The SBE Console V
Though this is not, strictly speaking, a ham radio,
the Console was my first base transceiver. It is a CB rig, but it is a deluxe
one. It feeds into a 5/8 wave antenna. This unit covers the 40 channel
27mhz band, formerly the ham 11 meter band. The band was taken from ham
operators, back in the fifties, and given over to the new Citizens Band
Radio Service. This was intended as a short range communication service
for the average citizen, who was not technically astute, and had no wish
to be. Power was limited to four watts, and usage was limited to short
duration, non business use. The service was also not to be for hobby use,
or for casual conversation. The initial intention was for the service to
be used for emergencies, or to enhance outdoor activities (hunting, camping,
hiking). A license was required, except for low powered units, putting
out less than half a watt. The service was soon dominated by kids with walkie talkies, and wannabe hams with base stations.
During the CB craze of the seventies/eighties, I purchased one of the new 40 channel mobiles, and then picked up the Console V. I have had this unit for almost thirty years. This was also when I began to consider ham radio, and when I finally got my CB license. About four months after I got my license, the FCC ruled that a license was no longer required. The CB craze actually ruined CB. Such was the popularity, that enforcement of rules became impossible. The service was left to unlicensed operators, and restrictions are ignored, unless an operator interferes with TV, radio, or some other service.
This was a pretty unusual unit, in terms of quality and features. Despite the spirit and regulation against hobbyist use, this is plainly a radio for a hobbyist, who takes ham radio very seriously. The unit has a wooden case, a heavy duty metal chassis, and can be adjusted and peaked by the user. I immediately replaced the stock, mobile style mike, with a Mura, noise cancelling, power mike. In its initial installation, this radio fed into a Starduster antenna, on a 20' mast, on the roof of our two story town house. On top of all of this, we lived on a hill. I could get anywhere in the Milwaukee metro area on that radio, with that antenna system. When I was operating my base, I used the handle of Starbase, both because of my Starduster antenna, and because I was a bit of a Star Trek enthusiast - hey, it was the late seventies/early eighties, and I was still in my teens.
The Console V is a forty channel unit, which is capable of being used in AM or SSB mode. The SSB mode gives it a practical selection of 120 channels.
Transmitting on the sidebands also triples the effective
power of the transmission. This was one of the more expensive radios on
the market, and was up to the quality of many of the better ham radios.
It has a number of scan, and program features, and has built in indicators
for SWR, as well as transmitted, and received power. The transmit and receive
are excellent, as is the construction of the unit. This was a product of
the hey day of CB radio, when it's popularity caused it to be taken very
seriously by equipment manufacturers. The unit can be operated on 12 volts
or off of household current.