CB Radio: President Texas 1800 Power Mobile Antenna

Video: YouTube/Chris TheHulk

A quick video showing the frequency coverage of the President Texas 1800 mobile antenna.

Sirio Gainmaster Review (CBRADIOMAGAZINE.COM)

Whilst pottering about on the internet today I noticed this great review of the Sirio Gainmaster on the CBRADIOMAGAZINE.COM website:

LINK: CLICK HERE

Well worth a read!

Sirio Gainmaster HW Antenna Review

Video: YouTube/M0OGY

Dave, M0OGY, takes a look at the Sirio Gainmaster Half Wave antenna.  

Tim Peake Heard On The Space Station 25/04/2016 (Yaesu FT-857D)

... and the same contact heard on my Wouxun KG-UV9D which was connected to a second antenna....

A Bobtail Antenna For 432 MHz

Video: YouTube/VK3YE

An interesting and easy to build antenna for 70cm.

Baojie TM-218 VHF/UHF Mobile Radio

 

Another interesting item spotted on eBay, the Baojie TM-218. A tiny little radio that should fit perfectly into any vehicle, with up to 25 watts of output power and the all important 6.25Khz step!

Price is around £65

Feature:

• Dual display, dual standby & Dual Track
• Frequency adjusting
• Working mode selecting
• Scrambling encryption function
• Voice companding function
• Frequency/Channel scan function
• Reverse frequency setting
• Busy channel lock-out (BCL)
• Time-out timer (TOT)
• High/low power selectable
• CTCSS/DCS encoding and decoding
• Broadband (Wide)/Narrow band (Narrow) selectable
• Frequency Step Selectable 2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/25/50KHz
• Level Threshold “Squelch” adjustable from 0 to 9
• Tri-color background light selectable
• PC software programmable
• FM radio function
• Operation for manual channel memory and delete
• Automatic lock-out
• DTMF signal setting
• DTMF signal
• PTT ID Setting
• Remote control function
• Remote monitoring
• Remote stun
• Remote kill/shaking
• Remote reliving
• Alarm function
• Group calling function
• Team calling function
• Selected calling function
• Function key guide voice(BEEP)
• SFT/Slip frequency direction
• OFFSET/Slip frequency
• 1000Hz/1450Hz/1750Hz/2100Hz selecting

Specification:

All of our item are brand News
Model	TM-218
Color	Black
Frequency Range	UHF:400-480MHz&VHF:136-174MHz
System	F3E(FM)
Channel capacity	256
Input voltage	DC13.8V(±15%), negative grounding
Output power	H:25W, M:10W, L:5W
Channel Spacing	12.5KHz/25KHz
Frequency Spacing	2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/15/25/50KHz
Squelch way	CTCSS/DCS/DTMF
Antenna impedance	50 ohm
Frequency stability	±2.5ppm @ -10°C~+60°C
Working temperature	-20°C~+60°C(-4°F~+140°F)
Max. Frequency deviation	±5KHz
Noise radiation	<=-60dB
Flexibility	<=0.2Uv(12dB SINAD)
Max. Audio output	2W @ 8 ohm 5% distortion
Working current	Receive	0.3A(SQL)
	Transmit	5A(Max.)
Dimension	105*30*106mm(width*hight*depth not including the outparts)
Weight	About 0.5kg

Package Includes

• 1 x New Black TM-218 Machine
• 1X Handheld Microphone
• 1X Mounting bracket
• 1X Power cable
• 1XUser's manual

eBay link: Click HERE

 

Gainmaster Half Wave £109 at Knights Electrocom

Looks like Doug Knight is one of the first to have the new Gainmaster Half Wave in stock here in the UK.

Priced at £109 the antenna certainly isn't cheap. Only £20 less than it's big brother, £10 more expensive than the IMAX 2000, and over £40 more expensive than the Antron 99!!!!

Is it worth the price? I guess it depends how well it performs. Afterall a half wave is a half wave is a half wave....!

