US WWDXers: Will you be getting a FM rig?

[TM86]

As above I have several fm capable exports but whether it'll be used will be determined by how popular it becomes.

Has it been etched in stone that fm is in fact going to be legal in the USA? I know there was talk but never heard the actual yay or nay

Doc is here:
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-374114A1.pdf

Relevant bit:
7. Accordingly, we grant the Cobra Petition to the extent described herein. Specifically, we amend Section 95.971(a) of the Commission’s rules to permit CB Radio Service transmitters to transmit FM voice emissions along with AM.

 

[CDX8412]

I am running two President Grant II radios at this time (one in the shack, one in my Nissan Xterra), which give me FM, along with 10m if I wanted to use 10m (but I have pretty much swore off amateur radio). Also running some KL-203’s behind these rigs.

The Grant II is not the best radio out there, but I like the form factor of the radio (and the 980 SSB), and like having FM and 10m. It is a good fit for my needs.

I will buy a President McKinley with FM if/when President Electronics offers it in the US, because my other truck, a ‘93 Chevy Blazer has a McKinley mounted in the dash where the tape deck used to sit. I just need to swap radios. I got a DIN mount kit from CBWorld for the McKinley. This radio is very good for in-dash mounting due to it’s front firing speaker.

Hope these radios are available in the US soon.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

I was talking to my wife the other day while she was in the mobile with an Anytone Smart and I was in the shack on my new Galaxy 86v. Me being all proud of my new big audio Galaxy, I asked her how I sound....... She said "Ya know, the CB doesn't sound as good as the walkie talkies". We use Midland FRS/GMRS radios at home to communicate between houses, she takes care of her mother down the street and the kids are always back and forth. Maybe this FM thing will catch on.

And maybe we will see the radio makers liquidate their stock at rock bottom prices in order to bring their FM versions to market? Like they did back in the day when it went from 23 channels to 40?

 

[cralt]

I am running two President Grant II

It's to bad they don't sell those anymore. I really like the 980 layout for mobile use.

And maybe we will see the radio makers liquidate their stock at rock bottom prices in order to bring their FM versions to market?

Cobra's Ebay store is selling "refurbished" 25's and 29's for cheap-ish. Are these really refurbs? Or is it really overstock they are calling "refurbished" so not to undercut their own dealers?
It just seems odd to me that Cobra would have 100's of broken radios that they are paying labor to fix/clean/repack.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

It's to bad they don't sell those anymore. I really like the 980 layout for mobile use.
View attachment 46794


Cobra's Ebay store is selling "refurbished" 25's and 29's for cheap-ish. Are these really refurbs? Or is it really overstock they are calling "refurbished" so not to undercut their own dealers?
It just seems odd to me that Cobra would have 100's of broken radios that they are paying labor to fix/clean/repack.
View attachment 46795

I have bought a few of those 29s in the past. They used to be $79 and the back of the radio is different, they put a sticker on it, I will have to look at one again. That does seem like a lot to refurb, maybe QC just ain't what it used to be? Or maybe that's normal for a big manufacturer. I have no idea how many units they make to compare the number of refurbs to.

 

[TM86]

Cobra's Ebay store is selling "refurbished" 25's and 29's for cheap-ish. Are these really refurbs? Or is it really overstock they are calling "refurbished" so not to undercut their own dealers?
It just seems odd to me that Cobra would have 100's of broken radios that they are paying labor to fix/clean/repack.

Some of those are radios that were never used and returned for a refund. But, you pay your money and you take your chances. Was it an open box return? Was it DOA? How much work went into making it functional again?

 

[cralt]

OK glad someone who got them before chimed in. I was 1/2 thinking about getting a 25 to play with since I had fun hacking up and modding my NW 29. But if this deal is nothing special i'll wait and see what happens after FM hits.

I wonder what Cobra plans to sell? They where the ones who petitioned for FM so they must have something? Will they do something more then the 29 MAX?

 

[w9cll]

I wonder what Cobra plans to sell?

Cobra is the company that started the petition so I would assume they have plansn to bring out an FM model.

 

[Slowmover]

Cobra is the company that started the petition so I would assume they have plansn to bring out an FM model.

