First Mini SSB-capable CB

[niceguy71]

Had a long whip on mine. Talked from Minnesota to Alaska on SSB one night. Skip was good that evening. This might work for you. Under $100 bucks. Will be testing mine out on my camping trip.

Radtel RT-950 PRO Black (27Mhz TX/RX) 10W Walkie Talkie AM/FM/USB/LSB/CW Receive GPS/APRS Wireless Bluetooth Phone Programming NOAA Two Way Radio

New Radtel RT-950 PRO Ham Radios Key Features: 27Mhz TX/RX (only FM Modulation) Note: Please note that using non-radtel brand headphones and microphoneswith 950/950Pro may burn out the audio amplifier module, resulting in nosound from the radio. 1) Bluetooth App Programming Easily program...

www.radtels.com

Does that do the 40 CB channels?

 

[EAFrizzle]

Does that do the 40 CB channels?

Yes, but FM only for transmit. You can listen to AM and SSB in the HF section.

 

[bearcatrp]

I sent them a email asking why FM only and if they can fix this. They are good at responding.

 

[prcguy]

I sent them a email asking why FM only and if they can fix this. They are good at responding.

Adding AM and SSB receive to an otherwise wide band FM SDR walki-talki is not a big deal but adding an AM modulator might be.

 

[D308]

These are just rebranded Aquario RP70’s. Plenty of videos online going through the menus, export mod, on air tests, etc. However, the more videos the merrier. When mine arrives i’m just going to report my likes and dislikes of the unit. As we all know it’s on the slow boat to the states, so it could be a while yet.

Anyway, to tide you over, here’s some videos:

- YouTube

- YouTube

I’m on my second one already. The first one died within hours of use.
These are really cool little radios. I was able to make a 10 meter contact to Chile with it. That’s over 5k miles with a 102” whip. They are not without bugs though. It’s a new concept so there’s bound to be some bugs.
BestCbRadio took about 2 weeks to replace the failed radio. It took that long to get the original from China to SoCal. You won’t need to play with the insides to make it go out of band. Leave the jumper where it’s at. To change bands you need to power off, hold down the PTT, power on and then press the band button and rotate the knob and select the band you want to use.
On my second one AM audio is quite low. I rarely use AM anyways so it’s not a big problem for me.
As I said, there’s a number of bugs but all in all it’s a neat little radio.
AM doesn’t show a carrier on the S meter on the display but it is transmitting. FM shows it fine.
The transmit audio on SSB surprisingly good. Strangely, the audio appears to be buffered meaning if you listen to it on another receiver there is a noticeable delay from the moment you speak to the time you hear it on the second receiver. I’m only seeing about 6.5 watts on AM and FM and 11 watts on SSB. But that’s using a regular wattmeter.
it draws current even when turned off. The moment you plug it in it draws about 90 ma with it turned off.
I think I’m being a bit over critical on it. It’s a toy, not a commercial high end radio. Now I just turn it on and leave it on.
I don’t regret buying it.

 

[smithdoor]

I’m on my second one already. The first one died within hours of use.
These are really cool little radios. I was able to make a 10 meter contact to Chile with it. That’s over 5k miles with a 102” whip. They are not without bugs though. It’s a new concept so there’s bound to be some bugs.
BestCbRadio took about 2 weeks to replace the failed radio. It took that long to get the original from China to SoCal. You won’t need to play with the insides to make it go out of band. Leave the jumper where it’s at. To change bands you need to power off, hold down the PTT, power on and then press the band button and rotate the knob and select the band you want to use.
On my second one AM audio is quite low. I rarely use AM anyways so it’s not a big problem for me.
As I said, there’s a number of bugs but all in all it’s a neat little radio.
AM doesn’t show a carrier on the S meter on the display but it is transmitting. FM shows it fine.
The transmit audio on SSB surprisingly good. Strangely, the audio appears to be buffered meaning if you listen to it on another receiver there is a noticeable delay from the moment you speak to the time you hear it on the second receiver. I’m only seeing about 6.5 watts on AM and FM and 11 watts on SSB. But that’s using a regular wattmeter.
it draws current even when turned off. The moment you plug it in it draws about 90 ma with it turned off.
I think I’m being a bit over critical on it. It’s a toy, not a commercial high end radio. Now I just turn it on and leave it on.
I don’t regret buying it.

Thank you for your comments

Dave

 

[niceguy71]

I’m on my second one already. The first one died within hours of use.
These are really cool little radios. I was able to make a 10 meter contact to Chile with it. That’s over 5k miles with a 102” whip. They are not without bugs though. It’s a new concept so there’s bound to be some bugs.
BestCbRadio took about 2 weeks to replace the failed radio. It took that long to get the original from China to SoCal. You won’t need to play with the insides to make it go out of band. Leave the jumper where it’s at. To change bands you need to power off, hold down the PTT, power on and then press the band button and rotate the knob and select the band you want to use.
On my second one AM audio is quite low. I rarely use AM anyways so it’s not a big problem for me.
As I said, there’s a number of bugs but all in all it’s a neat little radio.
AM doesn’t show a carrier on the S meter on the display but it is transmitting. FM shows it fine.
The transmit audio on SSB surprisingly good. Strangely, the audio appears to be buffered meaning if you listen to it on another receiver there is a noticeable delay from the moment you speak to the time you hear it on the second receiver. I’m only seeing about 6.5 watts on AM and FM and 11 watts on SSB. But that’s using a regular wattmeter.
it draws current even when turned off. The moment you plug it in it draws about 90 ma with it turned off.
I think I’m being a bit over critical on it. It’s a toy, not a commercial high end radio. Now I just turn it on and leave it on.
I don’t regret buying it.

