Radio Geek Heaven

The Dynascan Cobra 29 was quite possibly the best AM mobile, back in the pre-40 channel days. This radio was extremely well made with very strong audio (courtesy of the Cobra exclusive Dynamike) and plenty of knobs, bells & whistles!

The Cobra 85 was Dynascan’s entry-level 23 channel base station. A very simple radio with only 3 controls: on/off/volume, squelch, and channel selector. Also included a large meter and the standard 4 pin Cobra microphone connector. Though simple, it was also a good performer and priced right at $150-160 in the mid-1970s.

The Cobra CAM 89 base station. It looks like a Cobra 139, but doesn’t have SSB (single sideband.) Basically, a Cobra 29 with the addition of a built-in power supply. That’s not a bad thing, since the 29 was a great performer (see above.) In 1977, the CAM 89 was upgraded to 40 channels and became the Cobra 89XLR.

The Cobra 135. Top of the Dynascan line in 1975 with a price to match ($400-450.) Features AM/SSB, digital clock and alarm, plus everything else that was available on a CB radio in the mid-1970s. Strangely enough, when 40 channel radios were introduced on January 1, 1977, there was no direct replacement for the Cobra 135. The new top banana was the Cobra 139XLR, an update of the 23 channel 139.

The Cobra 139 base station. 23 channel AM/SSB with plenty of features. Considered the next best thing to it’s big brother, the Cobra 135. Shown here with the optional Cobra Dynamike Plus amplified desk microphone. Upgraded to 40 channels in 1977 as the Cobra 139XLR.

A Cobra 139XLR with the addition of a Digi-Scan 400. In the late 1970s/early 1980s, this was considered the ultimate in CB frequency expansion capabilities. Sure, you could buy a Siltronix VFO, but now, you could digitally select the frequency of your choice! At the time, this Digi-Scan was cutting edge technology. It did not come cheap, however. The Digi-Scan unit sold for around $400. That’s in addition to the cost of the radio and conversion/modification expenses.

Cobra’s 142GTL was the successor to the Cobra 139XLR. Styling was nearly identical, but the electronics were much upgraded. The 142 used an advanced PLL which allowed it more ‘capable’ of frequency modifications. I used a Cobra 142GTL as my main base station from 1982-84. A great radio with a very sensitive receiver, strong transmitter, and very clean audio.

The famous Cobra 2000 base station. Introduced in the early 1980s, this radio has been a favorite of serious CB operators ever since. The built-in frequency counter makes it especially popular with freebanders/outbanders. A very attractive radio, shown here with both matching speakers. Most of the Cobra 2000s found today on the used market are missing one or both of the speakers. New, it sold for around $400. Even today, a used Cobra 2000 in good condition fetches $200-300 on eBay. Those which have NOT been modified and are in stock original condition are worth the most money.

Colt manufactured an attractive line of CB radios. Introduced in 1977, all were 40 channel units. This Colt 485 Black Shadow SSB is a full-featured mobile radio which includes single sideband capability. You didn’t see many Colts in discount/department stores. Instead, they were available primarily from CB specialty retailers.

Dating from the early 1970s, the Rebel 23+ was Courier’s entry-level 23 channel mobile radio. Just the basics with volume, squelch, channel selector, and a small meter. Got the job done, though, at an affordable price. New, they sold for around $130.

This 23-channel mobile is a Craig 4104. Craig CB radios featured unique styling and good performance. Not big sellers, though, which is why you rarely see one today.

Here’s is the base version of the 4104, the Craig 4201. Again, notice the unique, sleek styling of these radios.

The DAK Mark III is a 40-channel AM mobile radio. Basic, but effective. These were never produced in large numbers, so you don’t see many around these days.

DAK CB base stations were very large units and strong performers. Today, they are very rare. This DAK Mark IX Radiotelephone Base Station features 40-channel operation, FOUR large lighted meters, and the ability to be rack-mounted.

A simple but inexpensive radio, the GE 3-5804G featured all 40 channels, volume, squelch, and a lighted meter. Notice the meter does not measure actual wattage on transmit.

