AT6666 vs QT80 vs ?

[EAFrizzle]

FM caught on in the 90s, long before any "legal" CB radios had it. All my SSB/freeband crowd used it all the time, meaning, when we were traveling as a group. It's great for crystal clear short-range comms, but SSB was our usual mode anywhere except channel 19.

At legal power limits, FM on CB is just for your private convoy. Find a quiet channel, set a tone squelch, and gitchyerself on down the road with little interference. AM and SSB are king when you need to reach outside your own group. If you really want to talk with FM clarity  and get the best range per watt, get your ham or GMRS ticket and use a band where FM is king.

 

[kc2asb]

So I found some blather on the inter webs saying many FM'ers use Channel 29. I listened to 29 for a few hours and heard nothing. Everything around here seems to be AM from 1-30 and LSB 35-40. AM actually sounds good on my 7300, but some of the radios out there sound like absolute crap.

That is essentially the same here, although enough use AM on 35-40 to be annoying. Properly modulated AM sounds great. Just listen to the AM nets on 80m -the sound is rich and warm. The golden screwdrivers get into their radios and think over-modulation with a power mic is the way to go

The best sounding AM CB, which I still own, is a Realistic TRC-30A. Bought it used over 30 years ago for $15. The previous owner tweaked it, so the modulation is louder than stock, but not distorted. It's just right, and that radio has received many compliments on the air. Have it hooked to a D-104 desk mic

 

[kc2asb]

FM caught on in the 90s, long before any "legal" CB radios had it. All my SSB/freeband crowd used it all the time, meaning, when we were traveling as a group. It's great for crystal clear short-range comms, but SSB was our usual mode anywhere except channel 19.

The late 80's - mid 90's (high school into college days) was the heyday of my CB activity. Many of us had 2510's and 2950's. I don't remember FM being used among our group. Maybe once or twice just to try it out, but never regularly.

At legal power limits, FM on CB is just for your private convoy. Find a quiet channel, set a tone squelch, and gitchyerself on down the road with little interference. AM and SSB are king when you need to reach outside your own group. If you really want to talk with FM clarity  and get the best range per watt, get your ham or GMRS ticket and use a band where FM is king.

Makes sense. AM and SSB will not be matched for distant contacts.

 

[slowmover]

I’ve several now old-type radios regularly receive compliments unasked. It’s gratifying to know one has hit the mark.

But what I enjoy more today is that the NRC mobile units are found to be uncanny. The clarity is high, yes, but it’s that one’s voice arises from a background of silence gets their attention. The vocal details are balanced, not processed (to state it one way).

Home stations have more they can do. I speak of mobile units where one is almost always trying to get info on the road up ahead. Cacophony can reign, so clean power and a normal-sounding voice are a leg up.

What state?
What road?
What mile marker?
What direction?
Nature of problem?

It’s not fast & easy to be able to get these five. Especially if there’s a problem in another state also on an Interstate during Skip.

Not so long ago I about jumped out of my seat as reports of a heavy, fast-moving fire came up. A mile marker not that far ahead (20-miles).

It was a relief to know it was in another state.
NRC and 45W saved the day on that one. Usually — but not always can one tell Local from Skip.

I was already grabbing the Atlas to figure out which way to turn and run if I could determine cross-current. Figured I had less than ten minutes.

I was down to my 6-7” limit before location was established. Other drivers coming unglued is a serious threat when one is in a semi.

Very glad to have had the AT5555-N2 that day. The stock, aligned, GALAXY 959 + amp that preceded it had 2X the power across two antennas that topped 14’, but it didn’t have the attention-getting edge. Just one more radio among many.

I had confirmation both from Skipland and from Locals on 19. Brothers & Cousins unmet till then.

.

 

[niceguy71]

K6GBW I'm really not trying to be a jerk. honestly.​

you've been here for 10 years. always have great information and always helpful. so, you certainly love the hobby.

you've seen all the guys here try and try to talk the new guys out of buying those cheap pieces of junk radios.... the people just keep telling everyone how fantastic the 5555 N II QT-60 and QT80 are..... the ones that have bought them are eternally grateful as they are incredible radios.....

