STONER PRO 40 GO OR SHOW?

[Sonar]

I didn't operate SSB during my first foray into CB radio. Struckly AM from 74 - 87.
Since my return (a bit over 2 years ago) I've been operating SSB for 3/4 of that time.
I've heard everything from the 201a to the flagship transceivers built by the big three (on 11 meters SSB) but I've yet to hear what's touted as the best 11 meter SSB CB radio ever made.
Have you've ever owned or even heard one?
Do they deserve the accolades they always seem to get?
They certainly look top notch from the pictures I've seen (inside and out) but is it fluff or are they truly out of this world performers transmitt and receiving wise? 73

 

[9C1Driver]

Not sure if they are the best but any old school SSB radio built by Uniden has always been top notch. Washington, Madison, Grant xl/lt. Cobra 2000, Cobra 148 as just some examples. They also built some for Radio Shack as well. As long as they were not mis-tuned the audio was clean and smooth, SSB was stable, and the receive was superb. Then you have the quality of the parts used as well as the solid construction of the older radio's which is why so many are still working today. I just don't know about these newer radio's.

 

[jon666]

the stoner pro 40 was a awesome ssb radio. i had one
back in the day. i got short on cash and sold it.
wish i still had it. it was the best ssb radio in the market.

 

[w9cll]

The Stoner Pro 40 is the only 11 meter worth what they are selling for in my opinion. Maybe a Tram D201 or the CPI 2000 would be on that list too.

 

[Robb]

Rare! A real collectors piece. Never used one - or even seen one in the flesh - but it was a world apart from any other radio in its era. Nice find if you can score it in good shape.

 

[w9cll]

Don Stoner

 

[2RT307]

I never knew there was also a 10 meter version. One of our RT group members owns one, and the 11 meter version as well. Never played on one myseld, but have always heard they were top notch. Seems like I remember "back in the day" that a lot of people didn't buy them because they were SSB only... no AM. Plus, the Uniden stuff was really good!

73,
Brett

 

[Sonar]

I never knew there was also a 10 meter version. One of our RT group members owns one, and the 11 meter version as well. Never played on one myseld, but have always heard they were top notch. Seems like I remember "back in the day" that a lot of people didn't buy them because they were SSB only... no AM. Plus, the Uniden stuff was really good!

73,
Brett

I don't think compairing the stoner to uniden equipment is accurate. I've been doing some research and from what I've read the stoner is a different monster. I'm Happy with my Madison for SSB use but I suspect the stoner is/was heads above in all areas of operation.. One would have to be a CB radio collector to want to own a Stoner pro 40 as I'm sure a yaesu, icom, Kenwood ECT. ECT will out performe the stoner pro 40 in all areas once modified for 11 meters, and on 10 for the 10 meter one which I did read was indeed built (in very small numbers.) 73 PS I did check out YouTube and for an 11 meter SSB rig the pro 40 has some nice features and the recive sound smooth. Some articles mention the CPI transcivers as being on par with the pro 40. I wouldn't know but I myself would go with one of the big 3 amateur radios. Easily modified for 11 with enough features to keep a chicken bander busy and happy for year's to come.

 

[Yeti Communications Ltd]

we have 3x pro40's..a pro10 and couple pro 80-10 and most of the extra bits
what do i think?..being a ssb guy and a collector of radios they do have some great features for a cb radio which at the time was ahead of its time and in some respects still is in the cb world .
however not a "power box" of any sort ..dont expect too crank it up too much
receive is ok ..considering they dont have the front ends most cbers are used to..they dont have front ends!..however thats not a bad thing its actually a good thing..most professional receivers use a similar idea to reduce imd and cross mod being received

the minus thing..well the clarifier is a 10 turn control on the pro40..this sucks as the radio does drift if it has the clarifier opened up ..they "slide 10khz up and 10khz down..way too much hence the drift..which is frankly bad till it warms up..personally 5khz up and down is enough
the other minus is the dual meter...if it stops working..you are toast ..very hard to find (yeap i need one!)

