President Bill 2

[BountyHunter549]

Hey everyone,first time poster here. My Bill 2 has a RM Italy KL300P going to a Stryker A10.The SWR is 1.1 on channel and 1.3 on 40.In the menu I have the PL set at 90 and the PL at 60.This info I gathered on youtube.I don't have the equipment to tune my radio and KL300 to get maximum output.Any here had any experience on the proper settings I should use? Thanks!

 

[slowmover]

“Maximum” won’t change range so much. If your separate SWR/PWR meter shows your outputting 2-4W, then you’ll be driving the amp adequately for it to operate well.

Time & Attention needs to go to the antenna system. Chasing and solving noise problems (CMC & RF), and if mobile, having the right antenna by spec plus a permanent mount. (Plus clean power from battery).

Xtra power is a crutch that won’t solve what’s wanted past a point that’s relatively low (45W, say), what’s wanted is clarity in TX & DX that we hear, and get heard. CB is greatly aided by DSP filtration (NRC; Noise Reduction Circuitry) now found on a range of radios. Earlier ones can’t compete very well (I have a shelf full).

Amps add distortion when driven hard. And — like the radio — are dependent on systems (antenna + power) to work their best.

The radios I can work from the greatest distance out on the highway are with roof-mount permanent antennas and ordinary export radios.

Same essentially will be true for a base station rig. Xtra power won’t matter. The radio will fade fairly soon with a less-than-ideal set-up.

An NRC-version radio plus best antenna system operating off of clean 12V pushing 2-4W into that 300 will suffice for long-life and good range.

Ears precede having a loud mouth. Have to be able to clearly hear as far or farther than one can transmit. NRC is what you’re wanting versus trying for signal strength boost past what you have already.

Xtra power is just leverage to get above the noise floor. Systems do the rest.

 

[slowmover]

This long-case radio is now at a fantastic bargain price as a newer shorter case version is being introduced. Won’t really need an amp except “maybe” on Sideband. Last week it was $100 higher and represented a bargain, then, in performance leap over non-NRC radios. (Took $5-600 with older gear like yours, but better, to match it).

The radio you have doesn’t come close in features or performance even good as it is in quality.



Chasing “power” is a short race.

Clarity is what’s wanted.

Leave the radios alone.
They’re already good to go.

An external HQ speaker will change your experience, also.



I went and had a look at a BILL video. Tailoring mic spec is nice to try, but changing output power won’t be of help where it starts to distort-a-watt. 6-8W won’t change what 2-4W was already doing for you, but it could make it noisier.

I’ve a number of KL amps. Expect that 1/2 of advertised power is where they’ll run well and last a long time without making a nuisance of themselves. (Generally).

The radio above will run circles around yours even though it’s “less powerful” than your Bill 2 + 300.

The job description is to overcome the deficiencies of the other mans radio rig. Power ain’t the answer so much as we want to clearly hear and be heard as this is true performance when on the road.

Read around.

This man is chasing high performance mobile

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[BountyHunter549]

Correcting a mistake I made the AL is set at 60.The KL300's won't last long if driven with more than two watts.I have the President Noise Reduction mic as I like having the channel selector on the mic.My radio has the Yaesu MLS-100 external speaker.The Stryker A10 is sitting in the middle of the cab's roof.Back in the day there were CB shops everywhere now I would have to drive one state over to find one.Just wanted to maximize and protect my investment.

 

[slowmover]

From 2-4W ought to be good.

Mag mount antennas not real happy with high power. 50W ballpark always works.

This reference will carrry one far:

Mobile Install Bible

Radio linked above or any others with integrated NRC will be a big jump for you with/without any changes in features.

PRESIDENT HARRISON or ANYTONE 500 are the bargains in AM/FM and size. Youll be able to hear what your current radio cannot filter, and it’ll be a better match to your current power output. You’ll get more from that antenna (a Wilson 5000 clone; well-regarded).

2024 radios with NRC are not 1989 performance spec any longer.

Forgot earlier to say, Welcome!



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[niceguy71]

you really should get a cheap watt meter to make sure you're not putting too many watts into that amp;,,,, they say 1.5 to 2.0 watts is good overall for both radio and amp
like the look of that little radio and President makes good stuff... heard great stuff about that amp.... and heard fantastic things said about that Stryker antenna... should be a great system for you!

if it works well, you should be all done... but if the performance is not too good you may have to put some RF bonding straps on the pick-up..... if it doesn't work out too good you can watch this guys video on RF Bonding.... your pick up Bed and Cab are NOT connected to each other and the RF signal will not flow from one to the other.... same with the hood and the cab.... and same with the frame hood cab and bed.... so you might have to put 1 1/4" wide RF Bonding straps around the truck
..... some wise people have told me the RF Bonding does nothing!!!! and some other really wise people on this forum swear by it... I did it to my pick-up and I think it helped a great deal.... the body to frame mounts are huge rubber mounts that the Cab and Bed sit on.... but if you get a multi meter you will find they hardly conduct from frame to Bed and frame to Cab..... it will conduct.... but RF needs a lot of metal to flow really well..... more than the body mounts bolts allow...... ( I only learned all this last year if you want to see my past posts) hopefully you won't need the RF Bonding.