Uniden Solara DSC Marine VHF Radio

One of our best selling Marine VHF radios would be the Solara DSC.

For the price and features this is a great little radio.

Affordable All Channel Scan All USA/International and Canadian Marine Channels - Covers all USA, International & Canadian marine channels keeping you up-to-date with all the latest marine activity.

DSC capability including distress and individual calling
Submersible - Meets the JIS7 Standards (1 meter for 30 minutes)
Unique rubber grip design on the microphone
NOAA Weather Channels
Large backlit display for enhanced night vision
3 Year Water Protection Warranty

Commercial Audio

We thought we would talk tech today on commercial Audio. There are a lot of questions out there about 70V line transformers and amplifiers, how to hook these up types of speakers etc..
In this blog we will address some of these issues.

Let's start with, what is a 70 Volt Sound System & What it is used for.
A 70 Volt Sound System is comprised of amplifiers, speakers with transformers, microphones, volume controls, a telephone system interface and an assortment of wires used as connections. It is generally used for commercial sound applications where there is need for electronically amplifying and distributing sound for the function of paging, playing music and/or pre-recorded messages to a commercial environment.

What are the benefits of using a 70 Volt Sound System?
A 70 Volt system uses a basis of high voltage to result in a lower current when distributing power to a sound system. By not having excessive, wasted current, long runs of wire can be prevented from overheating. Which makes a 70 Volt Sound System very energy efficient.

Generally 70 Volt systems are more cost effective than an 8 Ohm speaker system when dealing in volume installations.

70 Volt Systems are easier to design than 8 ohm speaker systems. The impedance does not have to be matched throughout the system as would be required in an 8 ohm system.
Because 70 Volt speakers come with transformers impedance is not an issue unless an excessive amount of speakers are going to be installed together.

What is the purpose of a 70V Transformer on a Speaker?
The transformer protects the speaker and only allows a certain wattage to pass through the transformer to activate the speaker depending on the sound requirement. The higher the wattage tap is set or wired the louder the speaker will be. Transformer based systems are current efficient by protecting the system from getting overheated from wasted power.

How do I wire a commercial run of speakers?
Commercial speakers should be wired in a "Parallel Run" meaning the positive outbound connection of the amp. or receiver should run to the positive terminal of the first speaker. That positive terminal wiring should proceed to the next speakers positive terminal. The return wire from each common terminal goes to the next speaker on the return run's common terminal and finishes at the amp.
Large runs with many speakers should be broken down into several smaller runs coming from the amplifier . If one speaker stops working it is easier to locate the problem on shorter runs.

What size wire should I use?
Run's less than 50 feet and 50 Watts or less of power use 16 Gauge
Run's more than 50 and over 50 Watts of power use 14 Gauge.

Visit us online at www.buyreliant.com

*Information provided is for educational purposes please consult licensed professionals when performing commercial installations.

HDTV Antennas HDMS9100

Today's topic is the HDMS9100 HDTV Directional Antenna from Antennacraft.
This antenna is one of our most popular TV antennas we sell.
It is AC or DC so some customers use for their home while others use for the RV.

Lets Take a look at this antenna.
The HDMS9100 is the evolution of previous models, 5MS740 & 5MS9000.
Physically the unit looks like previous models. Size, hook up etc.
If you are upgrading from earlier models it should be a simple installation
The other obvious upgrade is the programmable remote control. You can now program your stations and with a click of a button quickly have the antenna rotate to your favorite channel.

You can expect to get about 40 Miles out of this antenna. Transmitting antenna height and power, and receiving antenna height and placement, will also effect overall results.

Specs on the HDMS9100
Large, Multidirectional
21" Diameter, 7" Height
Split-Band Amplifier
60' Coax/3-Wire Cable
Stainless Steel Mount Hardware
Legs for Indoor Use


If your looking for a nice ergonomic high performing TV Antenna, you should definitely consider the HDMS9100.

Stay Tuned for More.
Visit us on the web at www.buyreliant.com

Pyle PLD3MU

Pyle Audio PLD3MU Car In Dash Receiver. We threw this stereo on our test bench to see what she could do.
Out of the box the looking at the PLD3MU first thing we noticed was the universal wire harness which probably will only match a small number of vehicles. So we did what most people will have to do and cut it off and wire the unit direct.


Sorry for the blurry photo but here is the PLD3MU powered up on our test bench.
You can change the display colors to Blue, Yellow, Red or you can set it to Demo which switches through all the colors randomly.

It took a minute to get use to the Touch Screen. The selections on the screen are close to each other in menu mode.

It was a little challenging to select the items on the screen. If you have large fingers it could be an issue.

But the good thing is it comes with a remote control which worked great.
We zipped through set ups and dug into the radio features quickly.

