Unboxing The CB Radio of my Dreams

[@michaelpeacock351]

please explain why you're busting a nut over a "Realistic" radio? A Robyn solid-state/tube I could understand... but a dive-bomber Realtrashtic? I guess to each their own....

[@390WagonMaster]

Owned a few Robyns in my day, nothing big. Not in the mood to school you however, most of these CBs were made by just a handful on manufacturers. Excluding the Trams, Brownings, ............ However even those brands had Uniden, Cybernet, Panasonic, Hitachi, build their mobile rigs. Remember... all brands had a dud or "crap model" in their line. So please keep that closed mind! We don't need you guys driving up prices. ie the douchebags that buy from the yellow table clown.

[@raycarney5941]

Because it was a great radio during my youth. How about aligning it, taking the golden screwdrivers out of it and selling it to me

[@raycarney5941]

I made more contacts on that radio than my 2510.

[@billb6029]

Realtrashtic.. lol shut up stupid keep your hands out of em and they're great.

[@tunercars3]

@@390WagonMaster yellow table clown is just that a joke that need booted of ebay and all other places he shows up

[@Radionut63]

Just picked up a Realistic TRC449 too! I love these radios inside and out... all around awesome radios!

[@bobgrob4]

still using daily a TRC 474 I bought back in the 90's at a siidewalk sale for 12 bucks. The guy had cases of them. To this day, hasnt missed a beat. Made by Uniden.

[@390WagonMaster]

Great little unit there. Bodacious transmit audio.

[@stevest.martin3940]

Cool radio my first CB was a radio shack Navaho TRC 23 back in 76

[@charleswills4554]

Nice looking radio. Radio Shack did have some nice looking rigs back in the day.I can remember as a young fella i couldnt wait to get the new catalog. I miss Radio Shack. 73s 514 Ontario Canada

[@jeremyh.pritchard5325]

In the 80's, I had for amusement, a Realistic AM 'phone' radio in my car of the time (Holden Torana). It was an excellent receiver, quality audio on both handset and speaker if chosen. Had a large S/RF meter that was great! Wish I hadn't offloaded it....

[@zedbear1]

@@jeremyh.pritchard5325 I had one as well, wish I kept it.

[@MowerJunkie]

Nice radio Mike. I don't have a 449, Yet! But I do have a 448, 450 and 451. I think that radio was supposed to end up in My collection......You have My missing link! Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@390WagonMaster]

Ok, MJ... Now i am on the hunt again. You are a hard man to catch up to. Cheers my friend.

[@oldrango883]

As I have aged I have come to realize that city livin does blow and I’m yearning to get back to simpler times

[@390WagonMaster]

Yes! City life blows big time

[@M7XCB]

I was watching Mower Junkie on KZbin I just fell in love with this set and I've managed to get hold of this set from Ebay from USA 2 years ago am from UK it fantastic radio to work it yes same as Adam set. Glad you've received the radio all OK

[@spaceflight1019]

I've been on CB for 51 years now, and before the 40 channel era we called them Radio Scrap. This was earned thanks to splashboxes like the TRC-29 and TRC-23. But in 1976 the legendary TRC-30A and the top-of-the-line TRC-57 hit the market and were a huge success. Even so, until a few years ago no serious CB collector would be caught dead with a Realistic amongst their Trams and Brownings. But the simple fact is that they work well, are easily found, and are usually cheap!

[@390WagonMaster]

Yes, some of my favorite radios were RS.

[@shotguntalkshow5032]

Man the way you show your enthusiasm for vintage radios makes me want to start collecting. Great video.

[@390WagonMaster]

Be Careful, it's habit forming. Cheers.

[@WhittyPics]

CB Radio? I haven't had one of those since the late 70s. That craze went out with Disco

[@390WagonMaster]

I see lots of CBs however not much on the Bell Bottom and DISCO thing:) Cheers

[@robertruth3281]

Looks really nice. Extra points because it has all of those original docs that came with it! Hope you enjoy it for years!

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

I like those as well . Great find . I blame a lot of my purchases on Mower Junkie too !! But my wife just isn’t buying it lol

[@MowerJunkie]

Too funny! I blame a lot of My purchases on Cowboy 347 in Tennessee, But My Wife doesn't believe Me either.

