Dang Ford..Could use some help on my antenna....

[slowmover]

I’m kicking myself for selling my QT40. After playing with a slew of rigs and then selling them, it’s the radio i miss most. Classic looks and real honest to goodness knobs with all the other goodies (or more) of the other AnyTone/Radioddity/Retevis/CRT rigs.

Well, it ain’t a pre-64 Winchester.

OTOH, it lacks a nice big screen and might drop in popularity someday. I’d get another and leave it boxed if I felt that way.

I’d sure as hell regret losing my G959 & 86V.

.

 

[WSAC829]

it lacks a nice big screen

Pointless for a mobile. One shouldn’t be looking at their CB while driving. That’s asking for trouble. Hearing the person is more important than some semi-accurate s-meter reading. However, next time radioddity has them on sale for $159 again i might snag another and keep it this time. ;-)

 

[slowmover]

BIG screen is great for mobile.
Comes to mount location.

No one’s staring at it.
It’s a quick check of signal strength for determining distance (another road, or Skip).

— Big Galaxy meter was a lifesaver in parsing difficult moments many times.

D’Arsonval movement still the King.

You ably defended QT40, but I guess after she got a few tattoos and saggy tits, so . . .

.

 

[WSAC829]

Lol. Smaller "meters" will sag less with age than larger "meters".

 

[billdean]

I saw a video that said you could un-lock the D-band or make it into a CB radio without removing the covers of the radio on the President Washington. He showed by pushing a few different buttons on the front of the radio you can un-lock it. Doesn't anyone know if this is so?

 

[niceguy71]

I saw a video that said you could un-lock the D-band or make it into a CB radio without removing the covers of the radio on the President Washington. He showed by pushing a few different buttons on the front of the radio you can un-lock it. Doesn't anyone know if this is so?

you thinking of changing your radio?

slow down Bill, ..no need to panic. they will replace the 5555 N II and you'll love it! the chances of you getting another bad one is a billion to one... and really... don't sweat the mod.... it's absolutely nothing to do, easiest thing you'll ever do.

 

[billdean]

you thinking of changing your radio?

slow down Bill, ..no need to panic. they will replace the 5555 N II and you'll love it! the chances of you getting another bad one is a billion to one... and really... don't sweat the mod.... it's absolutely nothing to do, easiest thing you'll ever do.

yes I am thinking of changing radio. When it works I like it. One thing I don't like is the color of the display. It's hard for me to see with that color. I like the meter on the front. I am tired of buying junk! Not that a good AT55552n is junk. I would just like a good quality radio and system. The junk I have tried is the Uiden Pro505XL, a 3 and 4 foot fire sticks, President Bill 3 (which was actually a good little radio) now the AT 5555n2. I have got a good antenna system now and I would like a good quality radio to go with it. President radio's seem to be good quality but I really don't know what one would be best for me. The Washington has been reference as a good quality radio and would work well for me but not being able to modify it to CB myself maybe the stopper. And for a radio shop doing the mod I just don't know who to trust.

 

[niceguy71]

yes I am thinking of changing radio. When it works I like it. One thing I don't like is the color of the display. It's hard for me to see with that color. I like the meter on the front. I am tired of buying junk! Not that a good AT55552n is junk. I would just like a good quality radio and system. The junk I have tried is the Uiden Pro505XL, a 3 and 4 foot fire sticks, President Bill 3 (which was actually a good little radio) now the AT 5555n2. I have got a good antenna system now and I would like a good quality radio to go with it. President radio's seem to be good quality but I really don't know what one would be best for me. The Washington has been reference as a good quality radio and would work well for me but not being able to modify it to CB myself maybe the stopper. And for a radio shop doing the mod I just don't know who to trust.

I think the guys feel the Washington is one of the best... no doubt about that!
but it looks very complicated to me... has more stuff than you'll ever use.
I like all the groups on the 5555 N II... so helpful and so much to learn... when hundreds of thousands of people love that radio.... they can't all be wrong.
I completely agree about the junk... I am so sick of seeing guys buy junk and THEN come into the forum and ask about getting their CB system to work...

hopefully someday someone will ask about a CB radio and system in the forum BEFORE they buy and install it.... probably not

