Got a review posted and some videos so people can learn more about this radio. TFT display is pretty cool
Ranger PPR-TLM1 Review
Ranger PPR-TLM1 Review
The fine job of silk screening.op: oh and how it stands up to dust as seen in it's close up shots.What exactly deems this radio worthy of the "professional" name?
The primary "professionals" (non hobbyists) using this type radio these days are truck drivers and I assure you I wouldn't want to pass Johnny Bigrig rolling down the road playing with the ridiculous display on this radio.
Hey, at least they're trying something new instead of just refacing the same old product. could see some appeal for big LCD meters from some folks. It'll be interesting to see how well this sells.
...OH - and the Grant XL article did get put aside for a little while but we will eventually get it finished..sorry about that
Thank you for the feedback on the article everyone!
I would definitely agree with everyone that this radio is not marketed to the 20 year veteran CBer's out there or those who also hold their license.
While the radio may not appeal to those who run the higher end exports or to ham or CB operators who use high end amatuer equipment there are quite a few people who these types of radios do appeal to.
When I did my review on the Cobra Bluetooth radio, like many operators I considered adding features like that as more a novelty item but I was surprised when testing the unit that it actually worked very well and was quite handy - I was even more surprised to find that it was one of the top selling radios for Cobra this last year. Many drivers and new CBer's were very interested in that model.
Now I'd love to see a very high end CB radio with SMT technology, proper filtering along with many of the other features I have on my ham equipment, but as another member mentioned previously it's just not feasible and no one would spend $1000 on a high end CB.
The truth behind all of this is that CB Manufacturers know their markets quite well (there's a reason the companies that are still around have survived the introduction of the cell phone and other electronic devices).
I have no problem with CB radio companies marketing new features or equipment to new segments of the population. As the radio hobby declines I think getting any new person interested in our hobby is a good thing and whether that is accomplished through the addition of Bluetooth technology or TFT screens it ends up benefiting us all in the long run.
While some people do refer to models such as this as "junk" I don't think those references take into consideration the intended markets and don't put the radio into a frame of reference. Compared to most ham equipment just about every CB radio could be considered junk.
I think the main thing to do is keep these kinds of thing in perspective
I love radios of all types and enjoying doing articles that spread the word about the hobby. The TFT display was quite a kick to mess around with and the meters were larger and easier to read than most other CB radios. Maybe that's not the only reason to run out and buy one, but there are definitely people that will enjoy this radio.
OH - and the Grant XL article did get put aside for a little while but we will eventually get it finished..sorry about that