CB handhelds, why so expensive.

[k40]

I've got an old Hygain 40ch am that worked last time I tried it huge telescopic aerial, but modern batteries don't fit the battery box.
I had one of those magnum or albrect ssb handhelds a while ago I was on a hill calling on ssb with the larger aerial and got someone but they were only 12 miles away, bit of a dead loss.
At the weekend I was foolishly tempted by an midland allen 42 ds that was cheap with case, dry battery box, rechargeable battery box, charger, car adapter and standard aerial.
In my bedroom (I'm fairly high up) none of the locals can hear me unless I connect my outside aerial.
By comparison a bumfeng uv5r from the same place, broke in on a 2M net and a fair few could hear me.
In the modern times cb walkie talkies suck, in the late 70's early 80's when the bands were better I borrowed an AM 6 channel handheld from a school friend and talked to him then got someone at the other side of town 5 ish miles and had a clear conversation, back then there were cbers everywhere so easier to get someone on a handheld.
I have a lot of walkie talkies, even a pair of uniden uhf Australian cb ones on 470mhz.
I was going to edit the post on my phone and add a picture, but I was struggling wading through a sea of intrusive ads, so I gave up.

[scanhermit]

Lured in by overly positive YouTube reviews (I know, I know) I bought the TX. It is a good handy but of course you come upon the antenna lengthproblem . I've had to accept that I need something extra antenna-wise for portable operation.

Of the handy twigs the telescopics seem best. At 1-3 miles they seem to outperform the stock by 1db with definite audio improvement. I regard them as fair reviews because there's probably not really anything in a £15 Amazon purchase that's worth bribing a YouTuber for.

[rpcomms]

I can recommend a decent budget handheld Jopix CB-80HT as a very reasonable price,includes ctcss and dcs Tone Squelch system
audio on tx and rx very good,robust contruction on alloy chassis.
Big 2600mA battery and replacements are available inc dry cell AA case
charger takes 2.1mm plug,so usb to 2.1mm easy to do.
battery eliminators available.
BNC antenna.
Measure RF 1w low 3.5w high Am fm
Multi-Norms
LED flash light
3rd party pounches available
K type socket with weather cover.
CTCSS\DCS tone scanner
ADD\DEL scan
scan delay,scan stop
Voice prompt
EMG CH9 EU--EMG2 CH19 EU
Programmable buttons
Alphanumeric text
400 memories (pc software required ask dealer uses kenwood K type pc lead)

UK & CE FM ONLY!
EU AM FM
PL -5khz
India 27ch
I2
DE 80CH

Easy to add a tiger tail counterpoise wire for fringe coverages!
solid bit of kit.

prices around £69-80 uk pounds bargin.

Rob.P

RPC

[scanhermit]

You added a counterpoise? Does it improve TX and could you share your method?

[Mudslinger]

I can recommend a decent budget handheld Jopix CB-80HT as a very reasonable price,includes ctcss and dcs Tone Squelch system
audio on tx and rx very good,robust contruction on alloy chassis.
Big 2600mA battery and replacements are available inc dry cell AA case
charger takes 2.1mm plug,so usb to 2.1mm easy to do.
battery eliminators available.
BNC antenna.
Measure RF 1w low 3.5w high Am fm
Multi-Norms
LED flash light
3rd party pounches available
K type socket with weather cover.
CTCSS\DCS tone scanner
ADD\DEL scan
scan delay,scan stop
Voice prompt
EMG CH9 EU--EMG2 CH19 EU
Programmable buttons
Alphanumeric text
400 memories (pc software required ask dealer uses kenwood K type pc lead)

UK & CE FM ONLY!
EU AM FM
PL -5khz
India 27ch
I2
DE 80CH

Easy to add a tiger tail counterpoise wire for fringe coverages!
solid bit of kit.

prices around £69-80 uk pounds bargin.

Rob.P

RPC

I actually purchased one of these prior to the TX and I returned it as i was unhappy with it.

The main reason that to change to Mid band and Mids AM you had to go through the hassle of changing the country setting.

Also i found the display too basic and performance wasn't as good as the TX despite having basically the same antenna.

Not a bad radio but the TX is well worth the extra £20 or so in my opinion.

[scanhermit]

You know those telescopic antennas that sell for £14-17 on Ebamazon? £3.13 in Ali Express - 79p for new shoppers.

Assuming 79p is a loss leader and £3.13 is profitable, one feels that UK sellers are extracting the Michael. They look like very much the same item.

[scanhermit]

I got some guylines and pegs from the discount store and tried a pilot raising of the pole. Deployment is swift and not too difficult. I need to work on my technique but the first try is encouraging. Just waiting for some bits and bobs to start making the antenna.

[lambrettadave]

You know those telescopic antennas that sell for £14-17 on Ebamazon? £3.13 in Ali Express - 79p for new shoppers.

Assuming 79p is a loss leader and £3.13 is profitable, one feels that UK sellers are extracting the Michael. They look like very much the same item.

At a low price of 79p it would be worth a punt but you would need to check that it actually is on 27mhz

[scanhermit]

These are for 27mhz, or so the blurb says.

https://tinyurl.com/34cr54jp

I might go for it if I'm ordering other stuff (like a Quansheng for PMR).

[k40]

I bought one of those from AliExpress, was £5.18.
Sat on my bed upstairs I called in on the locals that I tried before with the standard antenna and one guy about 4 miles across town heard me at s9 so its way better than std.
There's loads on some may be cheaper.

27Mhz Antenna 9-Inch to 51-Inch Telescopic/Rod HT Antennas for CB Handheld/Portable Radio with BNC Connector

[scanhermit]

Ah, thanks. That sounds encouraging. I'm teetering on the edge of a AliExpress purchase of one of the UHF handies soni can chuck in the telescopic with an order.

[lambrettadave]

These are for 27mhz, or so the blurb says.

https://tinyurl.com/34cr54jp

I might go for it if I'm ordering other stuff (like a Quansheng for PMR).

Maybe get two one for spare in case one breaks

[scanhermit]

Good idea. Telescopics have a habit of doing that.

I have all the bits to make the T2LT and was going to do it this weekend but the sun was out so I did outside stuff instead. ALDi are selling long plant stakes so I grabbed a pack - I can use one as well as guy ropes on the mast.

[lambrettadave]

Good idea. Telescopics have a habit of doing that.

I have all the bits to make the T2LT and was going to do it this weekend but the sun was out so I did outside stuff instead. ALDi are selling long plant stakes so I grabbed a pack - I can use one as well as guy ropes on the mast.

Very good.
telescopic antenna's have a weakness and can easily snap I bought one year's ago and it snapped with in a month

[scanhermit]

Well, I should probably buy a couple. If nothing else I can't always hoik a 6m pole and T2LT everywhere.