VFO for SBE Console II

[2IR473]

I got a nice working SBE Console II and would like to find an appropriate VFO so I could run it on Ch. 36-40.
From what I have seen, the Siltronix model 90-1 with the 11.950 crystal will work, but there seem to be at least 3 different model 90-1s!!!!

Ok, what is the correct designation for the Siltronix? 90A?

Also, what other VFO might I find that will work with the Console II?
The search begins ;D

["Doc"Hammer]

PM sent.

[**GRUMPY**]

2ir473 said:

I got a nice working SBE Console II and would like to find an appropriate VFO so I could run it on Ch. 36-40.
From what I have seen, the Siltronix model 90-1 with the 11.950 crystal will work, but there seem to be at least 3 different model 90-1s!!!!

Ok, what is the correct designation for the Siltronix? 90A?

Also, what other VFO might I find that will work with the Console II?
The search begins ;D

Paul... the Glenn 326-G will work on the Console II. I had one on a Console II back in the 80's and it worked great!

[2IR473]

Thanks for the info.
This Console II gets great reports on sideband with a Turner Super Sidekick mic, so I would like to get this radio on 36 & 37, where my local SSB operators are.

[**GRUMPY**]

These radios are real talkers. When running AM try using a D104 on it, it will sound better then the SuperSidekick. On SSB, you are right on. I sold one of these a little over a year ago to Capt. Barry, I wish that I would have kept it. The only problem with these radios is they have poor adjacent channel rejection, they are not a city radio!

[Sandbagger]

admin said:

These radios are real talkers. When running AM try using a D104 on it, it will sound better then the SuperSidekick. On SSB, you are right on. I sold one of these a little over a year ago to Capt. Barry, I wish that I would have kept it. The only problem with these radios is they have poor adjacent channel rejection, they are not a city radio!

That, and the "S" meter backswings horribly with any signal with modulation on it.

The poor adjacent channel rejection was a common complaint back in the 70's when there were people on every channel. Today, I hardly notice, s I only have two people close enough to call "neighbors" and they're at least 2 miles away and they usually talk where I do anyway.

Maybe we'll have Console II night on this week's C.R.R.

[2IR473]

Good info, and yes Dave!!! I saw the backwards swing on #7's signal, since he is so close to me (and yes Scott, I was getting slammed from some close stations on CH 21).
I plan on running an old Minuteman D-104 handheld mic this week on the CRR with the Console II.

["Doc"Hammer]

Maybe Mother Nature will help out and I can do something besides listening this week. ;D

[hustler]

Mr. 2IR473 I have an SBE Console 11 radio that I use the Siltronix Model 90 Number 1 VFO with. I bought it last year thinking I could get up to 27.485 frequency (my home frequency) with it, but it won't quite get there. But it will get on up to a little past channel 40, and works flawlessly. If you might be interested in the VFO by its self or both pieces just let me know and we might be able to do some dealing,, Thanks

[2IR473]

Thanks Hustler, but I found a model 90 already.
Appreciate the info though ;D

[hustler]

10-4

[dishwolf359]

I have a Console II with a Pal VFO on it.

Can't remember now which model the Pal is..

I once saw an "export" Console II for use in Canada I think it was.

Put out close to 25 watts..said so right on the box...that may have been sideband though.

I saw a bright pink decal right on the box..."For Export Only" and "Not For Use In The USA". Another decal referred to the high wattage it put out.

Anyone ever had or seen one of those..?

I'd be curious to know more about it.