Great info... Not happy to hear about one dieing already.... I didn't think these radios would last for years. . But I had hoped to get a couple years. .. not a couple weeks
Mine will be here June 10th they are very backed up

 

[WSAC829]

Strangely, the audio appears to be buffered meaning if you listen to it on another receiver there is a noticeable delay from the moment you speak to the time you hear it on the second receiver

That’s fairly normal for any SDR based radio. That being said, with this radio if you have the AI noise reduction ON there will a longer delay as the AI NR processes your audio before it sends it. When enabled the AI NR works on both TX and RX at the same time. Turn the AI NR off and the delay pretty much goes away. I just leave it off and use the other NR option along with hi-cut enabled to cut down the white noise.

 

[slowmover]

That’s fairly normal for any SDR based radio. That being said, with this radio if you have the AI noise reduction ON there will a longer delay as the AI NR processes your audio before it sends it. When enabled the AI NR works on both TX and RX at the same time. Turn the AI NR off and the delay pretty much goes away. I just leave it off and use the other NR option along with hi-cut enabled to cut down the white noise.

The delay isn’t caused by the Annunaki speech translator? (Never go full warble).

 

[blueline_308]

The first one died within hours of use.
These are really cool little radios.

Don't sound very cool to me...LoL.

 

[niceguy71]

Don't sound very cool to me...LoL.

Most of the little radios never last .. I think I'd rather have the more proven Anytone company ..... and the slightly larger Anytone 5000... But I got a Luiton. Coming ... So I'm crossing my fingers

 

[smithdoor]

Most of the little radios never last .. I think I'd rather have the more proven Anytone company ..... and the slightly larger Anytone 5000... But I got a Luiton. Coming ... So I'm crossing my fingers

I would to why a off brand is sort lived .
My last Cobra 75WXST I purchased in 2001 it still working today
If purchased a off brand most like I would be on my 10th one.
Cheaper to buy a name brand it lasts

Dave

 

[slowmover]

Same is said about any new brand.

LUITON is sending out radios which will be superceded by follow-ups.

See SimonTheWizard for electret mic capsule upgrade videos.

The manufacturers need feedback.

And, these aren’t $1,200 radios. Which also don’t first arrive without a glitch or two.

If $140 actually mattered people would learn to drive. They don’t care. A car that could show an annual average of 30MPG without much work they’ll allow to prematurely deteriorate at 25-MPG. That’s in maybe 1,000-miles.

It quits early? “You” obviously don’t care about $140 so what’s the beef?

The problem is that it’s a bad choice for mobile.
Doesn’t serve an existing need.

Post in thread 'First Mini SSB-capable CB'
http://forums.radioreference.com/threads/first-mini-ssb-capable-cb.494965/post-4293563
.

 

[WSAC829]

The problem is that it’s a bad choice for mobile.
Doesn’t serve an existing need.

It most certainly serves an existing need. The need for a micro sized radio with SSB for todays cars and trucks with limited space for mounting. Not everybody wants to cram an ugly full size radio on their dash or center console, or have it taking over the passenger seat, etc.

It’s also one of the easiest radios to use. With the channel selector, volume, and squelch sharing the only knob on the radio, it’s dead simple. RF gain and clarifier are also a button press away. They put some thought in to its interface (and microphone) for usability compared to most other menu driven radios currently available.

I have no problem using it in my mobile, and i don’t care about how small the meter is. S-meters are mostly useless anyway. If i can hear them i don’t care what their signal is. Especially while driving.

 

[slowmover]

You can be as contentious as you like.
Run what you will. But expect argument about advising others on a bad choice for mobile.

I’ve decades of experience with far more miles in more difficult vehicles across situations you’ll not ever encounter which prove my statements true.

When it matters . . there’s no substitute.

— Your comment alone about S-Meter use proves lack of applicable experience. You don’t understand its use in too many situations to list.

QT80 as example isn’t expensive nor hard to mount. There hasn’t been a properly-controlled mobile radio “size issue” since its intro.

.

 

[prcguy]

Most of the little radios never last .. I think I'd rather have the more proven Anytone company ..... and the slightly larger Anytone 5000... But I got a Luiton. Coming ... So I'm crossing my fingers

If you can do the antenna test next month I'll bring my Anyone 5000 for you to look over.

 

[niceguy71]

If you can do the antenna test next month I'll bring my Anyone 5000 for you to look over.

I can do the antenna test any day you'd like....
I already have the Luiton coming... I wanted the Anytone... but the Luiton will probably fit in the Jeep better and after watching many videos on both.... I think the Luiton will be easier for my non-radio type friend to use.
But thank you.

 

[WSAC829]

expect argument about advising others on a bad choice for mobile.

You as well. Most of us are hobby or recreational users. We don’t need or require what you do from a radio. Quit jamming your “ i have 10 million more miles on the road than you, so bow down to what i say” at us. It’s getting old. You do you. We’ll do us.

 

[K9KLC]

You do you. We’ll do us.

Since '71 and got more range locally then they are now with all this new fan dangled stuff. (and still are) I see mileage posts here and just laugh, and ya I'm old and I'm ok with my old A$$ ideas.

i have 10 million more miles on the road than you,

I guess if he was the only truck driver, person that drove other vehicles for living on the road, et al, this might be true. But I suspect he's not the only one. I've learned to have a filter on with every group, forum, or whatever I'm in be it commercial radio, ham radio, CB, Camera, drone, or whatever.

The gold standard to any individual is that to him, and him alone. If sharing that information helps others to decide their gold standard, that's great! People have the absolute right to have their own opinion and even share that opinion. When it start getting crammed down someone's throat, that's where it stops for me and I stop paying attention in any walk of life on any subject.

 

[K9KLC]

I think the Luiton will be easier for my non-radio type friend to use.

Let us know how it works out!