"THE PROBLEMS WITH CB RADIOS TODAY ARE..."


Well, to start off, they are MANY. Number One problem is most of the transceivers today are made-in-China (i.e. - JUNK!!!). Quality control sucks, and with everything I've seen in the news over the past few years, I half expect a recall of one CB Radio or another for lead paint issues. I joke, but really, I don't joke - it could happen.

While Quality Control is an area of concern, so is the frugal (read "cheap") manufacturers who set a price limit for a certain model, forcing whoever won the bid to buy the cheapest, most-likely-to-fail components available. How many times do you see people selling quality replacements components for your radio? This even applies to the stock microphones with plastic that smells so bad you have to air it out for a few days before you get it close to your mouth.

Some people say that Citizens Band Radio is D-E-A-D, so why put forth an effort? Well my friends, I would reply that CB's "DEATH" is highly exaggerated! Look at how many people are on Ebay buying older, quality rigs to use, as well as the number of sellers dumping the crap they make today? One big reason that Amateur Radios are popular on 11 meters is because they still work like they should.

It tubes were still being manufactured and plentiful, I'd say that the U.S. had a shot of bringing back some quality rigs w/quality audio - but that is not to be, and as far as non-tube equipment? Our labor rates are just too high. I have a couple E.F.J. 4740's. Why two? Because if the thirty-something year old transceiver finally fails, I want to replace it with one that is parked on standby.

I don't have any answers to this dilemma, and I know that no matter how well made, in another twenty or so years, these 1970/80 radios are going to fail, and you won't find any replacement parts. Maybe CB is dead? And that's why ONLY tens of thousands of them are sold every year. Duh.

73

Woody