New Radio - can't decide which one!

Although I love my old radios, I'm finding 80ch FM a bit limiting for getting away from the occasional mike-keyer and it'd also be nice to listen out for something coming in on AM, so I'm looking for some suggestions for a possible new radio for the home QTH, as I can't decide which one!

Wish list:

• Good speaker for homebase use (front panel maybe?) - this radio will only be for homebase use.
  
• Reliable and a decent all-round performer.
  
• Good display with frequency and signal strength (not like the 4 LED lights on my Harry II)
  
• AM/FM in case some Stateside comes in (I live in hope!)
  
• Expandable for extra channels (preferably without taking the cover off, due to not wanting to make the guarantee invalid, but not essential)
  
• Scan function and dual-watch.
  
• No beeps! (or an option to turn them off!)
  
• CCTSS maybe?
  
• Power - 4 watts is enough as my Moonraker 100w amp will only take 4w in
  

Talking of CCTSS, I see a few manufacturers offer the feature and I was wondering if it's interoperable between the different radios?

I suppose offerings by Intek and Albrecht look favourite and the TTI TCB1100 looks tidy too.

I don't mind paying good money for the right radio as a few will be sold to pay for it, but I'm taking time to decide this time instead of buying something online after one too many beers

Many thanks.
Gary

You seem to know what you want from your Radio, so the easiest way for anyone to answer your query is “What’s your Budget” cuz there’s an awful lot of equipment out there that would suit your needs.



Not much help sorry but might save you some time/money in the long run



73’s

There is a nice president lincoln on the bay with a chipswitch coversion so it will operate from 24 to 30 megs plus a few other mods. He has been very carefull in how he has worded it for obvious reasons and it has ssb which is better than am but i'm sure you would on RX on am and ssb on 11m like me of course............
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PRESIDENT-LINCOLN-CHIPSWITCH_W0QQitemZ290347201870QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ConsumerElectronics_SpecialistRadioEquipment_SM?hash=item439a0ab54e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Thanks for the replies - budget about £130, I suppose.

I've tried a few SSB radios here and they all caused RFI on the landline phones even QRP, and being an apartment block, I can't chance it - I don't have the self-control to not TX on SSB, so I'll leave the SSB to the other location where I operate from (two Stalker 9's and a Superstar 3900 live there).

On FM, all is well - not a hint of interference.

Cheers
Gary

The Harry II is getting some very good reports on air - shame about the beep, but maybe it's a keeper (if the family can get used to it!)

Looking at all the modern radios, I wonder how much difference there is between a £50 TTI TCB-660 Multiband and a the TCB-1100 @ £120.

Cheers
Gary

Jaywalker wrote:The Harry II is getting some very good reports on air - shame about the beep, but maybe it's a keeper (if the family can get used to it!)

Looking at all the modern radios, I wonder how much difference there is between a £50 TTI TCB-660 Multiband and a the TCB-1100 @ £120.

Cheers
Gary

Loads and LOADS

10w possible on 1100, 4w on 660
CTSS on 1100, nothing on 660
audio is awesome on AM, bit nasal on 1100, same with the 660
1100 looks like a car radio, 660 is a small and traditional CB
1100 similar to a Roadcom, tti660 is almost the same as a Josan, or Allamat 295, or Megajet etc
1100 has a smaller amount of better build than the 660 (just my opinion)

Sit and think,

do you need CTSS?
Do you need 10w
Check a Harry II or wait for Harry III as the new version II has on/off bleep and both have 5yr warranty when not messed with
Albrecht, so so quality and a little over-priced in my humble opinion
All have good mod on AM, and all have something less than WOW on FM

Keep on Asking
73s Simon

Thanks for that Simon.

4w is fine as 10w would smoke the amp I have! The 660 looks pretty good value at £49, but the quality of the FM mod looks like it could be the issue with these.

The other cheapie that looks tidy is the Danita 3000 Multiband at £52.50.

Cheers
Gary

The Danita is the "older skinned" Midland 78+, is made by Maxon Thailand and will work well i should imagine. If you have time wait a little, the new Harry III should be in my hands soon (7-10days) and would be interested to see how that one is

I'm looking forward to the Harry III test.

I see many radios have a socket for an external S-Meter, but they are as rare as Hen's teeth here - a couple on eBay, but either "No Shipping to UK" or a fearsome amount for P+P. Any nice CB shops in Germany offer UK shipping?

York 869 should be back with me early next week, complete with the Mids installed - that should find a home next to the Stalker at the DX QTH (I've a big old heavy Leson desk mic that should work well with it).

Cheers
Gary

Well, how about this then as an idea?

Email hm-funk@t-online.de

Thats Hans the radio genius, he now makes the tti550 with much better audio and also an EXTERNAL S METER SOCKET he installs where there is none.
Ask him if he can do it to the TTI660 for example? He has them there, but guess work stops him sometimes.

Tell him i sent you, so he knows who to punch about more work

Just been browsing the tti range and I must admit that the TCB-880 does rather seem to fit the bill. Personally I think it's a nice looking rig with plenty of features (Dual Watch, Mic and RF Gain) and it has the S-Meter socket already (plus full multi std AM/FM). Available from just under £80 with a bit of shopping around.

But where to get that hard-to-find external S-Meter? That I wouldn't know :-) Plenty on Ebay.de but as you've said, either "Kein Versand nach Großbritanien" or ludicrous P&P charges.

Cheers
Steve - Cherokee

webmaster@neuner.de

Email Markus, he will send one, he can send them and he has them in stock. Around 20-30e + the sending

TCB880, take off top cover, there are two resistors on front of the board, swap there position and rU and PX also works, oh dear.

Nice contacts there Simon - No1 source for radio info as usual!

I had a look at www.neuner.de - I see you can still get base stations over there!

Very sorry, but, as I'm just moving out of the 1980's, one other quick question - is the Midland 78 Plus Multi expandable? (like to cover the zeros on AM/FM like the PL setting on my Harry II).

Thanks again.
Gary

Midland 78 Plus Multi yes is expandable via solder jumpers

rU, Px, SW

25615-30105
25610-30110
31mhz some channels for Sweden

Best Wishes
Simon

the galaxy base radios and also the RCI ranger radios are your best bet for a home base, but expect to pay out $350 to $500 dollars USA amount for the radio you want as a base I've tried a few SSB radios here and they all caused RFI on the landline phones even QRP, and being an apartment block, I can't chance it - I don't have the self-control to not TX on SSB, so I'll leave the SSB to the other location where I operate from (two Stalker 9's and a Superstar 3900 live there).

On FM, all is well - not a hint of interference.

Cheers
Gary[/quote]