The Top 3 Used SSB CB Radios Base Stations You Can Buy In 2021.

[@paulbainjr]

It’s refreshing that CB radio is alive and well on this channel thanks👍🏻

[@debbiemartin8523]

Debs husband says I just bought a new Galaxy 2547 base CB radio and I really like it! It has plenty of bells and whistles to make a person happy. I debated on getting back into CB because I didn't know if many people used it anymore. I am surprised at how much activity there is. I am also a licensed ham and I enjoy that too! In my opinion everyone should have some form of radio communication in their home. In a catastrophe cell phone service will be the first to fail.

[@thesickhorseranch]

I've recently inherited a Cobra 142 when my Wifes Grandfather passed. He introduced me to SB and DXing even though his methods were, let's say less than legal. His blood relatives were looking for a payday and it was disgusting to watch but some knew I would enjoy his CB gear and made sure it made it's way to me. I admit I had to Google most of it because a CB has never been more to me than a way to make sure the log trucks didn't run me over on the way to work. I'm loving your channel, what an amazing source of information. For anybody who knew Mad Dog Manley in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon he is forever off the air.

[@FarpointFarms]

Thank you for sharing that.

[@SevenFortyOne]

My dad totally shocked me and bought me a brand new Uniden Madison (digital clock/879 PLL chip) for Christmas in 1990 and I still have it. I haven't fired it up in quite some time but I believe the radio still works. I need to dig it out and do a video on it sometime soon. I also have a Lafayette SSB-140 I picked up at a hamfest a few years ago. Its a decent radio but I like the Uniden based radios much better. I did have a Washington for a short time but ended up selling it to pay for something else at the time.

[@rogerjustice8835]

I also still have my Madison I bought it new sometime in the early 90s. I haven’t hooked it up in some time now but I still have my Shakespeare super big stick antenna. I also still have a turner plus three mic for the radio. I remember the mic needs a new cord, as one of the wires are broke but I’m sure everything would still work. Had many enjoyable late nights talking to friends and new friends on that thing, miss those days.

[@FarpointFarms]

Doing a video sounds like a great idea! Once the weather breaks to cold it would be a good indoor project

[@morrisshipman4801]

I just bought an old Royce R 23ch base station I know it's just stock and not sideband but it was so clean on the outside and clean on the inside. The meter of the lights are perfect everything works wonderfully even the microphone cord is not rotten it was put up and haven't been used in years but the condition was amazing for $25. As soon as I can get some help getting my antenna up I can't wait to talk on it.

[@bobsweigart9698]

Love the SBE consoleV and Land Command

[@kellyphillips4404]

I had a President Washington ,…. But my BEST Radio was a Sear Road Talker for a BASE Station and it had the cord for both Mobile use and Base Station set up for the home front for sure. Extra channels were in there as well back in the day ,… I didn’t order that but the person it sold it to me told me Show me how they worked and stuff . “ Great Radio “. Love that thing , but we moved over the years a lot back then and who knows where it is today if it stills works or not. Thanks,…. And like always love to watch your videos. Watching from Kentucky “ The Bluegrass State “. Thanks again my friend.

[@kd4baoc612]

I still have my Cobra 142 GTL from the early 1980's. It is a great sideband radio, and it was easy to put those "extra channels" in it using the old jumping the ic pin method. I love my 980 bearcat, and like you said modern mobile with the ability to scan channels. Great video, and upgrade your amateur radio license.

[@DanielKE7UUM]

Have 142 that my granddad bought new in early or mind 80's ! has extra channels too :)

[@jmanranger7271]

Same here

[@nukedude]

I grew up with my Dad using a Cobra 2000 GTL to talk around our rural area, sometimes getting skip thousands of miles away. Fast forward to a few months ago, I get a Cobra 2000 GTL in the original box, with speaker, manual, only missing the mic for $200. It was on display in a thrift store, but since it had no microphone, it could not be tested, or so several neckbeards I noticed pushing buttons thought. I used a small pocket knife to short the connections when they were out of sight, found that it worked and bought it. I added the one diode to get seconds on the clock, and found that I had a little used unit that works flawlessly, with its original caps and internals (un-modified). This radio was made in 1989.

