Its almost impossible to buy a UK / EU CB radio Base Station new in the UK. USA is better but not many radios are left. Its a real shame and is one reason why people buy HF radios for 11 meters.
I see old video but i like it. I worked with many cb radios over de past 15 years and i always loved the Galaxy Saturn. I owned a few and i loved working with it nice overview modulation is great with a Turner mike and a digital echo camber. The smeter is nice and heavy but recieves very good, i have talked the whole whole over with this one.
The Ham equipment is typically always better built with better filters and components and so you typically have better equipment with improved transmit and receive. That is not alwyas the case but, as you said, why not go to the dark side for cheaper and get way more bang for your buck. Whereas the CB gear, for the most part is borderline junk depending on what you want to spend. The lack of base radios is also another issue. This was an eye opening video with regard to how the communication world has been flipped on its side. Thanks for sharing Fred.
Thanks Andy. Yes bang on about filtering with HF gear and esp in this world of much QRM. Once on the FM band i think that some CB radios can perform better than HF's. Pity the home base radio is pretty much dead.
2 of the finest radios you have their Fred, they look just as good as my 2 here, don't think I would part with either Sr8 or the 9900, but always space for another radio. 73's buddy, 407 👋
I can remember looking at these home base radios in my moms catalogue in the early 80s and thinking wow But could never afford one 😀 just had a mustang 1000 but loved it and it was the starting block , happy days, nice one Fred 👍🍻
Im in the US, been running Browning radios since 1975. My Mark III has been in a box most of its life, but fulley restored and aligned in 2006. Beautiful looking and has mod way over carrier, with the stock sounding Browning Ping. I would not trade it for anything, with my turboed Sonar BR25 behind it (50w), it gets out nicely. All these noise toys, roger beeps etc came about trying to copy Brownings Ping. Remember tubes glow, pills blow. Browning R2700A, Browning Mrk II, Browning Mrk III, Browning Mrk IV
They'll be saying the same thing about ham radio soon. The activity level on amateur radio has dropped off drastically because it's mostly a bunch of tired old men saying the same things over and over. There is nothing to get excited about and almost nobody under 40. I completely sold out six years ago, never going back.
Best bet would be to sling up a cheap outside antenna like a Silver Rod on a pole and try that with the 78. A 18 foot antenna should help bring in signals.
Hi I started cb in 1979 on am. It was a president ar7 with 40 channels, then a president, jfk, then president Lincoln. Then it went legal and full of puppets. Now on a raidoddity cb500.
Errrh up Fred . Revisiting this video in a different guise. All the points you make are 100% valid. In my case I bought a brand new Icom IC 7300 Where I live in Thailand from a main dealer for 735 quid. Considering the capabilities and state of the art SDR technology Who in the right mind would spend a grand on 20th Century technology ?? That said more for Nostalgia .I also bought a Galaxy DX-2547 Base from the USA. A major ball ache to import.All in cost me 500 dollars with shipping and duty then another 80 USD to grease palms.. Out of the box the setup was a total joke.. The drift was ridiculous and deaf as a post. Bearing in mind, stock this just covers the mid block and no FM mode.. Because I have a test bench .I have optimised the receive and unlocked the clarifier..I just spent another 100USD for a Lescom Kit to cover Low and High Bands, and 10Khz shift. Not to mention the voltage dropper to operate via AC supply.. All this a because I can scenario, and keeps me out of the pub..Lol.. So I will be recording the installation and alignment process when the kits arrive.. All that said the average punter should buy a HF set with the Mars mod every time... In terms of value for money v performance . A no brainer.. Sorry for the long winded comment. 73s 153 AT 888
I found an old CB base station at a flea market, that had a 23 channel mobile CB radio inside the case along with an SWR meter and power supply, It looked good, but it looks and works much better now with the new 40 channel Cobra 19 inside.