the pro10 ..cool radio i like it

the pro80-10..again cool uses the same rf stage as a cubic ...actually identical rf stage (have one of those too)

if don was still alive and still making radios i am sure he would of added I.F dsp
always been a fan of don stoner

now anyone got the computer interface module and the am module for a pro40?....the wallet is open

 

[2RT307]

I don't think compairing the stoner to uniden equipment is accurate. I've been doing some research and from what I've read the stoner is a different monster. I'm Happy with my Madison for SSB use but I suspect the stoner is/was heads above in all areas of operation.. One would have to be a CB radio collector to want to own a Stoner pro 40 as I'm sure a yaesu, icom, Kenwood ECT. ECT will out performe the stoner pro 40 in all areas once modified for 11 meters, and on 10 for the 10 meter one which I did read was indeed built (in very small numbers.) 73 PS I did check out YouTube and for an 11 meter SSB rig the pro 40 has some nice features and the recive sound smooth. Some articles mention the CPI transcivers as being on par with the pro 40. I wouldn't know but I myself would go with one of the big 3 amateur radios. Easily modified for 11 with enough features to keep a chicken bander busy and happy for year's to come.

Not comparing the two, just saying that the Uniden chassis were more popular due to having AM... at least in my little town of Wichita Falls, TX. The Stoner was a high dollar rig, and I knew guys that had the dough to buy them back then. For most, the Uniden was good enough. I had friends that bought D201A's, Golden Eagle Mk IVs, CPI's, etc, but our sideband crowd was very small, so they all wanted to have the AM mode. Most of the SSB guys still had their 23 channel rigs (this was 1978-1979), and thought 40 channels wasn't a big deal. Not sure if Mike, RT455 comes on here anymore, but he's the guy with the 10 and 11 meter Stoner rigs. He runs the Yahoo CPI group, and has a bunch of old CPI stuff, too.

73,
Brett

 

[w9cll]

Not comparing the two, just saying that the Uniden chassis were more popular due to having AM.

The Pro 40 didn't sell well because just as has been said no AM. You could also add the $$$ as well.

 

[Sonar]

Not comparing the two, just saying that the Uniden chassis were more popular due to having AM... at least in my little town of Wichita Falls, TX. The Stoner was a high dollar rig, and I knew guys that had the dough to buy them back then. For most, the Uniden was good enough. I had friends that bought D201A's, Golden Eagle Mk IVs, CPI's, etc, but our sideband crowd was very small, so they all wanted to have the AM mode. Most of the SSB guys still had their 23 channel rigs (this was 1978-1979), and thought 40 channels wasn't a big deal. Not sure if Mike, RT455 comes on here anymore, but he's the guy with the 10 and 11 meter Stoner rigs. He runs the Yahoo CPI group, and has a bunch of old CPI stuff, too.

73,
Brett

My local channel was 15 AM. I didn't hear a SSB signal coming in on channel 16 until 1983. No body in Brooklyn NY was into SSB. I'm not surprised about the small number of SSB operators in your area during the 70"s. I've heard so many great sounding unidens on SSB I only hope my Madison sounds as good as those. I get good reports but have never been on the recive end of my Madison. Never the less the tramendus amounts of Madison's, 2000's, Washingtons, TRC"s and all the other panisonic SSB chassis sold speaks volumes.73

 

[w9cll]

He runs the Yahoo CPI group, and has a bunch of old CPI stuff, too.

I lusted after the CPI 2000. I heard a few on the air and they all sounded good as I remember.

 

[Blackcat630]

In the years I've been on 11m ssb I think I've heard 2 or 3 pro 40s. All sounded good from what I remember. Always wanted to get one for the collection and listen to the receiver. They still hold a high value among collectors. Would have liked to meet Don Stoner back in the day...oh and he had a pretty unique radio desk. http://www.cbgazette.com/Donaldstoner.html

 

[BBB]

Stoner Communications Inc. produced a few military and ship to shore radios as well. I have a Stoner 150A base station and a olive drab Stoner RT-/PMC-12 Man Pack field radio. Not mine, but photos of similar: