like sideband then the radio will need to be aligned because it will not work out of the box without being aligned. That is the nature of the DX-959.

Can you be more specific on the Mods?

Respectfully,

[dime196604]

Hi dime196604,

The boards are very similar. The DX-959 board is legal and is made by the same company, RCI. What mods do you want to do? I have always been a believer that if you want a feature on a radio you should buy the radio that comes with that feature. When it comes to power you must quadruple the power to make any significant change in your output.

I found that if you want a better receiver you should buy the radio that has a better receiver. If you want a better Noise Blanker, then buy the radio with a better noise blanker. If you are just into it for experimentation, then go for it because it is the only way to learn, but if you want a better radio , then you should buy a better radio. If you like sideband then the radio will need to be aligned because it will not work out of the box without being aligned. That is the nature of the DX-959.

Can you be more specific on the Mods?

Respectfully,

Well I am doing the mod because i already have the radio and the parts only cost me $10, and i like the fact that i built some better then the original. The mod i am going for are on a very popular European cb mods web site i am sure you have heard of, first is the power amp(Q54) i'm gonna put a 2SB817 in it, and the AM AF am(Q55) i'm gonna replace with a ECG153, then the AM detection diodes(D30&D31) gonna replace with ECG583 schottky diodes, and the noise blanker diodes(D1&D2) gonna replace with ECG583 schottky diodes also. But like i said the mods are for the EPT06960Z and my board is the EPT069610Z, i am sure you are familiar with some of these mods

[TheCBDoctor]

Hi dime196604

The mods will work on the DX-959. I would not bother changing the AM modulation transistor because it is a current amplifier. Your radio will never draw more current on AM than what the radio presently does. You will not see any power gain. In the SSB mode the AM modulation transistor B-754 (B-817) becomes a 13 volt source for the Final and Driver in the SSB mode, and in essence is disabled as a modulator.

In SSB the modulation is done at the balance modulator. In the AM mode the voltage at the Final and Driver is cut by half and the modulation is done at the Final and Driver. The AM modulation transistor Q54, which comes with radio, can already handle 8 times the current you could possibly draw.

I am familiar with the receiver mod. It depends on the radio if it is a benefit. It will increase your receiver capabilities, but on AM it will also increase the background noise. I know some people swear by the low noise Schottky diode; it does have gain unlike other diodes, but is more beneficial on sideband because SSB has half the background noise that AM has. The noise blanker on the RCI board is not as good as the Cobra-Uniden NB, and replacing the diodes may help. What the radio really needs is a complete redesign of the ANL-NB circuit.

I recommend trying the mods only because it is a good learning experience and it may help; it can't hurt. I have been in the business for a long time. I have seen every trick in the book used to separate an operator from his or her money. These new mods for the export or RCI chassis is just more of the same.

Have fun and learn. You can't go wrong for $10. What do you think a shop would charge to do these mods that would in effect not do a thing? That is the CB shop's dirty little secret.

Respectfully,

[dime196604]

Hi dime196604


I recommend trying the mods only because it is a good learning experience and it may help; it can't hurt. I have been in the business for a long time. I have seen every trick in the book used to separate an operator from his or her money. These new mods for the export or RCI chassis is just more of the same.

Have fun and learn. You can't go wrong for $10. What do you think a shop would charge to do these mods that would in effect not do a thing? That is the CB shop's dirty little secret.

Respectfully,

Well it was not 10 bucks, but thats what the guy charges for them, i traded him my Turner +2 mic that i never used at all, and in return he is sending me 4 shottkly diodes and the 2 transistors and a RF limited echo board, all items new and never used

[dime196604]

The board power amp resistor upgrade Q54, says it just makes the boards voltage more stable on the board (light's wont dim when keying after this mod) This new transistor works and the lights still dim when keying, but as soon as you key and talk the transistor gets hot as hell, fast. So i will be putting the stock transistor back in it. The AM receive diode replacement works well, as does the NB diode replacement. First experience with Schottky Diodes and i recommend this upgrade to any radio that has noisy receive, it cut a lot of noise out, still not as good as my Lincoln though