First Mini SSB-capable CB

[niceguy71]

Specs from webpage: SSB: 15W, FM: 7W, AM: 7W (Avg), PEP: 16W

Specs and what the user actually finds can be two different things.
I have two if the Radioddity CS-47 radios.... everything says after the mod they do 8 watts on AM and 15 watts on FM.... my digital meters ( several ) show it does in fact make 15 watts on FM ...but it only does 6.90 on AM Dead key

 

[niceguy71]

I'll do a "range test" when I get mine but there are many variables involved. I could do a "range test" one day and do the same test on a different day and get different results, better or worse. I'm more concerned with noise reduction, clarity in TX/RX and ease of use. It's a radio with few buttons and sub menus so it's more about get the settings dialed in and don't fret too much about trying to change too many things out on the road. Just learn where you want the default function to be on the menu and leave it there i.e. RFG or NR level.

It's so tiny that I'm going to mount it overhead between the sun visors in my Eurovan. We'll see how effective the down firing speaker is. I'm gong to remove the QT60 and install it in my 99 Pathfinder. I'm also converting the Stryker SR-A10 antenna from a mag mount to a through hole solid mount for a better ground plane effect.

Factory setup out of the box it's an 11 meter radio, 40 channels with SSB so 40 LSB, 40 USB, plus FM & AM so the call it "80 channel". I've seen that it can be jumper modded to cover 10 & 12 meter but I'm going to just leave it as... for now. After I get my ham license I'll probably do the mod.

Tracking update shows carrier has the radio enroute from PA. Should have it in a few days.

a Range test shows what's possible

I do tons of them.... some days I may do 20 miles from my mobile to my base... but 90% of the time I get a good solid 10 miles .. somedays my voice is distant.. other days my voice is booming through like a loud speaker.... but they both do 10 miles!!!! minimum ... many days I get 15 miles plus and if I go out at 11PM when it's quiet I can get 20 miles
so a range test shows your system... how everything is working and shows people what's possible.

I have found if I go out at 7AM before all the people on CB are awake ... the conditions are INCREDIBLE! so do it at 7AM and I bet you'll have fantastic results.

I wanted to show 6Wheeler1 how nice that Stryker would look with a roof mount on his RV ..... I looked for hours... sadly NOT ONE how to video on YouTube on how to install the Stryker SR-A10 roof mount.... if people could see it and see how to do it, I bet a lot of people would do them.... I wrote Stryker and informed them they don't have very good instructions or pictures of their roof mount kit and told them if they would send me a $45 roof mount kit I'd make a video.... but seeing I have about 100 subscribers and do terrible videos... I'm sure they will just laugh and throw my request in the trash

I wish someone would make a How to Video on the roof Mount kit. ( hint hint )

I turned on my base one day and the conditions were about as bad as I've ever seen... tons of people on... tons of skip.. it was BAD... thick and heavy..... many of the locals close to my Base told me I'd be lucky to talk across the street

I was going to my friends house 18.50 miles away and was hoping to make it with the CB... the last I heard on this test was at 16.56 miles away... it all sounded horrible... but it made it... I had a group of people ask what I was doing? when I was flying down Route 195 ... I didn't think I would get a break from them.
I politely told them about my range test and got them to move to another channel ( I couldn't go home and change the channel on my Base station.)
so even in terrible conditions I think it's extremely interesting.

 

[bob-the-scanner-man]

I've been out of the CB realm for a couple of years and these have me interested for sure. I've got a '13 Toyota Avalon with not much room for a CB so I may very well give one of these a shot. Lots of places a radio this size could live.

 

[makerdino059]

I wish someone would make a How to Video on the roof Mount kit. ( hint hint )

I bought a very simple 15' coax with a 90 degree SO239 connector from Amazon. I'll use that and include the install in my video. I couldn't see spending $45 for Strykers "kit". I agree that the photo shows nothing about how it mounts. Not impressed.

I'll install this and just use the rubber gasket that the Stryker comes with and simply screw it in place. I can still use the protective cover that the antenna came with. I unscrewed it and stashed in in the van a few times on my recent road trip when I was parked in sketchy areas.

