What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

The place to talk about specific radios, equipment and accessories. Do you prefer the latest generation of rigs and antennas or do you like the classics? Discuss it here!
User avatar
cb4ever104
Legend
Legend
Posts: 6551
Joined: 28 Jul 2011, 21:26
Location: Alicante , España

What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by cb4ever104 »

The word Jentec may bring some people out in a cold sweat , but those types of radios do nothing for me . I like the "sleeper" radios . Ones that have had obviously been used , but need some TLC to bring them back to life i.e with some switch cleaner , and fairy liquid . I just try and not get them mixed up :) I don't like radios with missing case screws . That's one of my pet hates , and usually sets off a red flag in my head . It's easier if you can see the insides of the things , but I've been pretty lucky over the years and I haven't bought many that have been hacked to bits .

S.
30TM060
Paul aka "Sammy". (108) PY60 Old Paisley DX Group (RIP Rab Markie)
Ex GM0 , now EA5 .
Handle "Fortune Hunter" back in "the day"
Radios ....? Anything that says "TAIWAN R.O.C" on the back.
original45
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 942
Joined: 31 Jul 2013, 21:11
Call Sign: 45

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by original45 »

I tend to buy dirty looking cheap as poss of booty .as I'm not technical certainly no good with repairs I get a buz knowing once I dusted off board, checked fuses wires ,switch cleaner it fires up and works.
I love that.
Is about as far as I go.
I have some boxed mint examples but I love cleaning old dirty radios in the hope they work.
Sad really.
The Collector
Legend
Legend
Posts: 8666
Joined: 23 Jan 2010, 19:26
Location: Bristol-ish

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by The Collector »

I look for the wording " Fidelity 1000FM" for starters, or maybe "Amstrad" if I'm a bit desperate ;)

Seriously though, usually anything UK40 that I've never seen before. Even if it's rough but rare, I'll try and win it if my wallet allows.

Lately I've run out of unusual UK stuff so I've moved onto older SSB stuff to stop me getting bored! It's a bit expensive for me though.
User avatar
stanogs68
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 2569
Joined: 05 Mar 2013, 19:38
Location: warrington,north west

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by stanogs68 »

Somewere to hide it from the missus usually :D
love your familly
User avatar
lambrettadave
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 2919
Joined: 11 Apr 2011, 15:50
Call Sign: TM455
Location: sunderland
Contact:

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by lambrettadave »

Words like, this was my grandad half cousins radio. Or found in the attic..
I usually just want to find rig's that I have seen and thought that was something I would like to own.
CALL SIGN 26TM455 OPERATOR DAVE QTH SUNDERLAND

http://www.flickr.com/photos/88011785@N06/ for CB magazine.reviews

http://www.youtube.com/user/lambrettadave7 for some vids of my radios.
User avatar
astradyne
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 10985
Joined: 14 Jun 2010, 09:28
Location: Dunny On The Wolds
Contact:

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by astradyne »

stanogs68 wrote: 08 Apr 2022, 23:48 Somewere to hide it from the missus usually :D
:lol:
Never, ever, ever....bloody anything ever!

Far too many radio's to list here. But I do own a legal one...
User avatar
Mudslinger
Legend
Legend
Posts: 7483
Joined: 28 Jul 2010, 07:11
Location: Oxfordshire

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by Mudslinger »

Dirty radios are usually a good shout, often you find that they are in almost mint condition under the dirt.

Plus because of the dirt they usually cost less to buy.

What I don't like is radios which smell of stale cigarettes, it is almost impossible to get rid of the smell so they get sold on pretty quickly.
Mudslinger - Simon
26TM274
26CT612

There is no such thing as a Fidelity 1000 which is too good to scrap.
The Collector
Legend
Legend
Posts: 8666
Joined: 23 Jan 2010, 19:26
Location: Bristol-ish

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by The Collector »

Mudslinger wrote: 14 Apr 2022, 13:33 Dirty radios are usually a good shout, often you find that they are in almost mint condition under the dirt.