[@bobdillashaw4360]

My very first base station was the Cobra 142gtl, wish I still had it but eventually I got a Cobra 2000gtl which I still have today.

[@jasonraulston3922]

I have two 142 GTLs wish I had a 2000 they’re wider banded radios better for AM which is where I talk mostly

[@francismcclaughry3794]

I wish I still had mine. I loaned it to a buddy and he said it got stolen. I told him I wanted it back if went to get rid of it. so some where out there is a cobra two thousand floating around that ha F Mcc carved in the back panel.

[@deadparakeets7157]

browning golden eagle mark 4

[@bobdillashaw4360]

@@deadparakeets7157 got the mark 3

[@deadparakeets7157]

@@bobdillashaw4360 I also have a Mark 3 mated to a Siltronix vfo.

[@terryclark9603]

Top of the hill cobra 2000 .the cobra 142gtl that I got from you is doing good one of the best radios I've got. Ironman in Alabama 73s

[@jimmack4986]

Had the cobra 142 and a siltronics 1011D ... miss them both

[@lroytipit]

A properly tuned recapped Cobra 2000 is my favorite.....

[@DavidFox]

Surprised the Cobra 2000 isn't in the list!

[@bobs152]

My Cobra 2000 still running, I re-capped it and runs perfect. The built in frequency counter is great if you added channels. MB8719 is the heart.

[@delmarbish3926]

I have a Uniden Washington I bought new in the mid eighties had it tuned and extra channels put in and used it for cummuications before cell phones, it has it has been on almost all that time. Not the most powerful radio out there but very clean modulation. Enjoy your videos

[@FarpointFarms]

I too had a Washington. It was my go to radio for nearly 20 years.

[@waynegoodwin3217]

Cobra 2000 for sure Mr Farpoint Farms.

[@FarpointFarms]

thanks

[@jeffnelson8285]

My first CB was a President Washington with a D-104 lollipop Mic. I ended up selling it when I went to college. Now that I am retired, I have a Galaxy DX2547 and have enjoyed getting back into the hobby.

[@delmarbish3926]

I started out with a Cobra 146 gtl mobile as a base then moved up to a Uniden Washington in the middle 80s had it modified and we used it just like you would a cell phone now, it runs continuously, I ma sure it could use a good tune up. They sound great on both receive and transmit. Enjoy your videos keep up the good work! KC5HHB

[@briankeith2592]

Just purchased a cobra 142GTL. Should have it next week. I have not been into cb for many years but your videos brought many fun memories back from in the heyday of cb

[@makarov138]

I like my two Cobra 148GTLs, (the old ones) because they have the very best Noise Blanker circuit for SSB!!

[@MackinNC1]

Nice video. Best Base station of all time IMHO is the Cobra 2000 ..........what the 2000 has is looks and great receive. got a video on it on my other channel.

[@alanjohnson8318]

My Favorite Base back in the Day was a Tram D201 and F201A. I have fabulous luck with those. Talking and for durability.

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks for sharinf

[@miker8379]

SBE console 5, siltronix 1011 Comanche. Never had either but would haved loved to. My neighbor got a siltronix and he never bled on me ever again.

[@hatchetjackphillips]

My first base station was a realistic 23 ch mobile on a power pack hooked up to a super penetrator antenna. My friends and I used to get on every night and yak it up back in the day. Especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

[@scottthurlow3417]

Xmas of 76 my parents got me a Realistic TRC30A base. Not a SSB but worked great with a D104 mic hooked to a Starduster antenna 40ft up.

[@brucel399]

Before it died a few years ago, my go to base was a GE Superbase with a D-104 lollipop microphone. My now base is a 1st generation RCI-2970 with the same microphone and an Antron-99 for local and a Moonraker-4 for skip on a high capacity MFJ antenna switch. CHEERS from Colorado

[@miker8379]

Pierce Simpson I think had some nice ones

[@PL-fg2du]

Royce 619 for newbies great simple choice

[@giannie13]

My first base radio was the Royce 619. Great little base radio. 1977. I also have the Washington,, Grant, Madison and a couple of Realistics.

