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Welcome to the Charlie Tango DX Group. The home of ALL things Radio - CB, 11m DX, Amateur, PMR446, PLD, Network and Data. We welcome all radio enthusiasts of all knowledge levels. Join today and claim your own unique World Famous CT Call-sign
Call Sign : 26-CT-4484 Posts : 100 Times Thanked : 4 Join date : 2021-10-17 QTH or Location : Torquay Equipment Used : cobra 148 glt dx starlker9 fdx, icom 706 mk1
Subject: what was your first radio and antenna Sat Nov 18, 2023 10:39 pm
i started on cb in 1979 during the AM days, i was lucky in that way. my first radio was a 148 gtl dx i brought of my brother in law my antenna was a high gain silver rod hidden in a pine tree in my back garden.  im interested in everyone else's dave
glenn dog and Victor like this post
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 6135 Times Thanked : 375 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Sun Nov 19, 2023 7:01 am
Always good to reminisce about those early radio days there Dave.
19-clickety-click for me too on an old GE AM set sat in my old Dads Cortina....occasionally he'd let me fire up his pride and joy new Stalker IX too!
glenn dog and Tristar like this post
26CT1074 Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-1074 / M7MMC Posts : 80 Times Thanked : 6 Join date : 2019-06-28 QTH or Location : Brighton, East Sussex Equipment Used : Icom IC-7300, Lincoln II (V4), Xiegu X6100 Age : 46
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Sun Nov 19, 2023 11:15 am
I came to CB radio after the 1980's boom... in 1996, I borrowed a setup from a first cousin of mine - he wasn't using it as he was a fully licensed ham. The radio was a Maxcom 4E, 40 channel FM CB radio. The antenna was an all-in-one Midland magmount & whip combo, that obviously came in a set of some sort! the power supply was a car battery & a battery charger because he hadn't a spare PSU for meÂ
I eventually got my own setup after getting the bug. First radio of mine was a York JCB 861, and I upgraded to a DV27 on a tea tray inside my bedroom window and bought a proper PSU for the radio too.
Happy days!
glenn dog, Victor and Tristar like this post
peewee norfolk Senior contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4879 / M7PCA Posts : 191 Times Thanked : 8 Join date : 2023-07-16 QTH or Location : North Walsham, JO02QU Equipment Used : FT1000MP !!!!!!binatone 5*,alinco dx10 135,sirio4000,silver rod,G5RV,beofeng 17 pro max, X30 duel 2m/70cm,full size G5RV, TS120v,soon new toy Age : 56
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Sun Nov 19, 2023 1:58 pm
stalker19 and 4 foot firestick (AM) then then amstrad901 with dv27 on my old mini (fm)
glenn dog and Victor like this post
glenn dog Major contributor
Call Sign : 56-CT-004 Posts : 471 Times Thanked : 11 Join date : 2019-08-23 QTH or Location : Oulu -Finland Equipment Used : ft-450d-mc kinley - cobra 19dxeu- lincoln+2 - superstar lord - grant 2 - tti hand held- alan42- crt mike cb - zodiac 68 hunting radio hand held- and few PMR 2
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Sun Nov 19, 2023 3:16 pm
President Veep and a Dv 27, them New formac 80ch, Firestic antenna.
Victor likes this post
Northern Crusader Major contributor
Call Sign : M0GVZ / 26CT1760 Posts : 536 Times Thanked : 35 Join date : 2019-11-13 QTH or Location : IO94SA Equipment Used : Icom 7300, TS480, President McKinley, Albrecht AE6110, CRT Mike Age : 54
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Thu Nov 30, 2023 5:22 am
Tristar 777 AM/SSB that I used to use on FM coupled up to a 5/8 wave mounted on a scaff pole shoved down the chimney in the greenhouse at the end of the garden.
Victor likes this post
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2606 Times Thanked : 70 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7610,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 15
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Thu Nov 30, 2023 6:24 am
Can't remember the name but it only had 24 ??? channels with a dv27 on a tin. Next was the General electrics and then a Sharp big window with an electronica special antenna on a pole strapped to the washing line post.