 

[smithdoor]

Aquário RP-70 Mini AM/FM/SSB​

View attachment 193249
Approximately 5” x 1” x 4”

7W AM/FM & 15W SSB
Hi-Cut & NRC

M0OGY Review

m0ogy ( The Home Of CB Radio In England)

This is the Youtube channel called M0OGY. This is a Radio Hobbyists site dedicated to modern Citizens' Band Radio and also the "Good Old Days" of Retro CB Radio equipment. Enjoy your visit. C Dave A. 2007-2025

www.youtube.com

m0ogy ( The Home Of CB Radio In England)

This is the Youtube channel called M0OGY. This is a Radio Hobbyists site dedicated to modern Citizens' Band Radio and also the "Good Old Days" of Retro CB Radio equipment. Enjoy your visit. C Dave A. 2007-2025

www.youtube.com

m0ogy ( The Home Of CB Radio In England)

This is the Youtube channel called M0OGY. This is a Radio Hobbyists site dedicated to modern Citizens' Band Radio and also the "Good Old Days" of Retro CB Radio equipment. Enjoy your visit. C Dave A. 2007-2025

www.youtube.com

m0ogy ( The Home Of CB Radio In England)

This is the Youtube channel called M0OGY. This is a Radio Hobbyists site dedicated to modern Citizens' Band Radio and also the "Good Old Days" of Retro CB Radio equipment. Enjoy your visit. C Dave A. 2007-2025

www.youtube.com

Speculation began about a year ago.

— Would need an RM Italy KL503 or 203 amp to be competitive with radios currently available.
No WX

$399 has been bandied about. With shipping, tariff plus speaker, an amp & miscellaneous, this looks $$$$

— What I don’t at all care for is the required lack of front panel controls to adjust on the fly. In mobile it’s not feasible to look more than 1X, as 2X while at speed is pushing boundaries too hard. And, no, you don’t have more experience or are better at such than I.

I’d want RFG & SQ easily modified.

— As Skip starts to be less of a factor this isn’t as critical as it is today. From 0400 till past sunset one is changing this for maximum signal capture ahead of rural vs metro conditions. Pulling off the road becomes necessity.

Rumors of mini contenders exist. I see this one as the prototype against which they’ll be judged.

I’m not alone desiring detachable faceplate configuration as it solves the mount/space problem.

But . . . this one fits in the palm of the hand.

.

Here is is interesting fact from long haul truckers . There report to me they get about 30 miles range in Midwest at night .
But same truckers said going into LA some time lucky to get 5 mile on very smogy weather. Most time it was 15 miles in other parts of American.

Dave

 

[niceguy71]

I bought a very simple 15' coax with a 90 degree SO239 connector from Amazon. I'll use that and include the install in my video. I couldn't see spending $45 for Strykers "kit". I agree that the photo shows nothing about how it mounts. Not impressed.

I'll install this and just use the rubber gasket that the Stryker comes with and simply screw it in place. I can still use the protective cover that the antenna came with. I unscrewed it and stashed in in the van a few times on my recent road trip when I was parked in sketchy areas.

I don't see a nut on the Amazon part.... it's a TON of work pulling the head liner... if something leaks because it wasn't the approved Stryker kit ... I'd be concerned
plus I think you could get Stryker to post the video on their site... but you have to use their kit?

anyway I'm looking forward to it...

show the whole install if you can
show how you went to the battery and installed a relay and how you need to use an electrical noise filter and a how you used coax noise filter
and some ferrite snap on chokes

this was my very first video I showed a little of my install and forgot a lot that needed to be shown
I did a range test in the video.. but I was happy with it for a first video

 

[makerdino059]

I don't see a nut on the Amazon part.... it's a TON of work pulling the head liner... if something leaks because it wasn't the approved Stryker kit ... I'd be concerned

There is a nut, it's that metal ring with the two flats on it for a wrench. I'll be sealing it on the outside. It will make contact with bare metal on the inside with some NO-OX-ID applied to prevent corrosion. Not worried at all about leaks. My van has a wood panel headliner that I installed myself. It has two dome lights which can be removed for access to the interior. No need to remove the headliner. I'm mounting the antenna near one of those dome lights. Coax will run forward and I can also access it from the front by removing a strip that separates the front headliner from the rear one. Total access to the front overhead area by pulling the headliner down a little.

Power wire will run direct to the battery with a fuse, ground wire to the chassis near the radio. Ferrite bead on the power wire, with a few turns, near the radio . Coax will get several turns around a 43 mix 2.4" ferrite ring right near the antenna. No noise filter, no need for a relay. Should work well.

 

[smithdoor]

a Range test shows what's possible

I do tons of them.... some days I may do 20 miles from my mobile to my base... but 90% of the time I get a good solid 10 miles .. somedays my voice is distant.. other days my voice is booming through like a loud speaker.... but they both do 10 miles!!!! minimum ... many days I get 15 miles plus and if I go out at 11PM when it's quiet I can get 20 miles
so a range test shows your system... how everything is working and shows people what's possible.