[@FarpointFarms]

They had a cool look to them, I liked the big speaker

[@jasonraulston3922]

I got a couple Cobra 142s and a Realistic 458 as far as sideband bases the Cobra 2000 and the Madison have a better receive and audio and are wider banded your going to hear things you can’t on the 142 or Washington which mainly doesn’t matter on Sideband but if your an AM guy it matters You get more off shore traffic usually on the upper channels usually and its always going anytime the regular sideband channels are going and honestly you will catch traffic from other countries when the normal sideband channels are dead I mostly run lower AM channels below 1 but I do Sideband some i got 2 different rigs set up for that one is a old Midland 76-858 straight AM rig I had some extra stuff added to it variable power and modulation extra lower channels I run one of the 142s on Sideband which it’s got extras added also... Got the 458 at the radio Dr.s getting revamped and extras added there’s so many old bases that are good I’m a big fan of the radios with the 02A chips like to get my hands on a sideband version but haven’t yet but it’s probably the most widely used chip ever in radios which doesn’t make sense why I haven’t captured a sideband version yet...

[@Rovingnome]

Good video, I have a Uniden Pro 810e stock radio with stock hand mic, I have 2 export base radios, 1 is modified and 1 is stock, the 1 that is modified is a Northstar NS9500 and the 1 that is stock 10 meter only is a RCI 2980wx, both have hand mics. antenna is a Procomm PT99...

[@FarmAlarm]

that cobra 142 that had those led lights on the knobs was way cool

[@mandelaeffected2781]

One of the best pairings I ever came across was the Cobra 139 XLR made in Japan and a Turner super sidekick

[@speeddemon4579]

I run a Uniden 980SSB with a RM Italy 503 Linear which runs outside through LMR400 coaxial cable to co phased homemade 1/2 wave dipoles. If you hear my call sign, 105 Louisiana, please contact back

[@peterlutz7191]

Hello from Dover N.H.! Back in the 70s, my 1st base unit was actually a Sears 23 Roadmaster mobile that I used as a Base unit with a Micronta 12 volt power supply and an outside base antenna. I still mess around with CB, but in an apartment I can't have a base antenna, so I use a Radio Shack TRC-205 handheld with exterior mic, power and antenna hook us. Right now just listening but soon I'll get a ngp antenna that I can get by with in the apartment.

[@francismcclaughry3794]

have one setting on my shelf. it was my first side band radio. the one that I have on the shelf is not the orignal radio and and I was told by the teck there was a metal thing in there that might stay in place.

[@FarpointFarms]

They are good radios!

[@StormsRadiosCats]

And then there was the Cobra 1000 GTL and 2000 GTL , i owned the 2000 GTL was a solid performer.

[@2E0LMI]

Out of those three I have only owned a Washington, definite thumbs up for that one! If a good condition Royce 1-642 came available for reasonable money I would snap one up.. never owned one, but am told they are good, and they look great with their three meters on the front. My all time fav owned base was a Ham Jumbo III.. but that one won't fit this category.

[@jhaedtler]

I still have a Washington and a FT-101EE. Also a Grant Mobile! I love all 3!

[@nicholas2374]

My first radio found me. It was a used 23 channel SSB Johnston Viking I picked up at a flea market for 15 bucks. Any old 23 channel SSB radio is a perfect radio to start with for a base station.

[@414RadioTech]

Hey just letting you know that I've been able to make CB contacts all the way to Mexico and Puerto Rico using a RadioShack TRC 222 handheld and a magnet mount antenna I happen to live in south east Wisconsin and man the bands are open

[@thomasleonard8789]

Cobra 2000 had the frequency counter.

[@mstover2809]

It also has SSB whereas the 1000 doesn't

[@nicogeelen1039]

I like your videos, I have an export Radio Ham Radio, The President Richard, it's converted to 11 mtr, That's very simple to do. It doesn't has ssb but I only listen to ssb on another reciever.

[@FarpointFarms]

Nice radio!

[@robertvance1873]

I had a Cobra 142 GTL it was a great radio and had the channel kit but unfortunately it got messed up in a house fire I had in 2004 and I haven't been able to find another one, I knew it was going to be on your number 1 list because they were that good. Back in the day everyone wanted the cobra 🐍 2000 because like you said the clock but they also were in demand because of the 2 external speakers and some had hard of hearing because of being in the service and their hearing was shot but also how classy they looked. Thank you for another Awesome Video Eric.

