SBE Console II

[MN420]

Any mods for this old rust bucket??

[Nagant]

Welcome to the forum.

Not really other than a basic TX tune. It's a 23 channel SSB which means what can be done to it is very limited.

SBE 16CB Console II:
<VR4-AGC, VR5-SQ Range, VR3-S Meter, VR7-AMC, VR1-ALC
VR6 and CV12-Carrier Null, VR2-TX Meter, CV13-TVI Filter>
TX Tune-up: T14, T13, T12, T3, L5, L6, L7, L8
RX Tune-up: T3, T4, T5, T6, T1, T2, L1

Most of those I wouldn't be adjusting unless you know what you're doing. It is a nice vintage radio.

A VFO could likely be added to give it 40+ channel capability but VFO aren't cheap anymore and the radio won't likely be able to broad band enough for great performance beyond the original 23 channels. The radio is what it is and I would enjoy it as such.

[MN420]

thank you... it is one of the best radios i have owned as far as tx and clarity. i ordered a galaxie DX2617 should be a little better as far as ssb usage

[Nagant]

No problem. The console II is a very nice vintage radio. I understand needing a 40 channel for SSB. I have a few 23 channel SSB radios but I only use them on AM because of their channel limitations.

I've liked all the SBE radios I've had through the years. The only one I have now is the Land Command LCB-8 made by Uniden for them.

[Ruthless1]

My father bought me a Console II brand new in the 70's. I replaced the clarifier with a 100 kc vfo and added a crystal bank that allowed it to go up 27.505, also added a Turner plus 2 mic.

We did a few other little mods to get some extra pwr, but it wasn't enough to make it worthwhile in today's world. They are a well built radio and were a step above most available at the time.

I loved that radio and used it for around 5 yrs.

[Leadfoot557]

I recently acquired one of these beautiful looking radios, however somebody added extra channels but I can't seem to access the extras.
Someone installed a 5 position switch on the back of the radio, everything is connected, all original 23 channels work, but no matter where i put the selector i still only have 23 channels... anybody have a thought on what I should check next?

[MDYoungblood]

Hello Leadfoot557,
Welcome to the forum. That was an old post, what is the switch hooked to and does it have any crystals on it? By changing the mixing crystal you can get other frequencies, since it is a SSB I would go for the upper channels,(above channel 23). As said in the post I don't think that radio will wideband much.

3's

Greg

[drdx]

Those are neat old radios. I have one here with the matching SBE desk microphone. You guys are giving me the fever to hook it back up, but the 23 channel deal is a bit of a limitation. Channel 16 long ago was considered a sideband frequency. I wonder if there is any ssb action on there anywhere.

-drdx

[Leadfoot557]

Well Greg,
it is a 5 position switch and the switch has crystals on it, and the wires go towards the middle of the board, I would post a few pics but I guess I dont have the clearance for that just yet....

[Grinder74]

Maybe you need to clean the switch. You would need a freq counter or do the math to figure the frequencies for each position. If it is hooked up to the board it should work.

[Leadfoot557]

I thought about that, guess I will have to go get some contact cleaner.....

---

Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:31 pm

well i cleaned the switch, still not working..... just the normal 23 channels still

[B C]

I have a SBE Console II with a Siltronix 90-1 VFO. Can this rig be broadbanded enough to cover the 40 legal channels??

[crazybob]

I took out my 11.700 MHZ xtal. (Chanel's 1-2-3-4) , & plugged in a 11.600. Now I have 26.865-26.905. ..Real quite down there! Secret CB book #1 has a list of what crystals you need to go up or down.

[W0TRJ]

If you want to have channel 38 just switch out the 23 crystal and plug in a 12.125 MHz crystal in its place.
**Non Sponsor** web site below has the 12.125MHz crystal

MODBREAK_HEADMDY

edited post and removed **Non Sponsor** site