CPI USA Made CB Radios - A history from Co-Founder Dave Wisherd

[@OldSgtsMaj52]

Amazing... We are still out here with these CB Radios.

[@scottray9564]

What a great interview! Very glad that I ran across this on your site.

[@orange70383]

This was absolutely fantastic, a real treat. Thank You'

[@djbilltakabillterwilleger5840]

Thank you for posting and sharing this. It answers so many unanswered questions and the answers will live forever here on the web forever. A+

[@390WagonMaster]

I was waiting for Don' Stoners name to come up, the CPI and Stoner boards looked so much alike . Thank you!

[@thestonerguy5276]

It was a brief mention, but by saying "One of our competitors was Stoner" vs. "One of our competitors was Stoner, whom we made their radios" should squash the talk like, "Oh Stoner is was made by CPI and is just a 2000 in a different case" (although I would have liked a direct question about that subject)

[@321CatboxWA]

Broadcasting from behind the Zion Curtain . 390 because what's another 30 deg. ?

[@Cqdx11]

@@thestonerguy5276 I can assure that the CP2000 & Stoner Pro40 DO NOT have same or similar PCB's! Own both!

[@radiobill4082]

Thanks for a great product which has never been duplicated or exceeded yet in the single sideband CB Market. I was one of your little dealers but kept up with some of your guys and did a lot of the modifications like the 10 up and 5 down switch, upping the power amplifier, turning on the channel 99 switching, clairfier transeive, and also going down 99. Did put a couple of the channel switch mods into several, to which was pretty cool. I sold approximately two dozen of your CPI 2000 & always modded them first. Never found a problem as they were several years ahead of the competition in IC usage.always sold the console and wattmeter with each and desk mike (Turner). I also ran one at home. I was a repair/tech. for a Distributor in Greensboro, N.C. Wish you had manufactured the scope before quitting. I played and promoted and out sold the Stoner. Had to repair several of them...just another HF INTRENATIONAL OPPERATOR😎🇺🇸 who didn't get caught...

[@TheDogWalkerGuy]

Have you ever seen a Monitor Scope in person or know anyone who owns one ?

[@garybasic7406]

Hello Radio Bill, I'm in Seattle, I have a cobra2010gtl base. It has issues that I knew when I bought it, months ago. Would you attempt to fix it??

[@radiobill4082]

@@garybasic7406 I am sorry to say Gary that I have reverted back to my old amateur ways I'm have left the insanity of the new version of CB and have watch that single sideband has migrated to a frequency better known as channel 38 Oncenter only. What a disgrace. A lot of us operated in between channels back then and also went hi! Better known as qsy to an empty frequency so that you could hold a real conversation with people all around the world. Now I'm just an old guy from back in the day who sold all his test equipment and went out of business. I don't do any work anymore for anyone. At 76 years of age I have virtually retired. I honestly don't know of anyone who I would recommend. Most of them are just golden screwdriver jockeys or somebody who follows internet mods. Good technicians are very hard to find and most don't even know what a first-class operator's license is. Best of luck, and get a ham ticket, and don't stop at technician or general...

[@richardcallihan9746]

Very interesting. Dave Wisherd, 73

[@travischapin886]

Berwick PA, I used to live there!!

[@pixotica]

Wow, that was just amazing!!!!

[@MrBonez208]

I love the CPI 2000 the complete set with the console phone patch and meters with freq counter display the and the compressor mic. What a station with complete functionality and flexibility.

[@buzzsah]

Boy!!, I forgot all about the CPI, when it hit the market it sold like crazy.

[@SimjetAU]

Thanks a lot for doing this interview...that was fantastic. I have loved the CPI gear ever since they came out. Here in Australia when the CP2000 came out it was almost AU$2000 here...I remember two brothers had one not far from me and we used to go there and drool over it...I have several 2000 and a 300 and 400 plus all the accessories all in working condition...I ran my own radio comms company for 30 years and have been collecting the CPI when I can..They are still a stunning radio. Thanks again for ths video..I really enjoyed it and the history of CPI

[@fostersradio3513]

Thank you for the valuable information

[@jimmylang1966]

my cpi 2000 needs some tlc, , not many people work on them now days, great video, love cpi.