I will always be grateful to SlowMover Merlin PRCGUY and a several others that suggested the 5555 N II to me a couple years ago. it absolutely made the hobby truly fun and fantastic for me!.... I couldn't imagine it with my old Cobra 148GTL or any other radio.

I do a lot of CB stuff on Facebook there are tons of 5555 N II / 6666 groups where people just adore that radio.... it's a whole other hobby with people playing with them reporting on them and modifying them showing them off.... I love reading all the amazing things people get them to do.

anyone in the hobby really should have one. I NEVER thought I would be able to talk to different countries on SSB with a CB...but I'm up to 22 so far!... I always hear guys in California talking to Hawaii and Australia... I try to get in but have never been able to get the guys in Hawaii and Australia to respond... but I do talk to the California guys all the time, and they always seem to be on a 5555 N II / QT 60..... and I'm starting to hear more and more QT 80's now.

on any given day if I go on SSB and talk DX, .... 9 out of 10 users are using the 5555 N II. I have many local users here and they all have the 5555 N II.... they all tell me, anyone would be crazy to have anything different.

seeing you've got a tax return and the radio won't really cost you out of pocket... and you already had a QT60 on your mind.... don't second guess yourself..... I think everyone here will tell you ... you honestly will not be sorry you bought it.

I would really suggest the QT-60 or QT-80 .... personally I like the 5555 N II /QT 60 ( I have three of them) as the display is so perfect and they are tried and true at this point..... but if you think you might put it in the mobile later, the smaller size of the QT-80 and it's 100 watt output is hard to beat! the king of CB's really is the QT-80 or Anytone 6666 PRO .... but it's another $100 bucks. ( $299.99 )

I keep seeing guys in here being told what the best radio is, and they seem to get excited by the QT-60 /QT-80 then a few weeks later they buy some dinky crap from Amazon. and everyone ( at least me ) shakes our heads and says WHY???? but whatever they get we try to be reassuring and say enjoy your new radio...but I'm always totally dumbfounded that they didn't buy the best radio on the market????

K6GBW what ever you get you'll have fun with.... but if you can afford $200 bucks you really won't be sorry with the 5555 N II / QT-60
if you have never ordered at Radioddity before they will give you 10% off your first order and free shipping...... they run deals about every couple months.... so $259.99 at Radioddity minus the 10% is about $234 before taxes....

or you could do the AliExpress deal for $175 with free shipping Aliexpress for $175 some people have problems with AliExpress as their credit cards get stopped when they try to buy it.... most credit card companies stop any funds going overseas... so you have to call your credit card company and say please allow the purchase

you also mentioned maybe you would put up a Antron 99? that combo Antron 99 and QT-60 is one hell of a fun hobby to play with... all I have, and it's better than I ever dreamt it could be.

enjoy whatever new toy you get, I've said my peace.

 

[prcguy]

So I found some blather on the inter webs saying many FM'ers use Channel 29. I listened to 29 for a few hours and heard nothing. Everything around here seems to be AM from 1-30 and LSB 35-40. AM actually sounds good on my 7300, but some of the radios out there sound like absolute crap. On the 7300 you can see the signal width on the display and some of these things are just flat ridiculous. I just talked to a guy on Ch16 that asked for a radio check and he was obviously using a stock radio because it sounded nice and clean.

FM CB is still scarce but 10M FM is alive and well with lots of distant repeaters coming in and I've been doing 29.6MHz FM simplex at 10w all over the country. If your curious about the AT-5555N II I've got one here I could loan you for a week or two.

 

[K6GBW]

K6GBW I'm really not trying to be a jerk. honestly.​

you've been here for 10 years. always have great information and always helpful. so, you certainly love the hobby.

you've seen all the guys here try and try to talk the new guys out of buying those cheap pieces of junk radios.... the people just keep telling everyone how fantastic the 5555 N II QT-60 and QT80 are..... the ones that have bought them are eternally grateful as they are incredible radios.....

I will always be grateful to SlowMover Merlin PRCGUY and a several others that suggested the 5555 N II to me a couple years ago. it absolutely made the hobby truly fun and fantastic for me!.... I couldn't imagine it with my old Cobra 148GTL or any other radio.

