IT'S ... "HUMP DAY", FEATURING MOST STUPID CB AD ON EBAY (TODAY), AND THE SOLUTION TO MORNING IDIOTS

 

 

Q. WHICH GOES FIRST?

A. DUMB eBay AD 

 

 

 

You'll run across 'em every day, and it's not hard to do when there are 100-300 new auctions for CB radios and related gear being listed everyday. This morning I had already passed several potential "DON'T BUY THIS" auctions when I found one just too over the top to pass up. Remembering it was it was "Hump Day" I figured, "Yeah, why not?" (it is sad, but it's also funny as heck)

The first thing to remember when seeing something like this is plausible deniability: 

• Maybe they're new at all of this? Nope, they already have feedback of 104.
• Maybe they're scammers? With 104 feedback at a 98% rating, it's too early to tell.
• Maybe they didn't research the item they posted for sale? Very possible, nonetheless, it's sad to think some buyer (who also didn't do much, if any research on the radio) would actually buy it. I could ask questions like this all day, but let's just skip to the ad itself.

 CLICK ON IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW

 So here we see a Uniden Bearcat 980SSB, not really worth $140 on a good day, being sold for $264. A radio that has been on the market for over 10 years. It's pretty, but not that pretty. Compare that with the latest and greatest from President: The George FCC

For $15 more you'd get a beefier, more feature laden CB radio that's been on the market only a few years.

Realistically the price of the 980 is all over the map - as low as $120 up to, apparently, $264.33 and, FYI, the resell market on a used one is often below $100.00

The only other point to mention is the second part of the 980SSB ad:

 They've listed this with a 1P67 rating, circled on the image above (click images to see largest rendition). Google IP67 and you'll get:

"...An IP67 rating signifies that a device is both dust-tight and waterproof. Specifically, the "6" in IP67 indicates complete protection against dust ingress, meaning no dust can enter the device's enclosure. The "7" signifies that the device can be submerged in up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) of water for 30 minutes without suffering any water damage..."

I'd say this was a definite mistake/misunderstanding when the ad was created because I'd like to see someone put this 3 feet underwater for 30 minutes, take it out, and have it power up (but should you want to try it, wait until a week from Friday. It just might make a nice sparkler for July 4th).

 Just go to the Uniden website and look at the specs for the 980SSB. You won't find an IP rating listing for this radio at all.  

The other topic I had for this morning just got bumped for the time spent on this one.

73

WOODY 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 "Sweet dreams were made of these, and I'm sure not gonna disagree..."

...'Nuff SAID 

 

 

 

MOONRAKER TITAN II - OOOF....

 

 

 

 

 

 WHAT'S WORSE THAN A PUNCH TO YOUR GUT? A PUNCH TO YOUR WALLET.

 

 

 

When I heard about the Moonraker Titan II I thought: "I have to get one for a side-by-side comparison - Pronto..." As I was checking out, sticker shock +VAT + Taxes slapped me on the face like a cold bag of chipped ice: When I purchased a Moonraker Titan last fall I paid the out-the-door final price of $188.79, but this morning I found that the out-the-door final price was now $272.92!!

 

 

I have my limits, buying radios from money out of my own wallet, and this went well beyond it. $85 extra for the new model seemed darn bonkers, especially after I'd read that there wasn't a lot of changes to the radio. Basically, there were enough improvements to justify the price. I  a few "Oooo" and "Aaaahs" about the raised lettering on the front panel, like the "TITAN" logo, and the microphone now had a 6-pin wired jack, located on the left side. Here is the wiring diagram -

Since DX Engineering had recently announced that they'd be selling Moonraker products, I can only hope it will be priced at a more reasonable price, because the TITAN I or II is not worth over $200. 

I would have loved to have 'em side-by-side for comparison, but when money doesn't correctly talk - Woody walks. For anyone on the other side of the pond, I'd love to hear your opinion about this 2nd version! Just shoot me an e-mail about your experience.

 

MOONRAKER TITAN VERSION !

  

From various emails from YouTubers, it didn't sound like the CW had improved, nor the noise reduction (keep in mind, I'm getting this information second hand)

Here, perhaps you'll get to most info:

 

According to one person, the manuals are identical. As well, the buttons have the same functions, and the knobs do the same thing. The PCBs are different, so perhaps there are changes I'm not away of. Being Stateside though, I can thing of several radios that would be a better choice. Should I get some free cash to make the purchases price below $200, I may spring for one. But for now, this is all there is.

 73

WOODY 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

OUTRAGEOUS EBAY DEAL OF THE DAY: YAESU FT-818ND - KEEP YOUR WALLET CLOSED

 

 

 "What's that price you say...?"

 

 

 

 

I ran across this ad on eBay this morning (pre-coffee or Diet Coke) as snipped/clipped/and pinned below -

 

I put the 'ol reading glasses on to make sure I wasn't seeing double, but no, here is someone in Japan trying to sell a Yaesu FT-818ND for $12,900.00 USD. It was too bad to pass up and not post it, so I made a quick Blog post about it.

Obviously the price is outrageous, so I either it's a mistake, or he/she/they don't really want to sell it, because to a U.S. buyer, it's not even worth $500. The Japanese ham radios have limited frequencies, use different firmware, and can only get warranty work done in Japan. 

 

"Remember: If the price seems too good to be true, there's a good reason why it is..."

