The Recent Past
Adjunct Value
PRESIDENT Lincoln II +, V.2 or V.3
As to
Best Mobile CB re running the
Linc2 in my pickup it’s pretty darn nice, overall. This calendar year has had it in use more days (but not more hours) than in ‘21 or ‘22. (A non-
NRC radio).
Except:
1). The controls are a bear while moving.
2). The
white noise aspect of RX is off-putting.
3). While “best” circa 2012 intro thru 2022 per mobile SSB, it’s not same class as G2 or QT80.
4). It’s a little quirky asked to be consistent (mind of its own; I admire this, actually).
5). The ASC feature I find almost worthless (amount of use).
6). Finicky in pushing an amp.
Positives
1). Its head & shoulders above its pre-NRC competitors in sensitive performance.
2). If a signal is captured it’s not only audible, it’s almost as good in audio as someone closer.
3). Wasn’t designed as an 11M radio, the target is closer to Amateurs getting a start with 10/12M.
4). Compact size: it’s
very impressive in this given features.
5. Controls quality is great. “Linearity” is better than many.
6). I’d choose another, happily.
7). Can run
all brand accessories.
As above, with DSP with outboard devices in addition, it’s impressive.
But at $300 + $225 + $50 equalling almost $600 it’s not price competitive any longer.
Reason for Post?
It’s possible that these are now for sale “used” in the NRC-era at attractive prices.
A few years on, maybe acquisition would have been desirable (reasons speculative).
The fans of this radio used stationary (POTA-style, parked somewhere with antenna deployed) have many hours into
HAM Radio, Jr and it was their DX excursions via
Skip which caused me to want one.
It doesn’t disappoint. I was concerned the CV19 ruse would be used to affect import items and got one as soon as I could (10-long months).
SHTF, this would be a great radio to have turned-on and tuned-in via base station set-up where
reliability coupled to performance givens as a true
high performance CB would free up use of an NRC radio to go into a mobile as but
one example.
Wandering around the place with a Liberty wireless DECT speaker/mic might be “highest value” over being strapped to radio room chair staring at an actually less capable NRC radio.
Were I the one
mobile trying to make his difficult way back to home base,
concerns about base radio reliability per design & construction were it a
Linc wouldn’t be a stressor. It’s a confidence-inspiring radio.
This is the radio which, IMO, is head & shoulders above other AM/SSB radios pre-NRC. And — it’s fair to say — probably
more reliable long-term than the low price brands being pushed at us lately.
— I don’t think anyone is giving these away (brand
and model rate highly),
but if they were . . . .
Its “replacement” (I don’t know if that’s “official”, so-to-speak) is the
Washington. Are they perfect feature “mirrors” of each other?
I’ll let someone better qualified cover that.
This post is to try to align
value with the typical NRC AM/SSB radio of
today where bleeding edge performance isn’t the point.
Known Quantity
Reputation
Abilities
As I lately run long errands loops into the nearest town or the major metro (25k population on a major traffic E-W Interstate; then to
8-million metro) there’s not anything I’m giving up in
general purpose performance compared to NRC given device outboards.
Whether it’s the 32-mile roundtrips or the 100-mile ones, the
deficiencies of the other mans radio are overcome
and I can
Hear, and Get Heard albeit at the higher cost in expense and installation (thus maintenance) a pre-NRC radio rig required. With which I’d ten years experience.
I could dial back what are “deficiencies” (aggravations) compared to the
Linc by running my preferred
GALAXY DX-959b as the latter was “better” at allowing me to distinguish near from far TX,
but were I to stop and erect a portable antenna that preference would cease immediately. The 959 preference is really for big truck only. Which was nation-wide operation. Combined base & mobile, so to speak. VG receiver, but deficient on SSB compared to
Linc.
— I also can’t run PRESIDENT accessories on the 959 (wireless speaker/mic; for exiting vehicle out to 100M).
As you can see, the sheer number of controls makes full-use of 959 features a long-term exercise in familiarity to get the most from 1989-spec Hi-Perf.
I “knew” — without having to think about it — what exact control
set of changes was required to keep things at what was best.
Without days-on-end use in every condition imaginable this familiarity isn’t going to surface.
There are those who’ll tell you that the GNF (Galaxy Noise Filter) was pretty much useless. Or, for SSB only.
Wrong. Given the WM DSP Speaker I found
the set of control changes to enhance this performer above and beyond what the designers envisioned.
But it’s the Linc that’s in my RAM TurboDiesel.
The
Linc is easily a 35W radio. The 959b an FCC 4W.
So why isn’t my dual-final 10/12M Galaxy 99 V2 in the pickup?
Good as it is, it’s not
as good as the 959b in terms of
audio clarity coupled to DSP.
For over eight (8) years this was my big truck radio in most cases. It was where my learning curve occurred (ears got trained).
Looks like I’ve gotten pretty far from
2023 Best Mobile, first, and
Lincoln Value, second.
The trip back is:
1). I’m very happy to have any of these as I know intimately what they can do.
2). One’s mobile install precedes any radio in importance.
3).
Radio Capabilities is — in the end — what wins.
— Were an experienced (licensed) Radio Amateur asked to operate the CB mobile or base of another man which radios of the above would bring a sigh of relief?
So . . . if antennas or supplies to make happen 10 & 12M operation is available?
We just got past only a CB.
That operator may someday be you. Or, me.
A family member. A friend.
If a
Linc came your way at a very nice price:
A). It may be for a reason not clear today.
B). It may never happen again.
You’d be glad to own it under that scenario as it’s ears lack almost nothing
despite “perfect” on-frequency SSB being the NRC trump card past internal DSP
where that other radio is features-compatible, generally. (The Quad 5 / QT60 default choice started this thread).
— Working on making the RX audio pleasant would be the task needed.
Dialing back RFG is first step, and external speaker mods, second.
.
The money’s not yet in the budget for another radio so my pickup is getting the pre-NRC L2+ bought in 2021 (a radio introduced circa 2014?). It’s a real step up in SSB performance from yet older radios.
simonthewizard.com
www.hkpro.com