A nice video Fred and good to have you covering radios again. It was a treat for the eyeballs seeing some of those old FM 40 channel base stations again (which I've recently been eyeing on Ebay for nostalgic reasons), but now I'm less convinced that's the way to go for me and will probably go for an HF set when funds allow. Btw, it's always nice to hear your "305" net and that southern England banter, which I'm always hoping will open up to listeners like me (in Lancs) when conditions allow. Keep up the good work Fred! :)
I like some of the radios you where Showing and I had some of them, great radios I just got hold of a midland international base station that was made in the late 70's Really good radio and the RECEIVE and transmitter is really solid, and it's pretty good condition, I got at a fair price! Thanks for sharing your experiences, I haven't watch your videos for some time but I enjoy them when I Do !! Thanks!!👍
My first CB radio, in 1967, was a 'white-faced' Johnson TUBE-type encased by a mesh grill all around it, and, I could use it for a lamp practically at night when the radio was on! Years later, in 1977, when I became became a coast to coast truck driver in the USA, we 'modded out' our cb radios with slider kits...which was really nothing more than turning them into a side band radio so as we could talk to one another on a private channel away from all of the riff raff from the 'trucker channel'. I retired from trucking in 2015 and sad to say the trucker's channel here in the states (channel 19 most everywhere in America) is pretty much just a bunch of cussing and verbal fighting. BUT, I plan to go back on the road real soon and live full time...and, yes, I will have my CB radio installed as well! I may not be pushing 18 wheels any longer, but, I still want to know what's going on around me as I travel! Great video!
TOTALLY RELAXED! Ya I’m with you I’m retired from the highway dept there’s a lot of trash talk but there’s good out there too I enjoy making contacts out there enjoy!
I had a Cobra 2000, Ham International Jumbo and a President Madison (not at the same time!) Wish I'd kept them all now, but you know how it is with CB radios! Pleased to say I've still got my Colt 210 AM mobile which I bought new at the start of 1981. Still works and in A1 condition, even still got the box!
Gosh if I'd have kept some of the cars I'd had I'd be able to sell them and retire by now. Prices of the classics have gone through the roof...a bit like base station CBs I guess!
I bought a used Team Euro as I'd waned o own a base station again. Hardly used it. Was disgused to discover my Icom HF rig received better on FM CB than the Euro did. I think that the fac CB is no longer a mass pursuit in the UK , means manufacturers don't think it is worth building new base stations.
Hi Fred, it’s the same in Australia regarding 27 MHz cb radio. But a lot of people like truck drivers and 4 wheel drivers in clubs use uhf cb radio. I don’t like them, because there is no chance of skip.
I'm studying for my Foundation Licence, and absolutely agree that making everything dual use is essential to keeping the costs under control - i've already laid out (at a guess) about 3~400 GBP on just 27Mhz (11m), all good for learning experience though, but agree, HF represents better quality for a lower price as your video shows.
I think a company or two will emerge in the states with some quality base stations for CB as well as GMRS type only base stations. Just my opinion. Most HF guys will say no way.
A great video I have a Dnt home base and it ok but it's going to the radio doc just to have a good going over , yes I can remember all the great home base CB radios untill next time best regards Fred take care 73,s
I've used CB radios since the 79's. I have mobile units in all of our vehicles, I have a pristine Cobra 200 gtl, 1983, unmolestad with two external speakers, and Astatic D104 lollipop mikes! My base station scatters satellite and cable tv everytime I que up!!! 2000watts of power. I live in Florida, U.S, where hurricane season is 5 months of the year. Cell towers go out, landlines go out, we're still talking, and helping with search and rescue, missing children, etc.
@@CB-RADIO-UK, I also have a fairly large collection of older 23 channel mobile radios. When CBs became popular in the 70's, everybody jumped on the "band wagon"! From J.C. Penny, Sears, Montgomery Ward, Western Auto, etc, had a CB with thier name on it. It's sad that you have such a cost increase to get good quality radios, base at least, in the U.K. Of course, getting quality products from the U.S. over there, has always cost more because of logistics. Keep the faith Fred, the day will come when it may be your only source of communication whether it be temporary or somewhat pemanent...
Have an Audioline PT345 that I am trying to renovate. Finding parts Is difficult and front fascias are like rocking horse teeth. I love the old homebase sets. Hence the Audioline. ATB Fred. 26CT9484
I suppose HF rigs have 100 Watts and do Freeband including 6.6 and 3.4Mhz, you can listen to Broadcast Marine Ham etc. and if you go for a Ham licence you're set up.
I purchased a new jumbo and Turner Expander 500 desk mic from Skywave in Bournemouth back in the 80's, also had a president KP77, both great base rigs. My mate had the Grandstand base station, same size as jumbo and had LED clock. Good times. The golden age of radio is now sadly dead.