The PLD3MU comes with the standard features you would expect. The display is surprisingly crisp and clear with Resolution: 1440 x 234 Pixels and Brightness: 400 NITS.
With a 3'' (16:9) TFT Color Monitor the PLD3MU is similar if not better to watching a movie on a cell phone or portable Audio Video Devices.

Here is another blurry photo one of the menu's.
Starting from top left the selections are:
Radio Disc SD USB
The bottom row
Back View Input TV BlueTooth
Now on this particular model Notice TV and BlueTooth are not as Bright as the other selections. These features are not available on this model.

Now this radio has some power @ 320 Watts (4 x 80 W) she can run 4 speakers up to 6.5" easily.
The rear connections on the radio has your standard power and speaker connections.
Also includes: Subwoofer Output, AV Input and Output, Rear Camera Output, and a Parking Video Input. Great feature is the Back View with an optional back up camera you'll have a nice clean view of whats behind you, great for parking.


Remove the face of the PLD3MU and you have an SD slot.
There is also a USB input on the face itself. There is no shortage of inputs on this receiver it should cover all your needs.


In Conclusion our overall thoughts on this radio are:

It looks cool when installed.

Touch Screen is a little rough, but you always have the remote control

Power and sound quality meet expected standards of a radio in this price range.

Installation of this radio is standard should not be a problem for people that install there own equipment.

With all the features that are packed into this receiver and the price range.
We will give
the PLD3MU a 4 out of 5


Stay Tuned More to Come

Check out our website for some great deals

SWR Adjustment

Common CB Questions Continued


Continuing from our previous post about CB Radio Commonly asked questions we get to daddy of them all !!!!
How do I adjust my SWR and whats it all about?

Put the hammer down here we go!!!

SWR (standing wave ratio) is a term every CB'er should know. SWR shows you how well your coax, antenna mount, ground plane and antenna match the output capability of your CB radio. It is a ratio of maximum voltage or current to minimum voltage or current. Generally speaking, the lower the ratio the better. Defective or inferior components, bad installations and antennas not tuned to the specific location on the vehicle increases the SWR. You should strive to achieve a ratio below 2:1 on all channels. An SWR Meter is required. You should never key up your radio if your SWR is 3.0 or above.

Tools needed to check SWR

1. SWR Meter there are many types to choose from some CB Radio have the SWR meter built in. For Simple adjustment we would suggest a simple and easy to use meter like the PDC1 or PDC7 from Valor. SWR meters are available with many different features we will not go into now.

2. Jumper Coax Cable you will connect this from the SWR Meter to the CB Radio's antenna jack. Normally about 3'.

3. Depending on the antenna you are using read the instruction on how to tune your particular antenna. Some require you to cut or lengthen the antenna other will have an adjustment you can make on the antenna.

Let's Check that SWR

1. Connect your SWR meter between the CB output and antenna input. Your meter should have some type of indication like TX or ANT. Using your jumper cable connect your SWR TX to the CB Radio's Antenna jack. Then connect the CB Antenna cable to the ANT or other on your SWR Meter.

2. Any SWR meter you have should have a FWD & REF/SWR switch. The meter will also have a knob or control that reads Set/Adjust check the instructions that came with your Meter for details in operation.

3. With the radio on Ch. 1 switch the SWR meter to the FWD position, key the cb microphone.
The radio should be transmitting
Using the SET/Adjust knob on the SWR Meter rotate until the meter needle points/lines up to the Set or CAL position, this depends on the type of meter you are using.
Once lined up flip the FWD/REF to REF or SWR position. You are now reading the SWR value on ch. 1, make a note of the reading 1.5, 2, 3, didn't move etc.. release mic button to end transmission.

4. Now tune the radio to Ch. 19 and repeat the above steps. make a note of your readings

5. Now tune the radio to Ch. 40 and repeat the above steps. make a note of your readings

Understanding the measurements your just took.

If SWR on channels 1, 19 & 40 is below 2.0, your radio can be safely operated on any channel you are good to go take the meter out and connect your antenna back to the radio, your ready to talk!!!

If SWR on all channels is above 2.0 but not in the "red zone" (normally over 3.0) can be caused by coax cable length, bad antenna ground plane, or your antenna mount is ungrounded.

If SWR is in the "red zone" (normally over 3.0) on all channels, you probably have an electrical short in your coax, or your mounting stud was installed incorrectly and is shorted. You will need to find and correct the problem before operating your CB Radio, this can cause damage to the radio.

If the SWR on channel 40 is greater than that on channel 1, your antenna is to long shortening the antenna should correct this situation. Refer to your antenna's tuning instructions on the proper way to achieve this.