I just posted about how sick I am of people buying $39.99 junk radios ( I didn't want to say the Uniden 505XL or 510XL ) I have seen so many Cobra Ultra's ... Unidens... Cobra Mini. and all the other little radio's. ... the President Bill I'm on the fence with, as the Bill II can be modified.... and it has it's place in a small vehicle.
..but for $129 bucks that the President Bill costs..... people are crazy not to buy a really good radio.... just insane when people can buy a Radioddity QT40 that has good power, good receive and SSB for $159 on Amazon.
as for antenna's .....the Firesticks are really bad...

you truly bought all the right stuff now! and if they are going to exchange the 5555 I'd just let them and be done with it... unless they let you exchange it for the Anytone 6666 Pro / Radioddity QT80..... ( I think I like the 5555 N II better to be honest.. but I have a lot of room for a big radio in my truck.)
whatever you do, I'm sure it will be fine... but that Washington is close to $400 bucks and has so much stuff in it... if you're not using all that stuff, then it's just more stuff to cause the radio to fail down the road
it will be interesting to see how it all works out.

on the RF Bonding ...... I would get the bed to the cab.... the hood to the cab and the fenders to the cab and the cab to the frame and the bed to the frame.... I put 12 straps down both sides of my truck ... so 24 straps.... and I also did the exhaust... I also used battery cable wires battery cable wire to do grounds all over my truck too... I think I used 6 on each side and on the exhaust.

I "Personally" feel it made a huge difference.... some of the smartest experts I've ever talked to say it will do absolutely nothing.... but I'll always do the RF Bonding...
I watched this video and learned a lot ... it's VERY long so don't be afraid to fast forward.

I buy these lug lugs these crimpers crimpers and these 1 1/4" wide straps. RF Bonding Straps I also bought boxes and boxes of bolts star washers and regular washers...... unlike the video... put a little flux inside the lug... I crimped the lug onto the strap and then put the lug in my vise and put the torch to it and feed plumbing solder into the lug until it was full, so no salt or dirt would ever get into it.... I also did not use the shrink tubing.

looking forward to the finished install

 

[billdean]

you truly bought all the right stuff now! and if they are going to exchange the 5555 I'd just let them and be done with it... unless they let you exchange it for the Anytone 6666 Pro / Radioddity QT80..... ( I think I like the 5555 N II better to be honest.. but I have a lot of room for a big radio in my truck.)
whatever you do, I'm sure it will be fine... but that Washington is close to $400 bucks and has so much stuff in it... if you're not using all that stuff, then it's just more stuff to cause the radio to fail down the road
it will be interesting to see how it all works out.

I really don't know what there going to do about my radio yet. I thought they said I could exchange it for something else. He couldn't print out a return shipping label for some reason Saturday. Just getting that 5555 from them has really got me concerned about buying anything else from them.
I have been trying to use that radio all day, but it is all locked up and won't come off channel 15 and it won't transmit either.
I appreciate all your tips. They have been helpful. I don't really care about the money end of it, I just want a good quality radio. There's just to much cheap junk out there waiting for the unexpected person to pray upon, but Americans seem to want that cheap Chinese junk from Harbor Freight !

 

[kc2asb]

I really don't know what there going to do about my radio yet. I thought they said I could exchange it for something else. He couldn't print out a return shipping label for some reason Saturday. Just getting that 5555 from them has really got me concerned about buying anything else from them.
I have been trying to use that radio all day, but it is all locked up and won't come off channel 15 and it won't transmit either.
I appreciate all your tips. They have been helpful. I don't really care about the money end of it, I just want a good quality radio. There's just to much cheap junk out there waiting for the unexpected person to pray upon, but Americans seem to want that cheap Chinese junk from Harbor Freight !

If they are willing to do an exchange, return the 5555 and put it towards a President Washington. There seems to be a lot of agreement here that it is a great radio. The more I look at it, the more I like it, but no more radios for me!

Good luck and hope you get everything sorted out soon.

 

[niceguy71]

I really don't know what there going to do about my radio yet. I thought they said I could exchange it for something else. He couldn't print out a return shipping label for some reason Saturday. Just getting that 5555 from them has really got me concerned about buying anything else from them.
I have been trying to use that radio all day, but it is all locked up and won't come off channel 15 and it won't transmit either.
I appreciate all your tips. They have been helpful. I don't really care about the money end of it, I just want a good quality radio. There's just to much cheap junk out there waiting for the unexpected person to pray upon, but Americans seem to want that cheap Chinese junk from Harbor Freight !

the Washington looks good on size.... maybe that would be a better fit for the truck.... and President makes products to last... I'm still using the President I bought new back in 1989...... and you don't have to worry about the knobs failing in a few years......

