Pye Bantam - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

G1RAO keith · 25th Nov 2012, 6:33 pm

Hi all,

Just been offered a Pye Bantam for £45 in working order. It would need crystals to get it on two metres but I may just add it to my collection.

Is this a reasonable price for a bit of nostalgia?

Regards Keith.

G6Tanuki · 25th Nov 2012, 7:14 pm

From memory many of the Bantams were AM.

If you want people to talk to you need it to be a FM Bantam. If the one on offer is FM and covers the appropriate frequency-range I'd suggest £10 as a more realistic price.

Remember you're also going to need suitable crystals - these are not cheap (£20 each from someone like QSL) and batteries.

Getting them going could be fun - you have the AF11x/OC17x transistor whiskery-game to play.

G6Tanuki

25th Nov 2012, 9:21 pm

I would say 'if you want LOTS of people to talk to' AM is still used on 2m, but not much.

Dave757 · 26th Nov 2012, 12:19 am

Hi Keith,

My first 2 metre set was one of these, and a lot of fun at the time. I think that they are more of a curiosity today, as they only had a half watt output, and as stated above, to crystal the calling channel on 145.500 plus another working channel would cost £50.

If you do intend to buy one for 2 metres FM, you need the Model HP1FM equipped for 'B' band (132-156MHz). Also make sure it has the battery box for 13 AA cells, as the optional sealed rechargeable pack will be useless due to age.

If you do decide to go ahead, I have a service manual for the FM version and could email you with scans of any info or circuits you might need.

Kind regards,

Dave G0ELJ

G1RAO keith · 26th Nov 2012, 2:07 pm

OK thanks everyone. The set is an AM one and from what you all say it sounds a bit over the top and not worth getting crystals for. I will see if I can get it for less and mention the battery/crystal problems. Thanks for all your help.

Regards, Keith.

Sparky67 · 27th Nov 2012, 1:08 pm

AM Bantams were also made in the old P-band (79-101MHz?) which were used by both police and fire services. They will need a lot of work to get onto anything useable. More than a few Bantams were converted for use in gliders around 130 MHz too. £45 is a bit optimistic - £5 or maybe £10 more realistic Keith, assuming it has it's mic and telescopic antenna, and perhaps the carrying case, with it.

real2real · 28th Nov 2012, 2:03 pm

I have four of them, all AM, average price is around £10.00, crystals are going to cost you around £20-25 each for RX/TX, since the demise of McKnight crystals.

I have three on 4m AM and one on glider band.

Andy G3UEQ

25th Nov 2012, 6:33 pm	#1
G1RAO keith Pentode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bury, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 138	Pye Bantam Hi all, Just been offered a Pye Bantam for £45 in working order. It would need crystals to get it on two metres but I may just add it to my collection. Is this a reasonable price for a bit of nostalgia? Regards Keith. Last edited by Mike Phelan; 26th Nov 2012 at 10:07 am. Reason: Typos.

25th Nov 2012, 7:14 pm	#2
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,998	Re: Pye Bantam From memory many of the Bantams were AM. If you want people to talk to you need it to be a FM Bantam. If the one on offer is FM and covers the appropriate frequency-range I'd suggest £10 as a more realistic price. Remember you're also going to need suitable crystals - these are not cheap (£20 each from someone like QSL) and batteries. Getting them going could be fun - you have the AF11x/OC17x transistor whiskery-game to play. G6Tanuki

25th Nov 2012, 9:21 pm	#3
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Pye Bantam I would say 'if you want LOTS of people to talk to' AM is still used on 2m, but not much.

26th Nov 2012, 12:19 am	#4
Dave757 Heptode Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Scratby, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 650	Re: Pye Bantam Hi Keith, My first 2 metre set was one of these, and a lot of fun at the time. I think that they are more of a curiosity today, as they only had a half watt output, and as stated above, to crystal the calling channel on 145.500 plus another working channel would cost £50. If you do intend to buy one for 2 metres FM, you need the Model HP1FM equipped for 'B' band (132-156MHz). Also make sure it has the battery box for 13 AA cells, as the optional sealed rechargeable pack will be useless due to age. If you do decide to go ahead, I have a service manual for the FM version and could email you with scans of any info or circuits you might need. Kind regards, Dave G0ELJ

26th Nov 2012, 2:07 pm	#5
G1RAO keith Pentode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bury, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 138	Re: Pye Bantam OK thanks everyone. The set is an AM one and from what you all say it sounds a bit over the top and not worth getting crystals for. I will see if I can get it for less and mention the battery/crystal problems. Thanks for all your help. Regards, Keith.

27th Nov 2012, 1:08 pm	#6
Sparky67 Heptode Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Great Barr, Sandwell, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 589	Re: Pye Bantam AM Bantams were also made in the old P-band (79-101MHz?) which were used by both police and fire services. They will need a lot of work to get onto anything useable. More than a few Bantams were converted for use in gliders around 130 MHz too. £45 is a bit optimistic - £5 or maybe £10 more realistic Keith, assuming it has it's mic and telescopic antenna, and perhaps the carrying case, with it. Last edited by Sparky67; 27th Nov 2012 at 1:14 pm.

28th Nov 2012, 2:03 pm	#7
real2real Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Barnham, Nr Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 40	Re: Pye Bantam I have four of them, all AM, average price is around £10.00, crystals are going to cost you around £20-25 each for RX/TX, since the demise of McKnight crystals. I have three on 4m AM and one on glider band. Andy G3UEQ