With fond memories of my Midland 3001 in the eighties. One of the Midland handhelds will definitely be part of my "Apocalypse kit". Anyone remember trying to reach France on a Sunday morning!
Owned an Alan 42 for a couple of months, out of curiousity because I always wanted to find out what a 27mhz handheld was like. Terrible with the stock "rubber duck" antenna, and worked far better as a mobile radio into a suitable antenna where I thought it performed very well for what I thought was a boring straight FM set (my thing was always multimode rigs, didn't care less for FM legal stuff usually). 2 meter / 70 cm lends itself far better for handheld usage, and "stock legal" PMR446 can be extremely surprising indeed (as well as the "inventiveness" of the enthusiasts using non stock radios that enjoyed it that much that there's been a massive upsurge in people taking the Foundation Licence this year).
Just realised that this is the older version badged Alan 42 Multi. The newer version is the Alan 42DS which stands for digital squelch. I think that unit may have the newer post 2014 frequency set up. That unit may be more compatible to the PNI that you tested recently.
As it has a pretty standard BNC connector for the aerial (on the top when used with the battery pack), then after market aerials are available instead of using the supplied 'rubber duck'. richard
I did.. if you look at the 'Midland Alan 42 field test'. All our 'on the air' tests are done from the workshop aerial & all the field tests are done with the supplied antenna. Richard
It's a multi-norm set. You set the country you are in as per the instruction book. You've commented on my 'on the air' test. The previous video from me was servicing this set & covered setting the country. If you can't find that, & have lost the instructions, they are downloadable for free. If all those fail you can email me. Richard, G0OJF, UK
Interesting review. Many thanks. How much difference do you think adding something like the hiflex 54cm antenna would make to it’s performance? Personally I think I might be better off finding a good Realistic TCR 1001!
We don't test accessory aerials but test the sets serviced to the maximum legal parameters allowed. We've yet to do a field test on this radio as I mislaid it during the summer, so It'll get tested next year. On out test route I'd expect about 3 miles, as compared with 6 on the Realistic .TRC1001 or TRC1005 huge handhelds with their 1.5M telescopic. My advice is buy a modern set something like this for convenience & one of those two Realistic sets for times when you need maximum possible range. The Binatone Longranger 40 isn't far behind either, but no external mike facility. Th e Moonraker Master is up there too regarding range but a bit of a fragile plastic cased set Richard, G0OJF, UK
@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 many thanks for the prompt reply. There is a reasonable looking TCR-1001 on eBay I’ll try and get that. Could you tell me the name of your company so I can contact you if it needs a service please? I am not too far from you.
Sorry I don't know much about motorcycle 2-way radio installations & have never done one despite a career in commercial 2-way radio since 1980. However, have a look at this as I'm sure it will help you:- www.4x4cb.com/public/page.cfm?Page=693 Richard, G0OJF, UK
Yes, use the car adaptor provided. We tested Midland & PNI aerials about 6 weeks ago. Have a look at how they faired on that video. I'll always add we personally use drilled-in body mounted aerial for maximum performance. Any magmount will always be inferior to body mount. Richard, G0OJF, UK
Hi. I found this same radio on ebay for $135 plus $30 shipping in USD that looks like it is being sold from a seller out of Russia. It says that this is a 400 channel 25 -30 Mhz CB radio. is this accurate? I'm also in the United States.
Like other European market CB radios, it is a 'MultiNorm' set & is pre-programmed for all EU countries with the sets of channels, modes & power levels permitted. Here in the UK, it would be set for 'UK' & then there would be 80 channels made available by the set...40 CEPT channels in AM & FM & 40 UK only channels in FM. Now the big let-down....CE MultiNorm sets are not permitted in the USA & chances are that if you tried to import one, the radio would be confiscated at US customs & you would be prosecuted. The 400 channels crap, is that the radio has an 'export' mode like most other multi-norm sets & with internal links cut/made/whatever becomes an "illegal everywhere' radio which theoretically means it can only be used at sea 200 miles from land. It would be naive of me not to realise there are people who operate illegally out of band who try & talk to other pirates like minded. No doubt Midland do an FCC approved version for the USA. Hope this helps. Richard, G0OJF, UK
@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 from my understanding you can own any type of radio that can go out of band or dont need a license to own any radio that can go on bands that require a license and its perfectly legal. The "illegal" part is that you cant transmit - that's the difference. Now, it being from Russia - i'm sure it would be looked at with suspicion given the tensions and times. However, I do not think that there are any grounds of prosecution on any legal standing.
If you compare the CEPT 40 channel frequencies to the FCC channel frequencies I think they are about the same...though I'm not sure around channel 23. If the radio was set to E 'norm' you would then be able to select AM. Richard
What is the name of the screwed antenna connector on the lead with the cigarette lighter power? I want to get an antenna for the car, but most seem to use the bnc on the top...
With fond memories of my Midland 3001 in the eighties. One of the Midland handhelds will definitely be part of my "Apocalypse kit".
Anyone remember trying to reach France on a Sunday morning!
Owned an Alan 42 for a couple of months, out of curiousity because I always wanted to find out what a 27mhz handheld was like. Terrible with the stock "rubber duck" antenna, and worked far better as a mobile radio into a suitable antenna where I thought it performed very well for what I thought was a boring straight FM set (my thing was always multimode rigs, didn't care less for FM legal stuff usually).
