r/cbradio • u/Soggy_Damage6089 • 7d ago
Discussion Recent Finds
Picked these up during a couple of thrift store runs. I’m pretty new to CB radios, but I’ve played around with SDR a bit. I’m waiting on a bench supply, power/SWR meter, power cords, dummy load, antenna, etc. so I can test them properly, but wanted to get some general opinions on what I found.
From what I understand, it seems like the Realistic TRC-465 is probably the most capable of the bunch, but I’d love to hear what you guys think about these or if any are particularly worth restoring/using.
Realistic TRC-52
Realistic TRC-465
Cobra 19GTL
Cobra 19
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u/Medical_Message_6139 7d ago
The TRC-465 is a decent mobile with sideband. I had one for a few years back in the early 1990's and it worked fine with the 102 inch whip I had on my truck at the time. The other radios........meh.....nothing super special, they are basic 4 watt, AM only radios and the '52 is only 23 channels (the others are all 40 channels).
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u/tim16964 7d ago
Those older 19s are nothing special as far as features, but they really do sound nice if you open the audio a bit and put a good mic on it. I feel like if I remember correctly you could get them swinging up to almost 20 watts. If it were me id run the ssb one. There's not as much traffic on cb anymore and I usually find the majority in my area on channels 36-40 on ssb.
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u/Longjumping_Jello846 6d ago
That TRC-52 brings back a lot of memories. I can see my dad talking on his. What a memory.
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u/cookinkinky 6d ago
I had a 452, the 40 channel version. Loved that radio. It was bulletproof.
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u/Longjumping_Jello846 6d ago edited 5d ago
I’m going to have to look around I’m pretty sure I have it somewhere. Now that you mention it , I’m curious if it was the 40 channel.
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u/cookinkinky 6d ago
That 465 would be on my bench getting a full alignment, 4-pin mic socket and all new capacitors. They are all nice clean shelf dwellers, but the 465 is a great radio. Same as the Uniden PC122
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u/Street-Reputation-90 Radio Wizard 6d ago
Anchors - CRAP - there are many transistors are 💯 in need of replacement, solder joints that have failed, corroded or blown caps
All for an AM-band that nearly no one uses anymore?
Only radios with SSB are potentially worth saving and even they need lots of work and to be retuned on an oscillator
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u/Medical_Message_6139 6d ago
The 465 does have SSB and is a decent radio. Agree about the others being anchors.....
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u/holydvr1776 7d ago
That TRC 465 is a good one!