I had a similar idea to make my Midland M30 CB rig portable for hours banging out at 4 watts, powered by a single Halfords 12v (12ah) lithium (3L) car jump-starter pack. The obvious advantages being the built in charge/discharge/protection circuits and the added bonus of phone charging from USB sockets and an integrated LED torch. 😉👍
@@davidaix5771 I may have to check it out. Last time I keyed up on a CB radio was probably 25 years ago. It was a total shit show on the airwaves at that point. People having sex, death threats, playing live music, running 10s of thousands of watts amplified systems, you name it. This was in the US at the time, I wonder what the scene in Europe was like?
@@davidaix5771nah it's been booming well before FM was included by the FCC. Also FM has always already been a thing, it's more the cheap Chinese bases like anytone 5555 and handhelds like QYT CB58 and great portable antennas like HYS 16 inch whip and also HYS 51 inch telescopic.
I got my Midland Portapak somewhere in the loft.. Loved it that's where it all started with radios for me! Our ice cream man back in the early '90s had a CB and I use to call him up... Looking back think I've had one too many 🤣 but seriously good fun. Best quote "I've got the Randy between my legs" 🤣
My Hand held CB radio took 12 AA batteries back in the day looks like a brick like you said. The Randy III looks like a good piece of kit some good testing guys.
Thanks for making CB COOL again! I just modified(snipped blue wire) my Alinco 10 meter...now 11 meter(and now using with my cross band repeater(UHF), don't tell the ham Nazis!)👍 I'm currently waiting on my Anytone 5555N for mounting in my Peterbilt. ....have sunglasses, cowboy hat, and a modified radio, doing my part at making it cool again!😎 All I need now is a black Trans Am.
I really like the way FM sounds on CB in this vid. FCC recently approved FM for the States. I also looked at vids for the FCC Randy. Impressive little radio. The Midland Portapack is something I have wanted to see for decades. Hopefully soon it will be available over here. Great work.
a great video and two great cbs and lots of good info just like it used to be started Am and Fm And still at it this will bring them out lofts and boxes
Really wish you could have done it in a buttoned up vehicle. The difference between outside and buttoned up in a vehicle is much different of a test. But, at least this is a test of sorts. If you'r in the business, do one on the highway all buttoned up in vehicles. Open air radios work well, but when you get interference like car metallurgy interference really obstructs your signal. Easy to do when paying attention to mile markers like we have in the US. Thats the real life test I was looking for. Love your work, Chaps. Appreciate the test!
Car bodies create a faraday cage, which is what blocks the majority of radio signals. They are not perfect though as the wavelengths are smaller than the aperature of the windows, so they become very directional. In a car I'd run an external antenna of 1/4 or 5/8 wave.
Having recently got back into this lark after 40years I got a TTI H100. What I didn't expect was such a rugged little handheld build around a metal chassis giving full 4W only slightly larger than my PMR's. On receive the battery lasts for about 3 days and comes with a handy little charging station you can plug into the car. I took it to Scotland in Sept and one eve could here a group in Tunbridge Wells, I tried to respond but the were a bit disrespectful and didn't believe I was actually in Corpach. So something's about C haven't changed ha ha, but things have come on. So I bought another with an ear piece and a clip on window antennae as my car roof is plastic.
Nice collaboration video and the audio on the two radios sounded good 👍 There's an upgrade TNC available that's about 53cm long (Knights CB do them) which works great on my Maycom AH-27 although, having said that, the standard antenna on that radio does look particularly poor! Regarding the old portapack, it does have a long centre-loaded antenna which works very well, but is fragile, so probably why they're like hen's teeth to get hold of now!
I did a pl259 Bnc right angle to telescopic ht whip and my swr was 3.1 added a 9 foot counterpoise to the rigs chassis and it was 1.2. I got a 12 mile contact from table height in a 200 foot deep valley. Potential.
