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Post by Tramfan on Sept 23, 2006 4:13:05 GMT -5
Anybody here know anything about these radios? I know that they are basically the same as the Ranger 2980 and one of the Galaxy models (and I think the Stonewall Jackson). But I was told by a local shop owner who seems pretty knowledgable on the export stuff that these are better than the Galaxy (and maybe Ranger) versions because they actually have a better power supply. He said that they use a computer-style PS which are more reliable and have better regulation. I was talking with Sam about these, and he said that he had heard the same thing, so it does lend credence to this info. Anybody else heard this? They are asking $225 for the radio. It looks almost new and sounds like a good price. I've just never owned an export-type base, so I don't know much about them. It does seem like they are all based on the same board, just with different front panel controls and some have amps built in.
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**GRUMPY**
Administrator/The Boss 
Classic Radio Operator Olde Timer 8220 [/color][/center]
"The King of Ping"
Posts: 4,342
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Post by **GRUMPY** on Sept 23, 2006 6:01:31 GMT -5
Hi John...
If I remember right the Northstar 9500 is like the Galaxy Saturn Turbo, Ranger 2990 (not to be confused with the 2990DX) and the General Stonewall Jackson. These are 50 watt AM/FM, 150 watt SSB radios.
Theese are the ones that I have heard that actually do have the power supply problems. The Ranger 2990DX and Ranger 2995DX are the ones that DO NOT have this problem.
If any of these radios were used without a fan kit on them I would stay far away from them. There are no problems with the Ranger 2990DX or the 2995DX. I have owned both of these radios with no trouble with the power supply. I currently own a Ranger 2995DX and have no trouble. Use caution when buying the Northstar 9500, Stonewall Jackson,Ranger 2990 and Galaxy Saturn Turbo as they do have the weaker power supplies.
If the Northstar was not run on high power and it has a fan kit installed it would be worth $225.00!
Hope this helps...
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Post by wd8nia on Sept 23, 2006 15:45:44 GMT -5
Most simple description of the NS-9500/2980 is it's a DX-88 in a big box with the addition of a DC supply. The difference between it and a Saturn Turbo/2990 is the NS-9500 doesn't have the additional power amplifier section.
The last/latest production run of all these 2980/2990 clones had an improved power supply and rectifier section but they were still problematic if someone got crazy tweaking the output.
If Jeff will take two Benjamins for the NorthStar I'll buy it because I know the tech who set it up. It'll run just fine at 4/45 watts which is sufficient for my needs.
That is....if he'll take the money before I spend it on another D201. ;D
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Post by Tramfan on Sept 24, 2006 1:07:59 GMT -5
True, these don't have the built-in amp like the 2990. The guy told me that these are 25 watt PEP radios. I figure if I need more than that, I can flip a couple of switches on the "big black box". I'm thinking of selling my other 2950DX and buying this thing. I've had the 2950DX set up as a base, so this would take the place of it.
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Post by Tramfan on Sept 28, 2006 3:13:17 GMT -5
Well, I went back to the shop today to pick up some parts that I had orderd last week to fix some of my "projects". I didn't come home with my parts (they hadn't come in yet), but I did come home with the Northstar. I tried to talk him down on the price, but he wouldn't budge. Said that was what he actually had in it, but he did sell it to me as a "consignment" item rather than "used", so I wouldn't have to pay tax on it.So far it seems to be a pretty nice rig, but I haven't talked to anyone on it yet as it's been pretty dead on the air here this evening and my buddy wasn't on either. It turns out that I didn't really understand what he said last week about these having a computer power supply. I assumed he meant that it was a computer "type" PS (similar design). Wrong! Turns out that they actually use a standard ATX power supply! If the PS ever does die, just pick up another ATX unit for $20-$30 and a few minutes later, you're back in business. He told me that besides the beefy PS, they also came with a more robust voltage regulator chip on the main board compared to the other versions of these radios. Makes for a pretty reliable rig. However, it turns out that this was what actually caused their downfall. Northstar was owned by a company called Wireless Marketing, who it turns out also owns Cherokee. Apparently word started getting around that the Northstar radio was more reliable than the comparable Galaxy radio, and when Galaxy found that they were starting to lose a lot of sales to the Northstar they dropped a dime to the FCC and Customs. Customs wound up holding a container ship-full of Northstar radios out at Long Beach where they were being imported for a whole year. Of course this ended up putting Northstar out of business. But, since Wireless Marketing also owned Cherokee, they simply redesigned the face of the radio, made a few changes for the sake of getting them in under the FCC's radar, and started selling them as Cherokee CBS-500's. (9500....500...hmmmmm.) He had a new one of those down there as well. They now have a brushed aluminum face with different speaker grill openings (slots instead of the big round holes), the mode switch no longer has the FM and CW positions (but has PA added), and of course the RF Power control is gone. Otherwise it is pretty much identical. I'd bet the board inside is identical too, probably with some "deleted" components. And for only $450! Ahh America! Where else can you pay more and get less...........................