[@mckrkl]

I had a CPI 2000 with CPI microphone and CPI frequency counter with extra channels. It was a really good radio. I just didnt realize how good it was. I bought it used in 1990 or 91 for $200. I let a guy who had a UPD858 chassis President Washington with extras talk me into trading him. Man, I sure wish I never did that. You live you learn.

[@ddsvfo]

Fantastic interview! Well done.

[@jimfiedlerRR-546]

Great job

[@bigjim1408]

Love the history of this radio learned a lot....

[@turinskiboy]

This is gold.

[@donniedotson3318]

This was very cool. I never had a CPI Radio. But I remember seeing them during my C.B. Radio days. I am a Motorola fan. It was cool all the connections he had. I worked at an airport and ran across King Radios. It was just cool. I have been a Ham Operator for years.

[@m0ogy]

A great video ........all the best from the UK.

[@1112223333111]

Cool video. Nice Digicom! 😎

[@patriciaenochs3094]

Great interview I always wanted a CPI 2000 but couldn’t afford one, I own a Tram D-201, D-201A Browning MK 3 and MK 4A but can’t find one of

[@RaccoonsRadioRanch]

I've got a CPI CP-2000 that I need to get operational again .

[@thunderc4s]

Great to watch such history. I remember these radios being advertised late 70s in Australia by the local distributor. They where modified for Australian 18 channels. I couldn’t afford such a expensive radio back then but now I have a mint CP2000 base with Frequency counter and also have a mint (brand new) CPI2500.

[@jeffstarks6013]

Thank you for the work and research on this, it's great!

[@paulgrodkowski3412]

Why do you thank for? How useless can CB be when everything is done on internet now? Plus electronic mods never really work they they are presented here!

[@RayOvacRadio]

I love the CP-2000 base I have two and the mobile CP-300 mobile with power supply just like yours and two base console units. Great radios!!!

[@jamesstewart3121]

Thanks for the video I had a cp 400 with all the extras loved the radio it had all the extra channels all the way up to 27.855 frequency counter voice compression box with on air light. But on day I was on vacation and some thought they needed the system more than I did really wish they still in business would love another

[@Joetechlincolns]

Thank you for this interview! Wow, all I can say.

[@Pardero]

Dave Wisherd is an impressive man. I am glad he went on to greater success in other areas after the CB radio boom faded.

[@paulgrodkowski3412]

Interesting video about a CB radio that I had the opportunity to see and hear in action when I was a teenager. I always wondered where these radios were sold. The only store that I was aware of was Radio Shack and they have there own line of CB radio products Realistic and Tandy.

[@cj_m2477]

The CPI 2000 was the best radio I ever owned and boy do I regret selling it.

[@christidrake8759]

Great radios

[@2DE808]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing the history on this. 808 Central Delaware

[@af9p]

Great and highly informative interview! Thanks to you and Dave Wisherd. Facinating!

[@DuggieWest]

need more USA MADE RADIOS

[@freepressright]

This was a wonderful interview! I watched every word with great interest. I just had my tech go through, clean and re-calibrate my CPM 3 meter rig. I have a CPI frequency counter and a frequency converter. I've been thinking about Ebaying them.

[@ironmank955]

Ok now that I know the history it just makes me want to find one even more ...

[@paulgrodkowski3412]

You are taking up time and space on the internet. That all I have to say

[@SevenFortyOne]

Excellent interview - very informative and entertaining. Thanks for sharing this!

[@butterbean4195]

great video. back when cpi was around new i always thout they where ugly and never got one. now im looking for one because they are so good. live and learn.

[@patriciaenochs3094]

Great interview, a quick question if I may do you own any CPI radios?

[@eazystreet5507]

Can you ask Dave if he knows where to get the schematics for the CPI BC 2000 Console frequency counter. I can't fine one.

[@Subgunman]

Micor radios! Had a full outfit of a Micor with a Systems 90 stack to control the trunk mount unit. Even had 100 watt Micor stations, one for a private carrier repeater and one as a talkback paging transmitter. Considering how many years I was into CB before moving into the Ham hobby and into commercial radio and attending the Dayton Hamvention for twenty years as well as other handsets, I have never seen this radio anywhere! Only a few weeks ago did I see a video on this video and thought this was new to the market. From what I have seen here, I wish it was still made to this day. It would properly fill out the void of the CB sector in my stack of equipment. Speech compression is very common in todays narrow banded commercial radios. In order to preserve audio quality in a narrower portion of frequency separation with the change in rules. Todays terminology of this tech is known as compandering. The radio will compress the transmit audio while the receiver would expand the compressed audio providing the operator with full spectrum audio. This individual worked for a GE shop? He must have been describing the TPL line of transistorized 2way commercial radios. I can agree they were total crap. Thank god they were short lived thanks to the FCC going from 15Khz deviation to 5Khz. Many individual got burned since they had recently bought this radio but manufacturers were not fully aware of the plans to narrow band commercial frequencies. The most recent migration the even more narrow frequency spacing the public and manufacturers were given almost ten years advance notice of this change.

