Amstrad CB901 (made in Japan version) UK (CB27/81) CB radio (mobile) - On The Air test

[@MrGrunter]

Thanks!! now I have to go wading through the man cave to find the old cb stuff and check for which version I have.. I do remember getting a lot of stick for having this set back then, but that soon stopped once they realised I could hear breakers that they could not - despite them being between us. :) It was certainly the more sensitive of the sets I had.

[@2Steppa2]

Yes I have one of these (Japan Version) and I've always found it to be a superb set.

[@markwilliams8702]

Love these radios. Had one in the 80's. Unmistakeable by its roger beep.

[@mk4savage]

Good video Richard and great to see the Amstrad working nicely. Matt.

[@jaapseiye2246]

the term bleedover boxes springs to mind from my memory, prefer the uniden cb radio which was badged as a few other makes aswell.

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

The genuine article uses the Cybernet 002F chassis, unfortunely many are fake copies from Hong Kong. Richard

[@timg5tm941]

Nice set those 901's. I take it you have S3 of noise at your location Richard, as the S3 light always seemed to be on during receive? 73s.

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

Yes there was that day & 4 days later it's just as bad with foreign interference today; that would make the CEPT band unuseable here. If there is S3 or 4 on 27/81 UK band, then I find there is S9 on CEPT. Richard

[@mrhulk18]

Tried to reply to earlier comment but it wouldn't let me lol . Thanks for replying about the frg7, I've tried knights Electrocom but they not accepting repairs unless its their own deals. Thanks for replying and I'll keep looking . Keep up the good work

[@ep1929]

Got one of these 901's myself, it's a Japanese version and I acquired it in the early 90s. It was bought by original owner late 1981 and I find it works great. Receipt says £89.99 from Tandy.

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

Yep, £89.99 was the RRP. The later & cheaper (genuine) Hhong Kong version was £59.99. The fake one sold by Comet was £29,99

[@ep1929]

UK CB radio servicing ,are the fake ones really that bad? I've seen a few Hong Kong versions on eBay along with the Harvard / Spinnytronic versions which also seem to be made in Hong Kong.

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

The genuine Hong kong one has a screen printed PCB showing the component locations. The fake one has a bare pcb & much cheaper quality components; this is the same board as in the Spinneytronix CB199 (Littlewoods mail order group). Returned as faulty Spinneytronix's got sold onto Harris Overseas ltd who re-badged them as Harvard H646. The Harvard H646 usually works as well as these are capable of because of them all being serviced by Harris Overseas ltd here in the UK. Really, apart from cheap parts, the only let down is poor squelch performance. Richard

[@johnnymac26]

My mate used it have a 901 I had a ham Viking always loved 901's but wondered why tx was green and rx red.lol

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

Yes, I alays thought it was a daft way round.

[@bobcatcomms]

love your videos. one of my regular pleasures to watch. 29TM063 Dublin

[@mrhulk18]

Hi . Great video . I had one of these in the 80s . I was wondering , do you service yaesu frg7 recievers . I've got one in need of a good service . I'm based in Doncaster , south Yorkshire . Cheers de g7jdh Andy

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

Andy, no we don't service amateur radio equipment. The electronics side of the business is business 2-way radio (Tait & Maxon only), UK legal CB radio, vintage audio/radiograms specialising in HMV & guitar amplifiers. There are four fully equipped work benches here over three rooms. Richard

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

I only do servicing to the trade rather than end users & as such have nothing for sale. Bear in mind the Amstrad 901 is a 35 year old radio. Always buy a "made in Japan" version, the most popular of the two ourwardly identical "made in Hong Kong" versions is a poor quality fake. the 'proper' version is a very good radio & outperforms most current new models. Richard

[@mrg6727]

Loved my 901.

[@stevegrew6758]

Two types of Mike? One is referred to as action man Mike… but not quite sure which is which? The one I prefer is the one that looks completely different with a grid type effect. Alan Micheal Sugar designed this on a napkin apparantly and he did an ok job without getting fired.

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

I have shown the different mikes in the past. Next time we get an Action Man mike in, I'll do a short video on the three mikes that can be encountered. Yes the grid type also came with the Harvard 402 & 404/407 base stations. Richard

[@originalpickaxe]

I had one of these back in 86 , until some scrote broke into my car and knicked it......................he didn;t find me burners under the car seat luckily enough though........................

[@jamesday1395]

Think i fell victim of buying a fake version back in the 80s think it was Comet that was selling them mine lasted about a month and the output stage went liked the style of the radio but never got another.

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

It's such a shame that such a good radio's reputation was wrecked by the fake version. The Amstrad CB900 with a few less featured never got copied so is always the real deal & very much worth having. Back in the day, I bought our fake sample from Comet at a clearance price of £29.99 (were £59.99). People thought that dealers charging £89.99 were ripping them off, but of course that was for the real version! Then CB900 was £79,99. The biggest let-down with the fake version is in fact squelch operation; abysmal. Be aware the Spinneytronic CB199 & the Harvard H646 also use the fake chassis. Richard

[@jamesday1395]

Thanks Richard I will avoid them other radios with the fake chassis but if I do come across a genuine 901 I might be tempted to try one again.