QYT CB-27 CB Mobile Radio 26.965-27.405MHz AM/FM 12/24V 4 W LCD Screen Shortware Citizen Band Multi-Norms Ham CB Mobile Radio CB 27

First up, you have to realize that this radio is a rebox of the main circuit board of the Anytone Apollo II/Stryker SR-94HPC transceiver minus the 40W power amp. The QYT box is also known as the CRT-2000 and maybe another couple different Chinese derived CB radios. The only difference between this radio and the others is the front panel.Thus, whatever you can say about the Stryker or Anytone as far as performance, capabilities, easy of modification for non-CB, or amateur radio usage, also applies to this radio. Clip a wire, do the appropriate push buttons on start up and you can get a radio that runs between 28.6 to 28.795 MHz on the 10m amateur band in 5kHz increments in AM or FM at 4W or 8W. Or you can configure it as a CB radio that only does US/EU 40 channels, AM or FM at 4W max. Or you can go "free band" between only 26.694 and 27.405 MHz (the US/EU 40 channel CB band), AM or FM, at 4W or 8W. How to do this is all on the InterNet.One important thing: This radio does not have the "BND" (band) menu button anywhere on or in it. It's a mono band radio. You get US CB channels 01 to 40, 26.965 to 27.405 MHz. If you try to use it on the ham bands, it will only cover 28.6 to 28.795 MHz. And "free band" coverage is the US CB band, 26.694 to 27.405. You can't go above or below those band limits, unlike the Stryker version of this radio, which is much wider in coverage.So what's the difference? Well, on the QYT CB-27 the front panel is not so ergonomically arranged. The menu items on the display and the function buttons associated with them are not next to each other, which makes figuring which buttons to push a bit of a hassle, at least until you get used to the klutzy-ness of that.And the QYT CB-27 has the CTCSS (tone squelch) board already installed, which the other Chinese clones do not. Why this board is on what is sold as a CB radio but not on the radios sold as amateur 10m radios is beyond my understanding. The CTCSS function is somewhat of a necessity for a ham radio, even at 10m, which is the selling point of the Anytone and Stryker boxes. Having CTCSS on CB is like having an appendix. It's there, you don't know what to do with it, and it'll might eventually cause you some trouble.After that what you have is a fairly functional CB radio with numerous options. As with the other radios, the RF gain control controls signal levels as an attenuator. The squelches (carrier and automatic squelch) are menu button features that require pushing or holding a button and then dialing in the setting you want, something you do not want to be doing while you're cruising down the highway. Audio volume is controlled the same way: a menu button and dialing in the setting you want. You can mute the audio by tapping the power button.It's a CB radio, plain and simple.As a CB radio, the QYT CB-27 delivers. Good audio transmit & receive; roger beep for those who want that annoyance, an emergency setting that rotates through channels 9, 19 and the last channel you were on (which strangely enough changes mode to FM if you're running the radio "free band" style). A solid 4W output and a front panel SWR display.Definifely five stars as a CB radio, even though you'll probably never use the CTCSS. Not a bad radio for ham or "free band" purposes. And yes, it does do FM repeater splits. Another menu button. (Note also that the CB setting is locked in to the US/Canadian AM channel settings. You can't change it to Polish or British CB channelization.)Only the weird placement of the menu buttons relative to the screen makes this radio less than ergonomic, something you should seriously think about if you're going to put this radio in a vehicle. The last thing you want to be doing while zipping down the road is having to remember or try to figure out which buttons to push, something that makes the Stryker or Anytone versions of this same box much more attractive if only slightly more expensive. All of which knocks a star off the rating for me.

Great radio for the price. Good RX and TX. Easily programmable with a laptop. Small and compact. It would almost fit in your back pocket. Mic is SUPER sensitive. I leave it laying on the desk when I key. Needs to be converted if you want to use it on 11 meter, but it's very easy. Great with an RM Italy amp. The downside is, you have to hit a function button to turn the volume down, but it's not a deal breaker. I'd give it a 7 or 8 out of 10.