Ive been on and off CB since 1979. (Mainly on) Im using a PNI Escort 6500 (CRT Millenium clone) in my van with a 40 year old modulator knock off antenna Im good for around 10 miles on 4 watts. I still have my 80's Rotel 240 and Audioline 341 but hiding an 80's rig in a modern vehicle is no joke. Ive never been interested in DXing, the little PNI rig recieves great, there seems to be an awful lot of alligator stations... You know the ones, pushing out 500+ watts, RF gain off and squelch up, talking to their mates 2 miles away.
I’m literally just about to buy a CB, I’ve had a scanner now for a few years and always wanted one as a kid but my mum and dad would never let me have one. I do miss the 90s when the police could be picked up on a scanner
I think both radios are great! The PRESIDENT is quite loud, and could be boardering on being distorted. The MIDLAND is very clear sounding without the extra noise.
The 11 meter band (26,27 MHz ) isn't very good for a walkie talkie for range. Here in the US you can use FRS which can give you good range on 400 MHz. The hand held CB is still fun to play with. just not a dependable source for constant communications.
In USA cb radio is slow to come back to nightly tag chews and people don't use handheld cb "s . It would be nice to have chats I instead of sporadic are skip.
If I understand correctly, you guys are surprised you can communicate over a flat long distance with no obstacles which are ideal conditions? Did I miss something?
@@andykirby Yes, about time was saw something modern with a LiPo pack. I wouldn't expect miracles with any practical aerial portable on 11m though. It's not even that great a format on 4m. I believe the PortaPack had an antenna matching circuit so the antenna mount was matched for the supplied aerial rather than 50 Ohms,
Youse don't seem to realize how superior world AM ( Eu CEPT) is compared to FM. We run with the squelch off and modify reception with the RF gain knob if necessary. I've talked 160 miles ground wave with Polytronics Labs Polycomm 1's. Transistor sets can give similar results. A PDL2 or Moonraker beam? Fuhgeddaboudit. cheers.
I have the same CB as your Midland Mini, but it's branded a PNI escort hp 6500, they can be hi powered to 8 watts. Then I have to give my call sign of course. Interesting, thanks.
Hi Andy, i fancy making a wee Porta-Pack exactly like yours, where did you get the battery storage pack from, what type of battery and size did u use? @andy kirby Cheers bud.
@@andykirby they were back then. mind you, I then sold that rig and went to a walkie talkie powered by a 9 volt batter that had two channels (14 and 30 if my memory is correct) at a TX of 0.2 watts ! surprisingly good as it was really portable. I used that a lot even though it only had 2 channels
the president randy radio is ok, but the antenna falls apart. I have six radios and all the antennas they are not soldered welded or crimped. I had to buy tnc to bnc adaptors and use Midland antennas on each radio.
Done 15 miles on a pmr 446 argos special at 0.4w (I think) but I did build a very long 2 mtr yagi with 9 elements.ita all about hight though you can cheat with a rediculas extention arial
Maycom AH-27 wasn't so massive... and after a but adjusting modulation was ok. Audio sent from Randy was clean and clear, and on telescopic antenna noise level decreased very notceably. (transmitted signal was stronger) I allways wonted a handheld SSB CB radio but it was too expensive for me that times. Miss my Jackson... stolen.
Not a bad set of radios, ive just got the new thunderpole TX and love it. What battery pack and connectors is on the midland? Did you not need a counterpoise for it that small setup on the midland. Thanks
I've tried the same antenna on my icom 705. The SWR is below 1.5 with no ground... not bad for a portable antenna. It's always going to be a compromise but it isn't bad. Loading it up with about 25W it seems fine too.
I've got the Randy 3, love it, can you let me know where you got the telescopic antenna from, the rubber duck is ok but I'd like to have the option of the telescopic
Will any of the CB radios stop on channel 40 at the end or channel 1 of the beginning? I am blind and I do not expect these radios to talk to me but would be nice to know if the menu was wrapped around again and again and again otherwise I’ll never be able to tell what channel I’m on damn I hate all the screens!
