Best Tube CB Radio - Courier Ranger

[oldgeezer]

IMO the Courier Ranger 23 channel CB is about as good as it gets. The receiver is very sensitive. Remove the antenna, turn the volume all the way up and you hear nothing. That is a very quiet receiver. It uses a 6CW4 nuvistor mixer that makes the receiver so quiet. The RF front-end in the receiver uses a 6BS8 triode that is also quiet and frankly better than any Ham receivers of the same era. The noise limiter completely removes strong man made noise in my area, however not all models have a noise limiter that is mandatory so check for it. IMO there is not a better CB receive section in other CB radios although some will equal the Courier. And, the package is compact. In todays money, this CB would cost $1200. The transmitter produces 4 watts carrier and will modulate to 12 watts peak. Modulation does not need to be turned up. Plenty of forward power to 'tickle' an amplifier. The best part is these radios can be bought in good condition for $75 to $120. The same design is in the Courier 23+ (not 23 model) with the optional noise limiter and Courier Royale shares same design (tube line up).

[0000oooo]

A friend of mine once had a Courier 23 the 1968 version that had the insides of the 23+, in that it did have the nuvisor tube. It was a super quiet set picking signals out of the quiet and the squelch was flawless. I assumed that at the time it was either a mistake, or possible a special order for the plus, with a black face, at some additional cost. Either way, a rare occurrence.

[thehobo]

to me the best tube type radio was the super demco satitlite, wish i had'nt got rid of mine.. darn