What have you recently acquired for new radio gear ?

[va236]

My latest additions were my Galaxy DX959, Wilson 1000 Mag Mount, and Texas Star DX299. These got installed in my truck, a 90 Dodge Ram 250. Got the SWR down to 1.2-1 across the band. This was a Sparky setup. I'm really pleased with this setup.

Other radio stuff laying around is a Realistic TRC-465 AM/SSB, a Cobra 19DXIII, a Galaxy DX66V, a Bearcat BC700A scanner, and a RS SWR/Power meter. My next purchase will be a 2950DX. I'm thinking about letting the DX66V go because I really never use it anymore since I hang out mostly on sideband. The Cobra 19DXIII is going in my nephew's 1971 Firebird in the next couple of weeks. Then I'll start concentrating on putting together my base.

[Ashton]

Just writing and wondering what new radio "finds" any of you have found lately to add to your growing collection or as a replacement for something you recently parted with or put away ?

Did you just order something up brand new from one of out CBRT Forum sponsors ? Or something from one of the major catalog-order warehouses ? Where ?

Did you recently find a newly acquired treasure from Ebay or Craigslist ?

Have you come across a steal at a local yard sale or flea market ?

What was it ? New or used ? Antique or Vintage ? What condition is it in ? Why did you buy it? Was it something you've been wanting or needing for a while now-----or it was just to good of a deal to pass up ? Something rare or unusual ? Homemade ? Something you or a friend built ? Something odd or unusual perhaps normally unrelated----that you plan to modify, adapt or experiment with for radio use ? What is it ?

Was it a---- Radio ? Amplifier ? Meter ? Mic ? Antenna ? Tower ? Rotor ? Coax ? Power Cables ? Power Supply ? Motor Maul ? What ?

What do you plan on doing with it ? Are you definitely keeping it or do you plan on re-selling it ?

Just wanted a place for people to share with the rest of us what you've been up to lately with new additions to you gear collection! It seems like so much of it is lost or disconnected in a multitude of other miscellaneous threads that we might not normally read or stumble on ordinarily----and we could all see what you've got recently in one place.

I know I am very interested in what other guys are getting and how they are building their collections and with what type of gear. It's a good way to get new ideas to add to our own collections too!

Anybody get any radio-related "goodies" lately ? Please share !

I just ordered a Genearl Stonewall Jackson Base from GI Joes will let everyone know what I think of it and the tune job. So far have heard alot of good things about GI Joes

[Turbo-T]

Tonight I picked up two working older 40 channel radios for only $15.

A few weeks ago I got a new SS158EDX radio from Sparkys. So far mixed results...some say it's loud n proud, others say it sounds muffled at times. Using a Skythumper ST65DX mic with the mic gain on the radio at 1-3 o clock and running a 102 whip dead center of vehicle.

A few weeks before that I got a new Tram 3 puck mag mount for my 102 whip.

[ma deuce]

29 chrome-davemade 4pill single coil 10k

[shakuna]

i,ve recently bought a dx 2547 base and d104. and also a washington base with extra channels in. plus the imax 2000 antenna, which realy works so well. i,ve goten alot of good compliments from many. and a dx 959 mobile. just need a good mobile antenna now lol.

[Ashton]

found a great deal for 150.00 got a used rci 2950 and a shooting star plus 250 amp and a brand new astatic d104-m6b mike

[OneEyedJack]

just got a cherry 142 GTL with a D-104 base mic.

[Foxhunter]

I just re-arranged nearly ALL of my online Photobucket photo account pictures, having to sort thru all the pictures and individually re-size 3/4 of them and ended up being very time-consuming. I went and organized them into separate themed albums and while doing all this, I went thru many of the photos of some of my newer acquisitions and have them posted here below. Some are shot by me, some from Ebay images of my purchased items and more. Until I get an expensive high quality camera it's what I have to show. All pictures are part of my own station collection, none of them being generic example pics from the web. Some of it is in an area that is not only unfinished but is being taken apart so forgive some of the background flotsam/jetsam etc.