[@Garyscott7]

I don't know which GE series he worked with, but Pre-Prog and Progress line of radios comes to mind. Great radios for for anchoring your boat at the lake. IMHO GE MASTR Pro & MASTR II were some of the best radios made and gave Moto a real run for it in the 70s.. LA County sheriff had a whole system of them on 39 MHz. In Jr. high in the mid 60s I fell into CB as a hobby. Never knew the CPI brand existed. Back then the rich kids had Browning Eagles and General MC tube 23 channel base stations. Us poorer kids had Johnson Messenger I, II and IIIs. I recall Johnson print ads in magazines showing real estate agents using them to talk back to the office base station. One day (thank you dad) I managed to get a General MC-8. Beautiful tube radio that would do 25 watts if someone "strapped" it. It would be a great collector radio today if any are still around. Then one day around 1966 I walked into Baldwin Park Electronics (candy store for me) east of Los Angeles. A guy came in with a big grey Motorola HT hand held (about the size and weight of a red brick) and was talking clear as a bell to someone in a car 50 miles away. Impossible I thought. Poppily crackily CB is doing good at 5 miles from a base station. It is a 2 meter FM repeater he said. The rest is radio history for me. My whole school aged crew ended up chipping in for a new GE MASTR base station we got at cost from a great sympathetic dealer in Pomona. We also promised to do all his annual weeding at his repeater site in the San Gabriel mountains on forestry land. With the basic transmitter & receiver we built our own repeater on 440 MHz around 1967-8. That was when I got my first second hand Motorola Motrac and converted it to 440 MHz. Pretty hot stuff for a kid.

[@Subgunman]

@@Garyscott7 wow! Familiar with the Progress Line and worked on some in the past. Great receivers but the transmitters by the mid 80's we’re getting flakey and needed constant attention. I recall another line From GE was the TPL line or Transitorized Progress Line. It was a hybrid with both solid state and hollow state. The mobiles were capable of being split in half allowing the huge receiver "head" to be placed up front with the TX section that could be placed in the trunk or behind the seat of a pickup truck. These were short lived as they did not comply with the FCC's narrow banding to 5 KHz. I still have several MASTR II RADIOS both configured as repeaters with one in a mobile chassis and one in a homemade slide out drawer. Years ago I picked up on an 800 GE Trunking repeater chassis complete to swap out the 800 stuff for the UHF stuff. I am however upset with myself for not having purchased some UHF LOW SPLIT trunk units. Now living in the EU I could have done a mod to bring them up into the 430 MHz band plan for ham radio in Europe. Another oddity for an American ham is that they use a 7.6MHz split with the repeaters TX high and the RX low. Also sitting on an MVP UHF repeater that is "a factory"repeater. Used it many times at the Hamvention years ago. Ah yes, those were the days!

[@Garyscott7]

@@Subgunman I tried a couple of GE Progress line UHF radios. None of them would stay on frequency and they always struggled to produce the rated 15 watts. MVPs were like a baby MASTR at a good price as I recall. Good enough to turn into self contained low power repeaters. I have to laugh at those TPL radios today. Nowhere to put that giant control head in modern cars and trucks. I suppose the FCC had reasons for all the band splitting to create more channels we have today. Unfortunately to my ear each splitting of the channel has reduced the audio quality a lot. In the olden days (of Dynamotors revving up to produce the voltage necessary to fire the tube finals in mobiles) channels were 50 kc wide and great sounding audio. Then then 25kc, then 12.5 kc channels, then the thinner splits and crummy digital attempts to sound decent. I did installs and systems when the industry went digital. The first portables became almost useless around noisy fire trucks. Dispatchers constantly saying 10-9, I can't understand you over the background noise. Now we carry around a supercomputer in the pocket and complain when 4k KZbin videos stutter. Ah yes, the good old days for sure.

