Brilliant Video James. I have an old Realistic Handheld CB with large tele antenna with base loading coil, it is a bit newer than both of your sets with LCD screen. I also have a pair of Eurosonic Handhelds which are great radios. All are 27/81 sets.
Yes it sounds like you have the newer sets. I love the Realistic radios..... I also have moonraker and Im sure somewhere I have a eurosonic radio too. I hope youre looking after those radios.... Thanks for your comments :)
I’ve got an older version of that Midland, mines a Radio Shack TRC 1014. Must be over 30yrs old now. Great little radios, I made a T2LT antenna for it and hook it up my 12v solar generator box for the full power 4W⚡️ (battery packs at 9v only put out 2W I believe) great stuff James 👍
I too still have my trusty TRC 1014. I used to have contacts with my mate just using the standard rubber duck whilst hanging out of my bedroom window. He was mobile 5.87 miles away (measured) on his Amstrad 901 & mag mount. So I can vouch for that radio.
Great video & thank you for sharing , I have the Alan 42-DS & it's an absolutely fantastic radio , I have various antennas for the hand held unit including the Midland MA 26-L speaker microphone , the 42-DS is incredibly versatile & I really like it's component modular system design , I would say it's the best mobile cb I've owned & it works very well , the technology allows long battery life unlike the older units , what's not to like , the only thing I would say that the Alan 42 not made from ABS plastic , so if gravity got the better of it the radio is likely to shatter on ground impact , that being said I've purchased a portable transceiver pouch for the radio & it fits like a glove also accommodating the MA26-L microphone that simply clips to the side of the pouch , the pouch also has a shoulder strap , I'm more then happy with this set up . It's likely that the Alan 42 is the last of the portable non ABS cb as such , hence the Randy & other hand held ABS bodyshell units that have a more professional feel & look like a Motorola with a more advanced screen display & so forth, I would imagine that their probably weather sealed ? , nevertheless variety is all part of the hobby & interest with all these things .
Hi Julian. Thank you for that. Yes it is fantastic radio, I may have been a little mean when comparing it to the older sets but you're right. They work better and I spend a lot less money on batteries nowadays :). I agree that if the radio was to take a dive off the table, it would smash into many pieces so I have to be mindful of that. I keep meaning to get a speaker mic for my Alan. I will soon. I am about to make some more videos using this Alan and trying different antennas. Hopefully soon Ill be getting more moderns hand helds to play with :). The Randy is a little higher priced for my liking so I dont think I'll be getting one, although I have seen it work and it works well. Thanks for your comments .
@@Shack-time Hello James , thank you for your reply . The good news with using the Midland MA26L mic is that the Alan 42 radio can be held higher & combined with a telescopic antenna the radio should be able to perform really well , I've seen RUclips videos of people using the Alan 42 with a telescopic antenna on top of mountains & they have got out to vast distances . The great thing with the Alan 42 is the batteries are freely available , whereas the Randy & radios alike I think spare batteries are difficult to obtain , I've looked & couldn't see any battery replacements ?. I have a feeling that it's only going to be a short matter of time when the Midland Alan 42 stops production due to the new pro ABS radios , & I'm sure that the Alan 42 will become a collectors item like all the rest of the retro radios . I look forward to your next amazing video as always . Kind regards Julian .
whilst I like the old kit I grew up on both for looks and nostalgia If funds allow the Thunderpole TX would be on my list above digging around for an old hand held. I don't think there is a right or wrong choice of CB (within approved modes etc) just what you like personally and gives you joy.
Absolutely right. I loved the old handsets as it was part of my childhood. But after try in the Alan 42, the thunderpole and the PNI HP 82 radios, there’s no going back
Hi great channel, can you please do some videos on handheld car to car in built up areas as well as countryside with these radios and give ranges and set ups. Cheers I keep my eyes open
Back in the day I had a handheld like this, but, because the telescopic got brooke, it ended up with a 1/4 wave whip on it off of a car, and even more awkward was the dv27, those was the days... I moved onto a midland portapak and a rugsack full of AA batteries after that...
Great days before mobile phones. CB was a great way to communicate. I wish I'd kept all my old radios at the time. I spent a fortune on batteries though
Hi james do you use 10 aa batteries or 9 and a Dummy one ? I have midland 42 tx1 and a alba which is same as harvard 410t like that one as has a proper signal meter with needle . The midland is a modernish handheld i like the replaceable power packs and having a manual squeltch 73 M0MBV
Yes manual squelch has always been useful. Midland 42 is a good radio. I use 10 rechargeable and only use the dummy batteries when using alkaline cells which is rare.
