About

The blog started in 2013 as a therapy in some ways as wanted to say things my way and not how editors and others wanted me to do it. After almost 36 years of writing for others, towing the lines of no offense it was time to say how I wanted to say things! Since then the blog has proved that our hobby has it’s lovers and its haters. We’ve now over 7 million hits with readers in over 180 countries and territories.

Bio:

The CB World is borderless, without barriers! To dedicate to one place is a poor joke. We all must be worldwide and not tied to a region! Skip isn’t why should we be?

CB Radio from 1978 on AM and SSB from 1979-1980 onwards

Think I’m currently President radios oldest, youngest customer.

First time on air first radio President (Active from a car outside a school Greenhouse. Antenna Avanti 6ft)

I’ve used most brands of radio. Remember the old timer producers like CTE / Midland / Cobra / Uniden They are among the CB pioneers.

2018 Celebrating 40 years on air… CB Radio.

Instagram: simonthewizard_blog

Been active from over 30 countries in my time. Still active on air till now.

The blog is just for the love of the hobby and it’s popular as it’s copied in Spain, Poland and even in Britain I’m copied. Not bad for a simple iPad and mobile internet run blog.

Note: I’m not on air so much these days due to other radio activities behind the scenes whether it be product testing, development or simply just having a few hours off from the blog.

The NeedleBenders Club was officially founded by “The Coax Kidd”, out of California, back in 1973. The Coax Kidd started a club that consisted of only the Elite Operators and Big Strappers, that he chose, in competition with other clubs in existence at that time. 

42 comments

    • Scalar Wave Information Hello Simon: Have you tried using tesla’s scalar wave receiver or transmitters ? I have been working off and on one. So far the antenna works well on EM wave receivers very well and can pick up the waves too. Thank you. Walter

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  8. Nice to read your intro, I got into CB around 1978/79 also whilst in North Devon.
    My first home base was a President Dwight D 80ch and a friend had a Maddison.
    That got me into SSB but couldn’t afford a Maddison so treated myself (dad bought me) a President Grant (80Ch version with FM on a separate button).
    Then it all went “1981” on us…
    it was something about the look of the Presidents that did it for me (even had the extension speaker on the Dwight…
    upgraded the Dwight D to a Stalker xx and then the addiction went mad.
    here we are in 2020 and I am just getting back into it again.
    Just picked up a Lafayette 1200FM as it was priced right so hope for a few DX’s.
    73’s Spence

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    • Hi Simon, was into c.b in early 80s and cobra 148 with cp 163 linear and moonraker 6 mag mount, joined the JR club 1983 and it was very active then.never gave up my love and as c.b radio faded I took the ham radio exams all of them, but kept the callsign 2e0 JJR and have been very active,wife was also into it and also a ham so that’s how we are where we are,because we are quite elderly now we use 20 metres, 10 and 17, odd 11 falls into and lot of 6 metres, .live here on the north coast of cornwall and not hearing too many JRS from here.i am still doing a lot of horticulture as that’s my love and studied for 3 years at Cannington Somerset,using yaesu 847, icom 736, kenwood ts 50 and others , be safe and good dx ray ellery on qrz.com.

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  9. i have not ventured down the C,B band for years until today and alot of mixed emmotions,memories and great times came flooding back oh how i wish we could go back to those years,but time moves on,i hope i shall read some more as i loved that jolly roger group and was jr521, what memories, keep up the good work

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    • Hi Ray 477 back at you. Come join the Jolly Rogers on Facebook! John 00 and Martin 40 on there too. Just type Jolly Roger DX Group in search on Facebook and join the gang .

      And yes “wish we could go back to those years” wise words !!!

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  10. Hello,

    I am looking for a site to buy a Radiozing L25 for my Albrecht 2990. Anyone have any information on this subject please?

    Best regards !

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  11. If you do close your Blog this year, will you consider keeping it online? It’s a valuable resource of material and my goto site for mods and fixes!

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  12. Hi there,
    top website!
    Fuond u while searching for infos about the nanfon cb-589.
    u may have an manual for that cb-radio?
    greetz!

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  13. Hi Simon, I’ve being following your blog and YouTube ch for a few years. It’s great, Thankyou for taking the time to keep us informed of what’s out there. Looks like we have both been playing with radios for about the same amount of time. I got my first SSB radio in 1980 a Cobra 148gtl-dx from the nappy factory in rugby warks. Took the RAE in 1984 but still have a passion for 11m. Thanks again.
    Dave

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  14. Hello Simon:
    I am a amateur radio operator in Rocksprings, Tx 78880.
    My call is WD4PLB.
    I have been looking at you videos, they are very good an informative.
    What is your call sign?
    Thank you.
    Walter

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  15. Bonjour Simon,
    Je m’appel Adrian et j’habite en FRANCE, en Normandie.
    J’ai acheter récemment une CB Albrecht AE2990AFS en France bien évidement et je suis très content Je souhaiter l’équiper d’un amplificateur Albrecht L25, (Radiozing L-25), mais impossible de trouver en France. Peut tu me donner une idée ou je pourrais me procurer cet amplificateur Radiozing L-25. Merci
    Mon mail de contact est: isolexpert@yahoo.fr

    Hello Simon,
    My name is Adrian and I live in FRANCE, in Normandy.
    I recently bought a CB Albrecht AE2990AFS in France of course and I am very happy I wish to equip an amplifier Albrecht L25 (Radiozing L-25), but impossible to find in France. Can you give me an idea or I could get this Radiozing L-25 amplifier. Thank you

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  17. Simon,

    I just wanted to let you know that have purchased the new 447 hpc2, according to Stryker I am the first buyer in Texas

    Now my reviews of this radio is in few select words chosen:

    I am very impressed with features
    It is a great talking little radio
    Very good recieve
    And list goes on and on

    I am 318 (rubberduck) from the lone star state

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    • Hi There 318 that’s brilliant news indeed. Not seen, heard or wasn’t sure they were out there now so brilliant and very kind of you to let me know. If you make any videos etc or wish to tell all here about the radio then use the contact and drop me a line, blog is yours to feature it.