Plus because of the dirt they usually cost less to buy.

What I don't like is radios which smell of stale cigarettes, it is almost impossible to get rid of the smell so they get sold on pretty quickly.
...and literally coated in a gold, sticky, then slimy coating of nicotine. You don't want to get that under your nails whilst cleaning it...yuk... so it's marigolds on time!
User avatar
Mudslinger
Legend
Legend
Posts: 7483
Joined: 28 Jul 2010, 07:11
Location: Oxfordshire

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by Mudslinger »

I don't keep nicotine coated radios, they are cleaned as best I can then they get sold on straight away.

The smell makes me feel sick.

One thing that almost gets rid of the smell is car brake cleaner spray, but you need to be careful around some plastics.
Mudslinger - Simon
26TM274
26CT612

There is no such thing as a Fidelity 1000 which is too good to scrap.
The Collector
Legend
Legend
Posts: 8666
Joined: 23 Jan 2010, 19:26
Location: Bristol-ish

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by The Collector »

The Collector wrote: 08 Apr 2022, 21:20 I look for the wording " Fidelity 1000FM" for starters, or maybe "Amstrad" if I'm a bit desperate ;)

Seriously though, usually anything UK40 that I've never seen before. Even if it's rough but rare, I'll try and win it if my wallet allows.

Lately I've run out of unusual UK stuff so I've moved onto older SSB stuff to stop me getting bored! It's a bit expensive for me though.

Well I messed up, I've just bought a Flid 2000 and a 3000 job-lot. Must've had too much Pernod again ;)
Astro fantom
Regular
Regular
Posts: 52
Joined: 13 Feb 2017, 21:10

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by Astro fantom »

I try to look for a origonal un modified boxed ssb radios that i used to own back in the day so im living my youth again buying the stuff i already owned and sold off years ago for cheap money
Now im paying stupid money for old radios just for nostalgia purposes altho i do use the old hygain 2795dx as a daily hack..
I dont have too many radios but im picky about the condition of the ones i do buy so ones smelling of cigarettes are a no go and i wont touch any with missing parts or wrong parts like knobs ect..
Nice origonal radio preferably boxed not too fussed if
The box is tatty but something thats been in a cupboard for years unused…
Buy it and send it straight to nick to be serviced
26mb04
Super Member
Super Member
Posts: 257
Joined: 23 Nov 2017, 20:14
Call Sign: 26DG01
Location: Democratic Peoples Republic of Devon

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by 26mb04 »

I look for honesty. Words like "been in the garage since 2005" tell me far more than "it looks really nice, I used to be a CBer, I got 600 miles once".
Sent from my GP300 using DTMF
User avatar
cb4ever104
Legend
Legend
Posts: 6551
Joined: 28 Jul 2011, 21:26
Location: Alicante , España

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by cb4ever104 »

Astro fantom wrote: 11 Sep 2022, 19:20 Now im paying stupid money for old radios just for nostalgia purposes
Think we've all been guilty of that .
30TM060
Paul aka "Sammy". (108) PY60 Old Paisley DX Group (RIP Rab Markie)
Ex GM0 , now EA5 .
Handle "Fortune Hunter" back in "the day"
Radios ....? Anything that says "TAIWAN R.O.C" on the back.
The Collector
Legend
Legend
Posts: 8666
Joined: 23 Jan 2010, 19:26
Location: Bristol-ish

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by The Collector »

Yeah..guilty as charged M'lud.
I paid £40 for a new, old stock Fidelity 1000. I must be mental.
User avatar
NightProwler
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 3404
Joined: 08 Feb 2012, 22:31
Call Sign: 163TM186
Location: South Wales

Re: What do YOU look for when buying a used radio ?

Post by NightProwler »

The best way to stop noticing cigarette smoke on radio's is to start chain smoking :D
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
Post Reply