Today's capacitors tend to last longer than those made 20 years ago due to better chemicals and materials in their manufacturing. As for my 30 year old rig.....what can I say besides it's a Kenwood. 
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Which CB Shops are still accepting mail-in repairs?
- Thread starter Unit 194
- Start date
I've been watching the techs drop off for some time now, and it's only going to get worse im afraid.
The ham guys may not understand this, but the die hard CBer will understand that the new equipment being made these days is not even in the same ball park as far as quality goes, and people need someplace to send their old radios to be refurbed/ repaired/ restored.
Trying to make an honest living repairing CB radios just isn't viable these days.
sure, there are a few guys making their living doing it, but you can count them on one hand, and if they have half a brain they realize that it isn't going to last much longer.
If i could make a comfortable living repairing CB radios, i would be doing it professionally.
I don't see that happening, so thank goodness that i have other skills that are worth the big bucks these days. (i work in automation currently)
I will not open up a professional shop no matter how many emails i get asking me about it. (at least two a week) because i do not want to depend on that income to survive.
So i have to take radios in on a one by one basis, and i have to tell people right up front that it will take some time since i can't dedicate anything but free time to them.
I figure that this is going to be about the only way to get an old CB fixed or restored in the next few years, and im happy to keep doing it this way. I only point this all out as one possible perspective. who knows, maybe im the only one that sees things this way.
I hope that the other techs on here are doing the same thing.
LC
The ham guys may not understand this, but the die hard CBer will understand that the new equipment being made these days is not even in the same ball park as far as quality goes, and people need someplace to send their old radios to be refurbed/ repaired/ restored.
Trying to make an honest living repairing CB radios just isn't viable these days.
sure, there are a few guys making their living doing it, but you can count them on one hand, and if they have half a brain they realize that it isn't going to last much longer.
If i could make a comfortable living repairing CB radios, i would be doing it professionally.
I don't see that happening, so thank goodness that i have other skills that are worth the big bucks these days. (i work in automation currently)
I will not open up a professional shop no matter how many emails i get asking me about it. (at least two a week) because i do not want to depend on that income to survive.
So i have to take radios in on a one by one basis, and i have to tell people right up front that it will take some time since i can't dedicate anything but free time to them.
I figure that this is going to be about the only way to get an old CB fixed or restored in the next few years, and im happy to keep doing it this way. I only point this all out as one possible perspective. who knows, maybe im the only one that sees things this way.
I hope that the other techs on here are doing the same thing.
LC
this guy is good, not sure if its mail-in
mikesradiorepair@gmail.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfi5fp3qsXeqSbsLAIKU6Dw
mikesradiorepair@gmail.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfi5fp3qsXeqSbsLAIKU6Dw
That is a part of it. However a big reason for less CB shops is due to what I see everyday. That is more of these newer breed truck drivers along with more and more foreigners coming over and driving trucks and are soon to be becoming the majority of under-skilled and even illegally licensed drivers on the roads today. If you guys only knew what is out here today driving trucks, you would stay off the roadways. I'm ashamed to say at one time I could trust my fellow driver but not so much anymore.
Both of these type of new drivers could careless what a CB is and I see more and more trucks running these days without radios. Even the company I drive for I would safely estimate less than 40 percent have a CB and less than half of those hardly turn it on unless it is convenient for them at the time.
Back in the 80's when I started driving, CB's were used everywhere along the highways and CB shops were easy to find since nearly all of them were located at or right near Trucks tops. Now they are truly few and far between.
While there are still a lot of CBers who aren't truck drivers keeping the hobby alive, I think it is safe to say what I did about the decline of CB shops since truck drivers used to be their biggest clientele.
Best bet is for Cbers to learn how to adjust your radios yourselves cause I don't see the glory days of nationwide Cb shops ever returning.
Yep Fourstringburn, most of the newer truck drivers I see on the road don't even have an antenna on the truck, and most that do still don't use the CB. Asking for a radio check is a joke these days even on a busy a** highway!!
Most have gone the way of the cell phone and a Bluetooth headset with a mic boom, or just a Bluetooth headset period. Point is, the cell phone has pretty well dropped the hammer and crushed a lot of equipment when it did. Nowadays everyone has one, and I mean everyone!! From 5yr olds to Grandma and Gramps!!
Also these days many companies use cell phone and apps to send their WO# or job #'s and info for the job as well, right through your phone, with mapping and GPS. So again, no need for asking for much.
And as for the younger generation, say under 40yrs old, there just aren't many that even know what the heck to do with a CB or even how to use one LOL!! Push what button and talk where?? That is about what you get!! Anyways, it is just the way things are and more of what is to come in the near future.
Yes LC, the art of working on older radios is about gone as well as most of the techs that were good, are either too old or just don't do it anymore as like you said it's just not very lucrative for a business.
This has left a large gap for people like some of the techs we see today to become what they are, as there is just no one that people can compare one another to much anymore. Which has lead to what we are seeing now. You think any old school tech in his right mind is going to post up a video of him working on radios LOL!!
Also these days seems the motto is throw it away if it stops working and just go buy another. Shoot even with the warranties they give like at Walmart, for not much money, you can wait a day before your warranty is up and intentionally break your item and bring it back for a new or newer style of the same product. That really promotes repairs LOL!!!