......sadly no. I also had a sigma 4 base antenna but I couldn't get an Avanti and had to get the Targra version which bent up in the first strong wind. I did upgrade to a Shakespeare super big stick which was awesome and I later got a Astatic echomax digital desk mic with the slap back echo, best mic ever! Sorry fella too much to say on texts haha. ;-)
Here in the U.S. back in the early 70's through 80's there were literally dozens of different base radios, many were basically the same radio repackaged but each had their own style. But what's happened here in the past decade is the new younger wave of truck drivers who don't use a cb anymore, the trucker market was the backbone of cb sales so it's dying quickly.
Let me understand: so truckers using phones or follow whatsapp groups while driving or during pauses? I think that cb is always the best during trucks but I'm 50 years old ..
Bang on that Fred, ditch the hype n go hf, I’ve got the CRT clone as the HR 5500, but my Icom - 751 really does the job- used £370.( though I’m gonna get my “ticket”) 73. Barnie
good video as usual fred yes it makes sense what you say defo but maybe im old fashioned I love those old homebase radios ha ha and I know I have probably said this before but im a midlands fan those old duck egg blue jobs were lovely im looking to buy a radio soon.
I'm a pretty big "fan" of the Galaxy Saturn and its derivates/similars, but what you discussed it's the same as here in Italy: you can buy new only mobile chassises. I think it's simply the result between market demands vs profitable business. By my side, especially because it's more used here the AM modulation, HF radio are not the best because they don't "push" the modulation as a CB mobile (especially if trimmed differently, if the board allows it) can do. In fact above the FTdx1200 I've the anytone 6666 (or crt 9900) trimmed differently and I can assure you that in combination with a DM1000 mic I got reports of really strong modulation even if the signal is S5.
Hi. Yes i totally agree. I can get out the same if not better on my CRT 9900 as i can with my Yaesu 450D. Its just a shame the 9900 runs so hot in a small case. I really wish CRT would produce a proper home base version. thanks for the comment.
@@CB-RADIO-UK yes, hot, that's right; in fact my version has been pimped a bit in AM and SSB, depowered a bit instead in FM (I've the v3, not the latest) and above all has now a fan behind that runs at slow speed as soon as you switch on the radio.
@@CB-RADIO-UK but mine it run at 7w and I use a kicker , kicker gets hot but it has a fan on it to keep it cool, and the 9900 just gets warm and I like it that way 200w Ssb ,100w FM and AM and the 9900nis great and the Mic tellcom 1000 power echo mic and the reports are fantastic the antenna 4000hp but I would like a ranger home base but the price is to high but the Galaxy Am and Ssb is more my price a very good radio.
I went on 14 a copy but the net says people shout on 19 a copy now, that used to be the truckers channel. They dont say breaker breaker 14 for a copy,whats your 20, 1010 breaker break! Sad really, its all gone, am going to buy my grandson a hand held cb radio then at least I can talk to him then.
Very interesting Fred.. One of the issues of owning Ham radio HF gear is it's complexity.. I'm not referring to it's operator complexity as it's quite straight forward if your IQ count is over your shoe size. It's the guts of the things. There's much more lurking under the bonnet, and if there's a fault, it can be tricky to diagnose and repair economically unless you have really comprehensive and reliable (calibrated) RF test equipment and can do it yourself. The currently available CB rigs are one PCB, mostly through hole component and can be fault diagnosed with a £30 digital multi meter in most cases.
Hi Pete. Yes your right HF gear can cost a pretty penny to fix. Even to the point where if its an old radio it may not be worth it. Mind you modern CB radios have become so compact with micro surface mount tech that it can be the same story.
@@CB-RADIO-UK Yep.. Absolutely... SMC are okay, if a bit fiddly ..You really need a microscope when working with them although I did manage to replace an SM capacitor using a standard 4X LED magnifier. Lots of flux, steady hands and good tweezers , followed by anger management therapy is the secret ! Last time I looked inside a 6900 it looked repairer friendly but the more compact they get the harder it becomes.. Not what we should be doing if people are really serious about the environment eh !