[captbarry]

Scott, don't want to make ya feel bad but I worked four different states on that radio earily Sunday morning. Contacts were in the Great Lakes areas and Canada. Signels were strong with almost no fade and it was QUIET! This went on for over two and a half hours and was still happening at 3AM when I got tired and went to bed. I mean I talked to the same guys several times and it sounded like locals! SBE got it right with this radio, and yes I was running a Turner SSK on it. All this activitity was on 37 & 38 LSB. Geez I even ran into a member of the old Delaware Bay SSB Club! Remember folks the sun spot cycle should be on the rise again as the peak I believe is around 2010. That means there will be openings like this from time to time. I live for this night activity since it is usually not as noisy and operators seem to have a bit of respect. This is how I really got hooked on DX. Working second shift at the GM plant In Wilmington, De. I always turned the radio on soon as I walked in the door. This started in 1975. On night I heard another station talking on my home freq.(ch 15) so I asked for a break and he answered. Talked for a while and he told me he was in Las Vegas, which I thought yea right!!! Well he asked for my address and about five days later I got a post card from him!!!!! Well the DX bug bit hard and I still enjoy it when conditions were like they were late Sat. night. Yes Scott that Console II I got from ya is a great one! You SHOULD have kept it!!! By the way have been trying to get ya on the ground line with no luck. Will try again closer to the weekend. Geez, I should be able to get you on the Net. Also I need a ned antenna. As for the Console II made for export I have only seen one. I know they did exist.

[BionicChicken]

I was digging through some paperwork and found some info on the Siltronix VFO's. I sent it to Bennie to put on the CBTricks website in case anyone needs it. Application data plus operating and installation instructions. It covers models 40, 80, and 90.
Just thought I'd let everyone know.

BC

[santa]

Mar 8, 2008 20:27:03 GMT -5 hustler said:

Mr. 2IR473 I have an SBE Console 11 radio that I use the Siltronix Model 90 Number 1 VFO with. I bought it last year thinking I could get up to 27.485 frequency (my home frequency) with it, but it won't quite get there. But it will get on up to a little past channel 40, and works flawlessly. If you might be interested in the VFO by its self or both pieces just let me know and we might be able to do some dealing,, Thanks

I have an SBE Console ll and I am looking into VFO's for it you say it goes up to a little higher than channel 40, and how far below channel 1 does it go?
thanks
Bob

[Sandbagger]

Oct 14, 2008 20:12:07 GMT -5 santa said:

Mar 8, 2008 20:27:03 GMT -5 hustler said:

Mr. 2IR473 I have an SBE Console 11 radio that I use the Siltronix Model 90 Number 1 VFO with. I bought it last year thinking I could get up to 27.485 frequency (my home frequency) with it, but it won't quite get there. But it will get on up to a little past channel 40, and works flawlessly. If you might be interested in the VFO by its self or both pieces just let me know and we might be able to do some dealing,, Thanks

I have an SBE Console ll and I am looking into VFO's for it you say it goes up to a little higher than channel 40, and how far below channel 1 does it go?
thanks
Bob

Older 23 channel radios were not designed with a very wide bandwidth. Many would not go much higher than channel 40 before power would drop off rapidly. You can align the radio a bit to stretch the bandwidth, but you do so by lowering peak power to spread it over a wider range of frequencies.

That being said, the Console II will cover the legal 40 with no problem, so you can use it on your favorite SSB channels. It should also extend 10 or so channels above that depending on alignment. But if you're looking for a radio to cover the freeband, there are better ways to do it than trying to hop up a vintage 23 channel rig.

As always YMMV.

[Tombstone (R.I.P.)]

I agree with Sandbagger about 23 channel radios not being very wide banded. Depending on the VFO you use, that radio should go below channel one but probably not too far before the power drops off. I have a Browning S23 transmitter with a Glen VFO on it and the power drops drastically after about ten channels down. I use the word "channels" loosely because below one and above 40 there are no channels designated because you're then out of band and not supposed to be there. Actually, changing mixer crystals to get to where you want is the way to go but I'm not a big fan of drilling and putting switches in vintage radios, an export rig already set up is an option but good luck on how you deceide to do it.

Tombstone

Tombstone

[santa]

Thanks for the info. I am actually looking to get the regular 40 channels and anything over would just be extras that I would probably not use. I was thinking that a Siltronix 90-1 would be the better VFO for it.
thanks again
Bob

[Kentucky Jim]

Are the SBE CONSOLE 11 SSB BASE CB that great of a unit? I've had one in my closet for a couple years now. Never even hooked it up. got it from a neighbor lady after her husband passed on. She said last time he used it, it worked great. She said he talked all over the states, canada and parts of the world. adio isn't even modified. He had it hooked up to an A-99 for an antenna. Used the stalk mic that came with it. Are these units THAT GOOD? There only a 23 channel unit aren't they?? Maybe I should get it out, hook it up, and give it a try.