I do a lot of CB stuff on Facebook there are tons of 5555 N II / 6666 groups where people just adore that radio.... it's a whole other hobby with people playing with them reporting on them and modifying them showing them off.... I love reading all the amazing things people get them to do.

anyone in the hobby really should have one. I NEVER thought I would be able to talk to different countries on SSB with a CB...but I'm up to 22 so far!... I always hear guys in California talking to Hawaii and Australia... I try to get in but have never been able to get the guys in Hawaii and Australia to respond... but I do talk to the California guys all the time, and they always seem to be on a 5555 N II / QT 60..... and I'm starting to hear more and more QT 80's now.

on any given day if I go on SSB and talk DX, .... 9 out of 10 users are using the 5555 N II. I have many local users here and they all have the 5555 N II.... they all tell me, anyone would be crazy to have anything different.

seeing you've got a tax return and the radio won't really cost you out of pocket... and you already had a QT60 on your mind.... don't second guess yourself..... I think everyone here will tell you ... you honestly will not be sorry you bought it.

I would really suggest the QT-60 or QT-80 .... personally I like the 5555 N II /QT 60 ( I have three of them) as the display is so perfect and they are tried and true at this point..... but if you think you might put it in the mobile later, the smaller size of the QT-80 and it's 100 watt output is hard to beat! the king of CB's really is the QT-80 or Anytone 6666 PRO .... but it's another $100 bucks. ( $299.99 )

I keep seeing guys in here being told what the best radio is, and they seem to get excited by the QT-60 /QT-80 then a few weeks later they buy some dinky crap from Amazon. and everyone ( at least me ) shakes our heads and says WHY???? but whatever they get we try to be reassuring and say enjoy your new radio...but I'm always totally dumbfounded that they didn't buy the best radio on the market????

K6GBW what ever you get you'll have fun with.... but if you can afford $200 bucks you really won't be sorry with the 5555 N II / QT-60
if you have never ordered at Radioddity before they will give you 10% off your first order and free shipping...... they run deals about every couple months.... so $259.99 at Radioddity minus the 10% is about $234 before taxes....

or you could do the AliExpress deal for $175 with free shipping Aliexpress for $175 some people have problems with AliExpress as their credit cards get stopped when they try to buy it.... most credit card companies stop any funds going overseas... so you have to call your credit card company and say please allow the purchase

you also mentioned maybe you would put up a Antron 99? that combo Antron 99 and QT-60 is one hell of a fun hobby to play with... all I have, and it's better than I ever dreamt it could be.

enjoy whatever new toy you get, I've said my peace.

Niceguy, I'm pretty much able to use the 7300 if I need a flame thrower. I'm really just looking for something to monitor with when I have the 7300 on my 40 meter BS frequency. Also, I've found that the 7300 is "usable" on AM by turning the power way down, but these radios just weren't made for AM. So having a regular CB for AM probably just sounds better on the receiving end. Something about the way a CB produces AM signal and the way the 7300 is primarily designed for SSB and does AM as an afterthought.

This whole thing came about because a buddy on mine and I were having breakfast and we started talking about what emergency communications really is. He's a big CAP Comms guy and he's got certifications running out of his ears. He said that if we had an earthquake I really just need to know what's going on around me so that I can make good decisions. He's right of course. In the 1994 quake my entire radio equipment consisted of nothing more than a dual band hand held. But it told me very quickly what was happening.

I live very near the East LA interchange here in Los Angeles. Thousand of trucks every day pass through here. I'm also a stones throw from the 60 freeway and about three miles from a rail yard. The 710 freeway comes up from the Port of Los Angeles and it's only about three miles away. So, as you can see I have a LOT of trucks near me. The amount of information I can get by listening to them, and maybe the occasional question, is very high. I think all I really need is a good quality basic set up. I already had the A99 that I've been using for 10 meters. So I put that back up and installed a new coax. Once I put the new radio in it will just be there for the just in case scenario. Weirdly, in Los Angeles Channel 19 seems to be populated by guys that are...well, mostly drunk and very opinionated and very short on words longer than four letters. It seems the truckers are actually using channels 17 & 21 for local traffic. Once I figured that out I started hearing more useful information. The skip right now makes it hard because I can hear Louisiana as well as someone a few miles away, but that will change soon enough.