Yes, General Electric manufactured CB radios! Their complete line included this GE 3-5810 23 channel mobile. It was one of their more popular models during the mid-1970s. Interestingly enough, some GE CBs utilized a 4-pin mic plug while others such as this unit used a 5-pin DIN plug.

The 40 channel version of the General Electric 5810 was this GE 3-5811/5811B. The 5811 also utilized the 5-pin DIN microphone plug. Note that while the S/RF meter is the same size, the graphics have changed. This meter design was shared with many Colt, Hy-Gain, and Midland CB radios of the day.

This is a Hy-Gain Hy-Range I. It was the entry-level model in Hy-Gain’s mid-1970s mobile CB line. A very simple radio that was easy to use with decent receive and transmit capabilities.

The Johnson Messenger 130, also known as “The Telephone CB.” This was the mobile version. Johnson also made a matching base unit, the Messenger 132. Performance was okay, but transmit audio quality suffered, due to the limitations of a telephone receiver being used as a microphone. I could always tell when someone was talking on one of these since it had the same “nasal” sound qualities of a mid-1970s telephone handset.

Here’s the more recent version: the Johnson Messenger 130A, released in early 1976. The only difference I can see is the 130A’s speaker, now incorporated into the plastic casing instead of being a separate assembly.

This dusty old jewel is a Johnson Messenger 323A. Big and heavy, but well built as were all Johnson CB radios. One disadvantage with this and many other Johnsons is that the microphone was hard-wired, rather than terminating in a plug. If you wanted to add a ‘power mike’, you were out-of-luck unless you wanted to rewire the radio internally.

This Midland 13-880B was top dog in the early 1970s. It featured all 23 channels AM/LSB/SSB. Plus a large combination S/RF/SWR/CAL meter and a digital clock. The clock was a big deal in those days since they were mechanical, not electronic. This nice base station had an expensive price to match: around $400 in most areas.

The Midland 13-882C was introduced in the summer of 1976. It looked like it’s predecessor, the 13-882B, but was completely different inside. Whereas the 882B used a crystal synthesizer to generate the 23 CB channels, the 882C used a PLL, or phase lock loop. Because of this, the 882C was a much more “capable” radio. As mentioned on the main page, this was my first CB radio. Without any modifications, I was able to get “22A” and “22B.” These frequencies later became channel 24 and channel 27 under the new 40 channel band plan. Not only that, I was also able to get the RC (remote control) frequencies which were located between channels 3 and 4, channels 7 and 8, channels 11 and 12, channels 15 and 16, and channels 19 and 20. Again, the Midland 13-882C had these capabilities right out of the box! All you needed to do was carefully slide the channel selector in between channels.

This Midland 13-883B mobile dates from the early 1970s. A full-featured unit with all 23 channels, transmit/receive lights, tone control, and a large S/RF/SWR meter.

Here’s another of those “telephone” CB radios which were so popular in the mid-1970s. The Midland 13-884 was one of the fanciest available with RF gain control, large ‘transmit’ light, and a lighted S/RF/SWR meter.

The 13-891 was Midland’s entry-level base station in the early 1970s. Design and appearance was pretty basic. Performance was adequate, but not spectacular.

In the 1970s and 80s, all 3 major retail store chains produced their own proprietary lines of CB radios. You could buy branded CB units from JCPenney, Montgomery Wards, or Sears. This Wards 680 is an attractive unit with 40-channel operation, RF gain, antenna warning (high SWR) indicator, and a large S/RF/SWR meter.

Yes, Motorola made CB radios. They were very popular with law enforcement and emergency personnel. Reliable and rugged, as you would expect. Motorola CB units and microphones were purposely designed to match their police radio equipment of the day. Since most departments used Motorola gear for their VHF/UHF comms, it was a natural choice to choose a Motorola CB as well. The unit pictured here is a Motorola 4009 23-channel mobile rig.

Pace produced a full line of CB radios, both 23 and 40-channel models. This Pace 2300 mobile was manufactured in the early 1970s. A simple radio featuring volume, squelch, and a lighted meter. On the back of the radio, a large plastic modular jack marked ‘ACC PLUG’ allowed direct connection of various optional accessories.