Many of us describe various things we have or own by simple text in the different threads. Not only here, but it would be good to see more pictures from our CBRT Forum members, as they sometimes are worth "a thousand words". In many cases it's like "finally putting a face to a name". I've posted here some (hopefully interesting) items that may give some viewers some information, ideas, leads or things to further research elsewhere.



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We bought 8x of these and I found a use for my half of them at least already. These were purchased late last spring from a large clothing retailer chain called Steve and Barry's that went under, another victim of the really bad economic situation---still going strong.

These cubicals are VERY heavy-duty and were originally $550 each to have made. They are about 48"W x 42"H x 24"D and are perfect for housing the majority of my mobile radios, smaller DC power supplies, test meters, radio meters, books/manuals/magazines----pretty much everything small and medium sized. Rear access allows the use of DC and coaxial cabling hookup with ease. Each individual cube is large enough to allow enough airspace for adequate cooling.


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Now here is a somewhat similar flea market find. It a bit smaller but is a very HEAVY cubical from an office system, the way it was labeled it was from a mental hospital psych department. The individual rectangular cubes themselves are not as tall as on the other units but are instead wider, which is what I need and will use for some of the larger export mobile radios and any larger side mic radios. Cool.

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Below are a few older vintage base radios. The white "station" desktop units that the base radios are sitting in (and on) were taken from a large electronics retailer that went under. I have six of these white tri-level cashier's computer station desktop cubicals.

Every side/flat/and top has a cable & cord wear-resistant 3" black plastic ring-lined cable access hole, which I will most definitely safely utilize for all my coax cables and power cords. When the electronics giant Circuit City went out of business, I went and raided several of their brand-new stores in the surrounding counties and bought out many store infrastructure electronics and other hardware goodies as I could afford. All for my station shack, when I am ready to assemble it all to complete the room. These perfectly sized station units are ideal for a radio, an amp, a power supply and a meter in one nice neat organized space.

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Now another thing purchased were 9x large clothing display tables with caster wheels, from that Steve and Barry's clothing chain I mentioned. They were all 4'x8' 3-tier tables, which I disassembled and then doubled together to combine them and make into 6-ft tall 6-tier heavy-duty rack shelving. All corner supports are grey hammerfinish powdercoated 2-1/2 inch flanged pipe. A few of the tables I've decided to leave in the original configuration (in the 3-level form) and will line them all lengthwise along a wall------as a large continuous 3-level station desk. Capping the ends will be the larger twice-as-tall spare equipment shelves.

Along the top of the 3-tier/level desks will be a white cashier's station at intervals, 2 per desk. In between each white radio "station" will likely go larger base units like a Galaxy DX2517 a Galaxy Saturn Turbo a Yaesu FT-101ZD a Kenwood TS-940SAT a Kenwood TS-820 a Kenwood TS-520SE a Realistic TRC-457 a Realistic TRC-458 and other various larger transceivers or amplifiers going curently unused. Everything for tables, shelves and cubicals is manmade commercial quality oak woodgrained finished and will make a fine station radio shack area.


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Speaking above there somewhere about Circuit City, it is a shame about their demise. The last day or two (when about to close for good) they had set aside for contractors and other similar types wanting to dismantle and buy hardware and actual store fixtures. That's when and where I took all the cashier's computer stands and other goodies. I spent over a day (and into the next) and got a good deal (of what I could dismantle by myself) from back behind their car audio department display center. 100A DC power supplies and tons of 4AWG red & black battery cables, relays etc. The biggest effort from there was to strip the entire store of all their less-than-a-year-old AC power distribution units (PDU's). It involved taking apart every single isle's gondola display rows and store shelving units and it was a huge pain. It also involved two real jarring electrical shocks while reaching under and disconnecting live power cables that were supposed to be shut off. Anyway, I netted over a 100x of these beautiful extruded-aluminum 20A heavy-duty commercial electric PDU's. Each one has 7x 20A receptacles and TWO connector cables which are meant to be daisy-chained together in a link system. Circuit breaker protected, water resistant heavy-jacketed 12/3 cables with dual NEMA L5-20 plugs. Very very handy for the station room I'll be putting together and out in the shop as well.


