Restoring 1960s Vintage CB Walkie Talkies: Improving Performance and Antenna Repair Hack!

In this video, join me as I take on the challenge of restoring a pair of 1960s vintage CB walkie talkies. These radios have seen better days, with tired old components and a poorly performing antenna, but with a little bit of elbow grease, I manage to give them a new lease of life.
Using a TinySA signal generator, I demonstrate how to improve the reception of the radios, showing you step by step how to align the radios and replace old components. With each tweak and adjustment, we see a significant improvement in the radios' performance.
But the real star of the show is my antenna repair hack. Instead of replacing the entire antenna, I come up with a neat idea to repair it, which not only saves money but also gives the radios a unique look.
So, how much better do the walkie talkies perform after the repairs? Tune in to find out! Whether you're a vintage radio enthusiast or just looking for a fun DIY project, this video is sure to offer something for everyone. Don't forget to hit the like button and subscribe for more exciting videos.

[@andyhowlett2231]

I had a pair of these in the late 60's when I was about 13/14. Cost a fiver secondhand from a shop in Stockport. They are very simple, just three transistors. On TX one is a crystal oscillator directly feeding the antenna, the other two are used as a microphone amplifier (the loudspeaker acts as the microphone) and modulator. On RX one transistor is in super-regenerative mode and the other two drive the speaker. Over open ground I could get about half a mile range. Those went the way of all things, but spool on about 50 years and what did I spot in the local junk shop - a pair of Lancers in their box with instruction sheet! I had to have them, even at £20. They are in almost new condition and work a treat! Nice find and I'm glad you've 'done them up'. BTW, the antennas are inductively loaded so really should be tuned while the transceiver is hand-held and the antenna is away from metallic objects. Difficult to do...

[@Ixquick979]

You should make a CB walkie talkie from scratch with a retro style 3D printed case.

[@knoxieman]

I've thought about that many times I'm going to at some point

[@mattikankaanpera1979]

Well done 👍👏.I guess I'm also some kind of am radio enthusiast because I have: Zodiac P-3006, Shasta 1 (5w), Elbex 6 (5w), Gread (5w) & Stabo multi fon . it's just hard to find a 27Mc crystal for them anymore.

[@zeproo]

Hi Paul, Tyler 1960 pfeeuw you saved some history there.

[@dwheat9003]

Pretty nice repairs on broken parts. Only thing is the transistors you say you have changed has obviously created distortion. I am kind of all for keeping original parts however, if caps are bad I get rid of them for the sake of better performance. But, it sounds like the transistors are/were not a good match and/or not biased correctly or whatever, very distorted audio.

[@knoxieman]

Audio sounds fine for what they are and the range increase was simply amazing, those old transistors weren't good.

[@ANDYMCNET]

Wow thank you so much as my farther had two of these when I was a wee nipper, I had no memory of the name of them but I do remember these radios so well right down to that squeal when you turn them on. Great antenna fix but the originals looked more like the one that was discarded just a bit smaller if I remember correctly. Any way thank you again very reminiscent viewing and I'm a new subscriber. 👍

[@jamesgrant5945]

Brilliant video Paul. You are wonderful at these repairs

[@knoxieman]

Thanks James that's very kind

[@stevegrew6758]

Love it good job Paul and Tyler

[@knoxieman]

Thanks Steve

[@rscelectrical7091]

Hi Paul: Great video & blast from the past again, you really did improve them 👍. Quick question: How useful do you find the Tiny sa ?. Thanks: Andy

[@knoxieman]

The tiny SA is very useful for the AM alignment, I don't use it as a spectrum analyser that much but it's great as an FM or AM signal source.

[@faisalabbas0869]

Blast from past .good work ❤🎉

[@knoxieman]

Thanks ✌️

[@UDX-340]

Excellent restoration knoxie.

[@knoxieman]

Thanks again!

[@mrkrause3]

Any ideas on how to get the tip of the top section out ? It’s been pushed down inside flush.

[@doctorwacky5680]

Hey there, Paul, I suspect these are probably made by Sanyo because of the fact of the pioneer speaker, and the crystal in the plastic can makes me think that that was the manufacture. 11:24

[@knoxieman]

That's very possible, good spot👍

[@ZodMagus]

Awesome. Can you do a video on the radio from The Burbs' with Tom Hanks

[@knoxieman]

I'll look in to that

[@user-uh9es6ed4y]

i remember one set of vintage walkie talkies you did a field test on, it had very few components in it but the range and clarity of the sound was good, not sure which pair they were on your channel;

[@joemazza1011]

So for a walkie-talkie like this with three transistors you don't have to have an attenuator can I have another walkie-talkie that's 100 MW with 9 transistors you do not need an attenuator I don't know if this is a dumb question or not I'm really trying to learn I assume if you don't hook the antenna directly to the tiny sa I guess it will be okay and then you should get that tone to come out of your radio to align it I think I'm really just trying to learn your videos are very helpful

[@godhandneo505]

Mega tune up !

[@RingwayManchester]

Very good rog

[@knoxieman]

Cheers, you make some pretty good videos as well Andy, I love the ebike videos the most lol

[@attilarivera]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@hansb6885]

Hi Knoxieman, I really enjoy your channel and your skill and enthusiasm about these vintage walkie talkies! after re-aligning and caps replacing? you changed the poor reception into like it’s another walkie😀. During this video I hear you mention about some electrolitic capacitors that can influence the reception audio level?. Reason I ask is: In 1978 As a young kid I had a pair of two channel General Electric walkie talkies (3-5970A) and recently found one (dated 3-1977) in very good nick, like new, complete in the box , but.. Seems that time has done something to the components I guess.. I does receive and transmits(muffled speech, speaker as a mic?) but audio reception hiss is like “there is no antenna connected” AM static, even no hissing sound, very silent crackle and pop noises in the background. Cleaned the pots and switches, no success. Recap?

[@knoxieman]

Yes very likely the caps 👍

[@hansb6885]

Thanks Paul! Recap in progress👍

[@Mike-H_UK]

I'm impressed. I didn't think that you would reach all the way across the field. Approximately what distance is that? Cheers!

[@knoxieman]

It's 600m, yes they're probably the best of the low power ones I've tested so far

[@marchampson006]

Blimey Paul they really did come up in RX/TX for there ages another good video. Mar In Bletchley G6XEG

[@knoxieman]

Yes they came up amazingly well

[@DanielGlover]

1:42. DiodeGoneWild. Super dodgy that knob. makes sense if you know Dan who is the channel. I got an original big antenna tip. 49 years old now!. Enough daft dodgy comments, now back to the video. Just started.