From the mid-1970s, here’s the Pace CB144 23-channel mobile. This was a mid-level unit in the Pace line. Features include delta tune, automatic noise limiter, noise blanker, and RF gain control.

The Pussycat 23 was Pearce-Simpson’s entry-level 23 channel CB base station. Just the basics here: volume, squelch, meter, channel selector, and microphone. Sold for around $150 new in 1974.

Here’s a Pearce-Simpson Bearcat 23. This full-featured AM base station was popular in the mid-1970s. Note the unique 3-meter design and slide volume/squelch/SWR-CAL controls. Manufactured by the Gladding Corporation of Miami, Florida.

In the spring of 1977, President introduced a complete line of 40-channel AM and SSB base and mobiles. The Zachary T. was a basic but stylish AM base station. Basically a President Washington, minus the SSB mode. Comparable in pricing and features to the Cobra 89XLR.

This rare unit is a Ray Jefferson CB-711 Saturn 23 channel marine CB radio. Built for use on boats and ships, it includes receive capability for VHF weather channels. At the time this radio was produced, there were only 2 NOAA weather frequencies: 162.400Mhz and 162.550Mhz. I’m guessing this is what the 2 position switch on the front of the radio is used for. You don’t see many of these around anymore.

This Realistic TRC-100B is a 5-watt, 6-channel CB walkie-talkie. Now, you might be saying “How can a walkie-talkie put out 5 watts when the maximum legal CB power output is 4 watts?” This was a common ‘gain claim game’ played by manufacturers of CB walkie-talkies. This walkie-talkie has 5 watts RF INPUT to the final stage of the transmitter. The FCC limits CB transmitters to 4 watts RF OUTPUT from the final stage to the antenna. In a walkie-talkie, those 5 watts of input are much less once they pass through the finals. Certainly less than the 4 watt FCC maximum output for CB radios. The ’6 channel’ label is also somewhat misleading since this unit has 6 channel capability, but only comes with crystals for one channel installed. I believe it was Channel 11. If you wanted more channels, you had to buy additional crystals: one each for transmit and receive. Each pair of crystals to facilitate an additional channel cost around $5. Doesn’t sound like much today, but it added up quickly in the mid-1970s.

The Realistic Navaho TRC-23B was a very popular base station during the mid-1970s. It featured all 23 channels, good looks, and solid performance. Sold by Radio Shack, it’s retail price was $159.99.

The Realistic TRC-56 was Radio Shack’s version of the “telephone” CB radio. Modeled after the Johnson Messenger 130, the Realistic CB-Fone 23 actually had more features, sporting Delta Tune, noise blanker, and a large lighted S/RF meter.

Here’s the 40 channel version of the TRC-56. The Realistic TRC-456 CB- Fone looks pretty much identical as it’s predecessor, adding 17 more channels and a digital frequency readout.

Radio Shack also made a base station version of the CB-Fone, although it was less popular than their mobile models. The TRC-454 was a full-featured AM base station with large dual S/RF and SWR/CAL meters and instant Channel 9 emergency access. Unlike the Johnson Messenger and some other “telephone CBs”, the handset on the TRC-456 is detachable and terminates in a standard 5-pin DIN plug. So, if you want to use a regular hand mic or desk mic, you’re able to do so.

This Realistic Navaho TRC-57 was top dog in the late 1970s Radio Shack CB line. 40 channels, AM and SSB. Dual meters and a digital clock rounded out the package. Retail price in 1978 was $399.99, but frequent sales brought the cost down to $329.99-349.99.

Radio Shack’s Realistic Navaho TRC-431 was the 40-channel replacement for their popular TRC-23B (above.) This radio was simple but solid with good transmit audio and a sensitive receiver. Price in the late 1970s was $159.99, same as the 23B which it replaced. In my area, the TRC-431 was a popular base unit.

The Realistic Navaho TRC-440 was Radio Shack’s entry-level 40-channel base station. A very simple radio with volume, squelch, non-digital channel selector, and a meter. Catalog price was $139.99, but frequent sales brought it down to $99.99.