I started my radio journey with a CB back in 1976. That lead to a lifetime of radio including the Army and later as a ham and being the radio administrator for my department. Now, that I'm retired its just fun to kind of come full circle and get a CB back in my shack!

 

[Chris155]

As much as I like the Anytone/radio oddity there a definite “quality feel” with president products. I can’t help but think the nrc would be a step up as well. In other words the Harrison probably works awesome for a smallish, legal CB.

 

[slowmover]

Niceguy, I'm pretty much able to use the 7300 if I need a flame thrower. I'm really just looking for something to monitor with when I have the 7300 on my 40 meter BS frequency. Also, I've found that the 7300 is "usable" on AM by turning the power way down, but these radios just weren't made for AM. So having a regular CB for AM probably just sounds better on the receiving end. Something about the way a CB produces AM signal and the way the 7300 is primarily designed for SSB and does AM as an afterthought.

This whole thing came about because a buddy on mine and I were having breakfast and we started talking about what emergency communications really is. He's a big CAP Comms guy and he's got certifications running out of his ears. He said that if we had an earthquake I really just need to know what's going on around me so that I can make good decisions. He's right of course. In the 1994 quake my entire radio equipment consisted of nothing more than a dual band hand held. But it told me very quickly what was happening.

I live very near the East LA interchange here in Los Angeles. Thousand of trucks every day pass through here. I'm also a stones throw from the 60 freeway and about three miles from a rail yard. The 710 freeway comes up from the Port of Los Angeles and it's only about three miles away. So, as you can see I have a LOT of trucks near me. The amount of information I can get by listening to them, and maybe the occasional question, is very high. I think all I really need is a good quality basic set up. I already had the A99 that I've been using for 10 meters. So I put that back up and installed a new coax. Once I put the new radio in it will just be there for the just in case scenario. Weirdly, in Los Angeles Channel 19 seems to be populated by guys that are...well, mostly drunk and very opinionated and very short on words longer than four letters. It seems the truckers are actually using channels 17 & 21 for local traffic. Once I figured that out I started hearing more useful information. The skip right now makes it hard because I can hear Louisiana as well as someone a few miles away, but that will change soon enough.

I started my radio journey with a CB back in 1976. That lead to a lifetime of radio including the Army and later as a ham and being the radio administrator for my department. Now, that I'm retired its just fun to kind of come full circle and get a CB back in my shack!

That post appreciated as I think it covers well the dilemma for others thinking along those lines.

To echo @niceguy71 I’d say that smallest size and non-SSB may give up receiver sensitivity which I wouldn’t want to do with CB.

I’ve been in discussion with another about how PRESIDENT is different than the competition. My Lincoln II+ (2021) can be a bear to get right if I try to adjust controls as with other brands. The long & short of it is that once “right” — or that Skip abates — there is a medium distance (more than just local, but not the distance of Skip) it will RX that the other radios don’t.

As you’ve a nice main radio I’d like to urge making comparisons to it with your CB choice. Borrowing a QT60 and having a returnable President (whichever model) would be what I’d try. One will have better ears, be more closely comparable to Amateur gear.

NRC radios are not identical.


That part of L.A. not far from where my brand of travel trailer was built 1949-1996 in South El Monte. All those guys who started at Douglas or Lockheed building airplanes in WWII.

I’m hoping to get a stretch of weather where my old carcass can get onto the roof before the heat comes to clean the anodized surface with a SCOTCHBRITE pad and Bar Keepers Friend before using a gasoline pressure washer. It’s relation to aviation has been the fuel lost during takeoff underneath the Carswell JR Base flight path.



The last part of that is to make measurements for a lay-over and suitable vertical.

.

 

[K6GBW]

Wow, that post touched a lot of things for me. My wife’s father worked as a cabinet maker for Silver Streak, my dad worked as a riveter for Douglas and Carswell was where they based the B58 Huslter…the sexiest and coolest airplane ever to fly!