I was thinking about getting either of these or poss both maybe!!! But, i don't find them available on AMAZON WHY NOT ? As i deal with Amazon a fair amount & wasn't thinking of having to go elsewhere to get them & having to pay a lot, lot more for them 👎😠 EEERRR!!!! NO THANKS!!! So, Andy can you find out as to why Amazon don't sell these sets or at least find a cheap place that does have them at a nice cheap price ( or what you would call cheap). That would much appreciated. 🙄🤔
Harvard 410T was my first ever handheld CB radio, as a kid In the 80's all my pocket money went on AA batteries for it. 🤣🤣🙌
I had a similar idea to make my Midland M30 CB rig portable for hours banging out at 4 watts, powered by a single Halfords 12v (12ah) lithium (3L) car jump-starter pack. The obvious advantages being the built in charge/discharge/protection circuits and the added bonus of phone charging from USB sockets and an integrated LED torch. 😉👍
Is the CB radio making a comeback? I never would have imagined a demand coming back for it. Pleasantly surprised.
Yeah kind of is because the US market kit now allows FM on cb
@@davidaix5771 I may have to check it out. Last time I keyed up on a CB radio was probably 25 years ago. It was a total shit show on the airwaves at that point. People having sex, death threats, playing live music, running 10s of thousands of watts amplified systems, you name it. This was in the US at the time, I wonder what the scene in Europe was like?
For me I'm only getting one because of the uncertain times we're living in with this conflict with other countries 🪖🥽😷🥾 📻
@@davidaix5771nah it's been booming well before FM was included by the FCC. Also FM has always already been a thing, it's more the cheap Chinese bases like anytone 5555 and handhelds like QYT CB58 and great portable antennas like HYS 16 inch whip and also HYS 51 inch telescopic.
I had the Tandy/Realistic TRC-210 40 channel 5W handheld transceiver back in the 80s aged around 10 !! fantastic portable CB radio!
I got my Midland Portapak somewhere in the loft.. Loved it that's where it all started with radios for me! Our ice cream man back in the early '90s had a CB and I use to call him up... Looking back think I've had one too many 🤣 but seriously good fun. Best quote "I've got the Randy between my legs" 🤣
Took your idea one step further and powered my Midland CB with a small inexpensive 20,000 mAh rechargeable car jumper.
You can actually turn any mobile CB into a portable rig with battery packs ,
Some of the micro rigs would be brilliant used like this .
Fantastic Andy is making CB radios fashionable again.
My Hand held CB radio took 12 AA batteries back in the day looks like a brick like you said. The Randy III looks like a good piece of kit some good testing guys.
Lithium batteries have changed the face of portables .
And when FM is officially added to U.S. CB I'll be getting a Randy.
Thanks for making CB COOL again! I just modified(snipped blue wire) my Alinco 10 meter...now 11 meter(and now using with my cross band repeater(UHF), don't tell the ham Nazis!)👍
I'm currently waiting on my Anytone 5555N for mounting in my Peterbilt. ....have sunglasses, cowboy hat, and a modified radio, doing my part at making it cool again!😎
All I need now is a black Trans Am.
Jerry Reed was much cooler & more talented than Burt Reynolds !
I've just subbed to your channel after watching this,I've been subbed to Lewis' channel for a while, I hope CB does make a comeback👍
Thanks Gary!
After my tenth ebike build thru your channel you have now sent me back to 1980 and looking for a tripple star 777 great stuff
Haha! Excellent!!!
Audio on that porta-pak sounds really good!!
I really like the way FM sounds on CB in this vid. FCC recently approved FM for the States. I also looked at vids for the FCC Randy. Impressive little radio. The Midland Portapack is something I have wanted to see for decades. Hopefully soon it will be available over here. Great work.
Was always goin up to the mountain tops or down by the boat ramp for best propagation.
Large bodies of water seem to help but can be directional.
a great video and two great cbs and lots of good info just like it used to be started Am and Fm And still at it this will bring them out lofts and boxes
Really wish you could have done it in a buttoned up vehicle. The difference between outside and buttoned up in a vehicle is much different of a test. But, at least this is a test of sorts. If you'r in the business, do one on the highway all buttoned up in vehicles. Open air radios work well, but when you get interference like car metallurgy interference really obstructs your signal. Easy to do when paying attention to mile markers like we have in the US. Thats the real life test I was looking for. Love your work, Chaps. Appreciate the test!