      Regards
      Simon

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  18. Hello.
    I just purchased a Thunderpole Galaxy 5/8 and i was wondering will the Fire-up tip which is designed Antron 99 fit the
    Thunderpole Galaxy 5/8 ? and what does it work like.
    please let me know when you got time.
    Thank You
    Wayne, 26FB3456

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    • Hi Wayne. Yes it fits but for me i had a few swr issues and top heavy weight in strong wind. When got swr ok it worked well. Mine was a Sigma EU fire up and not original A99.
      Regards
      Simon

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  19. Hi Simon, just read your latest on the home-page, I’ve got to say that when you mention to keep our eyes peeled for a very keenly priced 0-30Mhz rig, I had been wondering just how long it would take. My latest radio, the Yaesu FT450d took a dive in price recently, also it’s made in China, I’m no rocket scientist, but I can put 2 and 2 together!
    73s, Andy, 26CT636. (Monster)

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  20. Hi Simon,

    Thanks for taking the time to reply. I have just seen another amends to throw a spanner in the works…. It’s a Thunderpole Galaxy 5/8. I see that you have also done a short video review on it. I’m planning on mounting a 11 Meter antenna onto a 21ft scaffold pole so with any of the 3 I’ve seen height is not an issue is more ease of use in terms of coverage and this antenna seems a better compromise as its shorter and it covers the mid block and UK 40 with ease plus up to 28.555 from what I’ve seen mentioned.Other than the extra length of the TP5, is there any reason why I should look at the TP5 over the galaxy 5/8??

    Merry Christmas Simon 🙂

    Mike.

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    • Hi Mike,

      I use at the moment the Thunderpole Galaxy 5/8 which I bought from the maker as the Sigma Eurocomm Skipmaster 2011 which was an idea I had when added a Fire-UP tip from an A99 in the top of the original antenna that Paul and Terry designed and from that, via prototype came the Skipmaster 2011. Mine at the moment is located some 6fr from the ground on a small pole and makes for me 26965-27991 and needs some tuning to really make it work more with that (with ease) but I like mine. 4.35m Long and worked in the past weeks: UK, America, Spain, New Caledonia, Reunion Island, Austria @450km away from me, Poland, all with 50w and DX5000 so not moaning.
      The antenna needs at least a clear horizon, meaning no metal roof nearby as effects the SWR, it can hear well, seems to take the storms here also.
      SO, yes take a look at http://www.sigmaeurocomm.co.uk as they make the antennas and also look at the A99 as it will give more bandwidth but at the moment I am on the Galaxy 5.8 here and the A99 is lay on the floor in the spare room on the pole for erecting in the air. Was going do it today, weather and time changed my mind
      Read you soon, and huge greetings for a Merry Christmas back to you also

      Simon 73

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  21. Hi again Simon,

    Thanks for the reply to my earlier question. I always enjoy watching your YouTube videos and one that I have came across is the Thunderpole 5 review. I’m looking for a nice 10/11 Meter and I’m toying with buying either the Antron 99 or the Thunderpole 5. Is the Antron 99 pre tuned from the factory? I’m ideally looking for an antenna to cover the U.K and CEPT band and maybe another block of 40 channels. From what I’ve seen, the Antron covers a wider frequency range once set compared to the TP5 and I’m thinking of ease of use should I decide to switch frequencies later on it’s only a matter of turning the tuning rings on the Antron compared to cutting or having to buy another whip section like I would with the TP5.

    What’s your take on both?

    Mike.

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    • Morning Mike

      Sorry for the delay I was out of the country. Yes you are correct the A99 will come tuned (normally mid band) and will be fine on the SWR from around 28400 down to 26500 and then a small twist of the rings can make the SWR better up the band or lower down the band. Thunderpole 5 on average will be more narrow banded and run maximum id say 80 channels and some instances maybe 120 but seems to depend on installation, QTH and other matters.
      TP5 comes with either the whip cut or you measure and cut the whip, antron will be ready almost from the box. Sure you need check the rings are locked and that the SWR is ok with the meter but should on the whole be fine. Ive worked myself in the lifetime of my A99 maybe 200 countries or more and this year the TP5 or the Skipmaster 2011 as I use both have netted me 85 countries so works well also.
      But for the wider amount of frequencies then you do need the A99

      Warm Wishes
      Simon

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  22. Hi Simon,

    Thinking of buying a CRE 8900,V3. How easy is it to have it modified to utilise a proper analogue S meter?

    Mike.

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    • Hi Mike

      Honestly you need a technical guy to sort it. Yes it can be done as only needs a feeder point off the board and minus to a can. If you know someone then all well and good, otherwise http://www.hm-funk.de and takes around 4/6 weeks to get it done and returned id estimate.
      73 Simon

      Like

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