Easy CB Radio AND Antenna - FULL TEST - Retevis MB62

[@davidsoutham703]

Nice to see a serious amateur operator still has time for CB in their videos. Thanks Call

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Just having fun :)

[@RodLittle]

Great little video - bringing fun and simplicity to radio operations - great way to get people into the hobby and talking on the radio!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Well said!

[@fm71450]

Dear Commander Callum, thanks for spending some time on CB radio! Many started with it in the 70s. At one time a license was required, and a call sign was issued. That was in the U.S. NO MORE. 11 meters can propagate for DX. Anyway, as always, thank you! KQ4IXD

[@dirkderemojr.3316]

Started on CB as a kid in the late 90s. I think I caught the tale end of it's glory days as it was still thriving with plenty of regulars on a daily basis. I'll never forget working a station in Australia from my QTH in California for the first time with 10 watts and an Antron 99 on AM when I was 12 years old. QSO lasted about 2 hours with no QSB. I've never seen propagation like that since then.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I mean... It's just RF and there are some dead cheap solutions. This one opens up to 10m band too - so we can try it.

[@dirkderemojr.3316]

@@DXCommanderHQ True, it's all RF at the end of the day. But some hams make 11m seem like it's the Devil's RF. I mean I kind of get it, tune into 27.385 these days and it's a mess. Anyway, it was a good and cheap introduction to ham radio. I'm grateful to all of the guys back in the day on CB who got me into ham and taught me code. Good times.

[@timg5tm941]

Did you use 18 feet of coax? 😉

[@carlosroig5315]

18 ft. for a perfect 1.0 swr😊

[@VE9ASN]

Too damn funny!

[@M7BXR]

Lolza 😂

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes Tim. And I never checked the Swaar either.

[@m0ogy]

Everyone has become a KZbin Expert on these matters by the sound of it , I do wish I had become a Radio Amateur

[@M7EUP]

Ahhhh and I’m 14 years old again with a Midland radio that’s been sidebanded and have a Magmount on a tea tray hanging out of the window. Those were the days.

[@rolfsblog]

And the next step... a CB which can do USB/LSB and talk to the world! Nice video Mister DXCommander👍

[@joewilson2258]

I already did that on AM CB radio with a 102-inch whip antenna from my car. I even strung the coax from my car through a window inside my house with a 23 channel AM radio

[@newsles2]

On the line-of-sight distance of that rig, the other day I made a 20+ mile simplex contact on the 2m calling frequency from our car, with the Tidradio h3 on 5w and a mag mounted antenna on the roof. I was gobsmacked.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes 5W with a decent magmount should do that pretty easily.

[@newsles2]

@@DXCommanderHQ Ah, really? Well, it was the first time for me getting that kind of distance on simplex and low power so it made me happy :-)

[@thomasperina2990]

Hello Lord Callum: Thank you sir for this CB mobile review. I must say that you had quite a lot of fun with this device in you marvelous MB motorcar. Considering how small the unit is + the stock mic you did a splendid job. I don't believe that you had the equipment to set the SWR on this setup. If the set SWR properly I'm certain you would do much better. I'm certain that this device wasn't a lot of money but for short range & some communicating fun it sounded & performed rather well. God Bless old chap and my best to Wendy and the dogs. TMP, Unit 22, from N.J.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

The SWR would have made zero difference since this is a 15W capable radio. Even at 2:1 SWR it would still be doing 4W. I can prove it to you. I have a video planned.

[@GoAmateurRadio]

I really enjoyed your video, especially the English countryside scenery.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes. Nice place (sometimes!)

[@alanslade2319]

Great little radio's and you can turn up to 11 lol. Cheers CAL love it. 💯👍

[@shropshireladoutdoors743]

Should bring out a portable 11m dx vertical antenna for ssb dx

[@TheodoreSears-m6w]

I am currently looking to build cb beam to hear my friend in another county. 11 miles in mountain area of Oregon

[@adrianfox9431]

Nice one. Would have liked to seen the reception on another mobile antenna back at base as well to see what the typical mobile to mobile range would be in comparison. I'm guessing a fair bit less.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yep.. As I said.. a mile or two on the road would be probably about right..