Car bodies create a faraday cage, which is what blocks the majority of radio signals. They are not perfect though as the wavelengths are smaller than the aperature of the windows, so they become very directional. In a car I'd run an external antenna of 1/4 or 5/8 wave.
Having recently got back into this lark after 40years I got a TTI H100. What I didn't expect was such a rugged little handheld build around a metal chassis giving full 4W only slightly larger than my PMR's. On receive the battery lasts for about 3 days and comes with a handy little charging station you can plug into the car. I took it to Scotland in Sept and one eve could here a group in Tunbridge Wells, I tried to respond but the were a bit disrespectful and didn't believe I was actually in Corpach. So something's about C haven't changed ha ha, but things have come on. So I bought another with an ear piece and a clip on window antennae as my car roof is plastic.
Andy..I still have the Midland pack...its now a classic and still works a treat...
Nice collaboration video and the audio on the two radios sounded good 👍
There's an upgrade TNC available that's about 53cm long (Knights CB do them) which works great on my Maycom AH-27 although, having said that, the standard antenna on that radio does look particularly poor! Regarding the old portapack, it does have a long centre-loaded antenna which works very well, but is fragile, so probably why they're like hen's teeth to get hold of now!
The upgrade antenna gets out far
That's an overpriced rebrand from nonsense brands that's don't exist. That's just the HYS telescopic antenna and its 51inches not CM.
@@kishascape - the one I was referring to is a CL-27 which is a 53cm long non-telescopic antenna.
I did a pl259 Bnc right angle to telescopic ht whip and my swr was 3.1 added a 9 foot counterpoise to the rigs chassis and it was 1.2. I got a 12 mile contact from table height in a 200 foot deep valley. Potential.
Awesome, Thx! I've wished for FM CB since I was a kid 50 yrs ago!
I'm from the U.S. and waiting for the new FM radios too come out as they gave the OK here for FM. nice test.
Same here... waiting on FM. Then I'll get a Randy !
Ive been on and off CB since 1979. (Mainly on)
Im using a PNI Escort 6500 (CRT Millenium clone) in my van with a 40 year old modulator knock off antenna
Im good for around 10 miles on 4 watts.
I still have my 80's Rotel 240 and Audioline 341 but hiding an 80's rig in a modern vehicle is no joke.
Ive never been interested in DXing, the little PNI rig recieves great, there seems to be an awful lot of alligator stations... You know the ones, pushing out 500+ watts, RF gain off and squelch up, talking to their mates 2 miles away.
I’m literally just about to buy a CB, I’ve had a scanner now for a few years and always wanted one as a kid but my mum and dad would never let me have one. I do miss the 90s when the police could be picked up on a scanner
Subbed to both your channels already! Nice collab lads.
Awesome! Thanks man.
Thanks mate
Both radios sound great
Thanks guys , excellent review, I was really interested in that radio, on the strength of your review I’ll be ordering , thanks very much 👍🏽
Cheers guys , good video, I ordered the Randy 3, good solid radio, all the best.
Which Battery do you use for the midland Portable Radio 📻 ? Link ?
I think both radios are great! The PRESIDENT is quite loud, and could be boardering on being distorted. The MIDLAND is very clear sounding without the extra noise.
Your making me want to get my old cb gear out the loft lol
Thanks for your videos
Do it.
Its not like it used to be...
Its a lot quieter.
Plenty of hams using ham kit on CB frequencies tho.
I saw this video and had to try it. I have one of those same telescoping antennas, I put it on the back of radio and it actually had a very low SWR.
2 marys playing in the field waiting for mum to bring some Tea and proper biscuits
Found this channel from Lewis channel and it looks great. I now subscribed 👍
Thanks! And welcome!