Hello. The English CB standard is the best, I write this as a designer of portable antennas. The miniature antenna from ALAN 42 is tuned to about 28 MHz and works very narrowly. Note that portable antennas from hand-held devices having a length of about 1/10 of a wavelength maintain an operating width of about 0.5% on the frequency scale. The European frequency standard, and even more so the German one, makes this antenna work with many times lower efficiency than the English standard. The reason for the incorrect tuning is too low pay and almost free volunteer work of communist engineers developing these antennas. In addition, they lack a laboratory. The antennas are too short for the 26.960-27.405 MHz band. Unfortunately, there is no money to redevelop. Unfortunately, the very low-series production of CB devices means that in order for the quality to be satisfactory, they should be many times more expensive than Motorola devices, because they are produced only in the amount of several hundred copies for several years. No capitalist company will produce it, you need government sponsorship as in the case of communist companies and research volunteers. Longer antennas have a wider operating band, so the tuning error may be greater. In addition, the short, miniature antennas are very close to the head and this also causes them to detune. You need to know how to make the best use of them. You should always work as close as possible to 28 Mhz, it is very important for miniature antennas made in low series and cheap as for HF antennas.
HI Everyone. I am on the fence as to getting in to CB after a break of many decades with the Thunderpole T-X (when ever they come back in stock) only thing putting me off is how many people still use CB. I live in Telford, any thought s from you would be appreciated
Definately give it a go. There are still a lot of users of CB out there. My brother lives in Kettley Bank in Telford. I have a Thunderpole T 3000 in my van and I always make contact when out there. Great elevation in parts of telford so I make long distance contact quite often. I now have the PNI Escort HP 82 which is the almost identical to the thunderpole TX. Its a great radio and using the car kit and car antenna, works just as well as any vehicle radio. Give it a try and let me know how you get on :)
When you said that the TX wasn't a real CB, what are you basing that comment on? You didn't include it in your shootout, so how do you know if it performs as good or not? You can put a long telescopic antenna on the TX aswell. I really didn't need a another cb but I bought the TX out of curiosity and was surprise how well it worked on the original antenna but obviously it works better on a longer antenna. If I'm being honest though, I love the car kit. It works as good as any multi standard CB in the car. I liked your video because you did include the Alan 42 in the trial, but it would have been better if you'd compared the TX and the Albrecht also. I've used the Midland, the Albrecht and the TX and ignoring the obvious advantage of having ssb the Albrech had better reports than the Midland but, back then a friend owned the albrecht and he don't have it now to compare it with the TX. To be honest, I'm not a thunderpole fan. In the past they have clone radios and sold them for a lot more money the T-8000 that they currently sell is a clone of a Delta 318LT that I had about 5 years ago for £40. In a shootout, the Delta did better than my Midland Alan 48 plus Multi. On TX according to reports, RX was the same signal strength but the Delta has a nicer sounding speaker.
I've just seen your video... brilliant...i still have a DNT handheld ... stupidly long telescopic antenna and big clunky channel change no led readout tho .....good video ....sorry im 2 months late with the comment 😂
Ha ha don’t apologise lol. Pleased you enjoyed the video. Yes the antennas are far too long and never used to last to long in my hands. Still great radios. Thanks for commenting
Sorry, but those old antique radios are not real CB radios, the new Thunderpole T-X is a REAL CB, big and bulky is old fashioned and out of date with the newer superior technology we have today! LOL
Your right there. Yesterday I filmed on Cannock chase. Lewis Ringway Manchester bought his thunder pole tx and we did some tests. Amazing quality and the Noise reduction was fantastic.
Such a legendary radios and dream of every kid to have as christmas present back in the 80's !!
Absolutely. I treasured my Tandy catalogue and kept reading the description. Desperately pleading with my parents to buy me one
Haha wicked video! I remember those Realistics! How much did you spend on AA batteries for this video? 😂
Well luckily I use rechargeable so it didn’t cost that much. When I was younger it cost a bloody fortune 1
Love this James! Nice test, great to see you out there on cb radio
Thanks rog. Hope we can meet up soon for another day of playing with radios 👍😊
@@Shack-time I’m coming down week after next
I’ll charge up my batteries ready 😂
Brilliant Video James. I have an old Realistic Handheld CB with large tele antenna with base loading coil, it is a bit newer than both of your sets with LCD screen. I also have a pair of Eurosonic Handhelds which are great radios. All are 27/81 sets.
Yes it sounds like you have the newer sets. I love the Realistic radios..... I also have moonraker and Im sure somewhere I have a eurosonic radio too. I hope youre looking after those radios.... Thanks for your comments :)
Collin is the MVP of this video.
I believe that I have 4-5 of those big hand held CBS all realistic work great one of them had work done to it and does put out 5 watts
yea, great radios... worth keeping hold of
I’ve got an older version of that Midland, mines a Radio Shack TRC 1014. Must be over 30yrs old now. Great little radios, I made a T2LT antenna for it and hook it up my 12v solar generator box for the full power 4W⚡️ (battery packs at 9v only put out 2W I believe) great stuff James 👍
They were great radios yes. Your right about the power….👍
I too still have my trusty TRC 1014. I used to have contacts with my mate just using the standard rubber duck whilst hanging out of my bedroom window. He was mobile 5.87 miles away (measured) on his Amstrad 901 & mag mount. So I can vouch for that radio.
