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Old School vs New School CBs: Which do you like ??
- Thread starter unit_399
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Definitely old school for me. Base #1 is a Realistic TRC 465 with a Johnson desk mic. Base #2 is the Realistic TRC 490 seen in my banner. I bought it brand new in 1981. It been running with its Turner Super Side-kick ever since. My marine mobile is Cherokee AH-100 AM/SSB walkie talkie.
Old school all the way.
Old school all the way.
What the heck does this even mean "robotic pumpy ringadingzing newer dsp hf radios sound"? I am guessing from context this is a bad thing but not sure. LOLold school all the way,
The features of new radios are nice but my ears can't stand the sound of modern CB's
Don't get me started on how the robotic pumpy ringadingzing newer dsp hf radios sound
The best way I can describe DSP artifacts is that it sounds like you're talking under water. Very low levels of DSP filtering (just enough to remove the most bothersome background noise) aren't that objectionable. Get more aggressive with the filtering and it's definitely noticeable.
Which is why all but the cheapest CB and ham rigs have adjustable levels of DSP. On my Anytone 5555N2 for example, there are five levels.......1 is just enough DSP to take out some hiss, but not enough to distort voice. At about level 3 you start to get that "underwater" effect you are talking about. Level 5 is very aggressive and makes people sound like robots.
But here's the rub.......under normal operating conditions the DSP stays on level 0 or 1. The only time I ever turn it up is if I have bad powerline noise or other QRM. At that point having the DSP, even if I have to turn it to 5, is very worthwhile as without it conversation would be impossible! That's the beauty of DSP....communication is possible under conditions that would be impossible with an old-school radio with just a basic NB/ANL, and that includes older ham rigs. My IC-735 and TS-140S both have essentially useless noise blankers.
Yep, bought the first gen because of the front firing speaker and single din size which stacked nice with my stereo head unit in the Jeep dash after a double din conversion. Pulled it back out a couple of days later so I could plug in an external speaker. Also don't care for button menus replacing often used knobs. Does get good reports and has survived some harsh conditions.
That front firing speaker is a joke and is only good for people with good hearing in a quite car. The first thing I did with mine is a external speaker because I've had a life time of bad ears. And I'm no fan of of the menu system but I like that menu better than the 980 menu system and the McKinley has the external RF Power adjustment which is easy to master for use with the KL-203 P. Of coarse as I think of it I haven't found the perfect radio yet at least for me anyway. LOL
Been a few months, gonna run this today and try to keep those 48 year old caps juicy. All original. My first sideband radio.
Nothing against anyone that loves old radios but frankly I don't want the hassle. For CB specifically the best radio I have is a Radioddity QT80. Best no in easy to use. Best in the best receiver with the best noise reduction especially mobile in a city. With a President Digimike people tell me they can't tell the difference when I am mobile or base. If nostalgia was a bigger thing for me then yes a different or even a vintage radio. Keep in mind my main current daily driver is a 1966 Bel Air Station Wagon. In it I use a Stryker 955 HPC+. It just flat out works, has as good receiver, is powerful enough to regularly get me out 40+ miles and is easy to see and use at night. I could go on but my point is that I just want radios that work and work good.
That is good. Locally I talk to a few that sound great who are using 30 plus year old radios. Most of my time is spent below channel 1 and I am pretty happy. My QT80 got moved yesterday to my El Camino. Lots of noise sources. Solid core wires, hei, MSD circle track rpm control, ect. My "worse" radio, a Connex CX-33HPC1 is now my base. I call it my worse because it deals with city noise the worse out of what I own. Doesn't seem to matter as a base so far. I have 2 antennas in my back yard I can switch in my office. If the noise is annoying I simple switch from the vertical to the horizontal.
I have a quad 6 pro in my vehicle because that's all I can fit in there. The days of yore are gone.
I don't keep lots of newer vehicles so it isn't a huge problem for me. I have a 25 Bronco with no CB because my gf borrows it when her vehicle needs service and it just seems like a hassle in it. My 24 Silverado I can put anything in with the mount I use but prefer a Mars Yaesu FT-891. With it I can talk locally but at the same time listen to 40 or 80m when the mood strikes. With the stock microphone and a Stryker SR-A10 antenna locals have told me it is "broadcast quality" so I am happy with it. I don't know why more people into CB and older radios don't simply daily drive vintage cars.
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