[@pamsylvester6187]

Had a 142 with d104 modified upper 40 lower 40 mid 40 . Loved it

[@FarpointFarms]

Sounds like a cool setup

[@earnestjohnson8783]

I had a TRC 458 it was a good radio. I had all the extras and I did have to beef up the final in mine but I was a big talker and the one that was in them, I was told was a little on the weak side but other then that it was a super radio loved it.

[@FarpointFarms]

I feel like they are one of the best ones out there.

[@utahprepper8925]

In the early 70's I ran a Lafayette Comstat 25B with a ground plane antenna. D104 topped it off. Not a side-band rig but worked well. That was the social media of my day.

[@mattcurtis3019]

Where Ur realistic scanner? 🇬🇧 Merry Christmas 🎄

[@jesseobrien5864]

Uniden President (Washington), TRC 457/458, Cobra 142 GTL

[@FarpointFarms]

Those are good radios!

[@DiggerX]

I had a 142 GTL that was one hell of a radio, but now I just have a RCI 2950DX (All Mode) and a Cobra 29LTD Classic (AM only) as Base Stations, 29 LTD is on the Antron 99 @ 30ft. for local talking, and the RCI 2950 is on my Sirio 4 element Yagi @ 50 ft. for skip shooting. I have a Astatic AST878DM mic on the 29 LTD and a I have a studio mic on the 2950DX ( Mixer made by UR6QW - 8 Band EQ, Compressor - Noise Gate and Echo Processor with a Pyle PDMIC58 mic) plus a little Power on each radio, 500 on the 2950 and 300 on the 29 LTD, (only used when needed.) Look for me on SkipLand 38LSB - 2DX189 and ch. 22 AM as Ham Sandwich. 73's

[@hillbillyhorticultureselki7899]

I am running a TRC 457 (looks like it came from the store yesterday) with an A99 and RG8 cable barefoot. Luv it but i do miss scan. I have also got a Cobra Cam 89 (23 chnl) that i got in a deal. I'll ship it down from Canada if you think the parts will fit yours. Dials,knob all there and it lights up. Never tried it out.

[@jeanniep.morton4687]

Wow and thank you. Answers to questions is great. stay blessed in the mountains

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks, you too!

[@casperhoss2952]

I have a 23 channel cobra 89. Great video brother, please keep them coming.

[@FarpointFarms]

You got it

[@mitchh6702]

North point CBS1000 HAS side band. Good little base radio! and scan function which is great! Best way to find some conversation.

[@dennisyoakum1756]

I also have my two Johnson messengers, one black tubed other just peaked but nomikes, they're 323's

[@FarpointFarms]

Nice old school stuff!

[@davidbrennan5]

RCi2950, HR2510/2600, and Cobra 148/Uniden Grant are good options. Huge bang for the buck, easy to modify and easy to find parts. Put up a nice tower with a rotator and a moonraker4 or 6 antenna or get 2 and stack them in phase and you have a very nice setup. If money is no object get a restored browning golden eagle mark v a president madison or a stoner pro 40 and put in a 400A service then buy 1 or 2 Ghostrider amps.

[@terryshookster1466]

Wasssup. Found my childhood base few months ago 60 bucks. 142 gtl. 1988 I think, works great with open clarifier. Mint.

[@FarpointFarms]

Great deal on that one!

[@sharpshooterofky]

If I remember right, my first radio was a 23 channel Teaberry (I always wanted the one that had the phone receiver attached to it), that was short lived and I jumped up to a Cobra (can't remember which model) with SSB and uppers and lowers, had it for years and sold it! (yes I know) - got back in several years ago, gotta Craig L231 with uppers and lowers, and the clarifier is opened up, good radio..always wanted an Eagle (a buddy of mine growing up, he had one and it was strong and loud) ..I got one not sure to this day which one, but it rocks and it heats the house too! it has a small transmitter (about 1/2 the size of the receiver), and a regular sized receiver.(could be a 1 or a brownie?) with the original banana mike., manual, and the browning boxes that it came in.

[@GOBRAGH2]

I love that intro song.

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

The Cobra 2000 GTL was the radio to have back in it's day. And it still is.

