Tram D201A or a Browning Golden Eagle Mark III?

[Jester]

Hi Again,

This week is going to monumental in my CB radio hobby, mainly because this is the time of the year I do my taxes and get my refund! And with my refund this year, I am going to buy myself 1 nice OLDER radio for my collection. I will also be using it, so I want something nice...however, I am torn between the Tram D201A, and the Browning Golden Eagle Mark III with the VFO...

I know this is a tough choice, but what are your opinions? I would be using it for SSB mainly, but I'll still use it on AM too. I just want a "crown jewel of CB's heyday" in my radio room here, and these have been radios I have long lusted over, if thats an appropriate term...

Thanks for your input!

[928bolo]

They both are great radios. I have both, and prefer the Mark III. I like the receiver and the transmit audio on the Mark III a little more.

The 201A is prone to problems with the crystal selector switch. The Mark III is a tank and very reliable (make sure the VFO is installed properly).

[tramster]

i have the complete series of Golden Eagles as well as Trams Titan II,D201 & D201A and find that in the Browning's the Mark II is the better of the radios stout audio and excellent receiver with the Collins mechanical filter. out of the Trams the D201's are to far better than the Browning's as well as the D201A's that are prone to heat problems as well a faulty channel selector which is a square black one on the crystal side of the D201A. i prefer the D201's that have the direct wiring that sum refer to as the hand-wire version the last model built in the USA. the second generation D201 & D201A's were assembled in Mexico. but to me the Tram D201's are little better than the Browning's and easier to work on. also with the Tram D201's you can use the manual tuning side to give you up to channel 55.

[chubbypigfarmer]

Listen to Tramster, he hit the nail on the head. I have or have had most tram models and unless its a hard wired version of a D201 with the VOX they are prone to heat problems.

I recommend

Tram Titan (my every day radio)
Tram Titan II
Tram Titan IIa
Tram D-201 hard wired with VOX

My favorite Browning is the Mark II, I have a 4 piece with the seperate am and ssb transmitters and the transadapter that switches between the two transmitters.