It is not in the manual, but I discovered that if you put the squelch all the way to the left, it becomes an auto squelch! And it works nice! Now my radio is snipped and I don't know if that is something that appears when you open it up... discovered it after I cut the jumper...
Mine definitely doesn’t have auto squelch but it is unmodified, the Ares 2 which is basically the same board does though so maybe since the expansion you have introduced it. Maybe i should try it.
What would you choose out the two between this and the aries ii ? I got that ariel up yeetrday using those fixings , absolutely solid i ended up having to wrap some thing copper wire round them tho as the springs where crap . Getting a 12ft scaffy pole and a 6.5m antenna 📡 on top of it up a 8m ladder yourself and fixed on to the k&t brackets wasnt easy but i managed it 🤣🤣 Im also looking at kpo dx5000 plus as it has the frequency counter and i like the look of the old rig , think i would go well with my old cobra but thats untouched in amazing condition so dont want to open that up . Cheers William
@@williamn01 If you have a Cobra then it is quite similar in its basic functionality to the 3900 so i would go with a ARES 2, still old school looking with a load more bells and whistles. Both great radios though.
I like the channel, Subscribed. Just a quick question. The set comes as U.K FM. If you set it to E.U which gives you AM, USB and LSB, do you need a HAM licence? Thanks for the upload.
Ce qui me plaît sur cette radio c'est que les boutons sont solides et leurs fonctions sont indiqués clairement sans avoir besoin de regarder l'écran a chaques manipulation, une radio qui pèse son poids mais qui prouve que dedans il n'y a pas de la camelote et elle est très esthétique
Hi does anybody know how to get into the service menu ? I’ve got in but don’t know how exactly and tried how much power ist possible (40-50 ) now I want to reduce again but can’t come into the menu
I’m just learning about cb. Does this have 40 uk channels, 40euro channels at 4w and then 12w ssb? If you mod it, does that increase the watt output? Or just open up more channels? Edit i should have just watched the video first! Thanks
This is a proper 40 channel UK Rig as well as several of the other European zone frequencies. It can be easily expanded although i haven’t bothered as i have enough radios that cover what i need. If i end up modifying this i would use a reed switch.
I saw on another video there was an annoying bleep when you change channel, did you switch this off on the menu? Thinking of getting this rig for my first venture into ssb
@@jimphillips4377 The later batch’s had the bleep turned off by default but it is in the extended menu to turn on and off. It is a fantastic little radio and only one of a handful of genuine legal SSB CB Radios. The Ares 2 is very similar but with a host of extra features but this little 3900 is definitely the one i would go for Just for the old school look.
The likes of the HP6500 are good little AM/FM CB radios but SSB is another world. If a legal radio is your thing then the Superstar 3900 is definitely up there with the best for 11m.
The Dirland was pretty good but these work extremely well for the money,probably the biggest complaint it the laggy Signal meter but it really doesn’t bother me.The Noise reduction is also very useful over older radios.At the end of the day they will both do the same job,it is however a world away from the previous 3900.
@@mm7909 Sorry I probably should have explained. Basically SSB is short for single sideband which is a refined AM but only uses one of its side bands USB or LSB and suppresses the carrier. Sounds complicated at first but basically SSB is LSB(lower sideband) and USB(upper sideband.
Thanks for sharing, I run mine for seven months before it went back in it's box when the George II arrived here, I rated mine, had some good DX contacts 🙂
I will probably leave this on the desk as a reliable old school looking Radio on the vertical.I have had a few compliments regarding the punchy audio so it definitely works well….Thanks for visiting Dave
@@survitankistedu67gael64 If you can give me a couple of weeks i could show you with a video if you want but it is basically a very small white wire link that you cut.
Great video as great review of the Superstar 3900. Planning on buying this model shortly as it has that lovely look of CB radios from the old days.
The looks of yesteryear but solid stability makes the radio a belter to use, thanks for visiting the channel.
you caught the end of my QSO with 43 div ,nice one didnt expect to hear my call sign watching your vid 73
Excellent stuff Barry!…Where are you based,local?…love the call Group 73’s
hello mate my QTH is Cambridge @@gtretroworld
It is not in the manual, but I discovered that if you put the squelch all the way to the left, it becomes an auto squelch! And it works nice! Now my radio is snipped and I don't know if that is something that appears when you open it up... discovered it after I cut the jumper...
Mine definitely doesn’t have auto squelch but it is unmodified, the Ares 2 which is basically the same board does though so maybe since the expansion you have introduced it. Maybe i should try it.
interesting, I didn't know this version, I had the old version with the band switch with only 3 positions. Thank you for sharing this information.
This version was only released the beginning of this year…thanks for visiting.
What would you choose out the two between this and the aries ii ?
I got that ariel up yeetrday using those fixings , absolutely solid i ended up having to wrap some thing copper wire round them tho as the springs where crap .
Getting a 12ft scaffy pole and a 6.5m antenna 📡 on top of it up a 8m ladder yourself and fixed on to the k&t brackets wasnt easy but i managed it 🤣🤣
Im also looking at kpo dx5000 plus as it has the frequency counter and i like the look of the old rig , think i would go well with my old cobra but thats untouched in amazing condition so dont want to open that up .
Cheers
William
@@williamn01 If you have a Cobra then it is quite similar in its basic functionality to the 3900 so i would go with a ARES 2, still old school looking with a load more bells and whistles. Both great radios though.
@@gtretroworldEnded up going from one extreme to the other and picked up a FT891 and a McKinley 🤣 couldn't get further away from retro 😬
@ These things happen, Good choice with the FT891, definitely on my radar for next year.