Victor likes this post
Nightprowler New Member
Call Sign : 163TM186...MW6ETW Posts : 47 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2020-03-29 QTH or Location : Abergavenny Equipment Used : Yaesu FT757 GX2...Kenwood TS440S...Sirio GM
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Fri Dec 01, 2023 4:44 pm
Mine was a Ford Roadmaster 500 with a Tarren power supply and a DV27 bolted to some old gas pipes off an old fridge. This was 1986 and the channels were very busy. That was followed by a Harvard 420M and a 9 up 9 down dipole. The dipole was then replaced with a Thunderpole MK2 on the chimney. Happy days.
Victor likes this post
chazwozza Senior contributor
Posts : 129 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2020-02-15 QTH or Location : England Equipment Used : Radios
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Sun Dec 03, 2023 8:26 am
Harrier cbx gpa half wave still have the cbx from 1981
Telstar New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-3520. Foundation & Intermediate Ham Posts : 48 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2020-05-04 QTH or Location : Telford, Shropshire Equipment Used : Uniden 200. SS6900N, Yaesu FT8900, Alinco DX77E, Alinco DX70
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Sun Jan 07, 2024 3:54 pm
A HAM INTERNATIONAL Viking 80 channel AM/FM with a DV27 mounted on the rear wing of the car and a 18' dipole horizontally mounted in the loft (sort of east/west directional) and the CB rig was mounted on a snatch plate and taken into the home when not using the car. Built a homemade PSU for CB operating in the home and a Harvard SWR meter. All prior to CB 27/81 days
Aah those were the days !
43CT016 Major contributor
Call Sign : 43-CT-016 Posts : 364 Times Thanked : 22 Join date : 2019-11-17 QTH or Location : Perth Equipment Used : iCom IC-7610/IC-9700/IC-705 Age : 55
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Mon Jan 08, 2024 5:23 am
Wish I could remember what mine was - I was 12, and it came from Halfords as a birthday present! I do remember my antenna was a KT40, stuck on a metal sheet in my bedroom! Â
Oh, how times have changed...bet the wife wishes that was still my setup!
Mavic2Pro New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4634 Posts : 28 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2022-07-27 QTH or Location : Clacton Equipment Used : Super Star 3900 (2023),Yaseu FT-450D, Uniden Uniace 200, Audioline PT-341, CRT SS6900 V V7, Astatic 575-M6 Teardrop, Uniden 125xlt, Baofeng UV-5rIII, Malachite SDR, Realistic Pro 2006. Sirio 5/8 Gainmaster, Procomm PT-99 Age : 62
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Mon Jan 08, 2024 11:43 am
My first setup was a Cobra 21gtl upgraded with an Astatic 575-M6 (the teardrop is still in use today). The aerial was an Alcom DPA2 half wave, which was a pile of junk and ditched shortly after purchase.
Jeffc8776 New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4830 Posts : 7 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2023-05-01 QTH or Location : Loughborough Equipment Used : Retevis 95. Uv5r
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Sat Jan 20, 2024 4:00 pm
First radio was a York 863. First antenna was a clr 2. Boomed out all over nottingham in the 80s on just 4 watts. Was considered to be best legal cb radio of its time.
Mavic2Pro likes this post
Rosssin New Member
Call Sign : 14-CT-016 Posts : 25 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2022-11-05 QTH or Location : Toulouse, France Equipment Used : Randy III, crt ss9900, RS-918, President Grant, crt ss6900V
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Mon Jan 22, 2024 12:30 am
This antenna gets me across 10 miles\18km, not more . I still have it suspended in the attic. Soon I’m putting a 6 m tall HYS antenna (from Amazon) on the roof, and waiting for a Sirio 5000 p for mobile. Cheers
John123 CT Directors
Call Sign : 26CT763 Posts : 4467 Times Thanked : 161 Join date : 2019-06-27 QTH or Location : Manchester Equipment Used : Optima, Superstar 360fm, Stalker 9fdx, President Jack Age : 50
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Mon Jan 22, 2024 11:40 pm
Mine was a Harvard CBM404 (bought from Dixons) connected to Mk2 Thunderpole (bought from a local tv/radio repair shop know locally as "Junky Clarke") mounted on the gable-end.
The local repair shop was a treasure trove of bits. It was haphazardly organised and had loads of secondhand bits and equipment, hence it been affectionately known as "Junky Clarke's". Great days and I used to love shops like that.
I got my first sidebanded shortly after, which was a tatty Ham International Multimode 2.
73s John.