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Here's one of my all-time favorite 23 channel SSB mobile rigs. Sears SSB 23 AM/SSB CB radio with built-in AC/DC power supply for base and mobile both. Got this really nice condition one (minor marks) recently to make two I own total. Really a nice radio, popular with collectors and I can see why. Often they are found missing their odd and unique plugged (separate) DC and AC power cords. You will find most are missing at least one cord if not both. As a result you will see attempts to hardwire a cord directly into the radio inside. If you have them don't lose them!

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Nice little Sears Roebuck CB radio catalog. Not only features the above Sears SSB 23 which I am so fond of but also other Sears CB radios and accessories. A bonus is that nearly half of the listings and information is all EF Johnson Messenger CB radios that Sears sold at the time.

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Sears Roadtalker 40 AM/SSB CB radio. Also a Sears Roadtalker 40 AM CB radio so I now both separate versions. Both in excellent condition and the AM version with original box and paperwork. Again here's another Sears radio with (or without!) that oddball Sears power cords. Another thing you will find with these Roadtalkers and the other Sears SSB 23 radios-----it's hard to find them with the radio case's "contact paper" woodgrain finish intact. It is basically adhesive backed contact paper with a woodgrain and not very durable. Most of them have digs tears gouges rips etc or are just plain peeling. If you have one with a nice coating be sure to take care of it.

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Again as I've said in many threads, I love original paperwork and documentation. Nothing like having the original manufacturers instructions specifications and schematics. This instruction booklet is for a Tram Diamond 60 D60 AM SSB 23 channel mobile radio. I also have a Tram D60 still in it's original box with all paperwork etc but also bought a second D60 with a cracked meter lens not too long ago, other than the lens it's in very nice shape. So here I have another original owners manual to now keep with the second radio. This also came with extra documents, an RF gain supplement sheet and service bulletin.

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Now here's one of two Hy-Gain VIII (8) AM/SSB 23 channel console base station. Except for it being 23 channel and not having a frequency counter, I'd equate it's performance in preliminary testing right up there with the Cobra 2000GTL (not that a 2000 is "the ultimate" radio). By a freak chance I found (and bought) two Hy-Gain VIII radios in one week.

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EF Johnson. A decent all-American made radio company. I found a NOS EF Johnson Messenger AC/DC power supply still factory sealed in the box. Could use it, but now would hate to open it. I have another recently purchased (but not pictured) still-in-the-box Johnson Messenger 350 & 323 radio AC/DC power supply. I have a pair of Johnson Messenger 323 AM mobile 23 channel radios. I've read (and need to re-read) that you need to use the special Johnson power supplies when using their old mobile radios at home, a "regular" 12VDC power supply harms these radios somehow.

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Now here's another favorite 23 channel base radio. They say a EF Johnson Messenger 250 50th Anniversary Edition AM CB radio is an "audio monster"-----and that reputation is based in fact as it sounds very good. This and the SBE Console II (2) AM SSB are both excellent audio rigs, some of the best retro radios in their class. The Johnson 250 is getting hard to find in decent condition, I've seen many-----and many have seen better days. I have four of them. The first one below is pretty much mint, in beautiful condition with the old-school stock indoor brass base antenna accessory.

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This EF Johnson Messenger 250 50th Anniversary Edition AM CB radio is my other best condition 250 unit and very nice. Although I have several original EF Johnson hand microphones, this radio sported a seldom seen near-mint Turner Messenger desk base microphone with the matching trademark gold and brown matching paint scheme.

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Here is an unused NOS Turner EF Johnson Messenger desk base microphone, still in plastic (but sadly original box was MIA).
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This is one of two EF Johnson Messenger 323 (model 242-0153-002) AM 23 channel mobile rigs. One is dark gray and black and the other is a light gray and charcoal, completely different ID tags but still listed as the same radio. One might be older than the other I'd guess.

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I like some odd radios sometimes and this is one of those types. An old-style "CB Phone" type base radio. EF Johnson Messenger 132 AM base radio 23 channel. I have two of them but one pictured. Original box/instructions/warranty card/everything.


