Old School vs New School CBs: Which do you like ??

[Repo87]

The good old school radios are getting more expensive these days and harder to find in decent shape. Most are due to be recapped or need alignment done. Truck stop cb shop near me was selling used Philippine 148GTL for over $250.

Flea bay is a crap shoot. Spend $150-200 for a radio then have to pay someone $100-150 to go through it to fix it and align/tune it. Then pay even more for any other mods you want done to it.

Do that or buy a new school radio that has 100watt PEP out of the box with echo and talk back built in.

 

[Tech5]

I usually use my my old Midland 13-885 when I visit 11 meters, but at times I switch on my old AM radios just to hear the sound and bring back memories. For a couple of days ago I put a bid on an old Midland 13-887 which was one of the first radios I saw that really caught my interest for radio.

 

[Jolly Green]

The good old school radios are getting more expensive these days and harder to find in decent shape. Most are due to be recapped or need alignment done. Truck stop cb shop near me was selling used Philippine 148GTL for over $250.

Flea bay is a crap shoot. Spend $150-200 for a radio then have to pay someone $100-150 to go through it to fix it and align/tune it. Then pay even more for any other mods you want done to it.

Do that or buy a new school radio that has 100watt PEP out of the box with echo and talk back built in.

Very much the same points that steers me to newer gear. That and I also like to freeband. But I have to admit, the thought of putting a DDS into my D858 President Washington sounds appealing.

 

[Recon]

Very much the same points that steers me to newer gear. That and I also like to freeband. But I have to admit, the thought of putting a DDS into my D858 President Washington sounds appealing.

I run the Anytone 5555 + in the truck, but I prefer the old school rigs overall for ease of use and serviceability. Well, as long as I can find parts.

I do see DDS solutions becoming more popular in the future for old school rigs as a way to be able to operate more like the newer rigs. Best of both worlds for tuning and audio quality. Worst of both worlds for fixing when it goes boom.

I have the new version AT-5555Plus and the Ailunce HS4. Can be converted to 11 meters and set the Low and High dead-key at home. Function Menu #9 in the Main Menu in the HS4 provides adjustments for noise reduction settings and the AT-5555 Plus does not have a #9. Could it be that the HS4 has the noise reduction feature that the AT-5555Plus N has?

 

[BC Coyote]

Could it be that the HS4 has the noise reduction feature that the AT-5555Plus N has?

You can easily tell whether or not it has noise reduction. Find an open channel with just static. Turn up squelch till sound stops. Then turn squelch back down......if the volume of the background noise drops noticeably in the one or two seconds after you turn the squelch back down then you have active noise reduction. If the volume of the static stays the same you don't have noise reduction!

 

[Recon]

You can easily tell whether or not it has noise reduction. Find an open channel with just static. Turn up squelch till sound stops. Then turn squelch back down......if the volume of the background noise drops noticeably in the one or two seconds after you turn the squelch back down then you have active noise reduction. If the volume of the static stays the same you don't have noise reduction!

Thanks, I'll give it try. The value numbers in the HS4 are 1 through 5 and Off. Yes Sir! It sure does! The AT-5555 Plus does not.

 

[Recon]

You can easily tell whether or not it has noise reduction. Find an open channel with just static. Turn up squelch till sound stops. Then turn squelch back down......if the volume of the background noise drops noticeably in the one or two seconds after you turn the squelch back down then you have active noise reduction. If the volume of the static stays the same you don't have noise reduction!

Function Menu #9 / r n r. Value numbers 1-5 and Off option.

 

[BC Coyote]

Yes Sir! It sure does! The AT-5555 Plus does not.

Excellent! I was fairly sure the HS4 had it. On my Anytone I run it at level 1 or sometimes 2. I find higher levels make stations sound overly 'robotic'.

 

[Recon]

Excellent! I was fairly sure the HS4 had it. On my Anytone I run it at level 1 or sometimes 2. I find higher levels make stations sound overly 'robotic'.

Factory Default is set at 2. Yes, I agree. I increased the values from 3 to 5 and 2 is comfortable.

 

[Recon]

Excellent! I was fairly sure the HS4 had it. On my Anytone I run it at level 1 or sometimes 2. I find higher levels make stations sound overly 'robotic'.