@@spig021 I think they were popular radios back in the day. My friend had one and had it connected to a silver rod. Made great contacts
Great video & thank you for sharing , I have the Alan 42-DS & it's an absolutely fantastic radio , I have various antennas for the hand held unit including the Midland MA 26-L speaker microphone , the 42-DS is incredibly versatile & I really like it's component modular system design , I would say it's the best mobile cb I've owned & it works very well , the technology allows long battery life unlike the older units , what's not to like , the only thing I would say that the Alan 42 not made from ABS plastic , so if gravity got the better of it the radio is likely to shatter on ground impact , that being said I've purchased a portable transceiver pouch for the radio & it fits like a glove also accommodating the MA26-L microphone that simply clips to the side of the pouch , the pouch also has a shoulder strap , I'm more then happy with this set up .
It's likely that the Alan 42 is the last of the portable non ABS cb as such , hence the Randy & other hand held ABS bodyshell units that have a more professional feel & look like a Motorola with a more advanced screen display & so forth, I would imagine that their probably weather sealed ? , nevertheless variety is all part of the hobby & interest with all these things .
Hi Julian. Thank you for that. Yes it is fantastic radio, I may have been a little mean when comparing it to the older sets but you're right. They work better and I spend a lot less money on batteries nowadays :). I agree that if the radio was to take a dive off the table, it would smash into many pieces so I have to be mindful of that. I keep meaning to get a speaker mic for my Alan. I will soon.
I am about to make some more videos using this Alan and trying different antennas. Hopefully soon Ill be getting more moderns hand helds to play with :).
The Randy is a little higher priced for my liking so I dont think I'll be getting one, although I have seen it work and it works well.
Thanks for your comments .
@@Shack-time Hello James , thank you for your reply .
The good news with using the Midland MA26L mic is that the Alan 42 radio can be held higher & combined with a telescopic antenna the radio should be able to perform really well , I've seen RUclips videos of people using the Alan 42 with a telescopic antenna on top of mountains & they have got out to vast distances .
The great thing with the Alan 42 is the batteries are freely available , whereas the Randy & radios alike I think spare batteries are difficult to obtain , I've looked & couldn't see any battery replacements ?.
I have a feeling that it's only going to be a short matter of time when the Midland Alan 42 stops production due to the new pro ABS radios , & I'm sure that the Alan 42 will become a collectors item like all the rest of the retro radios .
I look forward to your next amazing video as always .
Kind regards
Julian .
Great video James 73
Thank you. 😊👍
I still have those too
whilst I like the old kit I grew up on both for looks and nostalgia If funds allow the Thunderpole TX would be on my list above digging around for an old hand held. I don't think there is a right or wrong choice of CB (within approved modes etc) just what you like personally and gives you joy.
Absolutely right. I loved the old handsets as it was part of my childhood. But after try in the Alan 42, the thunderpole and the PNI HP 82 radios, there’s no going back
What a great radio! Works really well!
Thank you. It does work well however I’m now thinking the newer makes are better so I’ve changed my mind.
Hi great channel, can you please do some videos on handheld car to car in built up areas as well as countryside with these radios and give ranges and set ups. Cheers I keep my eyes open
Sure. I have some more videos planned very soon. I'll be sure to try car to car.
Back in the day I had a handheld like this, but, because the telescopic got brooke, it ended up with a 1/4 wave whip on it off of a car, and even more awkward was the dv27, those was the days...
I moved onto a midland portapak and a rugsack full of AA batteries after that...
Great days before mobile phones. CB was a great way to communicate. I wish I'd kept all my old radios at the time. I spent a fortune on batteries though
73 from southern Poland i have big oldschool colection on the AIR
Pleased to hear from you. old school radios are great to keep hold of. 73
Hi james do you use 10 aa batteries or 9 and a Dummy one ? I have midland 42 tx1 and a alba which is same as harvard 410t like that one as has a proper signal meter with needle . The midland is a modernish handheld i like the replaceable power packs and having a manual squeltch 73 M0MBV
Yes manual squelch has always been useful. Midland 42 is a good radio. I use 10 rechargeable and only use the dummy batteries when using alkaline cells which is rare.
Great stuff !
Glad you enjoyed it
That was my first bought it from jc penneys milwaukee 1981
Hello. The English CB standard is the best, I write this as a designer of portable antennas.
The miniature antenna from ALAN 42 is tuned to about 28 MHz and works very narrowly.