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Here's an older blacked-out Dynascan Cobra 134 AM SSB CB mobile 23 channel radio, I have a pair of them and they are near-mint. This one here has a tiny switch for a few extra channels I believe, and the other is bone-stock. These are fine radios only if you can find one in decent shape, many aren't. Original box and all paperwork etc. These old radios take the 1/4-inch phone plugs for mic connectors/mic jacks.

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In a similar vein here's an old Dynascan Cobra 29 AM CB radio 23 channel. It is in good/excellent condition (with small signs of wear). But the minute I hooked it up to a Bird Termaline and TX'd the meter stuck. On actual live transmit it sounds "garbled" while listening on a monitor. Not sure what it needs, too nice to junk. All original unopened paperwork included.

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Now here's a sharp looking older rig, a Courier Classic III (3) AM CB mobile radio 23 channels. A heavy radio and an all chrome case. Has several "slider" adjustment function switches. Handy built-in AC/DC power supply for base or mobile. I have two of them and this one I just got. It's brand new NOS, though opened it appears unused. Found the first one at a flea market last year in good condition and really liked it. When I saw this one I wanted it because of it's new condition.

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Linear Systems Side Band Engineers SBE Sierra Base 23 channel owners manual. I bought this because I can't find one for any of my SBE Console II radios and they are very similar "sister" units.

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About a month ago I snapped up this Cobra 2000GTL AM SSB base radio with the matching CA-2000 extension accessory speaker. The radio is modified with extras but the price was right. As almost always, I had to buy it untested and take a chance. Later that afternoon I didn't even fully test the radio but upon hooking it up quickly discovered a stuck meter. I'll have to send it out for a repair and have it re-aligned as is standard for me as much as possible.

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This just came about 2 weeks ago. It is a Radio Shack Realistic Navaho TRC-457 AM SSB base radio. Haven't tested it but am confident it works well as I bought it from a reputable source. I have a pair of it's sister radios the Radio Shack Realistic Navaho TRC-458 AM SSB radios, one modified with extra channels (plus who knows what else) etc which is shown below. The other TRC-458 is bone-stock mint condition but needs a trip to the repair shop---no TX.

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Here is a seemingly much sought after Cherokee AH-27F AM CB HT (with frequency counter!) hand held "walkie talkie", still brand-new-in-the-box. Somewhat similar to the newer Midland and other-brand "clones" of this radio like the Midland 75-822------which I also have mint barely used original box papers etc. Although the Cherokee can be found in a "good deal" sometimes, it's not too often-----and people who know what they are looking at seem to really go after them. Not my certification just an observation, very popular. There are a bunch of mods that can be done to this radio too! A shame they are no longer made. Especially it's bigger brother.

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The Uniden PC122XL AM SSB mobile radio here is brand new and I pretty much stole it. I usually end up paying fair market value (or in some cases thru the nose) but this one I did well on. They are reputed to be a good radio in public opinion and review. I peeked inside the box (to make sure I wasn't buying a small brick inside---remember those scams?) and that's pretty much all I've done with it. Glad I answered that non-descript little Craigslist ad lol.

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This was a nice flea market find. A Pathcom Pace Model 8046 AM CB mobile radio. I never liked the name "Pace" so when I saw it there on a table, I kept looking it over but finally passed it up because he wanted to much for it in untested condition and all. Then I kept thinking later that night how clean it looked, really in nice cosmetic shape. So I went back the next day and talked him down and bought it. I was pleasantly surprised by the radio and have used it a number of times as a driver. This is another radio that has an oddball DC power cord so if you have one take care not to lose it.

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Well this was another Craigslist find that almost went unnoticed. Virtually brand new-in-the-box barely used, the owner tried it and decided he didn't like HT radios. It's a Yaesu VX-6R HT radio. I had the Yaesu VX-7R already but was missing the battery charger and DC power cord. The missing accessories that I would've ordered from Ham Radio Outlet would've been 2/3 the price of what I paid for this whole radio. So basically I got all the accessories and a complete spare handheld HT to-boot. These radios are FULLY SUBMERSIBLE for 30 minutes which is cool plus shock-proof etc---nice and they get very good reviews. I've been invited to get on the repeaters but have only done some listening so far non-active SWL.