I'm waiting for the seller to ship the User Manual which came with the radio. What is odd is, looking at the User Manual online , the Function Menu #9 relates to selection of type of microphone which is the same as the User Manual for the AT-5555Plus.

 

[Woody-202]

I bought a Cobra 139XLR new in 1978, and ran it for years.The best receive (with mods), loud clear audio, and super expandibility. Best of all, the Service manual w/ schematic made repairs and mods easy. I've always said it was the best type-accepted CB radio ever made. However, after reading the reviews and hearing them on the air, I bit the bullet and purchased an ANYTONE AT6666PRO. Wasn't too crazy about it at first. Harsh-sounding receive wasn't comfortable listening. My big fingers didn't get along with its tiny pushbutton controls. no service manual or schematic. AND . . . after having a full-size base station on my bench, it looked totally out of place. But it had things my Cobra never had: wide freq range, superb noise reduction, "zero" channels, and higher power. Most of all the price was right. I finally fixed the harsh receive issue, and learned to live with the other drawbacks. It's my go-to cb for the time being.
I'm mapping out the circuit on the Q6PRO, but it's slow going. If I finally come up with a schematic, I'll share it. But don't hold your breath. I wish I could turn back the clock and look forward to a Sam's Manual on the Q6Pro.

So, how many of you guys like and run old school radios ?? Why ?? What are you running ?? I miss my old Cobra and wish I could bring it (circuit-wise) into the 21st Century.

J.J. 399

Old school:
President Grant export
Lafayette Telsat 25 (had a crystal exchange to get 37. 38, 39, 40)
Pace 1000B 40ch
EFJ 124 23ch
Cobra 138XLR

New:
President Washington
President George EU
President McKinley EU

 

[Brother DXer]

I like both, old school and new, but for different reasons. I like the look of the old school, and love the look of some in particular. Uniden Washington, GE Super Base, Cobra 2000, to name a few.

With the exception of the GE Super Base and a McKinley, my current lineup is all 10 meter.
For me, these are the absolute best!! The Anytones and various clones, the Strykers, and my two Rangers. These are the Radios I run, and I couldn't ask for anything better when it comes to quality.
AT5555
AT6666
ARES II
AT5555N2
CRT SS 6900V
Radioddity QT 60
Striker 955HPC
RCI 99N2
RCI 69 Base +++++++

 

[AK #5]

I like my Cobra 148GTL that I bought brand new in the spring of 1985. I also have a D model 148, 2 858 Grants and 2 Browning Barons, they all get used from time to time, along with a various assortment of Minuteman II D104M6 mics, black label M6Bs, 575M6, RD 104,Turner Plus 3, M2U, a T-UG 8 Golden Eagle and a T-UG 9. I also have a brand new Ranger RCI 69 Base Plus + and a new President Washington mobile, as well as a Radioddity QT 60 (non pro) and a Superstar SS88 (DX88HL).

I love the old school equipment best, but the new equipment is much more practical, in terms of functionality and TX power. I really love the new Washington paired with the DigiMike, as the audio and noise reduction are top-notch, and the radio plays well with all my amplifiers. But for nostalgia, and that old school audio, nothing beats the analog rigs with an old Texas Star and a power mic. When I fire up the Grant with the Texas Star, it's 1978 all over again!

As a side note, Ranger gets kudos for bringing back the SS88HL. I get to relive the old days of enjoying a brand new DX88HL 35 years later!

 

[9C1Driver]

I like both, old school and new, but for different reasons. I like the look of the old school, and love the look of some in particular. Uniden Washington, GE Super Base, Cobra 2000, to name a few.

With the exception of the GE Super Base and a McKinley, my current lineup is all 10 meter.
For me, these are the absolute best!! The Anytones and various clones, the Strykers, and my two Rangers. These are the Radios I run, and I couldn't ask for anything better when it comes to quality.
AT5555
AT6666
ARES II
AT5555N2
CRT SS 6900V
Radioddity QT 60
Striker 955HPC
RCI 99N2
RCI 69 Base +++++++

I'm with you on most of that. I just can't associate the words quality and RCI together like that. Maybe some day they will get their $hit together and be great again.

 

[Brother DXer]

I'm with you on most of that. I just can't associate the words quality and RCI together like that. Maybe some day they will get their $hit together and be great again.

I understand the thing with Ranger, but both of mine run great! They both sound better than any of my other radios, especially the 99N2, and they're always on frequency. But I get it.