CB handhelds, why so expensive.

[Mudslinger]

I was just thinking about this today.

Why is it that CB handhelds are so much more expensive to buy than UHF/VHF sets?

The UHF ones are also considerably smaller, have more coverage and channels and have better technology.

This is the radio which got me thinking, as it looks very much like dual band VHF/HF set but is on CB.

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/TTI-TCB-H100-CB ... Swq6xez5PL

Thoughts? It cannot just be about economies of scale? Baofeng would certainly sell lots of handheld CB's if they cost a similar amount to their UV-5R...

[Tim Tom]

My guess would possibly be demand? It's sort of the same with base stations. Nobody really makes base stations anymore, and if they do it's surprisingly cheaper to just buy a amateur rig which can access 27mhz and use that!

(Disclaimer, I do not in anyway condone buying licensed equipment and operating without a license... Ignore the jolly roger, that's just for show)

[original45]

Yup if baofeng could nock up a half decent handy like the uv5 but covering cb ssb am fm maybe it would certainly be the muts nuts n sell like toilet rolls during pandemic

[Mitch]

Modern CB handies are at a bit of a disadvantage with the small rubber duck aerials, they're very poor and range is very limited. UHF handies are much better with small aerials so less power, more battery life etc. Old school walkie talkies on the other hand used 4ft and 5ft aerials so tended to work better imo. I've got a few of the old Lafayette 3, 12, 23 & 40 ch ones in the attic. Good battery life too from AA's. I like old stuff but the long aerials are too fragile and useless indoors, lol.

[Buick Mackane]

Yup if baofeng could nock up a half decent handy like the uv5 but covering cb ssb am fm maybe it would certainly be the muts nuts n sell like toilet rolls during pandemic

Yeah and would be just as much sh1t

[ch25]

Baofengs and similar are pile of crap, so they are not expensive.
Good equipment must cost.
Chris

[The Collector]

Long telescopic handheld aerials were great for playing Zorro with in the early 80's.

Oh..was that just me??? Sorry.

[Buick Mackane]

More like why are CB/s in general so expensive when the band is as busy as a rolf harris art exhibition

[Mudslinger]

Baofengs and similar are pile of crap, so they are not expensive.
Good equipment must cost.
Chris

I have a couple. They are not brilliant but considering what they cost and what they cover...

[The Collector]

More like why are CB/s in general so expensive when the band is as busy as a rolf harris art exhibition

I think that's part of the problem. Usually in business, the more you buy of something from the factory the cheaper it gets, so if sales are slow and you only order 10 units at a time, you're going to pay a higher price for them.

Order 100,000 Amstrads like Lord Sugar probably did back then and he probably got them for about £3 each.

[scanhermit]

I was on the UK 40 legal back in the 80s but fell out of love due to the swearing, keying over and hash. The latter just closed in more and more until I found it hard to talk to regulars who weren't close. The legalisation of other modes and channels has made me wonder about dabbling again but I spend a lot of time on my arse due to my job and need something that gets me out rather than pinned to my seat. I've wondered about handheld since I could chuck it in the pannier bag and ride off on my pushbike.

I think I'd have to forget SSB because, although I know SSB handhelds exist, they cost the earth and that sort of DX is probably best done from a home/car with a decent power supply and comfort. I see a legal AM/FM handie can be had for not too much money and some have BNC fittings for a better antenna than your rubber duck. I'd envisage using it from hilltops, that sort of thing.

I had an old boot of a handheld yonks back with poor battery life and range. Does anyone have experience of the decent newer ones, range and battery life. I just wonder what sort of experience I'd get out of it.

[bigpimp347]

because no one is nostalgic over UHF handies just yet.

that said i do collect older Yaesu Handies.

[The Collector]

If you're going out using a bicycle, then bolting on a nice big ariel will certainly help matters - the bike frame making a reasonable ground-plane. Forget using the standard rubber duck and try a 5ft or 6ft jobbie, maybe a MIL145 or some type of Sirio 3000/4000.

With a decent aerial, sat on a hill with some decent height, you should get a fair few miles providing there's actually someone on within 20 miles to talk to! This up-coming CB's 40th anniversary would be an ideal time to get set up for, as it's going yo be the best opportunity you'll get to at least hear someone.

It'd probably be best to take a 12v motorbike battery or similar and a power adapter cable with you though, as yakking on a hand-held will eat through the batteries, especially rechargeable ones

[Mudslinger]

Me and my brother used to have an old shopper bike. We had a car battery and a modulator copy bolted onto the rear carrier, and a midland 77-104 between the handlebars.

We used to ride all over, as well as park on the bridge over the dual carrigeway so that we could shout out to the lorries as they went under.

[scanhermit]

Thanks, Collector. That's a comprehensive answer. I may have to junk the bike idea as I couldn't do a long Sunday run with a long antenna and the weight of a motorcycle battery. Or I would have to be happy with what I could get with a handy on its own.

I once drove to the top of garrowby hill and turned the scanner on with just a small rubber duck. I also tried it with a telescopic metal antenna. there was surprisingly little difference between the reception quality of both antennas and signals were blasting in from all over the vale of York. Transmit is different of course but I think if you get high enough even something modest will do well.

Mind, the one time I cycled up that hill it nearly did for me and I had little puff left for chat