SBE ConsoleII, channel expanding

[titan7]

I have 2 mint, radios, would like to add channels 35-40 as most SSB chat happens there. Having a hard time finding a siltronix 90-1, can a channel expander kit work, or could I replace channels I-6 for 35-40? Also wanted to unlock the clairfier. No idea what shops can do this as cb shops are few and far .

Thanks

[Sandbagger]

Aug 27, 2018 13:37:28 GMT -5 titan7 said:

I have 2 mint, radios, would like to add channels 35-40 as most SSB chat happens there. Having a hard time finding a siltronix 90-1, can a channel expander kit work, or could I replace channels I-6 for 35-40? Also wanted to unlock the clairfier. No idea what shops can do this as cb shops are few and far .

Thanks

Most SSB activity is from channels 36 to 40, which works out well, because you can pull one of the lower group of 4 channels (1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16, 17-20, 21-23) and sub in a crystal for 36-40. The only caveat is that there's a skip channel in there (where the RC channel would normally fall) so you'll end up with 36, 37, 38, and 40. If you expand the clarifier to drop 10 KHz, you can get that missing channel (and 35 as well).

[titan7]

Awesome, so what would I need to do this?

[Sandbagger]

Aug 27, 2018 17:03:35 GMT -5 titan7 said:

Awesome, so what would I need to do this?

Well, you will need a 12.1 Mhz crystal. Then you simply swap it in for one of the 11 Mhz crystals that are in there. For instance, if you wanted to swap out channels 1-4, you would remove the 11.700 Mhz crystal for your new 12.1 Mhz crystal. Then channels 1-4 on the dial will be 36-40. You might have to align the radio if the power starts to fall off on the upper channels.

Expanding the clarifier on this model radio can be a bugger. In the past, I've done it by removing the stock circuit and replacing it with a ~50 pF variable capacitor in series with a 6 - 10 uH choke. That'll give you the required 10 khz drop. But unless you're technically inclined, I wouldn't recommend doing it. But the crystal swap should be easy. The crystals are plug-in.

[titan7]

Thank you, I found the 12.1 MHz crystals from Kens Electronic. He was a pretty nice guy too, told me I should not have to do an alignment. Another dumb question, is their a crystal puller or fingers good enough? Also there is a plastic cover over the crystal set, not sure how to remove this as there are 2 wires over the top, I could cut just enough of the top to access the 11.700mhz crystal.

Will attached a photo.

[Sandbagger]

Aug 28, 2018 22:33:09 GMT -5 titan7 said:

Thank you, I found the 12.1 MHz crystals from Kens Electronic. He was a pretty nice guy too, told me I should not have to do an alignment. Another dumb question, is their a crystal puller or fingers good enough? Also there is a plastic cover over the crystal set, not sure how to remove this as there are 2 wires over the top, I could cut just enough of the top to access the 11.700mhz crystal.

Will attached a photo.

That plastic cover should simply snap on. A little flexing or prying should pop it off. I usually just use my fingers to pull the crystals. Sometimes I'll use needle nose pliers if there isn't enough room to fit my fingers.

[2600]

The plastic cover snaps on, IIRC.

A barb at the bottom edges of the cover snaps under the lower rim of the plastic socket body. Simply prying the lower edge of the cover with the top of a small flat screwdriver blade should release it.

Does grasp the crystals pretty well until you snap that lower edge. It served to keep the crystals in place. Means more in a mobile than a base station, but this one was meant to be a usable mobile radio.

Plenty of room under the dash of your '74 Impala, typically above the transmission hump so you could brace it from below.

It's been a while since I saw a mobile-mounted SSB radio with a Siltronix 90 perched above it. Sure was a lot of wasted space available to use in a car 40-plus years ago.

73

[titan7]

Mobil, wow the SBE is a big radio, can’t imagine that in a car.

[Sandbagger]

Aug 30, 2018 13:17:51 GMT -5 titan7 said:

Mobil, wow the SBE is a big radio, can’t imagine that in a car.

Most solid state base radios have the capability to run off of 12V, and some even had holes in the cover for a mobile mounting bracket. But few people would run a radio like a Console II in the car. Especially since SBE made the Sidebander II, which was the identical radio, in a mobile size.

Back in the 60's though, there were a lot of large tube-type radios that were run in the mobile. A 1965 Chevy Impala offered a ton of room to mount such a beast. A 2018 Chevy Impala...... not so much.