[Sandbagger]

Dec 7, 2008 23:30:44 GMT -5 Kentucky Jim said:

Are the SBE CONSOLE 11 SSB BASE CB that great of a unit? I've had one in my closet for a couple years now. Never even hooked it up. got it from a neighbor lady after her husband passed on. She said last time he used it, it worked great. She said he talked all over the states, canada and parts of the world. adio isn't even modified. He had it hooked up to an A-99 for an antenna. Used the stalk mic that came with it. Are these units THAT GOOD? There only a 23 channel unit aren't they?? Maybe I should get it out, hook it up, and give it a try.

The SBE Console II was one of the more popular SSB base rigs in the mid 70's. It was a nice compact unit that had an attractive smart no-nonsense looking aesthetic look. The radio was also a good talker. The only sore spot was the receiver. It was only a single conversion design which was not all that adept at adjacent channel rejection. So if you used on in a densely populated urban area with many locals on a bunch of channels, you were likely to take it tough.

Today, it appeals mostly to those of us who sewed our CB oats in the 70's and like the nostalgic appeal of the old rigs. With far fewer people on the bands, operating the Console II can be a much more pleasant experience.

[Kentucky Jim]

Thanks Sandbagger. I'm gettin it out, dustin it off and hookin it up. See how she works. I only wish the darn thing was a 40 channel. Most my sb is above 32.

[Kentucky Jim]

Well, I got it out, hooked it up, heard the truckers loud and clear. Thought before I'd try hollering to any of em, I'd check my SWR. Don't work. The needle in the meter won't move at all. Trying to set calibration or anything. Meter won't work. I've got the knowledge to use em, just not work on em. I'll probably stick it up on ebay and see what I can get for it. Oh well.

[ic751a]

Apr 12, 2008 23:39:13 GMT -5 dishwolf359 said:

I have a Console II with a Pal VFO on it.

Can't remember now which model the Pal is..

I once saw an "export" Console II for use in Canada I think it was.

Put out close to 25 watts..said so right on the box...that may have been sideband though.

I saw a bright pink decal right on the box..."For Export Only" and "Not For Use In The USA". Another decal referred to the high wattage it put out.

Anyone ever had or seen one of those..?

I'd be curious to know more about it.

The SBE Console II was made both before and after the FCC limited SSB PEP to 12w output. Before that they simply said 25w PEP so SBE designed a rig that had considerably more like 50w input so they could get the full 25 PEP out.

After the FCC ruling they were forced to sell some older production 25w rigs out of country, or "export" only.

Crappy AM rig, awesome SSB radio.

---------------------------------------------

You can also have the oscillator crystal recut for your Model 90 VFO to go higher in frequency.

[Sandbagger]

Feb 21, 2010 12:53:29 GMT -5 ic751a said:

Apr 12, 2008 23:39:13 GMT -5 dishwolf359 said:

I have a Console II with a Pal VFO on it.

Can't remember now which model the Pal is..

I once saw an "export" Console II for use in Canada I think it was.

Put out close to 25 watts..said so right on the box...that may have been sideband though.

I saw a bright pink decal right on the box..."For Export Only" and "Not For Use In The USA". Another decal referred to the high wattage it put out.

Anyone ever had or seen one of those..?

I'd be curious to know more about it.

The SBE Console II was made both before and after the FCC limited SSB PEP to 12w output. Before that they simply said 25w PEP so SBE designed a rig that had considerably more like 50w input so they could get the full 25 PEP out.

After the FCC ruling they were forced to sell some older production 25w rigs out of country, or "export" only.

Crappy AM rig, awesome SSB radio.

---------------------------------------------

The Console II suffered from poor adjacent channel rejection and an "S" meter that backswung drastically whenever people talked on AM. For those reasons, it was not the most desirable radio if you lived in a high density area. But they talked well on both AM and SSB. I currently have one in great condition and it's one of my favorite period pieces.