 

[redbeard]

Keep an eye on Radioddity’s website. They do flash sales quite often. I recently ordered a QT60 Pro (same as AnyTone 5555n2 pro “short”) for $189.99 for a buddy.

After a look at the site, I have to say I may make my next radio a Radioddity QT60 Pro. I wanted the new short 5555 for the updated mic jack wiring and VHF receiver programmability but info on these features was almost non-existent on the Anytone site. After looking at the QT60 Pro I found this however and it really brought my opinion of them up: https://radioddity.s3.amazonaws.com/2024-08-26_Radioddity_QT60_Pro_Data-mode_operation.pdf

Now if we could just convince Digirig to make a nice molded cable for it...

This link also covers the QT80 Pro: QT60 PRO & QT80 Data-mode Operation Guide

 

[slowmover]

Wow, that post touched a lot of things for me. My wife’s father worked as a cabinet maker for Silver Streak, my dad worked as a riveter for Douglas and Carswell was where they based the B58 Huslter…the sexiest and coolest airplane ever to fly!

Ha! The Hustler was still running supersonic when I was in grade school in Dallas. They had us lined up on the playground to march back to classroom one afternoon — maybe 1966 — and when that crack/boom sounded ahead of arrival I told the kid behind me that an unpopular teacher had rippped a fart. Pass it back.

Off to the principals office.


— My father had, Silver Streak, and grandfather, Streamline.


I inherited a Kennedy Kit toolbox from my Dad that was his fly fishing tackle box 65-years. Had been his brothers working at Douglas before being called up to Navy service.

He’d left San Francisco in late ‘44 aboard DD512 Spence never to return after she foundered in Typhoon Cobra.



We yesterday were spared the hail & high winds roaming nearby the Brazos River to commemorate the passing of a man whose adult life had commenced with becoming a USN “Airedale” in the post-Vietnam era. A seriously impressive grasp of how all things work.

I haven't learned to buck rivets — and I’m nobody’s idea of a carpenter — but the travel trailer type has appeal at many levels tangible & intangible. The craftsmanship inside & out makes maintenance of my 36-year old example far easier. They were Peak Americana. And mines only half the age of some roadworthy examples.

Dad’s had a Johnson Messenger aboard his had a great sound to it. He and my mother lived at La Canada before moving to Texas and this TT type was already to be seen on their road journeys of the 1950s. An All-American Five table radio was one’s entry to new communities in America after being parked overnight. “The weather for the Grand Canyon Gateway this morning . . . “

Campground Radio something of an example of what’s missing today. Airstream once had gigantic rallies and used several CB channels to keep folks up to date. Would be too sad (to me) to have to navigate a website if surrounded by hundreds of fellow travelers. The tradition was fairly strong thru the 1980s. Radio has liveliness.



Contributor @niceguy71 seems to be influencing those around him to acquire CB, and EmComms an additional spur for your circle of family, friends, neighbors & acquaintances if you hit on a viable set-up they might learn to desire. NRC makes it easier to show off these 21st Century updates. So, should the example chosen be equipped for NOAA weather channel reception?

.

 

[EAFrizzle]

So, should the example chosen be equipped for NOAA weather channel reception?

.

In a vehicle, I'd say absolutely. When you can see something brewing far enough away that your phone won't alert, you need solid information about the situation and the NWS transmitters give you that. I use the Wx channels often in my QT-60Pro.

 

[slowmover]

In a vehicle, I'd say absolutely. When you can see something brewing far enough away that your phone won't alert, you need solid information about the situation and the NWS transmitters give you that. I use the Wx channels often in my QT-60Pro.

Once awake on the road that was a daily step after I’d listened to what was current on AM-19 at circa 0400.

At home it’s with the little MIDLAND 120 Weather Radio which had alerts going off most of last night.

This is not “normal”:

https://x.com/MetMattTaylor/status/1907696345764286552

Wx RX a reason I keep a PRESIDENT Randy aboard the pickup.

.

 

[K6GBW]

Here in Los Angeles we really don't need weather radio. We use the SHOW method of determining the weather. Stick Head Out Window! But if you live in a place where you actually have seasons then I think it would be really useful. Too bad they can't predict earthquakes or wild fires. That would really be helpful.