I HAVE A GALAXY 2547DX. FINE FOR THE USA AM,SSB NO FM. IT WONT DO UK AND OTHER EU CHANNELS. IF MODIFIED IT WILL OPEN TO THREE BANDS, DOWN TO 26.515 AND UP TO 27.855
Even if a company did supply a UK home base CB radio in the UK. Ya'll fooling yourself when you buy radio equipment. you either use out of bands freq or more power that you're not licensed to transmit with. No one in the UK would buy a radio for just the CB band and then be happy with it. Think about it, seriously who is going to be using 4w on FM with a homebase ? and yes, you can run more power on SSB in the UK but not 30w out the back of an SS 7900 and the like, yet everyone does it. Who's going to have a homebase with 12w for ssb?
Seems like the new US SSB calling freq. is 27.385 LSB. 27.555 is mostly dead these days but 38 is constantly busy. Hope to hear you UK and Euro ops on 38 LSB. 2ID363.
@ Mike Walsh what you call the new US SSB calling frequency has been around for years I was calling on that back in the 80s same a 27025 (channel 6 mids AM) what has been known as the Superbowl for years too
Fred, here's my thoughts on this. I've been a ham radio operator from 35+ years. I enjoy this hobby very much. As far as CB'ers using ham equipment, I don't see an issue with that. As long as you use the radio for CB and stay off the ham bands what's the problem. Most ham radio equipment are build to better specs than most of your CB radios are and that to me is a plus. What you do with your gear is totally up to you. If you enjoy the hobby, then why not get the most out of it. I have friends local here that run ham equipment on CB and they have never caused an issue with any of the hams in the area. Plus, like you said, if you ever want to get your ham ticket you already have the equipment and know how to use it. My final thoughts here are 73's my friend and enjoy yourself. Love your videos and do enjoy learning from you and yes even after 35+ years there is still much to learn. Keep up the good work and stay safe my friend. 73's from N4ZDX
Thanks Darrell and iam glad we see alike. I always feel that using a HF radio with the TX power turned down is better than using a CB splatter box with a 200 watt burner attached. Thank you for the comment.
Why is it that hams feel the need to state how they've been a ham for in their first sentence. I've been a ham for minus 75 years. And another ham trying to lure CBers into getting their ticket. Almost like a man with lollies, there's often an alteriour motive.
@@arconeagain I'm not trying to lure anyone into anything! All I was stating was that I don't see a problem in running ham gear on CB. I was also stating that yes I do have experience with ham radio. I hate that I may have offended you in some way. Maybe next time I'll clear what I say with you before I post it. Have a wonderful day!!!
The problem is that in Germany and especially in Germany such large home stations are not built but only from abroad the problem is customs and taxes then comes the Ranger RCI 29... home station with over 1000€ on the table which is just 760 in the USA $ costs what do you do there simply ne Yaesu or Icom are better for little money and money saved! Fact only German government to blame!
The price of that Ranger homebase CB/10m multimode is absolutely riduculous so thats certainly enough to sway you to a HF radio simply because that is HF money! you can even pick up older HF radios like Kenwoods TS430s or an Icom 735 for less money! between £250 & £300 depending on the condition. The Yaesu FT-757 is another popular choice too and because they were so well made most of them are still in great working order. the only thing you must check with older HF radios is that they have an FM board already fitted! because that was optional on many HF transceivers back then. but fortunately most people did pay to have that fitted. That said you could easily pick up a much newer, but more basic HF if you add another £100! and if you have never used a HF radio before you may find them easier to use. Some more upmarket classic radios like the Kenwood TS850s from the mid 90s can fetch as much as £500 in great condition, but thats cos the 850 was a competition class radio. The Icom 706 is another HF thats very popular with CBer's. basically its a mobile radio that covers HF and still offers the full 100 watts out. If you go for the Mark2G which was the latest version, your basically getting a shack in the box that takes you from HF all the way through to the 70cm Amateur band. Prices for the Mark2g range between £350 and £450 again depending on the condition. Unlike the TS430 and TS850 the 706 doesnt have a zillion and one knobs and buttons on the front! which makes it more user friendly! much like your Alinco Fred.
in the usa we only have the Galaxy 2547 DX am-ssb radio is the only option. other comanies stopped producing base stations. the 2517 and 2995DX ARE HF RADIOS 10 AND 12 METERS.