If SWR on channel 1 is greater than that on channel 40, your antenna is to short increasing the length of the antenna should correct this situation. Refer to your antenna's tuning instructions on the proper way to achieve this.

Of course we could go into even more details but this should be enough to get your SWR checked and adjusted.

More helpful tips and product information coming stay tuned and visit us online at www.buyreliant.com

Common CB Radio Questions

Common CB Radio Questions

Hello, from Buy Reliant Blog. Naturally we get asked a lot of different questions about products, specifications and features. We will be addressing specific common questions on products in this and upcoming posts. We thought a good place to start is with CB Radios, yes a lot of CB Radios are still in use today and these aren't the Smokey and the Bandit crystal controlled style you may remember from the old days. With Truckers, RV's, and all types of automotive activities the CB Radio is still playing a vital roll in communications. With everyone using cell phones txt messaging etc there is much more room on the CB Bands to talk effectively and clearly with new features and functionality of today's CB Radios. Listed here are a few questions we get asked almost daily about Citizen Band Radio.

How Much Power Will the CB Output and How Far can I Talk?
Power output of CB Radios is controlled and set by the FCC which is limited to about 4 Watts. Some single sideband radios which is a set of 40 or 80 additional channels you can legally put out 12 Watts of Power.
Range of transmission and reception will vary depending on conditions and terrain. Usually the best rule of thumb is to get a quality antenna and mount it as high as possible. Always Check your SWR (Standing Wave Ratio). We will go into detail about SWR Adjustment in our next post stay tuned!!!

How easy is it to install a CB Radio.
CB Radio installation is quite easy. The CB Radio should come with a mounting brackets and a power Cord. Just locate a spot in your vehicle you would like to mount the radio, install the bracket with provided hardware mount the radio and run your power to +12VDC and ground. Don't forget to hook up the antenna.

What do all of these knobs do? Of course the obvious power and volume need no explanation.

Mic Gain Mic Gain: controls how much modulation is put on the carrier wave. Normally it should be left in the full clockwise position, which is 100% modulation. If it is turned all the way counterclockwise, then no modulation occurs. If you use a power mic you may get feedback if you use full modulation.

RF Gain controls receiver sensitivity. Normally this should be in the full clockwise position, which gives the best sensitivity. If you are receiving a strong signal from a nearby transmitter, turning this control decreases the sensitivity, protecting the receiver.

Noise Blanker or ANL Switch depending on radio helps reduce some of the noise from some vehicles electrical systems.

Squelch Control The Squelch control shuts out the audio portion on the receiver to eliminate unwanted static and noise. However, when someone is transmitting, the signal is powered enough to override the squelch and allow you to hear the incoming transmission.

Take a minute to stop by our website and view all of our CB Radios and Accessories Click Here

Check back tomorrow for SWR Adjustments.

Back on the Blog

Were back to the Blog,
after a long run of moving our website servers, reorganizing our site.
A lot of new products have arrived since our last blogs. We will try and update you with these and many other articles of interest.

Visit our website at www.buyreliant.com

We have a lot of items priced to sell check out our closeout pages

One of our hot items this summer is Pyle's Motorcycle Audio System Pictured above.
This unit comes in 2 models the PLMCA30 and PLMCA60 .

The PLMCA30 Motorcycle Mount Amplified 200 Watt x 2 Stereo Sound System w/Dual Handlebar Mount Speakers.

The PLMCA60 - Motorcycle Mount Amplified 300 Watt x 2 Stereo Sound System w/Dual Handlebar Mount Speakers Radio/MP3 Mount/USB Charger.

We are getting good feedback on performance and usability.

WR3 Sangean Table Top Radio

Sangean WR3 Table Top Radio with CD SD MP3 USB Capabilities
This is the table-top stereo that the market has been waiting for. This visually stunning piano black wooden cabinet isn’t just redefining the table-top category it is paving a new path. Its features start with the ability to play MP3’s and Windows Media Audio (WMA) formats from a slot load CD but takes it further by offering SD/MMC and USB flash connections that provide the flexibility no other table-top offers. For those of you who still listen to radio, it provides the AM & FM reception and sensitivity that Sangean is famous for, 20 memory presets, and the RDS text services that displays artist, song title, and other text information provided by your favorite FM stations. Using the RDS-CT settings will detect clock time broadcast and automatically update the radio. It has a large blue backlight LCD with white text that provides a full menu of options and settings with a wonderful soothing and stylish glow on your table.

Check out this new table top radio on our website Click Here

What Is R.D.S.?
R.D.S.-Radio Data System is a system in which inaudible digital information in addition to the normal FM radio program is transmitted. R.D. S. under FM Band it provides such information as Clock Time, Music Type Search and information *This information is provided only available when FM station is provides R.D.S. Service