I do not recall ever seeing either the radio or a schematic for a true "25 watt output" version. I believe the confusion stems from the changing methods by which the FCC rated transmitter power. Originally, SSB rigs were rated at 10 watts INPUT power. That figure was increased to 15 watts (sometime in the very early 70's), and then to 25 watts in the mid 70's. Because rating a radio by input power was confusing (at the same time AM rigs were rated at 5 watts input), the FCC went to a 4 watt AM and 12 watt SSB OUTPUT rating. That "25 watt" Console II was probably an input rating, and I'd be willing to bet that the "export" designation came about as a result of trying to liquidate leftover 23 channel stock when the 40 channel radios became legal, and 23's were no longer legal to sell in the U.S.

[gary69]

Mar 8, 2008 20:27:03 GMT -5 hustler said:

Mr. 2IR473 I have an SBE Console 11 radio that I use the Siltronix Model 90 Number 1 VFO with. I bought it last year thinking I could get up to 27.485 frequency (my home frequency) with it, but it won't quite get there. But it will get on up to a little past channel 40, and works flawlessly. If you might be interested in the VFO by its self or both pieces just let me know and we might be able to do some dealing,, Thanks

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IF YOU STILL HAVE IT
GARY  [e-mail]

[2600]

Hmmmm.

Hustler's post is dated early 2008.

He might still have it. But the last post from him on this forum was in 2008. Makes me suspect he hasn't checked back in lately.

Have you hooked a VFO to this model before? It does require soldering the VFO cable to the solder side of the circuit board. You can't just pluck out the crystal and plug the VFO cable into the crystal socket. Won't work.

I have a Siltronix 90 available to sell that's converted to work on this radio. Has a digital display and covers from below channel 1 to about channel 65.

Looks like these:



Just one drawback. They're 200 bucks plus shipping and insurance.

Unless you have a Siltronix 80 or 90 clean enough to trade in. That takes fifty bucks off the price. 

There are two other crystals in the radio that have to be set on frequency for the readout to be accurate.

Not the only solution, just the most expensive.

73

[Sandbagger]

Nov 29, 2018 3:41:50 GMT -5 gary69 said:

Mar 8, 2008 20:27:03 GMT -5 hustler said:

Mr. 2IR473 I have an SBE Console 11 radio that I use the Siltronix Model 90 Number 1 VFO with. I bought it last year thinking I could get up to 27.485 frequency (my home frequency) with it, but it won't quite get there. But it will get on up to a little past channel 40, and works flawlessly. If you might be interested in the VFO by its self or both pieces just let me know and we might be able to do some dealing,, Thanks

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IF YOU STILL HAVE IT
GARY  [e-mail]

Doubtful since this post is over 10 years old.......

[cbrown]

Or the fact he hasn't been on since Dec 25, 2009.

I'd personally go with one of 2600's digital VFOs if it were me.

[vanlifeson]

Feb 21, 2010 12:53:29 GMT -5 ic751a said:

Apr 12, 2008 23:39:13 GMT -5 dishwolf359 said:

I have a Console II with a Pal VFO on it.

Can't remember now which model the Pal is..

I once saw an "export" Console II for use in Canada I think it was.

Put out close to 25 watts..said so right on the box...that may have been sideband though.

I saw a bright pink decal right on the box..."For Export Only" and "Not For Use In The USA". Another decal referred to the high wattage it put out.

Anyone ever had or seen one of those..?

I'd be curious to know more about it.

The SBE Console II was made both before and after the FCC limited SSB PEP to 12w output. Before that they simply said 25w PEP so SBE designed a rig that had considerably more like 50w input so they could get the full 25 PEP out.

After the FCC ruling they were forced to sell some older production 25w rigs out of country, or "export" only.

Crappy AM rig, awesome SSB radio.

---------------------------------------------

You can also have the oscillator crystal recut for your Model 90 VFO to go higher in frequency.

Mine sounds great on A.M. it really blasts with a Silver Eagle.
Sounds as good or better than any modern radio.