The 11 meter band (26,27 MHz ) isn't very good for a walkie talkie for range. Here in the US you can use FRS which can give you good range on 400 MHz. The hand held CB is still fun to play with. just not a dependable source for constant communications.
Great video Andy. I’ve been very pleased with my President Randy. Also use a Midland 88 mobile. How about a 27/81 net on FM? I’m based in Loughton.
Wow! I'm in the market for a hand held I'm going to have to look at that.
CB has ALWAYS BEEN COOL 😎 TO ME…anyone who disagrees has a right to but can keep away from me!
In USA cb radio is slow to come back to nightly tag chews and people don't use handheld cb "s . It would be nice to have chats I instead of sporadic are skip.
I’ve got the portable midland still in the loft, might have to dig it out
If I understand correctly, you guys are surprised you can communicate over a flat long distance with no obstacles which are ideal conditions? Did I miss something?
try the test again with the new Thunderpole T-X and compare it to that President handheld.
The Sound is Digitally!!???
"Roger diddly"?
Nice video. Just waiting for the FCC to approve the FM version for the US market now that's FM is legal.
Hi can you please provide any specifics on that battery pack and which radio you used, model number please.
Nice little telescopic antenna .
If you're looking for a "PMR446 style" CB walkie-talkie, your best bet is probably the TTI TCB-H100.
When can we have CB transceivers where all signal processing is done using DSP processing chips.
where can i get that battery accessory for the Midland?
I like the five decimal places on that President, not often you see that.
Yeah its good isn't it.
@@andykirby Yes, about time was saw something modern with a LiPo pack. I wouldn't expect miracles with any practical aerial portable on 11m though. It's not even that great a format on 4m.
I believe the PortaPack had an antenna matching circuit so the antenna mount was matched for the supplied aerial rather than 50 Ohms,
You should check out the TTI-TCB-H100. Baofeng sized handheld CB with a 2 cell lithium battery like the baofengs.
Yeah saw that radio, looks interesting.
Andy that portapak cab you had can I buy one. Paul
Youse don't seem to realize how superior world AM ( Eu CEPT) is compared to FM. We run with the squelch off and modify reception with the RF gain knob if necessary. I've talked 160 miles ground wave with Polytronics Labs Polycomm 1's. Transistor sets can give similar results. A PDL2 or Moonraker beam? Fuhgeddaboudit. cheers.
How we used to play tunes on the airwaves back in the day
Only the morons did that.
I have the same CB as your Midland Mini, but it's branded a PNI escort hp 6500, they can be hi powered to 8 watts. Then I have to give my call sign of course. Interesting, thanks.
8W? Interesting, I'll look into that👍🏻
@@andykirby It's that CB too: th-cam.com/video/4mlx7Pbr3ck/w-d-xo.html
Wish they would incorporate a world band receiver only into this also.
Hi Andy, i fancy making a wee Porta-Pack exactly like yours, where did you get the battery storage pack from, what type of battery and size did u use? @andy kirby
Cheers bud.
wow. blast from the past.
I had a midland portapack.
it needed something like 12 AA batteries
Yeah and back then the batteries were even more rubbish!
@@andykirby they were back then.
mind you, I then sold that rig and went to a walkie talkie powered by a 9 volt batter that had two channels (14 and 30 if my memory is correct) at a TX of 0.2 watts !
surprisingly good as it was really portable.
I used that a lot even though it only had 2 channels
Wow, I think I had the same, was it a realistic? Mine had one channel, 30, I remember it like it was yesterday.
@@andykirby yep realistsic.
I thought they were great.
the president randy radio is ok, but the antenna falls apart. I have six radios and all the antennas they are not soldered welded or crimped. I had to buy tnc to bnc adaptors and use Midland antennas on each radio.
Any vhf can work with base station tower 🗼 only long range up to 70 miles I heard don't know if base station is 25 Watt or more.
love your radio vids
Done 15 miles on a pmr 446 argos special at 0.4w (I think) but I did build a very long 2 mtr yagi with 9 elements.ita all about hight though you can cheat with a rediculas extention arial
'I don't think it comes apart' 😆'Welcome back to the channel guy's, I've taken that Randy apart and........😂👊
ALBRECHT AE-2990-AFS handheld fm,am ssb,lsb.