[@YouTube_User-9]

That interference you were getting is a type of weather radar. It's listed here in the US FCC database.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah. Cool. Tnx.

[@TheodoreSears-m6w]

Dx commander antenna is a good vertical fan monopole antenna. I saw something like it in arrl antenna book from 1950s

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It was also in the 1959 book too - however packaged TOTALLY different.

[@gtretroworld]

Go you Callum with trendy CB Radio, i come and go with CB but i recently popped on 19 and i was shocked how busy it has become. A better antenna will scream over that but it looks a neat little package from Retivis.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Indeed - but I was just testing it "as is" for fairness to everyone.

[@TheodoreSears-m6w]

All about the cb antenna type. Beam or beverage antenna. They both have pro and cons. It's how you want use your radio.

[@Smash-n-Grab]

The old over horizon radar interfering. Also have alfa tango callsign.. 108AT106... Hey fellow 11m brother. Hope all good , loved the christmas vid .. Thanks again.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Fun video!

[@26DR302]

Cool fun test! Look forward to the AM video. Perhaps could drive same route and see how they compare. Having said that, as you say 11m with skip is prone to interference so difficult to perform the same test without something or someone causing interference. Good fun though 👍

[@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt]

Does the UK have a UHF CB band like Australia and the US?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Actually no.. I believe there used to be a UHF frequency for a couple of years but it was removed. There is PMR446 which is 1/4 W and non-removable antenna. Pretty hopeless unless you are on the same site / location though.

[@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt]

@@DXCommanderHQ Righto thanks. Hopefully it will come one day.

[@Alan2E0KVRKing]

@@DXCommanderHQ 934 Mhz was legal until 1999 in the UK! Still see stuff for sale on the bay thou from time to time, so assume some still use it.

[@WX4CB]

Lol through the door with the coax, but you need to try it from home on the top of the quality Street tin or a Roses tin I’m sure that your misses will have one lying around at Christmas lol😅

[@waggonfm]

Ha nice video. I reckon I could reach you from hills in worcestershire on CB. Perhaps try it when I'm back in the UK at Christmas

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Please do!

[@MrStanwyck]

Your CB handle name should be The Conmander….. LOL. I’m enjoying your new role of being the Retevis radio… Bill, KC2KNA

[@mikesradiorepair]

No, it would have to be "LORD CALLUM'. The Commander could be for the shop minions to reply to their Lord. 🙂

[@MrStanwyck]

@ you’re right, lord Callum would be better.

[@idrisjones1453]

I remember buying my first cb antenna a good old dv27😊

[@matthewt-ty33]

Hi cal it would be great if would put the cb radio up to 10 wats

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It does I think 13W or 14W on FM.. But once I do that, I need to work out how to get it on 28MHz - because it'll go up there..

[@JamesMears76]

Nice experiment

[@robertmeyer4744]

Nice CB ! That started in the UK in 1981 . FM only but changed to all mode . In the US we started with AM and 23 CH. we have 40 CH on the EU band and all mode now. AM/FM/SSB . CB does have some interesting DX . When the band is open you can hear many different language being used. Their is a UK bunch on CB . It does make it to the US at times. I have worked a few over the years . Just crowded air waves makes is quite hard . I get that digital stuff in the US as well. Some is radar . I have sent SSTV over CB . Their is a smart phone app for that . Just hold phone to mic . This can be done with PMR446 as well. We have FRS in US. Also we have a 2 watt VHF radios called MURS . Them free to use. GMRS in us is licensed service. The CB I have is the Thunderpole one. just a AM/FM . I do have SSB but that on a outher rig. They have a HT for CB . also has a mag mount antenna for the car. That is what I have. It came as a kit. but also has a battery and rubber duck antenna . Works quite well. I put it on a DX commander antenna and worked some DX on it. Funny I get tune on CB . A tad high bit works just fine. around 1.9 :1 won't hurt CB. Cheers from NY !

