HISTORY:
In a "previous life" I was heavily involved in professional communications (Maritime) and on a personal level, Amateur radio (ex VK2DWF, licence relinquished due to non-use) so of course I collected radio equipment of all sorts.
Most of the radio equipment has found new "shacks" to live in, I kept this transceiver behind for "sentimental reasons" but now she has to leave home as well.
This is HF radio equipment, for general use in the Australian Citizen Band allocation and the mode is AM - not SSB. HF is still widely used for long range communications by truckies etc but not a lot of folk use AM mode these days. Just "above" the design frequencies of this equipment is the 10 metre Amateur radio allocation but again, most likely using SSB not AM.
Still it's fun to "listen around" although most of the time you will hear nothing! This gear takes me back to some very early HF Citizen Band (AM) gear that I began my ventures in radio communications with back in the 1970's. Based in NZ (call sign was CH323) and the big thrill was seeking out "skip" from across "the pond" - Australia. The NZ frequencies (26Mhz band) are different than Australia so those Aussie's must have been operating "out of band" but geez, the thrill of communicating with someone 2000 km away using just a couple of watts RF power was quite a buzz.
This all means that in reality, this transceiver really only has nostalgic value - sure you can communication with another person who also has a HF CB AM Transceiver (Australian 27Mhz band) but they are becoming few and far between these days. Most of the time you will just hear "White Noise", if the squelch is left open - not very exciting!
Here are the details of this equipment ...
GENERAL ELECTRIC - Communications Transceiver
Model: 3-5806A
40 fixed - switchable (no scanning) channels
Designed for the Australian Citizen Band frequency allocation around 27Mhz
Mode: AM (NOT SSB nor FM)
4W RF output
Internal speaker fitted
Basic front panel rotary controls i.e Volume, Channel select and Squelch
LED display
Rear panel
PL259 female antenna connector
External Speaker connector (3.5mm)
DC (nominally 13.8V) is supplied via a short flying lead (no in-line fuse)
ITEMS SUPPLIED:
Basically, look at the main photograph - that is what I am offering, including the short RF antenna cable that I used for test (PL259 plus BENELEC coax)
The original microphone is supplied
Mounting thumb screws (side mounted) are included but NOT the support bracket
DIMENSIONS:
140mm wide x 190mm depth x 45mm height
WEIGHT:
900g
COSMETIC CONDITION:
In general, this gear is old (around 35 years old) and considering it has been "in the field" it is in surprisingly good condition.
USED
CLEAN
NO physical damage to the main body or the front panel
NO knobs or buttons missing
I love these knobs! No plastic 'jobbies' here ... solid metal knobs
LED Display works fine - bright and easy to read
The top of the case is in great condition and the underside (bottom) of the case shows some light weathering but nothing serious.
TESTING:
This is the part that really matters!
Tested using a 12V supply which I had at hand for testing.
Powers up fine
Squelch working fine as is the audio level control - plenty of volume from the bottom mounted internal speaker - the Volume control is not noisy when operated.
Changed channels and the PLL lock at each frequency was positive and without issues
Operated the PTT on the microphone and the front panel display shows I am now transmitting. I checked the carrier output and modulation using my trusty Uniden scanner and it confirmed the transmit frequencies were correct and I could hear myself talking (plus feedback!)
Now on the receive side, that's a little tricky to test ... I have no sig generator left these days and I just had to use a "listen test" to check the receive. Listening in the evening I can hear "random radio noise" from distance parts and even some crackles from a thunderstorm. I did NOT hear a conversation which doesn't surprise me as I am in Metro Sydney and any users of this mode would most likely be thousands of kilometres away from me.
Of course, when the antenna is un-plugged, the receiver goes "dark" and you don't hear much at all - connect the antenna and all the radio noise (signals) come alive ...
I am including the test PL259 with the short length of coax because I have no further use for it - I am almost 100% sure that my old radio equipment has all gone once this unit "leaves the room"
I like the PTT operation, actually the design of the microphone in general as it fits the hand very well and the PTT level is right where it should be.
Now that I have had one final "play" with this equipment, I have packed it all up into sealed clear plastic packets and it now patiently sits here waiting for someone else to "step back in time"