Victor likes this post
MM0IMC Contributor
Call Sign : 108-CT-226 / MM0IMC Posts : 94 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2023-03-10 QTH or Location : Ayrshire Equipment Used : Amstrad 901 Sidebander
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Tue Jan 23, 2024 10:11 am
Midland 2001, back in December 1981. The aerial was a combined CB and car radio one up in the loft, on an old galvanised steel water tank.
John123 likes this post
Northern Crusader Major contributor
Call Sign : M0GVZ / 26CT1760 Posts : 536 Times Thanked : 35 Join date : 2019-11-13 QTH or Location : IO94SA Equipment Used : Icom 7300, TS480, President McKinley, Albrecht AE6110, CRT Mike Age : 54
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Wed Jan 24, 2024 11:39 pm
A little 2 channel Harvard handheld with a short telescopic whip. My first proper CB was a Tristar 777 and a 5/8 wave stuck on a scaff pole shoved down the top of a chimney on the garden outhouse.
John123 likes this post
John123 CT Directors
Call Sign : 26CT763 Posts : 4467 Times Thanked : 161 Join date : 2019-06-27 QTH or Location : Manchester Equipment Used : Optima, Superstar 360fm, Stalker 9fdx, President Jack Age : 50
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Thu Jan 25, 2024 12:13 am
I am really enjoying reading these posts. They bring back a lot of very happy memories.
73s John.
Victor, Mavic2Pro and 13CT30 like this post
Cellar66 New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4995 Posts : 6 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2023-09-27 QTH or Location : Huddersfield Equipment Used : President Lincoln
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:09 pm
My 1st rig was a Midland 2001 AM back in 1979ish with a dv27 on a quality street tin in a loft full of foil. Had some great times back then.
John123 likes this post
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:13 pm
Midland 3001 AM, pre tuned ant. and an SWR meter. All brand new for 32 quid. From a dodgy CB shop in Enfield, AM days, so all very shady.
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:14 pm
Cellar66 wrote:
My 1st rig was a Midland 2001 AM back in 1979ish with a dv27 on a quality street tin in a loft full of foil. Had some great times back then.
Those 5 quid DV27 antennas were amazing!
Steve234 New Member
Call Sign : 108-CT-381 Posts : 3 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2024-02-02 QTH or Location : WEST CALDER WEST LOTHIAN Equipment Used : QUANSHENG UV-K6 Age : 65
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Sun Feb 11, 2024 8:20 pm
Sharp CB-4670 and a DV27. The Sharp CB looked more like a hand held calculator than a radio, a CB radio in disguise !
John123 likes this post
AndyR New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-5088 Posts : 3 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2024-02-10 QTH or Location : Salford Equipment Used : Thunderpole TX
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Mon Feb 12, 2024 11:08 pm
Midland 100m, 4ft firestick on a biscuit tin, battery and a charger.. Good old days, can smell it now...
John123 likes this post
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13CT30 New Member
Posts : 11 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2024-02-15 QTH or Location : Osnabruck, Lower Saxony, Germany Equipment Used : TRX: Some of everything for HF/VHF/UHF ANT: Serveral Verticals
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Thu Feb 15, 2024 2:33 am
1976 I've got started to bring out HF in the air using a 12 Channel AM TRX named DNT KF 12 "Made in Germany" with 0.5W Power output on a GPA 5/8 the first time. Quite a bit later somewhere in the 80's I've owned a President Madison and I made first contact to Israel with this great Radio while still using the same 5/8 antenna. Not sure how many years I took remembrance on those nice times but indeed after all those years I'm still infected I guess.
Red Rooster LN-4614 likes this post
cbrmac New Member
Call Sign : 163-CT-371 Posts : 9 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2024-01-31 QTH or Location : Pembroke....(Pembrokeshire ) Equipment Used : Yaesu
Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna Sun Feb 25, 2024 7:26 pm
Gee this is going down memory lane ..way back in early 70s was a cobra 148 gtl DX the antenna was a sigma 4 ...now copied and called the vector 4000 I think ...had mine on top of a 21' scaffold tube and ran a linear amp ...blacked out the odd TV even came over the church organ one Sunday !! ...quit the CB when made it legit and everyone and their granny had one ...got so bad you could no longer turn it on if your wife was in the same room ... sadly still a lot of those on 555 still
Cellar66 likes this post
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Subject: Re: what was your first radio and antenna