[@DXCommanderHQ]

SSTV via CB.. Sounds a laugh!

[@charlieoscar09]

Really enjoyed this Callum thanks, lets do a few more CB videos no no lets make a few more Aluminium CB Aerials 😃

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No more alloy CB antennas!

[@k9eihamradio]

I like the seats in your Mercedes estate(station wagon for the US crowd).

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Station Wagon! Yes, I am bilingual :)

[@k9eihamradio]

@ ha!

[@ApoplecticDialectics]

I vote that the international "testing radio" text should be "Please leave the cheese grater as every moment you grate the cheese and I don't say 'stop' my humiliation grows. Also, I would gladly pay extra because I am going to require a lot of cheese."

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Every time.

[@AndrewSavageMI0OBR]

Hello, glad to see you survived the bad weather 😅

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Filmed a week before the weather!

[@ronleblanc9832]

Nice test ...on 27.565 on icom 718 hear all kinds of skip here in western nova scotia can.

[@ronleblanc9832]

10 meters coming in 10 over

[@G0USL]

Big dollop of nostalgia there! 11metres is still quite active in and around Cheltenham great review Callum 73 de GØUSL

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah! Nice!

[@m7trsradio]

Great work Callum. All copied 10-4 Roger Roger, over and out

[@waynemoate9401]

What is a Ofcom registered investigator?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It's a spoof.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

(Reads "Licenced Investigations" not investigator)

[@newsles2]

You should run a competition asking people to come up with a new CB handle for you. 😁 First prize snags a DX Commander Classic or something.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

HAHA

[@jeffmerlin2580]

8:17 Well, depends on the band. 433 MHz is full of digital junk from car keys, wireless tire pressure monitoring system and what not. And the 80 meter band has its fair bit of (seemingly) digital noise as well. Can be heard at around 3710 kHz LSB after sunset. It does not contain any information as far as I know, it's just there to be annoying. 🙂 Not to mention all the real noise from cheap power supplies. I'm living in an S7 noise environment 24/7 on 80m from multiple sources. Nice video by the way. 73s!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

"In the main" I think (or similar) I said but I take your point.

[@MM0IMC]

Is that a Yaesu FT-450? 🤔🤣 I use my FT-450AT on the ham bands only. 😮

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No.. I don't have a 450.. But a fine little rig.

[@Pilgrim420]

👍 always appreciated bro,

[@DXCommanderHQ]

So nice of you!

[@Mike-H_UK]

Man, what you need is a nice small wideband loop antenna!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I need a lot of things.

[@Dram_bam]

Nothing simple about this dudes setup!!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Dude here. Seems pretty simple CB to me.

[@sveinfarstad3897]

HEYYY your stering whelle is faulty, wrong side, did'nt you see this Cal ????

[@DXCommanderHQ]

That's an old one.. Even for you!

[@sveinfarstad3897]

@DXCommanderHQ ok then Secret but i drive in UK, you don't belive.

[@delboyonline]

It always amazes me when some people suddenly hate CB radio when they get their amateur licence (despite being CB radio users for many years prior). Makes them look like complete bellends. Good to see that you still appreciate that CB radio can be a very useful part of the radio hobby. I've got loads of radio equipment and the last thing I'd get rid of is my CB. It's where I started back in the 70's and it's where I've had the best times on radio.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I know.. There's an "edge" to folks comments too. Not all - but some. It's super weird.

[@jochenkrebs9685]

is this the right channel from Callum ...... ?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Absolutely

[@CC-hk6vy]

It's not working because you're driving on the wrong side of the road in imperial units high high

[@JoshColletta]

DXing on CB can also be a lot of fun (aside from having to put up with the illegal superpower morons we have here in the US that the FCC doesn't give a hoot about stopping), and it's certainly not impossible, you just have to keep an eye and ear out for good conditions. I remember one time in the late 90's, when I first got into CB as a kid, I fired up the radio one morning expecting to talk to the local regulars in my little town here in Michigan, but I ended up hearing, and then chatting with, a couple of guys all the way over in Iowa, some 500 miles away directly west of me. Don't know if it was tropospheric ducting or just the ionosphere cooperating, but for the Citizens Band, that's quite the hop!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Sounds like single-hop skip. We get that too.