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Here is another recent find from someone out there in "the backwoods of NJ" Jersey Pinelands. A Heathkit HW-100 in overall very nice shape. One knob seems a little unnaturally tight and I'll need to take it apart to check it out. I also have to at least do a visual inventory of the tubes and see if it has the optional CW filter-----access the interior in-general. It didn't come with the matching power supply nor the octal plug power cord. The cabinet, face panel and knobs look to be in really nice shape. Not sure if I'll keep it.

Atop it is one of those Ebay-type "10 Meter linears" type things, a Palomar Engineers Skipper 300 base amplifier that I also picked up when I was there. GE8950 tubes and completely untested. Ok/moderate cosmetic condition though it's fairly well used. Two switches have the tips broke off from someones carelessness. The amplifier is indeed heavy, like a concrete block.

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Here is a big rackmount 50A linear DC power supply, mint condition. A Newmar Power 115-12-50RM which is an excellent commercial marine grade-brand manufacturer. I have 10 of their Newmar Power alternator noise filters which are the best (and VERY expensive).

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I've been saving this one and is one serious maul box----one of my baddest----it's a CTE New Mosquito about the size of a candy bar and good for about 35W. Was hooked up to a Cobra 25LTD Classic when I got it from a CB-SK's father. I guess it would give that stock 4W signal a boost. Definitely foreign made and I see CTE is actually part of Alan Midland----hmmm that's odd, overseas looks like Midland's been dabbling with RF power.

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This tube amp is not exactly "recently acquired" but only about a year now and wanted to include it since you don't see too many online. It's a 6-tube Elkin Amplifier. I read somewhere that the maker was a guy who once made the Elkin Tube Amps was out of the Carolinas and people collect them. I don't see too many (if ever) come up at auction etc but perhaps I've simply missed them. From what I remember reading they weren't mass-produced like many of his contemporary competitors were. Very very good condition cosmetically with the most minor signs of use on the edges of the cover. Untested as of yet but the tubes don't even have silvering and looks like one solid amp. I believe they made a 6 an 8 and a 12 tube Elkin models. But I have no clue as to it's actual operating condition. I paid a few bucks for it (probably too much) as it wasn't too cheap.

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On the earlier subject of paperwork and manuals here is something I found recently. NOS mint vintage Astatic Corporation Microphone Catalog Brochures. They list, explain and detail many of the older base and hand mic's available from Astatic Corp at the time. Unfortunately it doesn't have information for one particular mic that I really could use the element number on right now. Still, more facts than what I've found online anywhere to-date.

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Speaking of mic's these are now new but sight unseen. One is an old Astatic DN desk mic and the other is an older Astatic Noise Cancelling mic with a Noistop Business Radio attachment of some kind. The third one is a nice heavy little Linear Systems Side Band Engineers SBE Belcom 200X desk mic for my SBE Console's I & II. This SBE Belcom is unused in box but unfortunately the box is not in great shape. I have a pair of these now, one amplified the other unamplified. These are pre-wired but I read (for any of you SBE buyers out there) that the 4-pin wiring has a voltage on these, which differs from the typical 4-pin Cobra etc.

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Like I said in another thread recently . . .

Slowly but surely it's being built

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[drdx]

It is definitely time for an INTERVENTION

This reminds me of a guy I ran across once at a yard sale. He had a bunch of AMC pacer parts. His wife said, "believe it or not, he's in the AMC club". I quickly replied, "mam, that's no club, that's called a SUPPORT GROUP". She agreed. So here we have it, our support group. You're addicted, to a hokey hobby, but it is our hokey hobby and I for one whole heartedly support it, healthy or not. We've all chosen to carry on a tradition that is a part of the American experience's canvas and we can't erase ourselves from it.

Like the peach stain on my new pink sweater, the one that I tie over my shoulder an mow the yard in, it can't be removed.

How's that for some Saturday morning BS?

-drdx

[Foxhunter]

Haha lol dx man I see. Maybe I'll star on an A&E reality show and be given a steel tube Eimac as compensation payment . In actuality, personal radio communications and the radio sub-culture ARE indeed a permanent part of the American fabric, past and present and that was a good point made. And I'd guess that the United States was (and evidently still is) to blame for spreading "the CB radio pandemic" to all over the globe elsewhere heh.