[@Subgunman]

@@Garyscott7 ahh yes, band splitting. About 25 years ago I built up a VHF Narrow band LTR 5 channel system. It was relatively easy build but I had one issue with the repeater controllers on those systems, the deviation control was only a 3/4 turn pot. Had trouble getting the right audio deviation so I replaced all of the deviation controls with Bournes 10 turn pots of the same value. Solved the problem on setting audio deviation. As for radios we sold Kenwood radios which were selectable between wide and narrow band systems, this was during the transition period and they worked great. No tinny digital artifacts. They used a decent compander circuitry within the radios. Which took care of the compression and decompression of then analogue audio. It is odd that the fire departments had audio issues on Narrow band considering the all probably used Motorola equipment. Perhaps in their earlier digital format of VESELP they had issues but I have listened to countless P25 comms with no issues. I even run an XTL5000 UHF low split. No issues with audio quality on P25. Now when one goes to crypto, depending on which format is used some of the recovered audio is of questionable quality. On another note I have held on to several MX series portables including one of the synthesized MX radios. All in good working order including two convertacom mobile chargers. Also a pair of UHF Saber III radios with their SVA mobile adapters and one HT1000 with its mobile adapter with the 45 watt controller. Ass in one Astro Saber III to round out the collection. My main gripe is that batteries are hard to come buy, all tend to be NiMh chemistry which does not work well with NiCd rapid chargers. MX stuff at this moment is unobtainium as well as Saber batteries. Love the classics on Ham Radio but batteries are a big ouch!

[@HANDBANANNA]

Show us an in depth on that cpi 300!

[@jaws843]

I wonder if Dave has a collection of CPI Radios and if he uses them.

[@Shadowpuppet-jh9vn]

I still have a CPI 300 with matching speaker / power supply, also the FC-70, 2 of the 3 meter version SWR meter 2 Talk Powers and 2 adaptors for the FC-70, Unfortunately the CP-300 is not operational, probably needs a recap. He Mentioned Tram, I owned both the Tram D201 and the CPI 300 in the late 70's still have the Tram as well. I remember the receive on the CPI-300 being really good but that for AM radio which is what most of us were talking back then the TRAM D201 was a real powerhouse on AM with loud clear modulation. Be nice to get that CPI going but I have since moved to the ham world.

[@InternetGoldMiner]

Hey great interview very informative. Always wanted a CPI..

[@SDS-1]

Wow I have a new hero 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@803indan.w.corner3]

I wonder if Sam Lewis from RF Limited had any involvement? I know he was involved with Palomar and Siltronix ect... So you never know.

[@brotheradam]

I always wished they had started building ham radios as their CB radios were so good.. out of my price range but they were the better version of the ranger 2950 group

[@cvpportfolio9906]

Great information, the constant scratchy audio is horrible. Should have been corrected at the beginning of the interview.

[@cbradiomagazine]

Yeah it was a problem on his end but was more pronounced in the recording than when I was doing the interview live.

[@rpcomms1]

Wow I'm from UK ,I saw or knew this CB kit existed but we weren't allowed CB radio in United Kingdom for a very long time ,I would of loved to have worked with these engineers ,right mind set and professional products. Could we see a rebirth of C.P.I again in USA made high professional end CB radios ?Yes please not everyone wants "consumer grade" CB kit ,I come from Land Mobile Radio background so can relate some of the the things mentioned in video. I was wondering if CPI ever considered a ssb-am transportable or handheld high performance HT unit was ever discussed? Did CPI ever export versions to Europe? Fantastic video and insight into CPI Thanks Rob P RPComms UK

[@Subgunman]

Interesting from the UK! It would be great if these radios were brought back to market but with manufacturing was to be resumed in the USA or UK the cost would be on par with the Motorola line of public safety radios BUT they would last a lifetime. Now the FCC has approved the use of FM modulation for CB radios. Was working for a dealer in the Midwest in the States who turned out to be the largest Uniden commercial division radio dealer. Unfortunately after a few engineers left, the Japanese could not quite comprehend what the USA market wanted and the commercial division fell apart. What was left of the US manufacturing was purchased by BK to incorporate Unidens surface mount equipment into their equipment.

[@peterankin7366]

they are well made and receive is somethin!