I have found if I go out at 7AM before all the people on CB are awake ... the conditions are INCREDIBLE! so do it at 7AM and I bet you'll have fantastic results.

I wanted to show 6Wheeler1 how nice that Stryker would look with a roof mount on his RV ..... I looked for hours... sadly NOT ONE how to video on YouTube on how to install the Stryker SR-A10 roof mount.... if people could see it and see how to do it, I bet a lot of people would do them.... I wrote Stryker and informed them they don't have very good instructions or pictures of their roof mount kit and told them if they would send me a $45 roof mount kit I'd make a video.... but seeing I have about 100 subscribers and do terrible videos... I'm sure they will just laugh and throw my request in the trash

I wish someone would make a How to Video on the roof Mount kit. ( hint hint )

I turned on my base one day and the conditions were about as bad as I've ever seen... tons of people on... tons of skip.. it was BAD... thick and heavy..... many of the locals close to my Base told me I'd be lucky to talk across the street

I was going to my friends house 18.50 miles away and was hoping to make it with the CB... the last I heard on this test was at 16.56 miles away... it all sounded horrible... but it made it... I had a group of people ask what I was doing? when I was flying down Route 195 ... I didn't think I would get a break from them.
I politely told them about my range test and got them to move to another channel ( I couldn't go home and change the channel on my Base station.)
so even in terrible conditions I think it's extremely interesting.

The hardest is taking out the liner.
I have punch that does nice job of cutting hole.

I like side mount so use a longer antenna.
Is behide the Driver. On top of roof it needs shorter antenna.

Dave

 

[niceguy71]

There is a nut, it's that metal ring with the two flats on it for a wrench. I'll be sealing it on the outside. It will make contact with bare metal on the inside with some NO-OX-ID applied to prevent corrosion. Not worried at all about leaks. My van has a wood panel headliner that I installed myself. It has two dome lights which can be removed for access to the interior. No need to remove the headliner. I'm mounting the antenna near one of those dome lights. Coax will run forward and I can also access it from the front by removing a strip that separates the front headliner from the rear one. Total access to the front overhead area by pulling the headliner down a little.

Power wire will run direct to the battery with a fuse, ground wire to the chassis near the radio. Ferrite bead on the power wire, with a few turns, near the radio . Coax will get several turns around a 43 mix 2.4" ferrite ring right near the antenna. No noise filter, no need for a relay. Should work well.

I didn't think I needed either of the noise filters either....
But some of the guys here really insisted I needed them??
So I bought them....

HUGE DIFFERENCE

The radio was so quiet after I installed them, I thought the antenna wasn't connected??... I could turn the squelch down all the way and there was just very, very soft static... No blaring noise at all

As I used the radio in the next couple weeks I found I could hear people softly in the distance... And talk to them.... I didn't think they would help much... But they did an amazing transformation... It was like I had a new radio.
I'd never have a CB system without them now.
Try them some day you might be very surprised .. I run the coax filter on my base station also.... Again it made an amazing difference.

 

[smithdoor]

I didn't think I needed either of the noise filters either....
But some of the guys here really insisted I needed them??
So I bought them....

HUGE DIFFERENCE

The radio was so quiet after I installed them, I thought the antenna wasn't connected??... I could turn the squelch down all the way and there was just very, very soft static... No blaring noise at all

As I used the radio in the next couple weeks I found I could hear people softly in the distance... And talk to them.... I didn't think they would help much... But they did an amazing transformation... It was like I had a new radio.
I'd never have a CB system without them now.
Try them some day you might be very surprised .. I run the coax filter on my base station also.... Again it made an amazing difference.

Any photos

Dave

 

[niceguy71]

Any photos

Dave

Scroll up to post #126 and click the links

 

[makerdino059]

The ferrite ring and bead should be an effective common mode choke. We'll see.
Biggest noise issue in my van is RF from the HID lights. The high frequency module that drives them emits a lot of RF. I've tried ferrites but the noise isn't in the power feed, it's just RFI.