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

@@MowerJunkie Hahaha !!

[@MRLUGNUTS]

My first radio was a TRC 455 I believe always loved Radio Shack and Lafayette.

[@generalingwer4341]

Oh my video hits home.i started saying I'll never buy again from @$#*.it really bothers me that sellers have so little regard for good packing..congratulations on a good buy.the receipt is a party bonus! Yes it's mower junkies fault.i saw one in his videos also.now I'm looking for one too.lol.thanks for video.merry Christmas.

[@johnnywood8082]

I’ve been looking for a clean TRC-451! I like this too. Very nice.

[@chrishorst6993]

Beautiful radio. And the original receipt and Manual so cool

[@robertschwartzman195]

Nice Bird wattmeter. I must have sold so many of those cb's during close to 20 year career with the shack.

[@transcanada9028]

"W.N Killen" got a good price on that radio. In 1978 it listed in the catalog for $299.95. In 1979 it dropped to $269.95. These were one of the best chassis available. They were soon discontinued because the F.C.C. claimed the uPD858c PLL chip was to easy to modify.

[@390WagonMaster]

The 449 and 458 were great rigs. I think there was only $10 difference . Love the 458 as a radio, but the 449 had a more classy look IMO. Cheers

[@MikeReed]

That is a very nice looking RS radio indeed.

[@stevendegiorgio3143]

My brother has that identical CB mobile radio.He even has a realistic TRC24C 23 channel which was his first CB radio.

[@keithweiss7899]

Primo radio Wagonmaster! It’s amazing how nice it looks all of these years later! BTW, I think you came back to me a few days ago when I called for you. You said that you would try again when you got 😂home. But we didn’t get together. That night I lit a 40 watt shop light bulb with my mobile c.b. My grandkids loved it! I had my 240 watt Hurricane amp on though.🤣 We must teach our kids about these things. This be UDX-444. We on the side.😊👍

[@390WagonMaster]

My oldest is semi interested, the other three want no part of this "weird" hobby. However my two girls do like CB when we all road trip, they have seen it first hand save our rumps a few times when they were little. We will hook up soon I'm sure as the East coast skip has been running strong.

[@UDX-21]

Nice looking radio! You always get good deals, when you do a OTAT, please make it an event, that way we can all join in.

[@390WagonMaster]

I don't want to sound stupid, but....... What is OTAT

[@UtahJim8232]

@@390WagonMaster OTAT? Is that an On The Air Test?

[@udx-294tn5]

That’ll be a killer sidebander!

[@mr.stonerUDX714]

awesome radio have a NOS one in the box in my collection great find on a hard to find radio

[@diydarkmatter]

lol this makes me laugh just your excitement. i remember when i was into cb i had a couple favorites. first was a trs 431 base station . it had a door bell noise toy for some reason . lol . bought it that way . next favorite was a super star 360 fm . that radio was a screamer . not going to list the number of toys that one had other then its built in Rodger beep . the next one and last favorite was a galaxy 88 dx hl . loved loved that radio . the way it sounded out the back of a 1000 watt base tube type linear and a set of moon raker 4s was just incredible . of course the d104 silver eagle had alot to do with that as well . it was the perfect base station . i talked to so many places i lost count . again other then the built in galaxy echo and Rodger beep we will not mention the other toys in it lol . sure miss them days . they were alot of fun .

[@joseriquelme601texas9]

That’s an awesome radio. Nice score. Enjoy.

[@Slugg-O]

Not everything RS sold was in the Dollar Store category class. They also had some very good items. I knew a few people who used RS radios and they soundes great. My first CB was a Realistic Mini 23 because it's all I could afford.

[@EricTechstuffs]

I think there is an eBay seller's class on how to make sure to jam the face of the radio close to the box gets smashed real good. Happened to a President I got. IT was mint.

[@390WagonMaster]

Classic!

[@vegasfordguy]

I've got a near mint condition Realistic TRC-449 that I picked up a couple years ago. It's been sitting in my radio cabinet ever since. Everyone says it's a great SSB radio. I also have a TRC-490 in the original box!

[@luke8210]

You dont anymore.....its on it's way to me haha. Thanks again.

[@vegasfordguy]

@@luke8210 That it is.

