Post by oldgeezer on Aug 11, 2019 12:00:26 GMT -5
A lot of 40 channel AM CB bases are for sale. Average price for 40 channel AM base is $50 to $100 for non collectable radios in good working and cosmetic condition. One radio that stands out from the crowd is the inexpensive President Zachary T. Although prices are all over the place, $50 usually buys a good condition President Zachary radio. Some are tested and guaranteed to work, although broken Zachary radios are highly uncommon. Capacitors hold up well (good) unlike Regency radios of this age. And, 40 channels offers access to local nets too. Many local nets operate AM above channel 23 to avoid most DX interference.
It is the same chassis as the Cobra 89XLR. The Cobra 89XRL are usually more expensive. What I like regarding the Zachary is it has some important controls unlike many radios. It has an RF gain to control the background noise and band hiss. Many inexpensive radios are missing this control. The radio also has a microphone gain control called mike gain on the radio that does not need an amplified microphone. Includes the volume control and squelch like every radio offered. It does not have a receive frequency control, but is not needed on AM. It also has an automatic noise limiter that is better than most radios and does not distort the receive audio. The receiver is as good as any tube radio I used for receive clarity. Receiver has less background hiss vs tube type CB radios. The President Zachary also will modulate higher than most tubes radios after a simple modification. Fact is, the President radios had the design all figured out by 1980. It does not get better.
The receiver is sensitive, thus it hears very well. Reports of new radios such as the Galaxy are not as quiet receive wise as these old Zachary and Cobra CBs with same chassis. The Japanese engineers designed this radio to be the best like their life depended upon it and we may never have such fine engineers again.
Being a base, it is more comfortable to operate and has a built-in power supply unlike mobile radios and saves you at least $25 for a used cheap power supply with shipping costs. Go inside the radio and cut diode D14 as in my radio that makes 18 watts peak. Internet search stated D4 or turn counterclockwise VR5 potentiometer, but I think it is wrong and should be D14 diode. The diode cut makes for a lot more modulation- 18 watts peak. This mod is for the 858 chip chassis that is in the President, not Uniden radio. Another Zachary model exists built by Uniden. Some radios states Uniden above the channel selector knob and others replace the President label on the speaker with Uniden. Either model is good. The Uniden Zachary uses the Cobra 89GTL chassis and mods are listed on the internet. The Uniden Zachary PD2816 chip is not expandable for extra frequencies unlike the President 858 chip.
For the money and performance I do not believe a better deal exists for a 40 channel AM base CB radio. Frankly, nothing will work better used or new and you cannot go wrong with the Cobra 87 GTL, Cobra 89 XLR, Cobra 89 GTL or both Zachary models (President or Uniden).
Note- the Cobra 87 GTL is same radio as the Cobra 89 GTL inside with the standard front face vs the odd angled face of the Cobra 89 GTL. It also has one meter vs two. A good condition Cobra 87 GTL sells for an average of $50, but some radios have sold for less than $50.