 

[niceguy71]

I am really debating between the

Luiton LT-310SDR and the Anytone 5000 ​

the Luiton says it puts out 7 watts and a 16 watt PEP

the Anytone 5000 says it puts out 30 watts on AM and 25 watts on FM and SSB ...... so I watched a video on the Anytone 5000 and the guy did a power test after modifying it... he got 6.5 watts on AM swinging up to around to 29 watts.

so are they both about the same watts??? I think I'd trust Anytone over Luiton.... but I have no real experience with Luiton

I guess the Anytone has a higher PEP ... and after watching several videos on the Anytone 5000..... it's truly an amazing radio
for an extra $60 bucks I may as well get the Anytone?

guess I'll wait a few months and see how it all plays out.... I'm sure there will be lots of talk and lots of comparisons .... probably lots of trouble too

 

[K6GBW]

If you can fit the bigger AT-5000 in your vehicle then it sounds like the better deal.

 

[niceguy71]

If you can fit the bigger AT-5000 in your vehicle then it sounds like the better deal.

you would be the best guy to ask.
I'm thinking about installing it in a Jeep TJ above the rear view Mirror on a windshield mount they sell for it... you drill out the rivets on the loop above the rear view mirror and put Nutserts in and install a CB bracket... I think either radio will fit.... but smaller is always better... but I really like the controls on the Anytone 5000 better... seeing you have a Jeep K6GBW which one would you put above the rear view mirror?

Jeep windshield mount

 

[K6GBW]

Well, I've had a couple of Jeeps and I had a CB in both of them. I only used them for convoy and trail communicaitons so I had smallish firestiks on them and they worked well enough for what I needed them for. I've never had a CB mounted above the mirror. When I was a working cop I was assigned to motorcycle/traffic duty for the first ten years of my career. I saw so many accidents where people were injured by crap flying around inside the car that I avoided having anything mounted up high. That said, if I had to pick I'd probably go with the smaller radio.

 

[WSAC829]

but I really like the controls on the Anytone 5000 better.

Myself and a few others online find the 310SDR controls easier to use vs the AT-5000, but that’s just our preference. Neither is hard to use. The only thing i can say is if you use FM a lot, get the AT-5000. FM TX audio on the 310SDR is a bit narrow. The only other things to look at are, is the extra $50 for the AT-5000 worth having echo, ctcss/dcs, WX band, and a true VFO mode vs not having those features on the 310SDR? Can’t go wrong with either radio for general use otherwise, but the 310SDR is just so small that it’s hard not to like.

 

[smithdoor]

you would be the best guy to ask.
I'm thinking about installing it in a Jeep TJ above the rear view Mirror on a windshield mount they sell for it... you drill out the rivets on the loop above the rear view mirror and put Nutserts in and install a CB bracket... I think either radio will fit.... but smaller is always better... but I really like the controls on the Anytone 5000 better... seeing you have a Jeep K6GBW which one would you put above the rear view mirror?

Jeep windshield mount

I like magnetic mount or better punch hole and mount the antenna or weld a clip onto a rollover bar is two best.

Dave

 

[EAFrizzle]

Hey, @WSAC829 , how is the 6699 working out? I don't really need a mini-CB, but I'm always interested in full HF Rx. It looks a little bigger than the 5000, but still manageable. The G90 does a great job for me, but I wouldn't mind a smaller rig in the car.

 

[WSAC829]

how is the 6699 working out?

Decent. It’s a really good SW receiver. The CB side of it is odd. For my needs it's a decent radio. It’s missing features like RF gain, Mic gain, Squelch (works on FM only), no memory channels, no RB or echo, no ctcss/dcs, the S-meter isn’t quite right (very forgiving), etc, etc. However, saying that, the receiver is quite nice. I believe it has some sort of auto or AI noise reduction enabled because on AM it's almost silent until somebody keys up. On SSB it’s also pretty quiet until there is traffic. On TX its audio is LOUD. Almost overbearing, but on 11 meter i get lots of “i wish my radio sounded like that” coming back to me. Size-wise, yeah it’s not big or small. It’s a hair smaller than my Uniden BCD996 scanner, or similar in size to the President Mckinley.

Now as for the price, it’s tough. Roughly $200 gets you a few of the other export radio’s with all the bells and whistles. However, even the cheap general coverage receivers like the ATS25X2, Malihuts, etc are roughly $100 or more and are not all that great. The 6699 is SuperHet, so no SDR wonkiness. So to have a basic AM/FM/SSB CB (actually will tx on 10,11,12 and 15 meter) that’s missing some features, with a nice sounding general coverage receiver built in, i think it holds it’s own price-wise. If they ever make some firmware updates to solve some of the missing features it could be great, but i don't think that will happen. Would i recommend one? I don’t know. Am i happy with mine? It does what i want it to do, so yeah, no regrets.