[@Slugg-O]

I owned a Digi-Com 100 paired with a Golden Eagle D-104 as a base station. Without a doubt, the 100 had the noisiest, worst, crappiest, front end of any radio I've ever heard before or since. I even had a reputable shop check it out and he found nothing wrong. However, nothing I've ever heard before or since has sounded as good as the Digi Com 100. The sound was incredibly huge!

[@Monza62000]

i have this radio feq counter,, meters an they are very good ,,,well made

[@Monza62000]

mine is the cb2000

[@bamanut007]

What years were the 2000s made and how many were sold?

[@gregoryburbage7906]

Great interview but that mic background noise you had was extremely annoying.....

[@cbradiomagazine]

Yes the zoom call didn’t work perfectly but it does get better later in the video.

[@dx11m52]

Thank you for information I have a CP300 works great and inside are totally different than Japanese CB radios. Amazing !!

[@davedowler1737]

This was a good interview. I would like to see the same thing with an executive at Uniden. I would like to know their history, how they collaborated with the different companies like Cobra, President, Pearce Simpson, Teaberry etc. I would like to know the truth first hand about the FCC allegedly removing the type acceptance on the PC-196 board with the 858 PLL.I would like to hear the history of the switch to 40 channels and how there was at one time discussion of more channels than 40. I would like to hear about how the Cobra radios were no longer made by Uniden. One final, thing, I would like to know about the PNP modulator we see in so many radios today that don't use a modulation transformer on AM. The very first radios I remember having this modulator were the TRC-451 and Cobra 146.

[@Monza62000]

i have a cb on right now a cobra 2000...its not dead

[@BluegrassPossum]

This is a very interesting interview but what is the noise throughout the video? It sounds like someone crinkling paper or something.

[@Denosophem]

Where is the history and research those hypothesis that were tested to even begin the initial steps for this communication device?

[@Sky_Pony_1_mic_sierra]

I really want to hear this but I can't get over the paper crackling on the microphone the whole time

[@marcouellet1420]

I just got a cp 2000 base

[@AF6LJSue]

Good radios back in the day I didn't have much of an oppratunity to repair any, except for one... That's out of combined 21 years of CB repair Seen plenty of Junk,.... Only one CPI ..

[@perrylusk7428]

I wonder if the CPI MS-2000 Modulation Monitor came to fruition? I guess the world may never know.......

[@GroundControl204]

Good video except for all the crackling going on. CPI was ahead of their time back then.

[@unclequack5445]

DAVE, sir I seen your review on the President Dick radio If I understand right to increase pep output you increase the MODULATION is this right? or do you increase the AM power also ? please let me know Thanks Dave.

[@ericzerkle8486]

I've always wanted one but I'm NOT paying the crazy price they go for

[@rrpeck1]

Audio noises major distraction

[@ВсёОбАмерикеИНеТолько]

Can you, please, do a review on RCI X9?????

[@JohnChrysostom101]

Wtf were you fidgeting with the whole time dude making all that racket!!!!

[@cbradiomagazine]

He had a bad connection on his microphone unfortunately but at least we captured the story.

[@francismcclaughry3794]

I had a polmar three hundred a hooked to a super scanner and a cobra two thousand. it was a nice amp.

[@321CatboxWA]

Fidigiting noise's really annoying otherwise a great interview . Could you re upload without the racket ? It is hard to hear your guest . thanks

[@cbradiomagazine]

It was a zoom call recording so unfortunately no way to remove the noise.

[@321CatboxWA]

Looking forward to the next interview. Thanks again ! 73s

[@lesjones7019]

Will am be done.

[@Michael-xl8dz]

Just realized is this the Dave that the DaveMade named after? If not just was wondering and vary entertaining...

[@lesjones7019]

Can you fix my 138 xlr No transmit I got it new in 1977. Never opened.

[@EdzashedFudwinkle]

I have just spoken to a lady who has found 4 of these boxed and as new, they're CPI Channel Monitor Stereos, wish I could send a photo, she is after advice on them. 07/26

[@SkelatorRevisited]

What is up with the audio on this. Would have love to have heard this. Unlistenable

[@hotrod-yf9oq]

I rather listen then talk on my cb radio.in north Carolina.they call me hotrod 75 in skipp land..listen 99 percent talk one percent but have enough watts to talk to other states local

[@Denosophem]

This is not fully true information it’s great and all but it’s just a waist of time. Where are the physics and literal science behind these. And how the receiver was discovered and used to produce this sound