2 meter / 70 cm lends itself far better for handheld usage, and "stock legal" PMR446 can be extremely surprising indeed (as well as the "inventiveness" of the enthusiasts using non stock radios that enjoyed it that much that there's been a massive upsurge in people taking the Foundation Licence this year).
Just realised that this is the older version badged Alan 42 Multi. The newer version is the Alan 42DS which stands for digital squelch. I think that unit may have the newer post 2014 frequency set up. That unit may be more compatible to the PNI that you tested recently.
That's not with our wholesaler, so it will have to wait until I can get one.
Richard
1:00 "Rodjorr". *LOL*
🤣
I think it is a good radio. But feel it would need a long antenna for mobile. Would this work with a whip antenna
As it has a pretty standard BNC connector for the aerial (on the top when used with the battery pack), then after market aerials are available instead of using the supplied 'rubber duck'.
richard
@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 I'm have the albrecht long antenna which I got from thunderpole
U should do the test on the antenna supplied
I did.. if you look at the 'Midland Alan 42 field test'. All our 'on the air' tests are done from the workshop aerial & all the field tests are done with the supplied antenna.
Richard
Hi I have just got a midland Alan 42ds and I have got ec on the screen and I see you have uk, have they sent me the wrong one
It's a multi-norm set. You set the country you are in as per the instruction book. You've commented on my 'on the air' test. The previous video from me was servicing this set & covered setting the country. If you can't find that, & have lost the instructions, they are downloadable for free. If all those fail you can email me.
Richard, G0OJF, UK
Interesting review. Many thanks. How much difference do you think adding something like the hiflex 54cm antenna would make to it’s performance? Personally I think I might be better off finding a good Realistic TCR 1001!
We don't test accessory aerials but test the sets serviced to the maximum legal parameters allowed. We've yet to do a field test on this radio as I mislaid it during the summer, so It'll get tested next year. On out test route I'd expect about 3 miles, as compared with 6 on the Realistic .TRC1001 or TRC1005 huge handhelds with their 1.5M telescopic. My advice is buy a modern set something like this for convenience & one of those two Realistic sets for times when you need maximum possible range. The Binatone Longranger 40 isn't far behind either, but no external mike facility. Th e Moonraker Master is up there too regarding range but a bit of a fragile plastic cased set
Richard, G0OJF, UK
@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 many thanks for the prompt reply. There is a reasonable looking TCR-1001 on eBay I’ll try and get that. Could you tell me the name of your company so I can contact you if it needs a service please? I am not too far from you.
@@gardenguns make sure any handheld you buy has an intact telescopic aerial as there are now no spare parts!
rshireby@yahoo.co.uk
@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 Thanks will do!
Please could you suggest a suitable antenna to be installed on a motorbike ? Thank you
Sorry I don't know much about motorcycle 2-way radio installations & have never done one despite a career in commercial 2-way radio since 1980. However, have a look at this as I'm sure it will help you:-
www.4x4cb.com/public/page.cfm?Page=693
Richard, G0OJF, UK
What mag mount and aerial would u suggest to use with the car adapter for this
Yes, use the car adaptor provided. We tested Midland & PNI aerials about 6 weeks ago. Have a look at how they faired on that video. I'll always add we personally use drilled-in body mounted aerial for maximum performance. Any magmount will always be inferior to body mount.
Richard, G0OJF, UK
Hi. I found this same radio on ebay for $135 plus $30 shipping in USD that looks like it is being sold from a seller out of Russia. It says that this is a 400 channel 25 -30 Mhz CB radio. is this accurate?
I'm also in the United States.
Like other European market CB radios, it is a 'MultiNorm' set & is pre-programmed for all EU countries with the sets of channels, modes & power levels permitted. Here in the UK, it would be set for 'UK' & then there would be 80 channels made available by the set...40 CEPT channels in AM & FM & 40 UK only channels in FM.
Now the big let-down....CE MultiNorm sets are not permitted in the USA & chances are that if you tried to import one, the radio would be confiscated at US customs & you would be prosecuted.
The 400 channels crap, is that the radio has an 'export' mode like most other multi-norm sets & with internal links cut/made/whatever becomes an "illegal everywhere' radio which theoretically means it can only be used at sea 200 miles from land.
It would be naive of me not to realise there are people who operate illegally out of band who try & talk to other pirates like minded.
No doubt Midland do an FCC approved version for the USA.
Hope this helps.
Richard, G0OJF, UK
@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 from my understanding you can own any type of radio that can go out of band or dont need a license to own any radio that can go on bands that require a license and its perfectly legal. The "illegal" part is that you cant transmit - that's the difference. Now, it being from Russia - i'm sure it would be looked at with suspicion given the tensions and times. However, I do not think that there are any grounds of prosecution on any legal standing.
@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 My question is - would it still work in the US?
If you compare the CEPT 40 channel frequencies to the FCC channel frequencies I think they are about the same...though I'm not sure around channel 23. If the radio was set to E 'norm' you would then be able to select AM.
Richard
Witam miłośników cb radia z tej strony Terminator Malęcino
Hello too!
What is the name of the screwed antenna connector on the lead with the cigarette lighter power? I want to get an antenna for the car, but most seem to use the bnc on the top...
it's an SO239. The standard aerial plug that mates with it & used on most CB radios is a PL259
Richard
Hi, can this be used on the am and fm normally used in the uk?
In line with UK licensing conditions, it does UK FM channels & CEPT channels in both AM & FM.
Richard
@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 cept channels ?
@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 eu, got it. Many thanks for the help.