[@marksweeney7327]

I love this guy!

[@FarpointFarms]

Thank you sir!

[@christophersmith1155]

I STILL HAVE MY LAFAYETTE TELSTAT 140 SSB FROM 1977. I USE THAT AT HOME. IN MY OFFICE IN MANHATTAN I USE A GALAXY DX 2547 SSB . THE GALAXY IS STILL IN PRODUCTION BUT CAN BE FOUND ON THE USED MARKET.

[@63kaycee]

I still have my 140 , PLL chip mod ,up and down. stock pwr to full clockwise wow, 5.5 watts. many QSL cards to show off.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Another Telsat Ssb140 user. Awesome radio still running strong.

[@jamesdishman3359]

I had two cobras back in the 80’s one was in my BIG TRUCK, and I had a 400 watt billiniar I think they were both 148’s

[@FarpointFarms]

Sounds like a great setup!

[@jamesgeorge1709]

I had a realistic 458 and it was a great radio for nonham operrators. sold it in 1991 and bought a used kenwood ts 430s and it had am and would transmit on any frequecy it heard.

[@tedneitzel]

Love my 142gtl made in the Philippines has expo channel kit and dial a watt red led lights its a very nice radio! I'm pretty sure the Washington and president has different boards though! Good choices!

[@FarpointFarms]

Those were the days. All the cool mods I saw on friends radios back in the 90's. Make me miss them.

[@ubergeek318]

Looks like Al beat me to it but the Tea berry's were always amazing radios that served me well

[@toddschroeder561]

I had a Teaberry Stalker XV, loved it, it was a great radio

[@casperhoss2952]

You have several base stations on at the same time, how many antennas are you using? Is it possible to run multiple base stations off of one antenna? I have a 23 channel cobra 89 that I want to use as a base station along with my uniden 980ssb. I'm just curious how to set them up. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for another great video and for keeping the cb radio hobby alive.

[@deanhurt613]

I have a Galaxy DX-2547 that I've had for 10 years. I'm trying to get my base station up and running again after an 8 year hiatus r/t a move from The People's Republik of Kalifornia to The Socialist Soviet State of Washington. I should have it up and running in the next month. Maybe I'll see if I can get ahold of you on my Galaxy and the Sirio 2016 5/8 wave antenna.

[@Number4lead]

Brian Wilson 0 seconds ago If you can get a gmrs with a removable antenna where you can hook up a base antenna 20 feet up in the air or more, you can easily get 25 mile range. Of course it helps if the recieving antennas are raised up as well. The baofengs, the retevis, and a few other GMRS and gmrs capable radios have replaceable antennas.

[@cactusland88]

Hopefully, with AM/FM modulation coming, Cobra will bring back base stations new off the shelf.

[@GOBRAGH2]

I see you have reviewed the Midland GMRS series with rumor of a MXT500 with 50 watts on the Midland website ETA unknown yet. Have you had the opportunity of reviewing a BTECH GMRS 50X1-50 Watt GMRS radio?

[@geraldcroissant8835]

How about a cobar 1000 the little bro of the cobar 2000 i like both real good radios for the time

[@dennisperkinson3756]

My first SSB CB base station was a Uniden PRO810e I still have it. Good radio and I really liked the styling. If money was no object I'd love to find a Tram D201 or a Browning Golden Eagle Mark III, but either one is expensive on the used market.

[@robertfraser5583]

I ran a Iroquois 40 channels base station with a super scanner made by channel master for a Antenna. It had all the channels in it was a good talker

[@FarpointFarms]

cool!

[@udx-294tn5]

I run a Uniden Madison daily 👍🏻

[@RFMaster6]

I've got two, a Cobra CAM 89 23ch AM, and a Cobra 139 23ch AM/SSB, which were my father's.

[@FarpointFarms]

The 139 is a GREAT radio.

[@RFMaster6]

He had a 12 element (6X6) beam on I think a Rohn 40' w/Ham 2 rotor. Never ran power, but the beam had an ERP of 55 if I'm not mistaken. No need for an amp. He talked all over with it.

[@dennisyoakum1756]

I been on air since 66, 10 was truckers 9 emergency, and 11 standby, 15,16,17 ssb

[@FarpointFarms]

Thank you for still being on the air since 66!