[@smithderf]

Those two radios, the 449 and 490 were my two radios in the day. Now I'm stuck with a 706 and a 940.

[@luke8210]

I got it the other day and hooked it up. Great ssb rig. The stock mic is nothing special. The only thing I've never loved about the realistic radios was the mic jack. I dont like changing out the jack but running adapters is a pain too...

[@wwtf7180]

A nice classic 858 chassis. Easily modified for extras.

[@Conn653]

How about a Browning Golden Eagle?

[@390WagonMaster]

Great Radio! I need to get mine back on the Air. I plan on doing that sometime soon, just need to get other projects done first.

[@BananaJSSI]

That is a great radio. My friend had one back in 1980/81 I talked to him a lot. I have many TRC rigs. My oldest are TRC 48, TRC 30A, couple of TRC 458's and a TRC 452

[@390WagonMaster]

Wow! you have some bitch'n rigs, The TRC30A was my first real Base Station.

[@jesperga]

I really enjoyed that very nice radio and that was hilarious

[@spaceflight1019]

You reminded me...back in 1999 I won an auction for a Courier Royale, once their top of the line base station. Although listed with no reserve, communication with the seller clearly indicated that he expected more money. When he finally got around to sending the radio two weeks later it arrived in a box with holes in it and absolutely zero packing materials. These radios have a fragile aluminum enclosure and as a result looked like someone had beat on it. I wound up selling it at a hamfest for way less than I paid for it. I was really happy to learn that the control panel on your radio didn't suffer the same fate as the Courier.

[@390WagonMaster]

That sucks, I wish people would pack these radios correctly. On the positive side, that T/R noise would have drove you nuts anyway:)

[@MyronDYoder]

WOW!! Making me Green with envy!! Great find!! Nice looking radio!!! You scored big on this one!!!😊👍

[@spaceflight1019]

I just checked the online catalog reference and the TRC-449 first appeared in the 1978 catalog, page 156. Also new were the 448, 457, and the 458. Unfortunately, it was a two-year only model, as it was replaced by the new TRC-450.

[@SWIZZRADIOS]

Hello dr CB-radio fan hello, thank you for your very interestet video. There are the STALKER-101 and President Adams with the similar 858s Chassis in my collection. Furthermore the both PALOMAR SSB-500 and-600 (cheap clones). The old rugged 858s Chassis is my favourite one. I wish merry Xmas for you and yours. Best 73 to you...

[@ericdee6802]

Looks like a Cobra 148gtl cabinet as well. Nice looking rig, sideband and everything. Thanks for sharing your new rig with us!, Merry Christmas. 🎄

[@davescbradiorepair8195]

They are awesome radios. I have serviced several for customers and have a couple NOS still boxed, not selling though.

[@jeremyh.pritchard5325]

When I've sourced AM SSB bases, or the occasional mobile, I send em to a technician to add FM mode (board) and for a checkup. Usually activating FM via say the NB/ANL switch, or where possible tech uses a four position updated mode switch, with labelling if necessary. I like the mode for mobile use, and periodic southern winter DX between a friend in NZ and Australia's East Coast where I'm based. Like your radio, looks neat!!

[@turbopower130]

One of my favorite radios ive owned, bought a lot of 2 of them back in 2010 for $60 local. One was bone stock and one had switches for extra channels. Used the clean one for years and mand my first dx contact with it. Regret selling them and hooing to get another. Those old realistic radios are just amazing.

[@sammas7440]

At <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="229">3:49</a> , the date code on the radio is 6A7. So I'm guessing it was June 1977 or 1987. The first digit is the month, A is the separator and the 7 is the year in a decade. I love the old RS radios, nice find. I enjoyed the RS stores, before the cell phone craze.

[@390WagonMaster]

Thanks for the information. I found that the 449 came out in 1978. It was "new for 78" in the main RS Catalog. And yes, the cell phone craze ruined RS IMO. In my local store they ignored the electronics buying customers and gave priority to the cell phone customers. RS must have been paying high commissions for that product. Cheers

[@ericzerkle5214]

The 449!!!! I have one!

[@michaelscoofield]

Wow! Soooo beautiful front panel …I really like chrome on that as same as on old classic cars!!! Big congrats for shiny machine mate!