I missed the days of the original "CB Craze" and the earlier skip cycles that they all talk about, was too young. But there are some very nice radios still floating around from tha time period. In the 70's I was a very young boy and owned a couple of walkie talkies and that's where it started. Athough I eventually drove the heaviest semi's all over the East and Central US, I never really got into the trucking culture as was depicted in popular culture. There are many "truckstop cowboys" out there still over-using the old fad lingo and dress up in what equates to "a trucker costume" etc. But using a radio all-day every-day did re-kindle the interest in CB radio that I had from the days of my youth.


From another thread

I was something like him at that age, my Father driving a "big rig" semi truck at the time too. He worked alot and I would think of him with every truck I saw. I played with all the Tonka trucks and Hot Wheels and eventually grew into working heavy commercial and highway construction, operating heavy equipment machinery, driving tri-axle dump trucks, class A heavy wrecker roll-backs and then eventually the full-size over-the-road OTR rigs.

I remember clearly getting my first radio and it was a Realistic Channel 14 CB walkie-talkie. I often stayed up late at night past bedtime (and hiding under the blanket), listening to people talking and I could only hear the biggest stations talking Spanish usually. I used to "talk back" to them, thinking they could hear me, but of course now I realize it was only my imagination as my little radio was so small. I would talk to my Dad on it sometimes as he drove off to work in the early mornings in his '65 Ford Falcon Sedan Delivery. Thought it was great, my radio with a range of 1/2 mile or so!

There are mainly two types of truck driver radio operators out there. The majority who mainly run stock equipment (or dabble in the radio "peak & tune" arena)------and that remainder percentage who run real power. Perfect for it with giant alternators and multiple battery banks just begging to be used.



I want to have some fun with a collection for a while anyway, and most of what I have is already restored or repaired. The overwhelming majority is in good order but there are a number that need attention, but only a smaller percentage. Unfortunately I don't make the big bucks to afford all-new vintage stuff. Pony Express comes to mind with all his new-in-the-box radios. Maybe I'd be better off with one or two radios only and exchange a small fortune in radios for one big Eimac, who knows. I view myself as an interested collector more than "a playa", although I do have some RF Power to back it up. I'm at that point or ceiling of "diminishing returns"----or $$$$.

Anyway when I get a decent camera I'll be sure to photo document every model and place them permanently online for others to either enjoy viewing or for those trying to research particular models. For that very reason in MANY of my threads & posts I ask other members to post and share what they have.

I will say I share the house here with a disbelieving family member who does still try to be understanding. However it's (slightly) a running joke and she doesn't want to even hear it when I say . . ."I just need this last piece to complete my collection".

Until she pointed it out I didn't realize I was saying this all the time. The problem with collecting is say for example, you get a Johnson radio. You then want the optional Johnson desk mic, the optional Johnson external meter, the optional Johnson power supply, the matching Johnson amplifier-----etc $ etc $ etc $. And if you collect all sorts of makes and models-----this snowballs really fast $$$$.


Anyway I do hope that people will continue to add to this thread what they've picked up somewhere. Whether online, a flea market or garage sale find, a freebie----anything you've grabbed up for radio goodies. Tell us where and how you got it to, how you came to acquire it!

[va236]

UPDATE... I just acquired a Yaesu 757GX in mint condition, so this is my latest "toy". I was looking at a Kenwwod TS-140S for $415, but I was a little concerned about the slider controls on the right of the Kenwood because of complaints I had read about them going bad. The Yaesu has basically the same capabilities and I got it for $115 cheaper... shipped to my door! Left me with enough to buy a Pyramid PS46KX power supply from Sparky to power it! It came complete... radio, power cable, microphone, manual and original boxes, Christmas came early!

[va236]

Foxhunter,
After making my last post I went back and was reading through the rest of the posts... then I got to yours! Spent 30 minutes or so just drooling over all of that beautiful stuff! Man... did you have to buy another house to set all that stuff up in? That is a wonderful collection of gear... made my day looking at it... even remember seeing a lot of it when I was younger, especially remember the Messenger 132. I had a friend who bought one of those new when they first came out. Thanks for the post, and have a great day!