Never hear you on the south coast net on 27.395 on Thursday evening, cmon give it a go 👍. I bought a Kenwood ts140s (widebanded) and ps50 power supply £250
I had the BIG CRT Jumbo and it was not a good radio, i have a Ranger 2950 Dx and i like it much better then the Jumbo. Have also a old Icom HF Base radio and a Alan 42 Multi + Intek H-520 PLUS, PMR and Linton VHF radio. I forgot my Yaesu FT-817 QRP Radio... 73 ..... 21 TM 007
I remember the old days when many CB bases were just converted 10 meter ham gear, or military boat anchors. Most highly illegal of course being used out of band AND way over the legal 5 watts. Still cool tho.
Ive still got mine Harrier CB HQ UNIDEN 300 AMSTRAD 900 901 THE OLD radios are much better & some 20 channel 934 mhz sets had them back in the day from DIXONS
I use my crt ss9900 as a homebase and mobile unit. The prices i norway is also sky high. But cb's are still "cheap". Homebase radio's are from 600£ and up for a decent one. 9900 is from 200£ new. Btw. Do you have a fb page? 73s Roger.
Fred help me, do i go for yeasu ft 450d wide banded (£550) or unlocked euro cb (£250) i cannot make up my mind, returning to cb and maybe looking at ham. Please can you help
I have in my shack a Colt Excaliber SSB that I've had for over 35 years, the power supply could do with changing as it hums a bit now, but still works.
Still using a 1998 Kenwood TS50 For Potable DX . Copied stations all over the globe on 11m.. 100w I bought it used 12 years ago for 120 quid.. The CB Export radio market is a con... Shit performance for big money... Because its apparently legal ???
Now since I'm an old fashioned fart so when I'm operating 11 meters I insist on using CB equipment and when using other bands I use amateur gear...... Nostalgia is a wonderful thing. Ps,,, anyone who says that a ham jumbo don't perform well is talking bollix, I had one back in the 80s and made contacts all over the world. A cracking old rig..
You might try something like the Stryker SR-955hpc 10 Meter Amateur Radio (with mod), I use a power supply at home and you can drop it into you truck or car. 70 watts
For AM I will take my Browning Golden Eagle MK IVA and for SSB I prefer my DAK Mark X over even my TRAM D201A.For AM & SSB in one Base Radio I will take the DAK X.I know some people hate them but I have owned and used mine for many years and love it.It is an audio MONSTER on transmit with the original Black Astatic D-104 desk microphone.All of the new base Radios are 100% GARBAGE as are all Export CB’s.I use my ICOM 7600 on Amateur Radio for HF/6 Meters.
Hi Fred great watching your videos really learning alot, I'm brand new to the waves and have a galaxy 959dx mobile. Try as I might I haven't found anything about a scan function and does it have one?? From" General bee 🐝" Ireland.
Hi No sorry that Transceiver doesn't have a Scan function..Link below to the Service Manual for it in PDF format. www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.cbtricks.com/radios/galaxy/dx959/graphics/dx959_serv_manual.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjQtqqe87LkAhWlolwKHbQZD4EQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw3lZLfWCVwCSZqyv5bvZTa2
Hey Fred where did you get the photo from @2:08,,,I have a good friend who used to be a CBer back in the early 80s who comes from Leicester and has lived in Christchurch New Zealand for the last 45yrs, I 1st met him Whilst learning the dreaded Morse for my Full Ham Licence 30+ years ago ..I am sure he would love to see the photo...Maybe some of his old mate's on it. Great Video Fred.👍👍
the are still lot of cb basstations to by in occassion when you recap the are brandnew .cb i 4 watt am 4 fmand 12 watt ssbb dont ussing hf transievers on 27 mhz i m ham for yaers and i ussing on cb only a crt one with lot of pleasure !!!!!! 3, 6 watt output!!!!
cb is pretty dead here in belfast a few die hards left but mostly lucky to get anyone on here now i used a kenwood ts 2000 for cb an alinco desk mike mainly because you can crank up the power and the sound quality is good only downside theres a lot of noise on 11 metres we never got years ago internet street lamps play stations even fleoresent lighting everything causes interference im losing intrest in the whole thing wish the old days of cb were back but there gone for good
I have a galaxy 959 with an Antron A99 100 feet in the air and can say from experience that only people on the cb these days are those who think they own the airwaves and are just a bunch of assholes.