[@Jim-xz1ew]

Does it work? Didn't see it working.

[@raycarney5941]

I had this radio back in the early 1980's, loved it. I'm jealous.

[@George_S.G]

Amazing!!!

[@LeboAxton]

Really nice radio for the collection.

[@THOMAS01ify]

Been using cb for 7 yrs now I love my cobra 29 nite watch its tuned up pretty clear but thats whenni was otr it still needs channel read out and an rfx but the one radio I want I want for my dodge is a whistler 2 with duel band its a real cool radio but I've never found one in working or refurbished able condtion congrats on your purchase.

[@390WagonMaster]

That 29 is a great radio:) Merry Christmas and thanks for watching.

[@otrdriver6767]

That's a very nice looking radio. I agree with you I always need more radios. Thank you for sharing with us I'm going to give you a thumbs up and subscribe.

[@390WagonMaster]

Thank you sir... Happy New Year.

[@peternewman958]

You have got a great radio very cheap especially with 2 mics and the docs. If it had the original carton it would be worth $275-300. I have over 100 Realistic radios many NOS but Not this radio so well done and enjoy it. Hopefully you opened the radio before powering it up as I am a Radio tech in Australia and have close to a 1,000 radios and you should always open a radio before powering it as you would be amazed at what I find inside radios. Try screwdrivers, nuts screws and various other parts that if you powered it up you will definitely let the magic smoke out and we all know how hard that is to get back🤣🤣

[@390WagonMaster]

I always check out a new to me radio before testing. Here is a video on that... kzbin.info/www/bejne/jabMaZKsh9Cfg80 Thanks for your comment. Cheers

[@stevesmith8053]

Those are nice radios I have 2 of them in my collection

[@DeadKoby]

I have some issues with that buy/sell platform also........so I only opt to sell select merchandise on that site.

[@deansmiley8221]

Wow! That's nice! I've got a TRC 24...73s

[@blueflame0003]

Wow. Thats better then whats out now....im jealous...good for you

[@ChatGPT1111]

I had a 1976 Midland 23channel from ebay packaged the same way. When I got it, all of the knobs were pushed into the chassis a good 1/2” and it was a complete loss. The seller did refund my money without requiring an item return which was nice. I also had a beautiful 1930’s boat anchor short wave receiver underpackaged and all the chassis bolts were sheared off.

[@ei2ggb]

Sweet purchase Mike.

[@azpeoriafreak]

What is it with Realistic radios not having a mic gain? I've never understood this.

[@390WagonMaster]

True that, personally, when I ran RS rigs, I either used that great stock mic or a power mic, then used that gain control. Just got used to it I guess. Great comment. Cheers.

[@roberttraylor1392]

nice rig i have one back in the day radioshack made some good cb radio back then i i still have a trc-440 lol awesome video i miss radio shack to bad they went under

[@390WagonMaster]

IMHO. RS focusing on cell phones was part of the downfall.

[@dale116dot7]

That radio looks great!!! Yes, you lucked out. Oh yes, and some cameras still do use film.

[@390WagonMaster]

Yes, my old Nikon still takes a good picture. Hi:)

[@dale116dot7]

@@390WagonMaster I have three Olympus OM2n and a RB67. They do take great photos, I use a lot of Velvia 50 and Ektachrome 200.

[@BananaJSSI]

Great! Maybe I will hear you when the DX is running . Nice video,. I have lots of CB radio vids on my channels. Cheers & 73's

[@390WagonMaster]

Looked at your Channel, I have no idea how I missed it before:) I subbed and will be checking in from time to time. Would apreciat if you would do the same. We bad ass CBers need to stick together. Hi. BTW... I used to live up in Port Angeles WA. Miss that weather. Cheers.

[@BananaJSSI]

@@390WagonMaster Thanks. Here is my other channel with lots of radio stuff and DX talking Lots of much older vids on both channels Cheers kzbin.info/door/QNv489h-jgF-ztAXQteJhw

[@AudioElectronicsChicago]

Beauty 👍🏻

[@835YT]

I had one for years back in the 80's great radio !!!!

[@speedolover1793]

I have one like that my mom bought it around 74- 76 i would geuss identical to that not sure what the numbers r they worth anyting

[@390WagonMaster]

Best MOM EVER! Thanks for watching.