Respectfully,
John

[djrebel236]

Heathkit Laboratory Oscilloscope

[Foxhunter]

Heathkit Laboratory Oscilloscope

Hey well what is it? I have the Heathkit Ham-Scan HO-13 and the Heathkit Monitor Scope HO-10. Is it either of those ? I didn't know they made any lab grade stuff but anything is possible. What model Heath is it DJ ?

Foxhunter,
After making my last post I went back and was reading through the rest of the posts... then I got to yours! Spent 30 minutes or so just drooling over all of that beautiful stuff! Man... did you have to buy another house to set all that stuff up in? That is a wonderful collection of gear... made my day looking at it... even remember seeing a lot of it when I was younger, especially remember the Messenger 132. I had a friend who bought one of those new when they first came out. Thanks for the post, and have a great day!

Respectfully,
John

Thank you and glad you enjoyed it. I'll post much more at some point and get them online, I only have a fraction shown here or elsewhere. Really, I'd like to see more of our own members post collection photos. I enjoy looking at other peoples rigs, setups and shack photos as much as you did enjoy mine! And I really do. Posting the extra information of what it is (make & model and more) also really helps too. Reviewing an item and describing it can help someone else who is possibly considering buying one. I can only ask some of you guys to:

Keep posting pictures and descriptions of your radio goodies!

[Alien Abductor]

Putting together a new base, heres the gear i got so far

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[Bombero]

Was thinking of getting my ham ticket last month.

I traded a few older 23 channel working CB's for a Ten-Tec Argonaut QRP rig.

It worked but needed a bit of TLC to get it up to par, so I traded an older gentleman for a Kenwood TS430s HF transceiver. The Kenwood needed a bit of work, so I got it going to my liking and set it up to do 11 meters for a bit.

Took the Tech test last weekend (9/19/09) and passed. Missed the General ticket by 1 correct answer. DAYUM !

Now I am searching for an antenna to run 10 - 80 meters and I'm good to go.

BTW....I still have not received my callsign yet.....nor am I listed on the ULS site. (9/28/09)

[385]

Some how I think those pics that foxhunter post doesn't even scratch the surface of his collection But I can say that if I ever find myself up in his neck of the woods...I would pay good money to come and spend the day just looking at his collection of radio gear. I can't began to count the times I looked through some of his post if pic's saying "Oh man".

Fox, That Is truly a very impressive collection.

By the way, I got my MFJ 259B antenna analyzer and picked up a Radio Shack MTA-20 Digital swr/watt meter from flea bay and should be here by the end of the week.

[ma deuce]

davemade 1x4 -skythumper 65 mike and a new 10k and a tram tri-mag mount from sparky

[ma deuce]

and oh yea- foxhunter WOW!

[RatsoW9]

At a local hamfest I picked up two Courier Galaxy V's, 40ch AM/SSB rigs with some nice features. Both are like new and work perfectly. The fest was dry as far as ham radio gear goes, but I"m happy with my CB find.

[Shatterhand]

That was an awesome post. I will read it again. So much history there.

[djrebel236]

Heathkit Laboratory Oscilloscope

Hey well what is it? I have the Heathkit Ham-Scan HO-13 and the Heathkit Monitor Scope HO-10. Is it either of those ? I didn't know they made any lab grade stuff but anything is possible. What model Heath is it DJ ?

Model IO-18

[alhefner]

Since I wanted to play around with a hand held CB and Cobra has a great CB reputation, I decided to get the 38WXST 40 channel hand held. Bottom line is that the one I got is some real crap. The audio is terrible no matter what you do and it is so RF sensitive that you have to turn the squelch up over 3/4 of the way just to blank out the worst of the noise.

I knew in advance that the "rubber duck" would be crap. All Hand held radios come with terrible rubber ducks so the first thing I did was make a good (yes I checked it) jumper to adapt my regular antenna to BNC and ran it through the SWR/ power meter. That improved TX /RX but did nothing at all to improve the RF noise problem and bad audio.

