Radioddity CS-47 CB Radio - Review, tear down and modification

[@mostlypostie1]

Great review. The main thing I wish this little radio had was a frequency readout. The CB-500 / AT-500Mii is hard to beat. 73

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Yes that would be nice, I do like having the frequency on the screen it really helps. Still no coolling fans for the Washington... Am really interested to see how the APM works and to come to a decision on passive or non-passive. If it sounds like a hair dryer then that is not going to work well for me, just need the darn fans to find out how they have implemented it. Am still loving the QT80, its a really nice radio and will also be hard to beat. Radioddity have done well with the CB-500 and QT80. All the best, 73 MJ7NLK

[@vijaysingh608]

❤😂 🎉😊​

[@cariboooutlaw4852]

I've been waiting for your review of this one.

[@NLKMediaGroup]

I hope you enjoy, its a nice little radio but I would still go for the CB500. All the best and thanks for watching MJ7NLK

[@itsapittie]

I have the Anytone Graces version of this radio. I like it a lot. IMO, it doesn't give away anything in terms of quality or utility to bigger radios.

[@liammarriott1888]

Great video - where did you find those wiring diagrams?

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Thank you, I have my sources who haven't yet complained at me sharing them. Long may it continue :-) All the best and thanks for commenting. MJ7NLK

[@christianpatriot7196]

OK, having this simple modification for the expansion is great but I’m not understanding why they allow you to expand the frequency range and yeah, what’s a modification you’re not able to get USB and LSB as additional bonus modes Because let’s face it when you’re in 10 m 12 m or for that matter even in the free band frequencies many people use single side band

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Absolutely, SSB is where a lot of the action is these days and some people won't even consider a radio unless it has SSB. There are not many new radios sub £200 with SSB and it hasn't filtered down to the sub £100 tier radios yet and is virtually unseen on handhelds / cheaper ultra portables. The expansion allows this simple and cheap CB radio to operate on HF and HAM frequencies but only in DSB as it doesnt have a clarifier or the internals to transmit (without a carrier) on USB or LSB. If your looking to DX and grab as many contacts as you can then SSB is definately the way to go. If you want a cheaper radio for road trips then a non-SSB radio works well and having the ability to expand it in the event of an emergency to extend its freqency range might be helpful to some. Thanks for commenting, its much appreciated, its good to get the conversation flowing as it might help others deciding on which radio they should buy. All the best MJ7NLK

[@CAGraphics576]

What is a "band block"?

[@NLKMediaGroup]

CB radios have 40 channels to select from. When a radio is expanded to cover more frequencies you have to fit them into the 40 channels you can select from. So, they have band blocks which start at block A and then B etc. When you select a particular block the 40 channels relate to different frequencies. Channel 20 on band block B could be 26.695MHz and then changing to band block C channel 20 could then be 27.125MHz. I haven't checked the actual frequencies in the before mentioned example but you get the idea. Hope this helps and thanks for watching. MJ7NLK

[@CAGraphics576]

​@@NLKMediaGroup Thank you for the explanation!

[@GordonHudson]

I have often thought about taking a radio like this and making a Midland PortaPack for the 21st century. The one handed unit would work well. I thought about a fold out helical antenna as a counterpoise. Maybe when I have time! I'm bogged down in DMR programming at the moment.

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi Gordon, DMR code plugs can consume lots of time. Remember to save them regularly :-) Which battery option would you go for which is not too big but offers lots of runtime? Any particular antenna you would choose? It would have to be compact for a bug out pack. Would be good to get ideas on this. I might put something together and then try it out and see how it does. All recommendations very welcomed. All the best and thank you for commenting MJ7NLK

[@GordonHudson]

@@NLKMediaGroup Albrecht makes a centre loaded telescopic whip but it's not available in the UK. I might be tempted to get a long telescopic whip and wind a coil. Battery wise making a pack with 18650 cells, but how to handle the management? I think you can buy boards that stop them being discharged too far. The easy thing is there are holders for 18650's available cheap.

[@DnBclassictunes]

I have one. It's brilliant

[@NLKMediaGroup]

It is a nice little radio and has good expansion options as well. All the best and thank you for watching MJ7NLK

[@charly1305]

The best new CB Radio is President Bill 2 Vox

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi Charly, I have reviewed the Bill 2 on the channel, there are a few videos including a tear down video. The CS-47 is quite similar. I do like the President radios, I have 17 of them :-) Thank you for watching and commenting. All the best MJ7NLK

[@Vitalij_R2]

Thanks, I hope to make a choice then.

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Thank you Vitalij_R2, I am glad the video has helped. All the best and thank you for watching. MJ7NLK