Best Deal on a Cheap CB AM Radio

[oldgeezer]

Buying a used 1970s CB radio is a dice roll that you do not have to play. '70s and early 80s CB radios have electrolytic capacitors that go bad. CB radios have dozens of electrolytic capacitors. Even if unused the capacitors go bad. Radio Shack made some great very quiet, sensitive, selective and ultra clear receive audio CB radios in the years of 1995 to 2000. My TRC-483 has better receive audio than my tube CB. The capacitors are still good and may last another 30 years.
These Radio Shack radios with an RF control are as good or better than more expensive Midland, Cobra and Uniden radios. Do not buy any Radio Shack CB radio without a RF control. These are the great receivers. The radios without an RF control have the cheaper and more noisy receivers. The capacitors are new enough that no issues are present. And, that era caps were better made than 1970s capacitors. They last at least 40-50 years. Best to buy a Radio Shack NOS (never used) radio on eBay from $40 to $60 although some are higher cost now (year 2024 vs a few years ago). Used are not any cheaper. Now, all these radios have just average audio and dead key 4 watts to only 8-10 watts peak. You want to modify to 16 watts peak - 100% loud modulation as mods shown below. 

List of Radio Shack Realistic CBs: to look for:

TRC-443 
TRC-444
TRC-446 
TRC-483

Radio Audio Mods here:

Realistic TRC443: (Adjust RV450)

Realistic TRC444: (Adjust RV450)

Realistic TRC-446 (Adjust RV450)

Realistic TRC-483: (Adjust RV201 or Just cut lead on resistor R57)


UPDATE- although these CBs were plentiful on Bay when posted in 2022, I rarely find the CBs now on eBay. 

[iristhomas]

The Galaxy DX 595 is the kind of radio I've always wanted. The radio works great out of the box, but there is room for improvement. I plan to send the radio to a tech to sharpen and tune the unit and make adjustments to the clarifier. I found this radio to be a professional piece of equipment and a bit much for a beginner like me, so I returned it for a cheaper model, the Uniden 980 SSB.

[iristhomas]

The CB radio is great for outdoor use, for quick updating on what is going on currently. If you want to operate your small radio station, you can make use of the ham radio.

[oldgeezer]

CB is better than Ham radio to find out what's going on locally.

[oldgeezer]

I posted this a year ago, I hope CBers have taken advantage of my advice. Most of the 1970 and 1980s CB radios do not work even if the eBay seller states working. The listed 1990s CB are good. New Astron 3 amp power supplies are on eBay for about $25 most times to operate the listed CB radios.