[@JoeR203]

Back in the mid 70s, my next door neighbor had a Navaho base. I don't know what model it was though.

[@1975napier]

President Washington was my first base station radio. Wish I would have kept it. At the time I traded it to get an Eagle 2000 base because I had a General Lee mobile radio in my truck and we used the lower channels mostly.

[@robertvannessSnoM4n]

My father ran a Dak VI as his base for years hooked up to his beam then later an Antenna Specialist Star Duster until he bought his Galaxy Saturn from a local cop who was moving. Unfortuately I dont have the Dak but I still run his Galaxy from time to time. Still a solid performer even tho the Star Duster has seen better days

[@Rangband1]

Just got grandpa’s old RCI 2990

[@FarpointFarms]

Cool

[@63kaycee]

Lafayette ssb 140 was a christmas gift in the late 70's . and I talked to Ireland with the help of a 200 w browning tube heater. and an Astro beam vertical. copied Saigon Vietnam but could not connect.Have well over 50 QSL cards and show them off often. Well, to ever that will look at them. good times back in the day. watch out for uncle charlie.

[@TBLtravels]

Recommend the Lafayette 40 ch base station

[@bleirdo_dude]

There's some of the older 142 line that had a sticky relay that had to be fixed by a diode replacement. I wish I got one of those Unidens before they canceled the line.

[@nasanction]

I'm waiting on a Delta M2 to put on my Mckinley mini-base. I'm hoping it to be a good match.

[@radiohobbyist13]

If some manufacturer is daring enough to put out a fancy new base station with AM/FM/SSB in it I might seriously consider getting back into CB next year. But I'm not holding my breath on that.

[@edgarcisneros8432]

Hi, what do you think about the trc-57 for a beginner? Thanks for the videos

[@FarpointFarms]

I think Any old CB radio is a great entry into the hobby, Go for it!

[@sawmillcountry]

How did I used to bridge amps together and use the moon raker and talk transcontinental back in the 90s,?

[@hash46176]

I have a cobra 2000 gtl

[@drippinglass]

I have a Sears Road Talker in the garage.

[@timothydinkins6635]

I love the other radios you mentioned too though

[@FarpointFarms]

thanks

[@nickvlastaris8768]

i had a cobra 142 gtl for about five years or so, great talker great receive. sadly had to sell it due to money problems of no work. but would love to get another one i'm currently running a kenwood ts570 s hf setup but dont know how to work it right so i just leave it on 38 lsb for 11 meters. hope that some day i can trade the kenwood for another cobra.

[@butch7717]

How about the Browning's both Base and mobile

[@FarpointFarms]

Nice, but rare and expensive.

[@butch7717]

@@FarpointFarms true but worth every penny. My favorite is the Mark 3 Golden Eagle and as far as mobiles the Browning LTD . Both 23 channel radios but easily modified for the extra channels. As far as rare . You can find them but finding an unmolested one is the hard part. I've had every Browning but the ones I kept are 2 Mark 3's and a LTD and a 40 channel Baron. The LTD even back in the day was 350 dollars when you could by a CB for 75.00. Love you KZbin videos

[@johndyson4109]

The 457 should of put a freak counter in the radio instead of a clock! I collect older Ranger 2990s that's my favorite base. I know some drift a bit on SSB. If you get one made in Taiwan they seem to be more solid. I like the 2950 also made in Taiwan..

[@FarpointFarms]

Taiwan made some good radios back in the day

[@duckgoose1963]

RCI 2980-WX, I love it and I have a spare or backup too. Also RCI 2995-DX is really nice. Yes they are export, but nice dependable radios. The 2995 will do 150 watts and it s great on ssb and am. 2980 does around 40 and it’s great as well. If you can find the 2980-wX model, it has the six digit frequency counter and that makes it easier using SSB. The galaxy Saturn looks very similar, but the RCI 2980-WX is newer. The RCI 2980 is a clone to the Galaxy Saturn.

[@freik98682]

I have a sweet Land Commander by SBE on the shelf. Time to put it back on again.

[@clarencemcgregor8568]

Real radios glow in the dark......Tram D201.

[@cmvb69]

142 gtl and the 458 are both awesome and I own them both