[@MrReverendwolf]

you need to say it "I need more radius" lOVE IT

[@campincrunch542]

Its a real nice find. Thanks for the video.

[@Travis141123]

Decent radio, I have a stack of Realistic stuff over here, all in working condition.

[@trs-80fanclub12]

Had the same radio in 1988, left for basic and AIT and it got stolen. Best radio I ever owned. Would reach well over 100 miles stock

[@ntag411]

I'd like to see the guts of the unit and your testing. I still have some RS (Radio Shack) stuff like a DMM and analog multimeter (auto ranging) and work fine. Also have Fluke DMM 8060A's manual ranging meters working good as well. Sometimes the higher resolution of the 8060A (4 1/2 digits) comes into play. The decline of the US electronics industry was a sad transition, gone are RS, Heathkit and a ton of surplus retailers.

[@390WagonMaster]

You are spot on my friend. Sad to see U.S. going down this road. On a plus side..... here is a video showing the innards of the 449. Thanks for watching. Cheers kzbin.info/www/bejne/mprchH-Zq7OBfqc

[@timmygilbert1371]

Super nice !

[@jjamm2]

Probably Kmart plaza in williamsport pa there was a radio shack next to it but that and Kmart is gone now 😢

[@390WagonMaster]

Cool info! Cheers

[@marksanders7704]

Kmd 8417 breaker breaker this is top cat you copy?

[@390WagonMaster]

KHW-1276 here, I got a copy on you.:)

[@dennistowerofpower5808]

Electric man KMD 6546

[@Freedom2x462]

I used to have one of that, I modified channel switching and added some diodes, i put output to some 100 watts linear amp and receiving LNA amp, I was able to communicate to Germany and Tokyo, I used center loaded whip some times I used a bull whip, i just remember it's Realistic TRC 449, I have to leave the engine running! But its worth, And then I got the Base Realistic radio also am and single side band, it look so cool! I have make my own SWR meter and Power meter, that was in Philippine Island sometime I will go to the mountain was able to reach Spain and China, Grant President is another one! It was made in Japan or Canada, its a little less than 5 watts but very clean

[@390WagonMaster]

Those are some good contacts. Super Nice. Cheers

[@robertschwartzman195]

I like using a Kenwood TS-430. So much fun with that !

[@390WagonMaster]

That is a dang good rig!

[@kelseywedge7167]

Am glad you are happy

[@mrelectronicsdude]

That is a beautiful radio!

[@CBLounge2112]

I am SO FRIGGIN JEALOUS!!!! Awesome Mike!!

[@nickvlastaris8768]

the town is called moosic pa. ( pronounced moo -sick lol )

[@390WagonMaster]

Thanks

[@AB1Vampire]

Those Rat Shack power mics were good. Got one those radios modded for 10 meters had it for at least 3 decades

[@390WagonMaster]

I bet that mic sounds good on a Hammy Rig. Merry Christmas and Cheers from KHW-1276

[@karlporath8904]

I love those little RS microphones also, sounds great on my nos Sears Road Talker ssb

[@drsysop]

You can do decent mods to that radio. Very rare to get a clean radio off eBay. They overcharge for shipping & illegal sales tax now there. -73's

[@390WagonMaster]

Hahaha. yes the sales tax is BULLSHIT. just wait until the Biden 600 dollar tax his in 2022. We are so fucked!

[@spaceflight1019]

@@390WagonMaster , that was in the bill that Joe Manchin scuttled, wasn't it?

[@youruptownlowdown7745]

Bring it to the Bowl!👍

[@390WagonMaster]

I’m on it !!!!