It truly is a lost art that is just slowing dying off with the older crowd I hate to say it. My old tech that is really old and in bad bad health, has books he wrote on how to mod cobra 2k's and 142's and such. Books, and a lot of them!! All his hand writing!! But he knew what he was doing. Anyways. My point is, the cell phone as well as many other inventions that go along with them, have killed off most CB's in big trucks these days. JMO. As well as what Fourstringburn stated!! And yes I know there are some idiots out there Fourstringburn!!! See it almost every day anymore on the news here in FL. Especially with all the road work that is being done around the states HWY's. Anyways, just my take on this whole situation. To all, have a good day, and may you find an honest tech!!!!
Most have gone the way of the cell phone and a Bluetooth headset with a mic boom, or just a Bluetooth headset period. Point is, the cell phone has pretty well dropped the hammer and crushed a lot of equipment when it did. Nowadays everyone has one, and I mean everyone!! From 5yr olds to Grandma and Gramps!!
Also these days many companies use cell phone and apps to send their WO# or job #'s and info for the job as well, right through your phone, with mapping and GPS. So again, no need for asking for much.
And as for the younger generation, say under 40yrs old, there just aren't many that even know what the heck to do with a CB or even how to use one LOL!! Push what button and talk where?? That is about what you get!! Anyways, it is just the way things are and more of what is to come in the near future.
Yes LC, the art of working on older radios is about gone as well as most of the techs that were good, are either too old or just don't do it anymore as like you said it's just not very lucrative for a business.
This has left a large gap for people like some of the techs we see today to become what they are, as there is just no one that people can compare one another to much anymore. Which has lead to what we are seeing now. You think any old school tech in his right mind is going to post up a video of him working on radios LOL!!
Also these days seems the motto is throw it away if it stops working and just go buy another. Shoot even with the warranties they give like at Walmart, for not much money, you can wait a day before your warranty is up and intentionally break your item and bring it back for a new or newer style of the same product. That really promotes repairs LOL!!!
It truly is a lost art that is just slowing dying off with the older crowd I hate to say it. My old tech that is really old and in bad bad health, has books he wrote on how to mod cobra 2k's and 142's and such. Books, and a lot of them!! All his hand writing!! But he knew what he was doing. Anyways. My point is, the cell phone as well as many other inventions that go along with them, have killed off most CB's in big trucks these days. JMO. As well as what Fourstringburn stated!! And yes I know there are some idiots out there Fourstringburn!!! See it almost every day anymore on the news here in FL. Especially with all the road work that is being done around the states HWY's. Anyways, just my take on this whole situation. To all, have a good day, and may you find an honest tech!!!!
Here is the problem, CB is a dying hobby (so is ham but at a slower rate). As 222 said why use a radio when you can just text someone on the other side of the world. There will never be quality 11 meter radios made anymore, there is no market for them. Buy up all the old stuff you can, learn to fix them yourself and move on. If you want quality gear move up and get your ticket, hell its easy enough. I have an original Uniden Grant in the closet that if I ever get the desire to get back on 11 meters I will fire up but sell it, no way because I know its value and I can not replace it easily. The crap that is put out today is disposable and not easily repaired even in the ham world. I can easily fix the older rigs and keep them running but the new stuff with surface mount components I am lost. I will try and keep my Yaesu 101ZDMK111, Yaesu 901DM and 706 MKIIG running for as long as I can. The VHF/UHF stuff I have..disposable (except for the aforementioned Kenwood TR-9000)! Times changed for CB and not for the better..
Very informative videos. I sent him an e-mail to see if he accepts mail in repairs and I'm waiting for a reply.
Thank you very much for the info.
Never, even had a problem getting a contact with a trucker. Either where I live, or on the road, there are still plenty of drivers with the radio on and yacking . . .
Reason being because us truck drivers regard california as one of those 55 mph communists states so the drivers who own radios and rarely turn them on do so out there since we have to be more alert for "smokey bear".
Once these drivers are back in the United States, their radios are quickly turned off.
Just because the country of Commi-fornia is it's own socialists people's republic, it by no means represents what goes on in OUR country, the good ol 'USA.
The radios might get turned off leaving Cali but when you enter Illinois you better turn it back on....
I live approximately 1 mile away from Interstate 78 here in New Jersey and Channel 19 has been pretty dead lately.
Correct, and there are a few other states with split speed limits too.
But, california leads the way with such an outright disdain for trucks that goes well beyond speed limits yet it's mostly trucking that maintains there econmic empire.
I would love to see trucks banned in that country…sorry, I mean state.
It's really a shame to see the continuous daily harassment of truckers by the Illinois State Police. I don't drive a truck nor do I possess a cdl, but it seems to me they single out comercial vehicles much more than other states do. I don't live in northern il but down here in the south central part we have a ton of "DOT bears" and all they do is give a hard time to a bunch of guys and gals trying to make a living. I understand they have to keep unsafe trucks off the road but they seem to really take it to a whole new level. I have traveled through many other states (not California) and have never noticed the amount of commercial enforcement we have. Now back to the topic at hand.... it's really a shame cb shops are disappearing. Some of my fondest memories growing up and learning radio were spent in a local cb shop. Good group of guys and lots of laughs. Now you have to really do your research and make a big drive somewhere or mail it in....or as mentioned earlier learn how to do it yourself! Just my .02