Realistic’s Navaho TRC-455. Their top-of-the-line 40 channel AM base station. Complete with digital clock and alarm. With this radio, you could wake up to the sounds of your favorite CB channel each morning. Price in 1977 was $229.99.

Another very basic but popular CB radio was the Realistic TRC-468. Featured all 40 channels, but no frills. Not even a digital channel display or a meter. Regular price was $99.99, but frequent sales brought it down to $69.99-79.99.

Here’s a Regency CR-142 AM base station. A simple but effective transceiver, it features all 23 channels, delta tune, automatic noise limiter, adjustable mic gain, and a large meter which measures S/RF and modulation.

This stylish 40 channel base station is a Robyn SB-520D. The “SB” stands for sideband: LSB, USB, and AM are all featured on this radio. Plus large dual meters and all the extras you would expect from a top-of-the-line unit.

The Console II was the top model in the SBE line. Also known as the “Console 2″, it was a full-featured 23 channel SSB base radio. It was also a very large, heavy unit with a hefty power supply. These sold for around $400 in 1976, so only serious and/or wealthy CBers had ‘em. In 1977, it was replaced by the SBE Console V 40 channel AM/SSB base.

This Land Command base station was one of the final CB radios produced by SBE. It was a 40-channel AM/SSB unit. Syling varied from SBE’s earlier models: the attractive wooden cabinets were gone and the meter appearance was quite different. Also known as SBE Model LCBS-4.

SBE’s Trinidad was a stylish 23-channel base station, mounted in a wooden cabinet. It looked great in an office or a living room. All of SBE’s radios were solid performers, and the Trinidad was no exception. When it was replaced in 1977 by the 40-channel Trinidad III, the original model became unofficially known as the “Trinidad 23.”

The Sears 23. A bare-bones mobile CB radio. No RF gain, no noise limiters, no fine tuning, not even a meter! Even so, Sears sold a lot of these for $99.99 at a time when most other 23 channel mobiles were in the $130-170 price range.

This radio was unofficially known as the “Sears 23 Plus.” As the larger brother of the previous model, the ‘Plus’ added a noise blanker, delta tune, and a large lighted S/RF/SWR meter. This radio sold for $140-150 in 1976.

Another Sears Roadtalker 40 AM mobile. This one was sold in 1978-79. As with all Roadtalkers, transmit audio had a very distinctive sound with lots of compression. This model also featured a large lighted S/RF/SWR meter.

This is a Sears RoadTalker 40 AM mobile unit. It looks almost identical to the SSB version shown below. However, this model is AM only and does not include the built-in power supply for base station use.

The Sears RoadTalker 40 SSB base was a strong and vastly underrated radio. It had a very distinctive transmit audio, best described as “punchy” with lots of compression. It sold new for $299.99 although frequent sales brought the price down to $249.99. This was my first SSB radio. I bought it on sale and used it for about a year during 1978-79. It served me well until I blew the finals during one of my power “experiments.” My fault, not the radio’s!

Sears also made a “deluxe” version of their RoadTalker 40 SSB base station. The electronics inside were basically the same as the above model. The exterior look was rather unique, however: an upright design with slide controls instead of the usual rotary knobs. A rare tone control and dual meters for S/RF and SWR/CAL round out the package. If I remember correctly, the retail price of this radio was close to $400.00.

Sharp’s CB-800 is a simple 23-channel AM mobile unit. Features a large LED channel display but a small S/RF meter. This radio sold for around $140 in the mid-1970s.

Every time I hear Teaberry, I immediately think of Mel Tillis. Mel was their spokesman and appeared in their commericals. The catch phrase was “T-T-Teaberry”, playing on Mel’s famous stuttering speech impediment. Today, of course, political correctness would stifle that kind of advertising. This Teaberry Racer “T” 23-channel mobile features delta tune, automatic noise limiter, large lighted meter, and a red light which illuminates when transmitting.

The legendary Tram D-201A 23 channel AM/SSB base station. Both the D-201A and it’s predecessor the Tram D-201 were top-of-the-line units in their time. Both are valuable collector’s items today.