Best "run of the mill" 27/81 80ch FM only radio

[cb4ever104]

Strange question from me .

Back in the 80's I wouldn't have anything FM not Uniden . That was basically based on bleed over and cosmetic reasons .

Now-a-days there's no bleed over , as no-ones on . So my question is this . What would be the best of the old school 27/81 radios to buy today ?

Something solid , that has good RX and TX and that's easily converted to the FCC band as well . I know the Magpie gets good reviews , but I don't know if that can be converted to the FCC band .

Anyway . Looking forward to hear all your opinions

Sammy

[Buick Mackane]

Amstrad 901

[Admiral]

The Cybernet based Rotel 240/Binatone 5*/York JCB etc are easily converted and work pretty well.

[cb4ever104]

The Cybernet based Rotel 240/Binatone 5*/York JCB etc are easily converted and work pretty well.

Yeah . I was looking at them . I think the Barracuda maybe uses the same board as well ? I'm going to buy one I think , but I'll wait to get more feedback before taking the plunge .

Sammy

[SgtBilko302]

Rotel 240 was the best 27/81. I know it's the same as York 863,Barracuda etc. Got an 80ch one sitting here. Never use it now.

Paul.

[Auldgeek]

York, Rotel, Binatone 5* etc. Pretty solid radios. You can still find some unmolested examples online.

[The Collector]

Fidelity 1000 obviously. You don't need to mod it to get the mid-block as they'll bleed over perfectly well onto the UK40, even from abroad

Other than that, ditto to the above top of the range Rotel/York/Binatone/Harrier/Fidelity (2000only)Sapphire/Barracuda/Harvard (420m only)Cybernet/Radiomobile radios, or Bigpimp's Major 5000 (jammy git)

[Mudslinger]

I like the Unidens personally although the Big cybernets have a nice receive. But IMO their TX audio was a bit of a letdown.

An honourable mention also goes to the Maxcom 30E, which has a nice TX audio and a reasonable reciever.

The Danita Mk5 was a great radio as well.

[ghost123uk]

I am a big fan of the Magpie 5000 you mention in the first post. I don't currently own one, but I have in the past. Great RX and TX quality and totally brilliant build quality, see pic (not mine) =



Also, these days, what with the channels being so quiet, I think having a "scan for busy channels" is a real boon. Better than sitting there wearing out your channel change switch block !!

If I remember correctly (and I could be wrong) they can have the mid fitted (was it an LC7137 they had as OE?)

That would be my number one choice

[bc73]

I loved my Realistic TRC-2000 looked good and being a uniden sounded great.
cheers col

[cb4ever104]

I am a big fan of the Magpie 5000 you mention `

That would be my number one choice

Yeah . There was one that went yesterday for £95 . I can't really justify that for a 27/81 radio . I'll maybe keep my eyes open for one of the other models instead .

Sammy

[Mudslinger]

Never really liked the Magpie myself.
They can work ok, but I don't like the way they are built, the way the buttons for changing channel can play up and they are a PITA to wire microphones for.

[Avenger]

Any of the 134 boarded rigs are ok in my books but the annoying thing on the barracuda is the 5 pin din mic socket where the rest use the good old 4 pin.

[The Collector]

Just get your teeth insured

[Mudslinger]

I have about three Binatone 5 stars here, which need fixing.

The top black inlay is missing on all of them..
Just makes you wonder where they all go?