So . . SNAKEBITE FM QUALITY! (?)

Where’s Secret Squirrel and TheRealPorkChop when there’s some heavy name-lifting to be done?

.

 

[W4KVW]

I know FM CB is not a new thing in the rest of the world so this poll aimed at the US users here.
Now it looks like FM will become legal soon does anyone plan on getting a FM radio?

View attachment 46717

I saw another post talking about trying to establish a FM calling channel on 1 and thought was a good idea

.

I have only used FM on HF on 10 meters & then only on repeaters.I don't see it as an advantage but a disadvantage since I think that a good AM signal sounds much better & you get more forward output power from a properly tuned AM signal & much better audio quality,I don't own any CB's with FM & I won't be buying any either.If I use FM it will be on VHF or UHF where there is almost Zero AM except on 6 meters.

SIX-SHOOTER

 

[Hurricane145]

Some of those are radios that were never used and returned for a refund. But, you pay your money and you take your chances. Was it an open box return? Was it DOA? How much work went into making it functional again?

I bought one a couple years ago and have had no problems with it. I put it in my truck. It did come with a warranty. It was in a very basic box, not the fancy box they usually come in. it certainly looked like it was brand new, no scratches or marks on it etc.
It does need the squelch mod from the service bulletin. I just haven't bothered with it yet.
I do prefer the coffin shaped mike but can live with what it came with.

 

[unit_399]

My wife and I have been running Baofeng UV-5Rs in our mobiles and on our base for a few years. Range was OK, but with all of the mountains and foothills here, we have a lot of deadspots and dropouts. I recently bought an Anytone 6666 for her mobile and installed it with a 5' PAL firestick. We ran AM at first but she complained about the noisy receive. So we switched to FM and problem solved. I put a small fan on the 6666 and she runs it at 45 watts to keep it cool. So far, so good.

Had to completely switch the setup on the base over to 11 meter FM. Antron 99, Superstar 360fm, and TX250 amp.

Now we have way better coverage, and the audio from both our base and her mobile is light years better than the Baofeng WTs. Working on an 11 meter rig for my Hilux now.

An added bonus is that I've had some nice SSB Dx hookups on 27.385 over the past few weeks.

I think that the FCC was smart in approving FM CB. If it does catch on (and I think it will) then the amount of spurious radiation from over-modulated AMers will drop dramatically. Also, when folks figure out that on FM, the most powerful carrier is the one that's heard ... then the stampede will begin.

- 399

 

[Wire Weasel]

Nope. Already have one and 100 watts available. Nobody uses it around here ..... because FM on HF sucks. Good only for strong close-by signals and all the locals on the 11 meter channels are spread out over a wider area. No way everyone would be able to talk to everybody on FM as they can on AM or SSB.
AM & SSB are and would clearly be superior for 2 Meter simplex operation too if more folks had all-mode rigs.

 

[Slowmover]

My wife and I have been running Baofeng UV-5Rs in our mobiles and on our base for a few years. Range was OK, but with all of the mountains and foothills here, we have a lot of deadspots and dropouts. I recently bought an Anytone 6666 for her mobile and installed it with a 5' PAL firestick. We ran AM at first but she complained about the noisy receive. So we switched to FM and problem solved. I put a small fan on the 6666 and she runs it at 45 watts to keep it cool. So far, so good.

Had to completely switch the setup on the base over to 11 meter FM. Antron 99, Superstar 360fm, and TX250 amp.

Now we have way better coverage, and the audio from both our base and her mobile is light years better than the Baofeng WTs. Working on an 11 meter rig for my Hilux now.

An added bonus is that I've had some nice SSB Dx hookups on 27.385 over the past few weeks.

I think that the FCC was smart in approving FM CB. If it does catch on (and I think it will) then the amount of spurious radiation from over-modulated AMers will drop dramatically. Also, when folks figure out that on FM, the most powerful carrier is the one that's heard ... then the stampede will begin.

- 399

Thx. Good read

 

[unit_399]

No way everyone would be able to talk to everybody on FM as they can on AM or SSB.

Really ?? Please explain why not.

-399