The Anytone "Smart CB"...Opinions?

[sunbulls]

President Electronics will release their micro CB radio in the next few weeks. https://president-electronics.us/CB-Radios/AM-transceivers/BILL-FCC

It has the smaller President mics, which have good audio, and the 6 pin jack, which will accept the Uniden wireless mic.

Knowing Uniden, they won’t provide an easy mod for extra channels. Time will tell. Although I like to occasionally scan the below ones during skip, not having them is not a deal breaker for me. All the other features like weather are a plus. I was pleased to see it will accept both electret and dynamic mics presumably without any modification.

 

[Hurricane145]

I wonder what the cost will be?

 

[CDX8412]

The EU version (which has FM, as well as the various European band configurations) lists for £99,50, and that converts to around $127 US.

President radios are not priced cheap, so the Anytone Smart CB will probably half the price of the President. I would anticipate the Bill FCC to sell for at least $125, but under $100 would probably be the price that would make it more desirable.

The President Bill FCC does have the smaller hand mic, the option to choose between an electret or dynamic mic, a USB charging port, and weather channels, 7 color display, and the 6 pin mic connector that allows the Uniden wireless mic to plug in directly.

I believe the Anytone mic is soldered directly to the radio, so changing mics is probably not an easy task, and you have to do some soldering/unsoldering to get to work on 11m. The question for the buyer is...will the President be worth the extra $$$

 

[Hurricane145]

I wonder why they bothered with a USB charging port? Most people have all the USB charging stuff they need. It seems like an odd feature.
I would prefer the mic connector but it sure looks funny being so big a connector on such a small radio. Maybe it's time to move on to an RJ45 connector but then changing to other mics would be difficult and RJ45 connectors do get damaged easier.

All in all I would prefer the Uniden to the Anytone.

 

[Mudfoot]

IDK, I kinda like the USB option, as long as it didn't generate noise.

 

[WECSOG]

I had mine for awhile before I made any contacts, then made a couple of contacts in as many days. Good audio reports. I have no complaints, for the price.

 

[eric chilton]

Got 2.messed 1 up my fault.
First 1 was better than second 1.2nd picks up a little noise first 1 was quiet.but either 1 hooked to a lil wil on the hood of my 91 dodge ram it has talked 15 miles on high power recieves more than you hear too.kinda tricky at first with buttons but after couple days its easy to make changes.i did the op2 mod unsolder op1 bridge op2 .that lets you switch from 4 watts to 10 watts plus extra bands.if i was steady nuff id install a 3 position toggle swith to use op1 ,op2 and straight 40 cb channels.i got mine for $58. Free shipping from ebay

i got one and was wanting to put a switch there.....anybody done it ? is it doable ? thanks in advance........eric

 

[WECSOG]

i got one and was wanting to put a switch there.....anybody done it ? is it doable ? thanks in advance........eric

Yeah, it's doable. I don't see any advantage to it, though.

 

[Rwb]

i got one and was wanting to put a switch there.....anybody done it ? is it doable ? thanks in advance........eric

yes but steady hand and very small solder tip

 

[eric chilton]

Yeah, it's doable. I don't see any advantage to it, though.

so if you leave it as it comes ....it still gets 11 mters and 10 meters ? all the bands its capable of ? ....thanks for your reply....

 

[WECSOG]

No, you have to do the mod to open up 11 Meters. But then you can toggle between 10 and 11 with a front panel power up sequence. No need to add a switch.

 

[eric chilton]

No, you have to do the mod to open up 11 Meters. But then you can toggle between 10 and 11 with a front panel power up sequence. No need to add a switch.

cool thanks for the info ...all i have read about it on the net was kinda confusing ..thanks again........

 

[WECSOG]

cool thanks for the info ...all i have read about it on the net was kinda confusing ..thanks again........

Happy to help.

 

[Rwb]

cool thanks for the info ...all i have read about it on the net was kinda confusing ..thanks again........

when you do the mod you loose europe' bands. You do it 1 way you get 5 watts max n 40 cb channels,do it another wzy n get 10 meters and 11,cb bands.i was gonna use an on off on 3 position switch to hit the way it was from factory,next position 100 meters,cb only other position 11 and 10 meters 10 watts. Glad to help you. Other guy was right but if not needed i like lower power less heat buildup but gives many more choices

 

[WECSOG]

when you do the mod you loose europe' bands. You do it 1 way you get 5 watts max n 40 cb channels,do it another wzy n get 10 meters and 11,cb bands.i was gonna use an on off on 3 position switch to hit the way it was from factory,next position 100 meters,cb only other position 11 and 10 meters 10 watts. Glad to help you. Other guy was right but if not needed i like lower power less heat buildup but gives many more choices

Good points. I actually thought about doing that with mine too, but don't see any advantages.
I don't think you lose anything by doing the 10/11 meter mod. Out of the box, OP1 is open and OP2 is soldered. That locks it in 10M only mode. There are two other options: desolder OP2 for the various US and international CB bands only, or desolder OP2 and solder OP1 for coverage from 25.615 through 30.105. That's what I did. You just have to hold one button while powering up, then choose channel bank A through J where D is US CB. Attached is a list of the frequencies you have with that mod; you also have the "0" frequencies (drop 5 kc) by pressing and holding the RFG button.
I agree about running the lower power, but you can select that from the front panel as well. No need to run the high power setting unless you want to.