 

 

Recently I've seen several posts on various Facebook groups where someone is either wondering why he shouldn't buy a radio for hundreds of dollars less than here in North America, like HRO, DX Engineering and other retailers, or even worse - they've bought one from Japan and it's arrived, but they can't get all of the frequencies and power output that they should be getting.

There's no diode clipping that will give you all of the frequencies used in North America, and if you download the US firmware, most likely you'll brick the radio. Remember: If the price seems too good to be true, there's a good reason why it is.

This ad makes no sense at all. Not only is it a Japanese market model, but the price is a wallet gouging eye opener. The most frequent radios where I see: "Hey I just bought a XXXX model radio from Japan, and saved a few hundred dollars, but I can't get all of the frequencies - HELP"  are the ICOM IC-705, FT-710, Yaesu FT-991A, and soon to come, the new Yaesu FTX-1 Optima. This next ad for an IC-705 isn't the best example of saving money, but it is about $300 less than what you'd pay for a new one here in the states.

 

It's entirely possible that the outer box has gone back to the typical box you see in the ad above, but when I bought my IC-705 it came in a very colorful box like the one below. So your first clue that something is different should be the box. Then start asking questions about what frequencies it will or won't cover.

 

So that's all I had to say about this today. It is something to be aware of, so keep your eyes open, and ask the seller questions if the price or something else in the ad seems dubious. 'Nuff Said for now...

 

73

WOODY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS OF BRAZIL RADIO CHANGES

 

NEWS FROM "Grumpys Olde Time Radio Forum"

 

 

 

NEWS FROM BRAZIL 

 An interesting tidbit of news posted on Grumpys, whose website has been around forever. It's not a well worn path, but a path well worth taking!

 

73

WOODY

 

 

FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH: SUNDAY FUNDAY (COMICS FROM THE PAST FOR LAUGHS IN THE FUTURE)

 

 

SOMETHING TO TICKLE THAT 

FUNNY BONE...

 

 

 

😁 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  😁

 

INTERESTING PHOTOS 

Some of the best equipment/shack photos are from a shack, or camp in the woods, along with pictures taken by 18-Wheeler drivers, while OTJ (On The Job). I guess I have a couple hundred and I think I'll pass a few along on with the first Sunday of the Month cartoons. Here's a few of them, and feel free to send my some via email at TheStonerGuy@Gmail.Com or simply click in WOODY below!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's it for now! "May your radio always have output, and your wife an adjustable squelch control..." 

 

 

73

WOODY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MANUFACTURERS THAT MADE SIDEBAND ONLY CB RADIOS (MARK SIDEWINDER, EFJ-350, SBE SIDEBANDER III)

 

 SORRY I'M LATE, IT'S BEEN BUSY

 

 

 

 

 I've gotten behind on the review of the Yaesu VX-6R, and not wanting you to go crazy trying to figure 'em out. Let's take a look at them now in no particular order.

 

1. E.F. Johnson Messenger 350 USB/LSB ONLY MOBILE RADIO

 This is one cool looking radio! Very simplistic, with a front grill that fit on to the dashboard of many cars of the 1960's. As I mentioned in another SSB article, I have a nice looking one of these radios on its matching power supply. I can't remember if it works, but it's looked great on my bookshelf for many years!

I'm sorry that I couldn't locate these scan earlier, but here it is:

 click for slightly larger pic/type

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2. MARK SIDEWINDER SSB-27

 

 Typical of many radios in the 60's, this one was chromed to the 9s, but nonetheless the solid looking radio for your base station. 

Controls:

• Squelch
• OFF-Volume
• 5 Channel positions
• Voice Lock (Clarifier)
• And of course, the LSB/USB switch

This radio is pretty darn rare, as well as it's big brother, the Mark Sidewinder 46, AM/LSB/USB radio.

 

In between the two, they had another brother,  The Mark Sidewinder 23 AM/LSB/USB Base Station. I don't think I've ever seen one, but I do have it's data sheet:

 

3. THE SBE III

 

SBE, those Sideband Engineers took a shot that with so many am-ssb radios on the market, a small sized LSB/USB mobile might just work. Unfortunately it didn't. This is possibly THE hardest radio to find.
 

4.Which brings us to the debatable Browning SSB-27 transceiver, that fit into the AM Mark II system completely.

 

 

 

While it could be bought with just the transmitter and radio, most folks bought them with AM first, so doesn't quite fit the criteria, but is worthy to note.

 

 If you know of any other sideband only CB radios, please let me know about them, and if you have a picture, I'd sure appreciate having a copy of it! Just email me at: Thestonerguy@gmail.com

So that's it for this article, and as always, I hope you enjoyed it -

73

WOODY

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE DUST HAS SETTLED. IS THERE A DECENT CB RADIO CATALOG? YES - COPPER ELECTRONICS

SOMETHING FOR YOUR BATHROOM LIBRARY

 

 

 

The paper is cheap, and the Copper catalog comes to your mailbox as if it had already been stored in a non-climate controlled room, but it wouldn't seem the same if it didn't look that way. After Henshaws, Echo, and many other CB radio catalogs had gone away, Copper Electronics was still there, determined to be your year round "Wish Book", and indeed it was..

Some readers remember them, and others think they've seen one, but here are some pages to jog you memory and enjoy -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLICK ON SOME IMAGES TO GET LARGER SIZED VIEW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hoped you enjoyed these, and perhaps I'll scan some more.

 

73

 

WOODY