Make
Alan
Model
560
Overview
The Alan 560 is a vintage CB base station transceiver produced during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Manufactured under the Alan brand (associated with Midland), it is a solid-state AM/SSB radio designed for fixed-station operation on the 11-meter band. It provides both standard AM communication and single sideband capability for extended range.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Alan (Midland) |
| Model | 560 |
| Type | CB base station transceiver |
| Service | 11-meter CB |
| Channels | 40 channels |
| Modulation | AM / USB / LSB |
| Frequency Range | 26.965 – 27.405 MHz |
| Power Source | 120 VAC |
| Construction | Solid-state |
| Channel Control | Synthesized (PLL) |
| Speaker | Internal speaker |
Physical Description
The Alan 560 is housed in a metal desktop cabinet intended for base station use. The front panel includes controls for channel selection, volume, squelch, RF gain, and mode selection (AM, USB, LSB), along with a clarifier control for fine tuning. An analog meter is provided for signal strength and transmit indication. The styling is consistent with late-1970s base stations, featuring a larger enclosure and clearly labeled controls. Internally, the unit uses printed circuit boards with solid-state components.
History
The Alan 560 was introduced following the expansion of the CB service to 40 channels in 1977. It represents a higher-performance class of CB radios, offering single sideband operation for improved communication range and efficiency. The Alan brand, closely associated with Midland, produced a wide range of CB equipment for both U.S. and international markets during this period.