25-30Mhz.
Any chance of an extended range test? Or even an urban trange test?
Maycom AH-27 wasn't so massive... and after a but adjusting modulation was ok.
Audio sent from Randy was clean and clear, and on telescopic antenna noise level decreased very notceably. (transmitted signal was stronger)
I allways wonted a handheld SSB CB radio but it was too expensive for me that times. Miss my Jackson... stolen.
Not a bad set of radios, ive just got the new thunderpole TX and love it. What battery pack and connectors is on the midland? Did you not need a counterpoise for it that small setup on the midland. Thanks
Qyt has a new cb radio handheld
You should test out. Its called the qyt cb 58
Very fine Randy III !! What is this module placed just below the Portapak please ? 😀
What telescopic antenna connects to midland m mini and external battery
Pack thanks
Andy Kirby, can you put the link up for what you used for the portable battery pack and connectors please?
very surprised you didn’t run it on lithium ion pack given how many you must have lying around
That will be next👍🏻
What telescopic antenna did you use on the President Randy if I may ask? Nice video!
How can I get VOX to work,on my Randy 3 ??
How about the swr report on the midland working with the telescopic antenna without ground????
I've tried the same antenna on my icom 705. The SWR is below 1.5 with no ground... not bad for a portable antenna. It's always going to be a compromise but it isn't bad. Loading it up with about 25W it seems fine too.
@@andykirby thank you so much for the quick answer! 73
What DIY battery pack is that ?
It'd be nice if that Randy had sideband
I've got the Randy 3, love it, can you let me know where you got the telescopic antenna from, the rubber duck is ok but I'd like to have the option of the telescopic
Cool, it was from Amazon, link is now in the description.👍🏻
wow holy makarooni
Hi is the mind land portable cb wireless
I would like information or a link of the battery pack you installed under the midland cb ??? thank you!
Do you have a link to the battery pack you're using. I'm searching Amazon without success.
Great video :-) What airfield was that on BTW?
Midland sounded best but hand held top buy
Just subbed, great video,where did you source the battery pack and how is the antenna grounded?73s 29TM063
What thqt was distance mate between You And your mate?
question whar are the difference in the randy fcc, randy II fcc and Randy III fcc?
Good test.
I'm at werneth low now. Chucking out 9lb to North Wales.
Excellent😎, my mate Lewis (Ringway manchester) operates from there sometimes.
I’d be very disappointed if I didn’t get 2 miles with any CB really , especially on that flat ground
In reality 2 miles is pretty good for a handheld type radio, whatever frequency it operates on. I'll do a video about this soon.
@@andykirby cheers Andy 👌
I use to have zodiak p8000,s and some days i speaked with folks about 50 kilometers away. That was some good radios 😊
Ay, my boys!
roger diddly, wow CB chat.
errrrr I hope he turned off the radio before disconnecting the antenna !!!! @ 2:00
Standing on top of mountain isn't a test
So I guess this was Randy Andy in the Midlands 😂🤣😂 Or was it up north.
Will any of the CB radios stop on channel 40 at the end or channel 1 of the beginning? I am blind and I do not expect these radios to talk to me but would be nice to know if the menu was wrapped around again and again and again otherwise I’ll never be able to tell what channel I’m on damn I hate all the screens!
I tried to get a K40 for my car. Are they worth it to todays twigs
Can we have links to both please.
I was thinking about getting either of these or poss both maybe!!! But, i don't find them available on AMAZON WHY NOT ? As i deal with Amazon a fair amount & wasn't thinking of having to go elsewhere to get them & having to pay a lot, lot more for them 👎😠 EEERRR!!!! NO THANKS!!! So, Andy can you find out as to why Amazon don't sell these sets or at least find a cheap place that does have them at a nice cheap price ( or what you would call cheap). That would much appreciated. 🙄🤔
Tandy / Realistic radios 😎