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Post by radardx on Dec 16, 2006 10:01:26 GMT -5
Yes the Northstar NS9500 is a RCI 360014B board same as a Galaxy 88 & others.
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Post by buckhord on Jan 8, 2011 20:38:57 GMT -5
Can any 1 tell me if the north-star 9500 is a illegal CB or called a in port CB I had the FCC at my house this past Monday telling me my neighbor was complaining about bleed over on his TV. The FCC agent looked at my 2 kickers said nothing but once he saw that my CB (north-star 9500) had a FM band on it he said it was a import and illegal Now as the FCC rules stat if the agent find illegal equipment in your house they will take it right on the spot well he didn't take anything from my house just stated wait for a letter in the mail so any help will do because from what I find the north-star was actually called a Cherokee north-star the agent stated any CB in the USA that has a FM band on it is considered illegal thanks for any help
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Post by LuckyStrike on Jan 8, 2011 21:00:04 GMT -5
are you sure it was the fcc and not someone else? see any indentifcation? i thought they usually show up with local police or something. doesnt sound right to me though i havent had them show up either. lol
lucky strike
ot740
k0twp
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss
Posts: 6,250 
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Post by Sandbagger on Jan 9, 2011 14:33:18 GMT -5
Can any 1 tell me if the north-star 9500 is a illegal CB or called a in port CB I had the FCC at my house this past Monday telling me my neighbor was complaining about bleed over on his TV. The FCC agent looked at my 2 kickers said nothing but once he saw that my CB (north-star 9500) had a FM band on it he said it was a import and illegal Now as the FCC rules stat if the agent find illegal equipment in your house they will take it right on the spot well he didn't take anything from my house just stated wait for a letter in the mail so any help will do because from what I find the north-star was actually called a Cherokee north-star the agent stated any CB in the USA that has a FM band on it is considered illegal thanks for any help ANY radio that has more than 40 channels, more than 4 watts of power, and modes other than AM and SSB is an illegal radio, most likely made for a country outside the USA. But I have to admit, the actions of the so-called "FCC" agent seemed a bit strange. They will show identification, and they usually show up in the company of a US Marshall. |
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Post by buckhord on Jan 10, 2011 11:47:11 GMT -5
Yes it was a FCC agent I had to do some looking around to find out if this dude was legit and yup he sure is his name is Binh Nguyen field agent for Washington Oregon and Idaho
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss
Posts: 6,250
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Post by Sandbagger on Jan 11, 2011 8:26:52 GMT -5
Yes it was a FCC agent I had to do some looking around to find out if this dude was legit and yup he sure is his name is Binh Nguyen field agent for Washington Oregon and Idaho If he is a legitimate FCC employee, I then have to wonder if this was an officially sanctioned visit, or one he took up on his own as a personal favor for someone who has his ear. The way the situation was handled seems "odd". If you get an NAL letter in the mail, then you know it's official. It wouldn't be the first time someone used their professional position for personal gain. |
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Post by crazybob on Jan 11, 2011 8:48:48 GMT -5
Sounds a little fishy.
..I had a Northstar 9500 base. It was like a Staturn, but had (I think) 8 bands of channels. You had to flip a switch, then turn the channel selector to change bands (N-1, N-2, etc.)
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Post by buckhord on Jan 16, 2011 2:09:26 GMT -5
I have the same thing my dimmer switch allows me to choose from
freq from
n1 25.165- threw
n8 28.315-28.755
I was told that the N1 and N2 channels was hamm freqs
I did receive my letter from the FCC.
I was in violation x2
1.my cb was a north star 9500 non FCC certificated
2. it was equipped with a extra selector switch to allow emissions for fm modulation
I have 20 days to respond to them on how I'm going to fix the problem
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