UK CB Radio: Single Side Band (Mobile)

Video: YouTube/Steve Stevens

In this video Steve shows us the advantages of using SSB even in flat conditions. Starting a chat with one other station and by the end of the video he has quite a nice little net going with stations in Luton, The South Downs, Peterborough and London.

SSB activity has increased dramatically in many parts of the UK since it was legalised in 2014 with many weekly nets springing up. Steve's video shows that a call on the UK SSB Calling Frequency (27.275 USB) can lead to some great contacts even in poor/flat conditions. 

So why not give it a try? Give out a call on 27 Mid Band (27.275 USB).

HEX (Hill-toppers and Extreme) Ground Wave DX NET

05/03/2016 - 27.405 USB

"Once again the chance to head for high ground and ping some signals around the Country, this is a contact / DX Net for those wishing to log as many +100 mile contacts ( as seen on the placement card ) as possible in a controlled environment .

It's all about the receive and power is not the issue , if you can't hear them_ you can't work them !
Hoping for better weather and Tropo conditions than in December and although I think we all had a great time with some cracking results it only ever reached around 25% of its potential in my opinion . 

QRM from Europe may be a problem and the Net(s) may have move to different channels at times around the mid-block on USB. 

I will be calling out from the Mendip Hills Somerset , at around 6pm on the 5/3/2016 and hope to make contact and be able to pass around as many as possible.

73 & Good DX
Kevin 26CT1685"

Source - Discussion thread on the Charlie Tango Forum: LINK

New CB Radio - CRT2000

A new radio has appeared on the CRT website - The CRT2000

The radio will be supplied with the AM/FM European Multi Norms but can no doubt be modded for export purposes.

CRT WEBSITE: LINK

CTX January AM Net

The CTX Team have announced their latest AM net, which will take place on Saturday 30th Janaury 2016

    (Click Image To Enlarge)

"The latest in our series of the increasingly popular AM Nets!

6pm until 9pm (18:00-21:00 GMT/UTC)

We will call on Ch14 Mid Block (27.125Mhz) with a QSY channel (which we will pick on the night based upon band conditions), but our preferred net channel is Ch10 (27.075Mhz) - if Ch10 is not usable on the night, we try to stay on the lower part of the Mids (we don't use Ch9, Ch14 or Ch19 to hold the net on though)."

CTX Facebook Page: LINK

A Look Back At CB Radio In 2015!

Video: YouTube/M0OGY

Dave (M0OGY) takes a look back at CB Radio in 2015

CTX Christmas Activities!

    (Click Image To Enlarge)

Those brave guys from the CTX team will be out and about again over the Xmas period so if you hear them be sure to give them a shout!

More on the Charlie Tango Website: CLICK HERE

World Radiocommunication Conference Approves Global 60 Meter Allocation! (5MHz)

Agreement at last on the 60m (5Mhz) band with a small global allocation of 5351.5 - 5366.5Mhz with a tiny output power of 15 watts EIRP.

For more on this story follow the link below.

LINK: CLICK HERE

Modified President Grant 2 - Less Noise, Improved Receive!



Video: YouTube/prespostt.com

Text from their YouTube channel:

"RX modified Grant 2 in an electrically noisy environment coming from the antenna. Notice the dramatic change in NB operation

Stock on right and modified on left

Modified radio has a tunable S-meter and smoother RX audio modified to my own like. S-meter is very lazy on SSB with weak signals but it is set to 50uV S9 and 160uV S9+10dB and working correctly in all modes. Fix is about to come but have to figure out best way to do it.

Both radios have same sensitivity measured 12dB sinad in all modes. You have to use slightly more volume in AM/SSB to hear the weakest signals.

President should have done Grant 2 this way from the beginning

www.prepostt.com"


So the question has to asked - Why cant President make a decent radio when a simple mod is all that is needed????

President Grant II Premium PART 4 - Local TX and RX Tests

Video: YouTube/M0OGY

Dave takes a final look at the New Grant 2 Premium with some local RX/TX tests. 

President Grant II Premium PART 3 - Vs President Adams

Video: YouTube/M0OGY

In this video Dave pits the New Grant 2 Premium against the classic President Adams.

CB RADIO ... Sounding its best!

Video: YouTube/26TANGOMIKE037

CTX Halloween AM Net

The CTX gang are at it again with another AM NET on Saturday 31st October 2015 18:00 - 21:00 hours.

Calling will take place on the UK AM Calling channel 14EU (27.125Mhz) then QSY when contact is made. 

So do listen out and join in with the fun!

Rip Off Britain? - CB Radio Price Comparisons

Many UK operators (Including myself) feel that CB radio prices in the UK are too high. But are we justified in thinking this?

To try to answer this I have looked around the web to get the prices of radios sold in Europe to compare them to UK prices.

Below you can see price comparisons between radios on sale in Europe verses the UK:

I feel that there is only one conclusion to be taken from the prices shown - With differences of up to 34.5% I think there is a little room for prices to fall in the UK!

* Exchange rate as of 09/10/2015

Albrecht AE 6110 / Anytone Smart Mods V2 - New Features

Video: Youtube/Klaus R

The little radio that just keeps giving!!!!!

CTX/Delta Alfa LOTA SSB and AM Weekend

Back Due To Popular Demand: Charlie Tango Xtreme AM Net

Following the great success of their last AM Net the CTX team are at it again. On Saturday 26th Sept 2015 from 18:00 hours - 21:00 hours(UK Time) they will be active on AM.

Calling on the UK AM calling channel 27.125MHz (14 Mid Band) then QSY after making contact.

The AM Net will be part of a fun filled weekend when they join the Delta Alpha group's LOTA weekend.

Yaesu FT-991 - Programming the Memory Channels (ML&S)

Video:Youtube/ML&S

Norway To Be The First Country To Switch Off FM Radio!

It's hard to believe that the BBC started one of the worlds first DAB radio transmitter networks way back in 1995 and the UK still hasn't got a fully functional Digital Radio system. Coverage is poor in many areas and audio quality poorer still due to the network operators cramming so many stations into the old MPEG2 compression system used on the multiplexes!

Meanwhile over in Norway plans are afoot to switch off ALL FM broadcasts in favour of their DAB Digital Radio system in 2017. If this goes ahead Norway will become the first country in the world to make the switch from FM to DAB. I just hope that they keep the bit-rates up and don't go down the same road as the UK with their poor quality service!

Further Info: CLICK HERE