@@gtretroworld Not many UK reviews of the Ft891 do you know any good ones ?
@@williamn01 Tbh haven’t really looked at reviews for the 891, it’s mainly just seeing it in use.
I like the channel, Subscribed. Just a quick question. The set comes as U.K FM. If you set it to E.U which gives you AM, USB and LSB, do you need a HAM licence? Thanks for the upload.
You can legally use those modes on EU/Cept frequencies without a radio amateur license. Thanks for subscribing.
@@gtretroworld Thanks for the reply.
Thinking on buying this cb for my car. Any idea what the best antenna thanks ( first time cb.)
It’s a great Rig with that retro look. As for antenna something like the Sirio 4000 or 5000 are great mobile antennas.
Ce qui me plaît sur cette radio c'est que les boutons sont solides et leurs fonctions sont indiqués clairement sans avoir besoin de regarder l'écran a chaques manipulation, une radio qui pèse son poids mais qui prouve que dedans il n'y a pas de la camelote et elle est très esthétique
I agree for a modern radio it feels and looks as solid as the old radios of yesteryear. Basic but excellent ease of use.
Hi does anybody know how to get into the service menu ? I’ve got in but don’t know how exactly and tried how much power ist possible (40-50 ) now I want to reduce again but can’t come into the menu
Has it got the same roger beep like the original
The beep is quite similar, it can also be programmed via PC if you want to change it.
I’m just learning about cb. Does this have 40 uk channels, 40euro channels at 4w and then 12w ssb?
If you mod it, does that increase the watt output? Or just open up more channels? Edit i should have just watched the video first! Thanks
This is a proper 40 channel UK Rig as well as several of the other European zone frequencies. It can be easily expanded although i haven’t bothered as i have enough radios that cover what i need. If i end up modifying this i would use a reed switch.
Very nice looking rig
Thanks…it performs surprisingly well too and looks great in the shack if you like that old school look.
Você tem um vídeo mostrando a parte interna?
No but i could show you in a future video if you’re interested.
@@gtretroworld II would be very grateful if you made the video. I subscribed to your channel.
@@canalcomentario Ok no problem…thanks for subscribing.
What freq was australia on? Straight EU or ssb?
27.385mhz LSB and what is probably the most popular 11m calling frequency. Thanks for visiting the channel.
I saw on another video there was an annoying bleep when you change channel, did you switch this off on the menu? Thinking of getting this rig for my first venture into ssb
@@jimphillips4377 The later batch’s had the bleep turned off by default but it is in the extended menu to turn on and off. It is a fantastic little radio and only one of a handful of genuine legal SSB CB Radios. The Ares 2 is very similar but with a host of extra features but this little 3900 is definitely the one i would go for Just for the old school look.
I'm thinking of getting the 2024 version eventually to replace the ultra compact PNI Escort HP6500 I have currently been using as a base station
The likes of the HP6500 are good little AM/FM CB radios but SSB is another world. If a legal radio is your thing then the Superstar 3900 is definitely up there with the best for 11m.
@@gtretroworld have to use legal radios my naghbour is a police officer
@@stampydragon2739 Fair enough, in that case this radio is the perfect upgrade. Thanks for visiting the channel.
I Own A Mint Boxed Dirland 3900 From New How Would You Rate Between Both Radios ??
The Dirland was pretty good but these work extremely well for the money,probably the biggest complaint it the laggy Signal meter but it really doesn’t bother me.The Noise reduction is also very useful over older radios.At the end of the day they will both do the same job,it is however a world away from the previous 3900.
Do you still need a licence from ofcom to operate LSB / USB?
@@mm7909 The licence was dropped years ago and running this specific rig out the box is 100% legal on SSB. Hope this helps.
@@gtretroworld Thank you for answering. All I've seen online is that a foundation licence is still required to transmit on LSB and USB
@ You need a foundation license for the Ham Bands but for CB Radio in around 2014, FM, AM and SSB were allowed and license free.
@@gtretroworld Thank you. Please forgive me my lack of knowledge. So FM, SSB = License free.
So does USB and LSB still require a license?
@@mm7909 Sorry I probably should have explained. Basically SSB is short for single sideband which is a refined AM but only uses one of its side bands USB or LSB and suppresses the carrier.
Sounds complicated at first but basically SSB is LSB(lower sideband) and USB(upper sideband.
Nasty radio, them new one's,, old school rule's
I love old radios but honestly straight up this new superstar is very good and looks old school.
Is this UK Legal or do you need foundation ??
This Radio in its untouched form is 100% legal to operate…hope this helps.
Thanks for sharing, I run mine for seven months before it went back in it's box when the George II arrived here, I rated mine, had some good DX contacts 🙂
I will probably leave this on the desk as a reliable old school looking Radio on the vertical.I have had a few compliments regarding the punchy audio so it definitely works well….Thanks for visiting Dave
HI. Is it just for ham or is it free for all?
The 3900 is more a Multi Norms CB Radio than for the Ham bands but can be expanded.
Grazie @@gtretroworld
export? 240Cx?
It only needs a quick and easy modification to open it up for Export..thanks for visiting the channel.
@@gtretroworld what is the modification?
@@survitankistedu67gael64 One Simple wire cut.
@@gtretroworld plus ,précisément? explicite?
@@survitankistedu67gael64 If you can give me a couple of weeks i could show you with a video if you want but it is basically a very small white wire link that you cut.
Why do folks always think you need a linear amplifier. Lol
With a decent well setup Antenna anything is possible but holy moly the last few nights without a little help would’ve been hard work i tell thee..😁