Best Mobile 2025

[niceguy71]

for anyone looking for a Black Friday sale.... about 10 days ago I got the QT-60 short version for $208 bucks... that was a good deal.... now I see Amazon has the 12" long version on sale for $207 for Black Friday.... either the one of those radios would be a fantastic radio for anyone.

the long version for $207

 

[slowmover]

for anyone looking for a Black Friday sale.... about 10 days ago I got the QT-60 short version for $208 bucks... that was a good deal.... now I see Amazon has the 12" long version on sale for $207 for Black Friday.... either the one of those radios would be a fantastic radio for anyone.

the long version for $207

Will it fit into the dashboard or console as easily?

.

 

[slowmover]

More space available than obvious

 

[slowmover]

 

[robertwbob]

I have a Q5N2 but am wondering if my life will be more complete with 6666 Pro/QT80?

pssst buy it before tarrifs rise plus its time of year to gift yourself.
there got that off my chest .im not an enabler. but we all suffer from buying what we want .

 

[robertwbob]

View attachment 174204

you made me think. i had an old midwest distribution truck ,yes dollar down every dollar you make a year freightliner. it had that angle box for am fm. i was keeping it with the idea of putting a cb in it. and it was removed from the dash by some low roller scrounger via hammer to the very nice condition plastic dash. im fuming about that 6 years later.damm thieves.

but that offered many possibilitys too

 

[slowmover]

you made me think. i had an old midwest distribution truck ,yes dollar down every dollar you make a year freightliner. it had that angle box for am fm. i was keeping it with the idea of putting a cb in it. and it was removed from the dash by some low roller scrounger via hammer to the very nice condition plastic dash. im fuming about that 6 years later.damm thieves.

but that offered many possibilitys too

Given it has a manual transmission my pickup has limited choices to easily mount a CB. There’s an aftermarket piece that’s sold mounts to one side, but it has the faceplate pointing up. That’ll catch coffee sooner or later.

So my model has been this:


Same truck, but I’ll have a couple extra items to go alongside.


I don’t know the dimensions on the marine stereo case below, but it might be an overhead substitute. It’d have to have some “ventilation work” (cut out rear of case for radio depth).



In both examples the QT80 makes it all simpler due to its reduced size. (2” in width vs QT60).

The mount is via a board slipped thru overhead light opening and epoxied into place between headliner and roof.

 

[niceguy71]

I have a Q5N2 but am wondering if my life will be more complete with 6666 Pro/QT80?

Most people that have both like the QT60 /5555 N II better..... I keep reading problems with some of the QT80's.... Mostly that swr thing..... Most of the guys I watch on YouTube have both and they all like the 5555 N II / QT 60 better... Here is what mower junkie has to say

 

[EAFrizzle]

Just got a new QT 60 yesterday, and I am thoroughly impressed with it. The NRC works great, and it cuts through nicely at 20 watts for stateside stuff. Kicked it up to full power and worked England and Italy this morning.

Some points (and I may have a different opinion after I get the cable and program it).

1. Mode switching is tedious. A selector knob would be nicer.

2. The banks...Good grief. Maybe I can find it useful after programming, but it's basically 13 different VFOs. Right now, I have them alternating between fives and zeros for easy QSY with Europeans.

3. Roger beeps. Small thing, but all of them are annoying. A simple bleep like the 2950 or 2510 would be welcome.


All in all, a really enjoyable radio. Between doing the mod and figuring out the basics it was less than 20 minutes from unboxing to first QSO. Weather receive seems excellent, even on a 1/4 wave GP. Once I get it programmed, I'll update y'all on the VHF rx. I have a feeling I'll be using that function often.

 

[WSAC829]

Agree. Mode switching is tedious. Band switching is tedious. Not having the 7th or 8th digit on the freq counter is a real downer also for a “10 meter” radio. Once you get it programmed you can delete the stock roger beeps and create your own, even if it’s a simple 1 tone beep. Me personally, i don’t like the radio. PITA to operate mobile compared to other rigs, cheap knobs that fall off, clarifier doesn't show changes on freq display, the encoder (channel/freq selector) wears out and jumps all over the place forcing you to use the stock mic’s up/down buttons due to sheer frustration. Also having said that, after a while the stock mic wears out and randomly changes channels while you are keying up. All in all, i’m not a fan. Worst radio i’ve bought so far. (5555n2 long version)

 

[slowmover]

Used mobile it’s a superior radio.
Just not compact.

 

[WSAC829]

No, it’s not. The band switching, mode switching, and useless frequency counter when using the clarifier are major drawbacks. The rest that i mentioned will happen to all of you in time. Just wait.

Even the QT40 that doesn’t have a “true" freq counter follows the clarifier.

A big meter doesn’t make it superior.

On a side note, my on/off/volume knob broke. The volume works, but you can’t shut it off. I had to drill a hole and mount and solder a toggle to bypass the worn out switch. Superior my ass.

 

[robertwbob]

i got at 6666 ,owned a lincoln and stryker 955 ver i and ii. the ii is king of the hill. band change flip switch turn ch select . power, its far simpler to operate knob layout better not great did i say power? not a noisy radio.only downfalls are 2,1 is size and 2 channel selector .but stryker sent me new selecter. its far better,hard detent and so far no channel skip did i say power?
easy to turn down to run my amp. now it sports a silver eagle. im hearing lots of perfect clear modulation
my 6666 i just dont like it. liked my lincoln better. but everybodys milage will vary for many reasons

 

[slowmover]

For 2025

AM/SSB Export w/NRC
Most Compact Size

And pair it with an NMO antenna reaching 6’

.