Note that portable antennas from hand-held devices having a length of about 1/10 of a wavelength maintain an operating width of about 0.5% on the frequency scale.
The European frequency standard, and even more so the German one, makes this antenna work with many times lower efficiency than the English standard.
The reason for the incorrect tuning is too low pay and almost free volunteer work of communist engineers developing these antennas.
In addition, they lack a laboratory.
The antennas are too short for the 26.960-27.405 MHz band.
Unfortunately, there is no money to redevelop.
Unfortunately, the very low-series production of CB devices means that in order for the quality to be satisfactory, they should be many times more expensive than Motorola devices, because they are produced only in the amount of several hundred copies for several years.
No capitalist company will produce it, you need government sponsorship as in the case of communist companies and research volunteers.
Longer antennas have a wider operating band, so the tuning error may be greater. In addition, the short, miniature antennas are very close to the head and this also causes them to detune. You need to know how to make the best use of them.
You should always work as close as possible to 28 Mhz, it is very important for miniature antennas made in low series and cheap as for HF antennas.
HI Everyone. I am on the fence as to getting in to CB after a break of many decades with the Thunderpole T-X (when ever they come back in stock) only thing putting me off is how many people still use CB. I live in Telford, any thought s from you would be appreciated
Definately give it a go. There are still a lot of users of CB out there. My brother lives in Kettley Bank in Telford. I have a Thunderpole T 3000 in my van and I always make contact when out there. Great elevation in parts of telford so I make long distance contact quite often. I now have the PNI Escort HP 82 which is the almost identical to the thunderpole TX. Its a great radio and using the car kit and car antenna, works just as well as any vehicle radio. Give it a try and let me know how you get on :)
I have the midland alan and albreçht ae 2990 afs stunning am fm ssb and amateur bands
Great. I had a albrecht in my car many years ago. It was a great radio. Can’t remember what model it was but it was a well built radio 👍
@@Shack-time mine is handheld
It’s crazy to see how far handheld cbs have come I mean you compare that to a president Randy 3
Definately. Come on a long way. Randy is a great radio, very different than the old Realistic sets.
I’m still using my Realistic PRO 26 scanner
Great scanners those. Good old Tandy….
They both look like CBs to me
I use the albrecht antenna
When you said that the TX wasn't a real CB, what are you basing that comment on?
You didn't include it in your shootout, so how do you know if it performs as good or not?
You can put a long telescopic antenna on the TX aswell.
I really didn't need a another cb but I bought the TX out of curiosity and was surprise how well it worked on the original antenna but obviously it works better on a longer antenna. If I'm being honest though, I love the car kit. It works as good as any multi standard CB in the car.
I liked your video because you did include the Alan 42 in the trial, but it would have been better if you'd compared the TX and the Albrecht also.
I've used the Midland, the Albrecht and the TX and ignoring the obvious advantage of having ssb the Albrech had better reports than the Midland but, back then a friend owned the albrecht and he don't have it now to compare it with the TX.
To be honest, I'm not a thunderpole fan. In the past they have clone radios and sold them for a lot more money the T-8000 that they currently sell is a clone of a Delta 318LT that I had about 5 years ago for £40. In a shootout, the Delta did better than my Midland Alan 48 plus Multi. On TX according to reports, RX was the same signal strength but the Delta has a nicer sounding speaker.
hi james do you collect cb radios
Yes. I didnt ever set out to collect, it just sort of happened. It can get expensive if youre not carefull :)
@@Shack-time
yes it costs to collect I have spent a lot of money building a new hobby house for my radios a fun and exciting hobby to collect cbradios
I've just seen your video... brilliant...i still have a DNT handheld ... stupidly long telescopic antenna and big clunky channel change no led readout tho .....good video ....sorry im 2 months late with the comment 😂
Ha ha don’t apologise lol. Pleased you enjoyed the video. Yes the antennas are far too long and never used to last to long in my hands. Still great radios. Thanks for commenting
Ahhh nothing like that black country accent to make me feel homesick
Ha ha I don’t think it’s quite a Black Country accent 🥺
@@Shack-time the guy giving you the radio check was deffo Black Country.
Think your right. Thought you meant me 😂
😂ya call that a knife mate? this is a knife!!!!
Yup, I love crocodile dundee
Sorry, but those old antique radios are not real CB radios, the new Thunderpole T-X is a REAL CB, big and bulky is old fashioned and out of date with the newer superior technology we have today! LOL
Well I have to admit the midland did better today. Maybe your right ?
👏
Your right there. Yesterday I filmed on Cannock chase. Lewis Ringway Manchester bought his thunder pole tx and we did some tests. Amazing quality and the Noise reduction was fantastic.
@@Shack-time Great to hear!! 👍
nice
Thanks
500mW can goes 300km
It sure does. People think you need lots of power to travel DX but you don’t. It the antenna that makes the difference