CB 27MHz AM Handhelds/Walkie-Talkies

[davros]

Hi All!
Wondering who supplies in Australia or from US an approved (or at least ‘approvable’) CB (not marine) 27MHz 40ch AM handheld? I’m in a more remote location and want a decent rugged one for my son (and I!) to play on without him getting on UHF and annoying everyone! But I want a solid 1Km range, and a bit ‘rugged’, so none of that kid rubbish - they are lucky to go 50m. I can see a few US options (Midland etc.) - must be 4 watt maximum. Odd that most seem to be really retro technology, but I guess the money is in vhf/uhf. Also must have a flexible antenna, not a telescopic rubbish one. Anyone know of any? Also uninterested in illegal FRS etc. from US. Want to pay about 100-150au.
I’m pretty into radios, don’t need to hear about UHF etc., got heaps of them and HF.
Thanks for advice!

[jillr]

Hi All!
Wondering who supplies in Australia or from US an approved (or at least ‘approvable’) CB (not marine) 27MHz 40ch AM handheld? I’m in a more remote location and want a decent rugged one for my son (and I!) to play on without him getting on UHF and annoying everyone! But I want a solid 1Km range, and a bit ‘rugged’, so none of that kid rubbish - they are lucky to go 50m. I can see a few US options (Midland etc.) - must be 4 watt maximum. Odd that most seem to be really retro technology, but I guess the money is in vhf/uhf. Also must have a flexible antenna, not a telescopic rubbish one. Anyone know of any? Also uninterested in illegal FRS etc. from US. Want to pay about 100-150au.
I’m pretty into radios, don’t need to hear about UHF etc., got heaps of them and HF.
Thanks for advice!

The trouble with the old 27 MHz band, and the reason why they went for UHF, was the tendency for the channel to pickup all the noise on skip (ionospheric reflection) which drowned out local signals. Having said that, there's no reason why you can't use them, just be aware of the limitations. The better the antenna, the better the unit will work. It should be OK at the moment as we're in a sunspot minimum but it will get pretty noisy in about 3 years' time. You might look at noise reduction on your vehicle, too, as the old 27 MHz CB was also prone to picking up car ignition, switched-mode power supplies, fluorescent lights, you name it.
I think Jaycar still has them, but might depend on the store.
Really old ones are probably 'had-it' as the filter capacitors tend to die after about a decade of use.

Cheers...

[davros]

Yep, got that- but I’m after a handheld. I can see plenty of car options and currently run a President Grant SSB set to catch skip. But just want an AM handheld for my young fella and I to muck about with...

[davros]

The craziest skip I ever got:
Before I was into radios, I dropped into a hifi shop in Newman WA and got a Uniden Sundowner 40ch UHF, and a 27MHz top load antenna (yep, sales person knew diddly and so did I!). But it was ‘the biggest antenna’!
I hitched it up to the top bar of my soft-top Landy and drove up a nearby hill.
Hearing voices, I asked them where they were, and they were hoons on a freeway in Perth, 1200km away! Their transmissions faded as they told me it was BS that I was in Newman, and their mates commented in disbelief. Needless to say, I was impressed with my new radio, which never got the same range again!
I’ve heard it’s called ‘tunnelling’. So odd, looking back!

[Red90]

Ive used the Midland 75-822 for 15 years. It works well.

[davros]

Ive used the Midland 75-822 for 15 years. It works well.

Righto! Was having a look at one of those. Couple of questions - are they water resistant and do you know any Australian supplier?
Cheers,
Dave

[Red90]

The radio body seems built to be water resistant. The battery pack not so much. I doubt they are approved for Australia so would not have local suppliers.

[jik22]

Yep, got that- but I’m after a handheld. I can see plenty of car options and currently run a President Grant SSB set to catch skip. But just want an AM handheld for my young fella and I to muck about with...

Uniden do the Pro401HH, and whilst I don't know anyone over here selling it, Amazon will ship:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N43KM5S/

They've also got a couple of Cobra's and a Midland, but all double the price of the Uniden.

[Don 130]

Have a browse here. I've bought about a dozen different UHF radios from this mob for our volunteer group. They're reliable and the prices are good. The entire choice is vast.

409shop,walkie-talkie,Handheld Transceiver Radio (https://www.409shop.com)

There are some options here as well. Pay attention to minimum purchase values. 27mhz Cb Radio, 27mhz Cb Radio Suppliers and Manufacturers at Alibaba.com (https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/27mhz-cb-radio.html)
Don.

[W&KO]

With UHF’s being 80CH, I don’t reckon you’ll be annoying too many punters.

[W&KO]

Just got a message back from the company that looks after comms in our work cars, he reckon you’ll be struggling to find anything decent from the major brands.

[davros]

Yep, seems so - US there are a few, they would fulfill our licensing if you pay $$$ to get them tested. I’d not hesitate to use one but rather be above the law. Interesting though, the new US ones look very “80’s”, with massive AA battery stashes and non-waterproof switches, plugs etc. On that note I’d be just as well off getting a ‘vintage’ Australian one. Also they have that plastic that looks like it’d warp and crack if it got hot! Uniden, Midland and Cobra are some. Probably just stick with UHF but I would’ve liked a handheld AM, especially if there was an SSB model! There are marine AM handhelds here I think...

[loanrangie]

When i first got my bike license i put an AM CB on my white RG250 Suzuki and would ride up to Mt Dandenong and chat , i moved this to my brothers Cortina when he lost his license for 6 months.
One night i was able to talk to a guy in Hawaii at the naval base with a good skip, i still have my old radio somewhere that i should drag out and hook up the base station antenna.

[16PMark]

When i first got my bike license i put an AM CB on my white RG250 Suzuki and would ride up to Mt Dandenong and chat , i moved this to my brothers Cortina when he lost his license for 6 months.
One night i was able to talk to a guy in Hawaii at the naval base with a good skip, i still have my old radio somewhere that i should drag out and hook up the base station antenna.Hope your handle wasn't "Scooter from Upwey".... [emoji6][emoji6]

[loanrangie]

Hope your handle wasn't "Scooter from Upwey".... [emoji6][emoji6]Nope, grew up in Warrandyte but hung around the eastern burbs.

[davros]

It funny that the stuff we dribble on here about is what we would’ve been doing on CB years ago!

[davros]

Also interesting that we tend to see CB as a means of coms between known parties now, whereas before it was more to chat with others. One CB book I have described it as, “The lost art of conversation”. True! I used to listen to the outback on HF years ago, the campfire tales that you’d hear! Roo shooters, stockmen, all far away. Good stuff, and much more ad-hock than our pre-though-out scribbling now...

[Kaps]

Also interesting that we tend to see CB as a means of coms between known parties now, whereas before it was more to chat with others. One CB book I have described it as, “The lost art of conversation”. True! I used to listen to the outback on HF years ago, the campfire tales that you’d hear! Roo shooters, stockmen, all far away. Good stuff, and much more ad-hock than our pre-though-out scribbling now...
Yes.
I remember years ago sitting up on the local hill with friends talking to people all over the state on side band. Even spoke to a station in California one night on a 5ft helical. Using better aerials we spoke with California more regularly.

I've still got my sideband set.