Since I was able to communicate within about a mile, I would rate this radio at about a 3. It works, kind of, but just not very well even for a hand held.

[Foxhunter]

Thank You !

I wanted to say that, thanks guys. But I didn't want to keep repeatedly posting on the thread here myself either, hogging it. Mainly as I keep hoping and am pleased that others are showing their new items too for information and eye candy! Very glad to see the posts you guys make. I know with the economy and all that some spending is being curtailed a little, but it makes me glad to see that others still have a bad case of the very contagious bug---"CB-itus" . Thanks for the compliments guys and again at some point I'll gladly include what I can for photos AND documentation, things to look for (or look out for!) among all the various models and much much more. Maybe it'll help guide a little, for looking for new goodies of your own.



PS . . .
I walked around all day yesterday from sunrise to sunset, at the national car show & swap meet at the Carlisle Fall Event . My family friends and I are all into sports cars and hot rods and that whole too expensive hobby. But, I know I said I was "done buying radios for a while" but while I was there, towards the end in the back rows----I picked up (another hehe) Sears Roadtalker 40 613811 (CM-6100S) Citizens Band Two Way Radio 40 channel AM mobile radio!

It has a "Sears Factory Reconditioned" label affixed to the rear of the radio. Haven't tested it yet as I'm way too worn out, but did notice the channel selector knob is a little loose. (I need to take the case cover off and just tighten the selector mounting nut I hope). Still it needs a good cleaning, but looks to be in really nice cosmetic shape overall. The best thing is when I picked up the radio I saw that it had that (somwhat rare and usually "MIA") DC power cord/plug still attached! (Replacements are very hard to find). The lady who was there, said her husband owned it and was selling it, but said he wasn't there and asked me to come back. I said "no way" I was too tired, so I started to walk away. But she caught me and asked, "what do you want to pay for it?". So I said "I don't know, maybe $5 bucks max"-----and she said "ok, sold"! Good deal, the DC plug alone would cost way more than that!


It is this style Sears Roadtalker with the "angled" face, not the square one
[ external image ]


PS-S . . .

alhefner----you will usually be disappointed by most of the handhelds (HT) radios. They are a compromise at best, but still have their purpose and can be useful for monitoring, walking around on foot at an event or CB break and many other things. And some are better than others too. I've a number of antique walkie talkies just for collecting reasons, but two useful models that I'm probably keeping for the said reasons above. The two models I own and can personally recommend is the Cherokee AH-27F first (actually have a pair of these), and secondly the not-so-bad copy of the Cherokee, the Midland 75-822. The Cherokees I have have a 5-digit frequency counter and can be modified for extra channels etc the whole nine yards. Either radio comes with an adaptor that allows hookup to standard PL-259 UHF coax connector which is very nice, so that you can hook the either radio directly into your mobile antenna on your car or even your base! I've used both HT's hooked up to an Imax 2000 this way, pretty cool.

[alhefner]

alhefner[/b]----you will usually be disappointed by most of the handhelds (HT) radios. They are a compromise at best, but still have their purpose and can be useful for monitoring, walking around on foot at an event or CB break and many other things. And some are better than others too. I've a number of antique walkie talkies just for collecting reasons, but two useful models that I'm probably keeping for the said reasons above. The two models I own and can personally recommend is the Cherokee AH-27F first (actually have a pair of these), and secondly the not-so-bad copy of the Cherokee, the Midland 75-822. The Cherokees I have have a 5-digit frequency counter and can be modified for extra channels etc the whole nine yards. Either radio comes with an adaptor that allows hookup to standard PL-259 UHF coax connector which is very nice, so that you can hook the either radio directly into your mobile antenna on your car or even your base! I've used both HT's hooked up to an Imax 2000 this way, pretty cool.

Oh yeah, I know that all the HT's are a compromise and I have had the opportunity to use a few BUT, this particular one was a real bummer. It may just be that it is one that got past QC since I had read loads of good reviews about it. As for using other antennas, that is pretty easy. Just had to build a jumper with PL259 on one end and BNC on the other.

I have read good stuff about the midland 75-822 so I may try that one next.