Demo of SBE Console II, Sidebander II and Sidebander IV, restored radios from my collection
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- Propagation on the CB band was good today so I decided to make a video of some SBE radios in my CB radio collection. SBE stood for Sideband Engineers, and that brand sold some of the best CB radios of the late Sixties and Seventies. Today they are highly sought after by collectors, and very valuable when in good condition. The Console II is a 23 channel AM/USB/LSB base station from 1972. It is an excellent design. Fun fact: there is not a single IC in it, the design only contains transistors. It uses dual-gate MOSFETs in the receiver RF front-end and an elaborate mixing scheme to generate both upper- and lower sidebands while using only one sideband crystal. Early versions used the 2SC1239 as the RF power transistor, later, when the FCC changed the allowed SSB input power from 12 watts to 25W the venerable 2SC1969 was used (the radio you see here is the later model with the 2SC1969).
The Console II uses the same chassis as the SBE Sidebander II (the latter being a mobile version of this radio). I swapped one of the crystals in the 24 channel crystal matrix for a 12.100 MHz type, which now turns channel 1, 2 3 and 4 into channel 36, 37, 38 and 40, where most of the SSB traffic plays out nowadays. This is an easy mod because the crystals are socketed and no realignment is needed after the change. And as you can see and hear, it works fantastic. And the mod can easily be undone if ever so desired.
Around 9:09 minutes you can see my SBE Sidebander IV, a 40 channel PLL synthesized AM/USB/LSB radio from 1977. It also works great, although the older Sidebander II sounds better I think - you be the judge!
SBE radios were made in Japan by Nikko Denshi Co Ltd, a quality manufacturer of electronic equipment. They still exist today, although they do not produce two-way radios for the consumer market any more. Nikko Denshi Co Ltd sold the same radios in Europe under the Belcom name. They also produced CB radios for other brands like Pace, Midland, E.F. Johnson, Raytheon as well as some others. Often based on the same standard chassis product line that they had.
You said in the video that the 12.1 crystal was available on the internet but I've been looking for weeks and have not been able to find one. Can you tell me where I might look for one? Thanks.
I have one of these beautiful radios. Can you please tell me what crystals are required?
Please ?!
Mine has a 40 channel clicker, which is nice. All crystal synthesized.
I have one that was NOS. Nice radio but all the meters swing backwards on these.
I meant to ask where you found the crystals....
Thanks
Hello, I have been searching for a 12.1 mhz crystal, with no luck. Do you know of any source of these crystals? Thanks
Yes, here: 12.100MHz, at section "12+++", a little less than halfway the page: www.kenselectronics.com/lists/lists/cbxtal.htm
If I were to purchase the same radio, would you modify it for me. Glad to pay. '3s. Paul
I could, but I don't have the necessary 12.100 MHz crystal here , you would have to order that from Ken's Electronics, www.kenselectronics.com/lists/lists/cbxtal.htm
Nice SBE Console II. Still my favorite base station of which I have several. Have one that someone modded the RF Gain control to work as a RF power out as well. Due to this the RF Gain in receive is compromised and I would like to put it back to stock but can't see where they modded it by comparing to another console II. Any ideas anyone? Thanks '73's
You can download the schematic diagram for this radio from CBtricks.com . Best is to download the diagram for the SBE Sidebander II, it is the same radio as the Console II but for mobile use. With that diagram, you should be able to undo that RF gain modification abuse again. Here is the link: www.cbtricks.com/radios/sbe/sbe_12cb_sidebander_ii/graphics/sbe_12cb_sidebander_ii_sch.pdf
Brilliant.
Thanks for posting.
I hope to see more from your collection.
Stay safe.
Thanks!
both nice radios. stay safe.
I Will. Cheers.