[@Rareed63]

Somehow CB and Dreams never crossed paths in my mind

[@390WagonMaster]

Yea! I'm just weird that way. :)

[@keystonecountryboy]

Wish mine was in that good of shape

[@arildoaparecidocosta5729]

Parabéns guerreiros tôp hein bazuka Foz do Iguaçu pr Brasil 🇧🇷🦈 73 🇧🇷

[@dobermanguy9437]

Very nice radio for sure I have a old Sears roadtalker that has Side Band I also love that radio the receive on it is excellent the only thing I do not like is when the microphone plug plugs into the side of the radio you have to be very careful because that housing that holds the mic plug can come loose and then you're in trouble nice radio

[@390WagonMaster]

While I have had some RS mobiles in my vehicle, I was afraid the mic would come unplugged. Never once did that happen, however the 5 pin DIN was not a great way to go . IMHO Thanks for watching. Cheers

[@michaelscoofield]

Btw the full size genuine full color user manual and sales receipt is most valuable for collectors…:)

[@390WagonMaster]

I know right? Just missing the box. Thats okay, there will be more out there.Hehehe

[@dieterhauer8619]

FYI - Mike @ Mike's Radio Repair has stated that the TRC-449 has the same Uniden circuit board as the Cobra 138 XLR (both are great radios). ALSO, many of the Realistic CBs were actually better than the Cobras even though they usually had the SAME Uniden circuit boards inside. WHY?... Because Cobra usually got the First Production Run boards... with unknown defects that eventually came to surface/were discovered. Then, the Realistic CBs got the same Uniden board later... but, with the revisions/updates included. So... If I had a choice between the TRC-449 and a Cobra 138 XLR; I'd pick the TRC-449.

[@390WagonMaster]

Yes, the only thing that bothered me was RS did cheap out on some of the Uniden design. I memory serves, the TRC version of PC346aa omitted L4, so the RS version is susceptible to adjacent channel rejection. And I did own a 138XLR back in the day, it was problematic. Cheers

[@haywoodyoudome]

Wow...brings me back to the days of CB radio. I'll never forget the first time meeting a few people in person and realizing "What the actual fuck am I doing with my life?" Sold the radio the next day.

[@390WagonMaster]

That is to bad, I made some good lifetime friends on the CB. Met many a Hammy Ham, not interested. Stuffy and arrogant.

[@UDX-21]

Happy New Year 2022 from DD21

[@bettertvreceptionwithfoilf7100]

I have two Royce radios but they only have 23 channels

[@CARL557511]

Good looking radio!!

[@trippledee351]

Beautiful rigs these, I have 3 myself.

[@mean1flyer]

yeah i don't like the yellow table's price. insane. i have 7 of them. 4 of them in very good condition and the rest are in fair condition. some of you might be wondering why 7 of them? well simply because this radio is my all time favorite radio from radio shack and well just because i can, i also have the power mics to go with each of them and then some. thanks for the video you got your self a nice rig there. i am totally with you on the packaging. thankfully it made it to you in good shape. enjoy

[@390WagonMaster]

Rafael....You my friend are a sick man:) JK.. I like your style, the uniden built RS rigs are the sleeper radios of the 70s. Cheers my friend.

[@mean1flyer]

@@390WagonMaster LOL i been doing cb and ham radios for about 43 years. i have a room full of radios including the trc 449 some cobra, uniden and teaberry. i started with the trc 451 but over the years my love for the 449 grew bigger and well here we are with 7 of them.i guess i am a collector :-) wouldn't you say? lol 73 to you friend enjoy the 449

[@animalcorvair]

trc 449 1979 went for 269 bucks great radios

[@hotrod-yf9oq]

Nice

[@paulrose6359]

Gee,...The CB set of my dreams is a Icom 7851 with a Alfa 77. But really as a collector I would love to have the Midland SSB ht, Motorola SSB base, any CPI radio, a set of General Radiotelephone radios from the MC-5 to the super MC-12 SSB, A Buddy Base, and oh so many others but not any Radio Shack stuff, just to common and dull. JMO

[@390WagonMaster]

The UNIDEN PC346AA Boards will out perform most every radio on your list. Including the ICOM on 11m. The realistic version of the PC346AA did not have the adjacent channel rejection of say a president Adams, Grant (3 button) or 148, because RS omitted L4 I think it was, and they had that darn 5 pin DIN. But, IMHO nobody built a better chassis than UNIDEN.. Owned a few different GRTs they all talked up a storm and had "decent" RX for their time. I have heard a Buddy Base receiver but never owned them, so never got to spend time to really demo one. But like you said JMO, all this stuff is subjective anyway. Cheers

[@jeffsworldvlogs6088]

Happy new year

[@390WagonMaster]

Back at ya Jeff.

[@grantmyers7593]

I had that exact same radio.