 

[707ways2Sunday]

I love my Q5N2s. Don’t use the channel knob hardly at all especially in my mobile, but yes one can tell right off it’s not to stout. The mic problem will eventually happen to everyone, but it’s a simple fix that has worked for well over a year for me. The frequency counter not moving with the clarifier I never even noticed because it is displayed elsewhere. The thing that has me sold on the radio is the receive. To my ears it is the hands down winner in that respect compared to the Q6/ Q6pro/ Ares. I’ve owned them. Still have the Q6 pro. It’s a talker for sure.

That’s not to take away from their TX performance with the stock mic. Oh I forgot to mention the Lincoln’s have the same mic problem changing channels. Nothing worse than being in the middle of a QSO with someone across the pond getting long winded and looking down and realizing you’ve been talking to no one. Jump back and your contact is gone.

It’s all a matter of personal preference but they talk and receive very well. Don’t have to sell your first born to buy one. They are on the large size for a mobile. Took me 2 weeks to settle on a spot in my car. Never had a drifting issue always dead on. The Aresll/QT 40 sometimes when you turn them on the will be slightly off but reboot fixes that. No drift otherwise just a strange glitch.

Both the Q6 and Q6 pro get hot as all get out if one is long winded. I bought the fan kit for mine (pro). Works great. I really do like the pro.

 

[robertwbob]

I love my Q5N2s. Don’t use the channel knob hardly at all especially in my mobile, but yes one can tell right off it’s not to stout. The mic problem will eventually happen to everyone, but it’s a simple fix that has worked for well over a year for me. The frequency counter not moving with the clarifier I never even noticed because it is displayed elsewhere. The thing that has me sold on the radio is the receive. To my ears it is the hands down winner in that respect compared to the Q6/ Q6pro/ Ares. I’ve owned them. Still have the Q6 pro. It’s a talker for sure.

That’s not to take away from their TX performance with the stock mic. Oh I forgot to mention the Lincoln’s have the same mic problem changing channels. Nothing worse than being in the middle of a QSO with someone across the pond getting long winded and looking down and realizing you’ve been talking to no one. Jump back and your contact is gone.

It’s all a matter of personal preference but they talk and receive very well. Don’t have to sell your first born to buy one. They are on the large size for a mobile. Took me 2 weeks to settle on a spot in my car. Never had a drifting issue always dead on. The Aresll/QT 40 sometimes when you turn them on the will be slightly off but reboot fixes that. No drift otherwise just a strange glitch.

Both the Q6 and Q6 pro get hot as all get out if one is long winded. I bought the fan kit for mine (pro). Works great. I really do like the pro.

as i said my q6666 is ok if you like the knob layout. im not fond of the band switching way at all. plus knobs aint cool for my fingers. as far as get out recive its on parr with my vers ii 955 stryker

 

[Chris155]

I’ve got 5555n2 that works great, had it mobile and now in my shop. Channel and volume knobs work great. Great tx & rx

I have a qt60 that has a jumpy channel knob sometimes. Again great tx &rx. Not great for mobile operation. This one is currently my home base. Very easy for my better half or the kids to turn it on and go. No amp to switch from ssb to am. Basically I leave it on a certain channel and have communications to the house.

My current favorite setup is in my pickup. President McKinley, 203p and west mountain dsp speaker. It has great tx & rx. The smaller individual components are easier to mount in the pickup.

I plan to duplicate that mobile setup in our other vehicles.

 

[slowmover]

I’ve got 5555n2 that works great, had it mobile and now in my shop. Channel and volume knobs work great. Great tx & rx

I have a qt60 that has a jumpy channel knob sometimes. Again great tx &rx. Not great for mobile operation. This one is currently my home base. Very easy for my better half or the kids to turn it on and go. No amp to switch from ssb to am. Basically I leave it on a certain channel and have communications to the house.

My current favorite setup is in my pickup. President McKinley, 203p and west mountain dsp speaker. It has great tx & rx. The smaller individual components are easier to mount in the pickup.

I plan to duplicate that mobile setup in our other vehicles.

The suggested combo of QT80
+ 6’ NMO and DRX901 Speaker would be better, overall.

2025, not 2015

.

 

[robertwbob]

I’ve got 5555n2 that works great, had it mobile and now in my shop. Channel and volume knobs work great. Great tx & rx

I have a qt60 that has a jumpy channel knob sometimes. Again great tx &rx. Not great for mobile operation. This one is currently my home base. Very easy for my better half or the kids to turn it on and go. No amp to switch from ssb to am. Basically I leave it on a certain channel and have communications to the house.

My current favorite setup is in my pickup. President McKinley, 203p and west mountain dsp speaker. It has great tx & rx. The smaller individual components are easier to mount in the pickup.

I plan to duplicate that mobile setup in our other vehicles.

i got a mckinnly and 203 in my pickup too. but the mckinnly is going to get in my red kenworth n ride there replacing a pos bearcat 980. it will set in my pickup till i muster more radio $$$. screen is growing dim cant see it in truck.transmits recieves fine but in my job i use radio for direction to which bay n pull up or back up till loaded.its fun changing channels