[@genoa1979]

First radio cb Galaxy pluto ❤ best 73 iu1rzx 1at227 livio

[@4nk8r]

Sound like the little cb worked well 😂

[@gmcc5709]

RF is RF, be it CB or Ham

[@MrGrunter]

I always found the magnetic coupling to be a bit rubbish on those smaller mag mounts so used to put a strong magnet on the underside of the roof which I found helped with signal strength a little. There is nothing scientific about my opinion that it helped and it was a long time ago, so if you are doing further tests and curiosity gets the better of you I would be interested to see if it really did help or It was just pseudo gain..

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I'll just keep the same setup. It's just for fun.

[@Hydrostream1972]

12 feet coax. Is the name of the game 😊 😊

[@DXCommanderHQ]

HAHAHA

[@joewilson2258]

When conditions are right you can communicate with countries thousands of miles away with no more than just four watts of power. I know that this is actually true because I had made contact with Japan and Australia from a location in Lakeport, California and in Weiser,Idaho and even contacted children that were playing with four hundred milliwatt walky talkies in Washington state and I had fun with the children.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Same here. We were testing a reliable line-of sight concept. Surely you know that.

[@kenmartin1211]

Callum, These little test are interesting .. Thank You 73 KC3ZDW

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes. just a bit of fun!

[@olivierconet7995]

Next step : 2 CB users talking together 😉 Is that normal that the CB spectrum looks so empty ?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No idea. Get on and check.

[@Arcarnum76]

👍

[@perhansen8170]

Hi Callum, I’m a big supporter of your channel and try to keep up with what you post on KZbin, but I’ll skip this one if that’s okay with you. 73, LA5VNA S

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I have no idea why you are tellintg me this, probably tryiing to influence me. However you're missing a small series here. We're going to open this one up and use it on 28/29MHz on ham bands.

[@perhansen8170]

​@@DXCommanderHQ Influence, well. This is your channel, and if you choose to distribute 'non-amateur radio content,' that is up to you, but it will affect my choice as a subscriber. How you handle it is up to you.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I don't like your tone - so how about you fuck off now then we don't need the discussion. Or you can sanity check your closed mind by reading the comments of other folks on this video that do enjoy me tinkering with stuff. Goodbye.

[@perhansen8170]

​@@DXCommanderHQ" 'fuck off' is cute but a bit pathetic. I enjoy your amateur radio content and will keep following as long as there’s not too much else. Wishing you a pleasant and peaceful evening

[@Redbelly357]

Half of the hams my age got their start with CB radio. The other half are not being truthful.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Or they have a SNOB screw misplaced..!

[@Drpepper99uk]

Where's the echo chamber? 🤣🤣🤣😉

[@DXCommanderHQ]

In the trunk

[@RobertYonng]

Who said CB is dead?😉

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Not me.

[@royharding8806]

Need to peak and tune the CB and tune the antenna. Doing that will make a big difference on TX and RX. Not to mention increases the range.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No it won't.

[@26OP011]

ive worked more dxcc on 11m ssb than all the hams i personally know put together 🤣

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good for you.

[@eazystreet5507]

I need to try putting my glasses on my forehead. I'm guessing that makes you a mindreader.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It actually allows you to see RF directly in your brain. Saves the eyes.

[@simonmerrivale7927]

​@DDXCommanderHQ great answer

[@ianharling9569]

I should put my Jaws MK2 or Colt 210 AM rigs back on the air Callum,the AM quality is superb and when i tested them on the bench recently they still work perfectly 👌 73 G7HFS/PA3IKH

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah cool!

[@kenm0bqh163]

Jaws MK2 my favourite transceiver, I own 6 and still collecting them

[@DXCommanderHQ]

@@kenm0bqh163 Oh goodness! LOL