Gainmaster H/W on Knights Website: CLICK HERE

Features:

– Base station antenna, Omnidirectional
– 0.5λ Center feed vertical dipole
– Low radiation angle for excellent DX
– Fiberglass 3 section composite tube

Electrical Data:

– Type: 1/2λ Center feeded vertical dipole
– Frequency range: tunable from 27.2 to 30 MHz
– Gain: 0 dBd, 2.15 dBi
– Bandwidth @ SWR ≤ 2: ≥ 1800 KHz @ 27.2 MHz
– Max. power: 500 Watts (CW) continuous
– Connector: UHF-female, PTFE insulator & gold plated central pin

Mechanical Data:

– Materials: Whip made of white fiberlass three section composite tube, radiator made of copper wire and low loss coax cable, stainless steel hardware, anodized AW6060 aluminium, UV stabilized thermoplastic
– Height (approx.): 5560 mm / 11.2 feet
– Weight (approx.): 2600 gr / 5.7 lb
– Mounting mast: Ø 35-54 mm / Ø 1.4-2.1 in

Midland GB-1 PMR446 Now Available @ Nevada! - £129.95

"GB1 UK Version

 THE FIRST LICENCE FREE 446MHz MOBILE PMR446 TRANSCEIVER IN THE WORLD!

 
Midland introduces into the market the first vehicular PMR446. GB1, small and compact, has a metal chassis guaranteeing sturdiness and durability.

Although the GB1 has the looks of a modern CB , it works on the frequencies of a standard UHF PMR466 radio, with the big advantage of not being subject to interference and noise generated by vehicle engines and of course, it's licence free.

The integrated magnetic antenna and the 12v socket allow immediate installation and a better performance than a CB radio.

Ideal for campers, cars, GB1 can also be used as a base station to talk to any walkie talkie in range and use the PMR446 as never done before.

Main features

•     Microprocessor controlled frequency
•     "Flip" function:  the radio can be mounted with the speaker facing up or down
•     Adjustable squelch on 9 levels
•     SCAN function
•     LCD display
•     Integrated magnetic antenna
•     TOT (Time out timer)*
•     Side tone: noise blanker at end of transmission
•     Monitor function
•     Busy channel (BCLO Busy Channel Lockout)*
•     Broad/narrow band selection 25KHz/12.5KHz (only export version)*
•     High/low power (only export version)

Technical specifications:

•     Frequency: 446.00625 - 446.09375 MHz (440 - 471MHz export version)
•     Channels: 8 + 91 programmable with CTCSS
•     Channel spacing: 12,5KHz ( 12,5KHz / 25KHz export version)
•     Output power: 0,5w  (5w export version)
•     Power supply: 12.6vdc

Packing and codes:

Box single pack contents :-

Radio, microphone, microphone holder, integrated wired magnetic antenna, mounting bracket, fixing screws, supply cable with 12V car charger.
product code C1198


Optional Programming software   PRG - GB1  code C1227 (AVAILABLE SOON)
Complete with USB cable to connect to a PC"

Nevada Website: LINK

DMR vs Analogue FM on UHF

Video:YouTube/mrblogger

Whilst I do understand the advantages that DMR can have, I much prefer the sound of analogue. The digital always sounds so compressed and is often very difficult to understand what is being said. Both systems have a place in the modern world but I feel that the death of analogue is still an awful long way off!!!!

CB and PMR446 - Featuring the Midland GB1

Video: YouTube/26CT1094

Midland GB-1 PMR446 Now In Stock @ Knights!

So there you go folks, you can now get your hands on a Midland GB-1 PMR446 radio from Doug at Knights.

Knights Website: LINK

Merry Christmas Everyone!

It's that time of year to thank everyone who took the time to visit the blog and my other websites (Almost 10 million hits to date in total) and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

Here's to 2016!!!!

Bishop Auckland Radio Rally 2015

New PMR446 - Midland GB1

The 'world's first mobile in-car PMR446 radio' apparently!

Midland GB1 Features at a glance

• Microprocessor‐controlled frequency
• 8 channels PMR446 FM
• 'Flip' function: the radio can be mounted with the speaker facing up or down; the display can read in either orientation
• Adjustable squelch on 9 levels
• SCAN function
• LCD display
• Integrated magnetic antenna
• TOT (Time out timer)*
• Side tone: noise blanker at end of transmission
• Monitor function
• Busy channel (BCLO‐Busy Channel Lockout)*
• Broad/narrow band selection 25KHz/12.5KHz (only export version)*
• High/low power (only export version)

UK Price Around £169.99

Website link: CLICK HERE

My thoughts - A nice looking radio which certainly makes PMR446 more useful when out mobile. Almost giving users a true UHF CB System, something I've long been asking for. The radio can be modded for extra channels/power if required.

However, this should have come out 15 years ago. Anyone who wanted a UHF CB system is already using 'other equipment' and let's be honest, who in their right mind would spend £169.99 on this radio when for less than £20 they can get a Baofeng UV5R which gives more power, more channels and many more features????

Don't get me wrong, this is a step in the right direction towards UHF CB but way too late and way too expensive in my opinion.

Homebrew UHF YAGI tested against dipole!

Video: YouTube/mk1tina