Just got my hands on a little President Bill II. Got it for free so I'm gonna use it as a test radio just to see what's going on around here.

 

[WSAC829]

Just got my hands on a little President Bill II. Got it for free

Great score for free. Will make a nice rig for monitoring with its scan feature.

Just an FYI the TX audio on those is pretty bad. My buddy has one. Stock mic, D104, or SuperStar echo mic doesn’t make a difference. Sounds like he has clothes pins on his nose. Audio is very pinched (no pun intended).

 

[jcrmadden]

The new Washington seems nice, but with some lineage to the Uniden 780/880 I have zero confidence in the displays. My AT-5555N II is one of the best I've used in a long time. It will be for sale soon though, I'd like to get the updated 'short' model with a couple improvements

As much as I like the Anytone/radio oddity there a definite “quality feel” with president products. I can’t help but think the nrc would be a step up as well. In other words the Harrison probably works awesome for a smallish, legal CB.

I replaced the QT60 (AT-5555N II) in my work truck with the new President Washington about a month ago.

The Washington is an obvious upgrade in quality, both with the build and the audio (especially with the DigiMic).

Every button and knob just feels good (solid detents and clean clicks).

The audio was decent straight out of the box, but getting it dialed in tight for my setup (my voice/ears with RX/TX preference) was a two hour on air ordeal with a second and third pass though almost all of the menu options with manual in hand (probably wouldn't take two minutes for any one of you RADIO types; maybe less if you're already familiar with President specifically or menu programmed radios more generally).

This would make a bad @$$ base radio, but I can't recommend it for mobile (I'm giving serious thought to going back to the QT60 or pulling the trigger on the QT80 later).

First, the tiny volume knob is nested in a very sensitive squelch knob, and I'm constantly jacking with one or the other and regularly mess up the unintended target.

Second, changing RF gain is a two handed ordeal (Key PTT + push channel knob to access, then turn channel knob to adjust, then key PTT to save setting). A non-issue at the desk but a royal (and dangerous) PITA on the highway.

I got the Washington for the relay function specifically. Had I done my due diligence, and found out that it was an FM only feature, I wouldn't have been so bullish on it. Max range PLUS relay was the real goal.

Still an excellent radio. Mobile to mobile contacts are made farther and held longer, particularly with other quality radios/antennas/installs. RX audio super clean and TX quality gets major attention.

No FM traffic in my area, but may try listening for some of the calling stations mentioned above.

No experience with SSB either. Not my goal while mobile and not something I'm willing to sit in my driveway and figure out just yet.

All I really want is a QT80 with AM relay and detachable face that looks like a QT40/Ares II that does 150 watts... Is that too much to ask for?

 

[K6GBW]

Great score for free. Will make a nice rig for monitoring with its scan feature.

Just an FYI the TX audio on those is pretty bad. My buddy has one. Stock mic, D104, or SuperStar echo mic doesn’t make a difference. Sounds like he has clothes pins on his nose. Audio is very pinched (no pun intended).

Good to know. At this point I’m really just listening to see what’s going on around me. The amount of skip is making it hard. I’ve listened to some guys thinking they must be fairly local and then they clear saying they’re in Alabama or something. I’m going to need to leave this thing hooked up for a few weeks at least to see if I want to put a dedicated radio in here or just run an antenna switch to the 7300. If the 7300 sounded just a bit better on AM there’d be no question. But, I have nothing but time so I can play with it and see how it all shakes out.

Actually, I just remembered that I have a President Randy II hand held around here. I can charge that up and use the wife to do a little testing and see how the audio out sounds! All this is fun regardless. I just love playing with radio!

 

[jcrmadden]

@K6GBW My last post wasn't a recommendation; it was hardly on topic at all.

Probably a better post for the President Washington thread.

 

[K6GBW]

That's okay, the more perspectives I get from people the better. The last CB I owned was a Realistic Navaho 455 back in 1977. I ran that radio on a Radio Shack 1/2 wave ground plane for years. When I left home for the Army it "went missing" along with my Ruger 10/22 and some other stuff. I haven't been on CB in a very long time, so re-learning is a process.