I don't think you can make a wrong decision whatever you do.... another 5555 or a smaller 6666 Pro ( even though it is 10 inches long... pretty big really ) or that little Washington with 80 watts and a ton of features......

the world is yours for the taking!

 

[WSAC829]

There's just to much cheap junk out there waiting for the unexpected person to pray upon, but Americans seem to want that cheap Chinese junk

Agree. However most of todays consumer products are all throw away by design. They last a few years then die. Same goes for President Electronics. 90% of their product line is currently made in China (PRC).

Only a few flagship models are still produced in Viet Nam / Malaysia / Hong Kong. The new Washington and George feel just as cheap as the Uniden 880/980. Knobs feels cheap, face plate scratches easily, and people are already complaining of screen / color / backlight failures. Sadly there isn’t anything “new” for 10/11 meter that isn’t cheaply made. If you want quality, buy a mobile HF rig like an Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood, Alinco, etc, (for a ton of money) that’s made in Japan and do the MARS mod for 11 meter. You’ll easily get 20-40 years out of those. Having said that, and as much as i hate the 5555n2, it’s still a better deal than the Washington. Internally it’s 95% the same radio as far as features go for half the price.

Saw this on Reddit recently. Washington issues are starting...

all of a sudden the button lights went real dim and have stayed that way since. I have tried turning off and back on, disconnecting power completely, factory resetting and still having same issue. Knob backlights also seem to be glitching (please see picture)...the screen will be one color and the knobs will be different.

 

[slowmover]

Online forums aren't the place to establish whether something is good or bad. It’ll almost always be said to be the fault of the item and NOT poor ownership/operator practice.

Diesel pickups beat to sh#% by owners who are 12-year olds is par in this. Not a surprise they suffer the component failure rates they do.


See warranty provisions for any radio brand/model.

AT/QT is low price value. Prez & Stryker have higher standards for manufacturing QC past their proprietary changes.

Compare radio features line-by-line.

Resolve issue with seller.

I’d buy from SCOTTS RADIOS

Radios aren’t expensive. What’s happened with new automobiles is the genuine problem (going bad near/past 100k); it isn’t just household appliances or consumer electronics.

A mobile is not getting the use/abuse Basement Barney inflicts on it and is going to do okay. For BB the radio is a toy and he treats it like one.

My radios are on 12-14/hrs-day and stay on AM-19 99% of the time. Not a toy.

I like Prez, but it’s an acquired taste. Stryker is a big case as single downside, and it’s well-regarded.

My G99v2 by inflation would today be priced at $425. Today that buys a lot more radio. I’ve had that v2 tuned & aligned several times, so add in another $100 for service and time away from road.

— So long as it’s AM/SSB (NRC) then any choice is good.

QC “control” is that each shipment will have a batch of failures. More on the cheaper ones. Use warranty and move along.

The Amateur quality HF radios are a big jump.
YAESU FT891 isn’t inexpensive as the one where size is reasonable. Far harder to operate (set up). MARS MOD needed. Can buy 2, 3, 4 of the AT/QT radios for the price.

.

 

[kc2asb]

Agree. However most of todays consumer products are all throw away by design. They last a few years then die. Same goes for President Electronics. 90% of their product line is currently made in China (PRC).

Only a few flagship models are still produced in Viet Nam / Malaysia / Hong Kong. The new Washington and George feel just as cheap as the Uniden 880/980. Knobs feels cheap, face plate scratches easily, and people are already complaining of screen / color / backlight failures. Sadly there isn’t anything “new” for 10/11 meter that isn’t cheaply made. If you want quality, buy a mobile HF rig like an Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood, Alinco, etc, (for a ton of money) that’s made in Japan and do the MARS mod for 11 meter. You’ll easily get 20-40 years out of those. Having said that, and as much as i hate the 5555n2, it’s still a better deal than the Washington. Internally it’s 95% the same radio as far as features go for half the price.

Saw this on Reddit recently. Washington issues are starting...

all of a sudden the button lights went real dim and have stayed that way since. I have tried turning off and back on, disconnecting power completely, factory resetting and still having same issue. Knob backlights also seem to be glitching (please see picture)...the screen will be one color and the knobs will be different.

Agreed, quality is not what it used to be. The older radios were simply constructed better and lasted longer. It's the reason why you see 30+year-old Cobra 148GTL's and President HR-2510's still on the air. I have a 1975 vintage Realistic TRC-30A base that I purchased 30+ years ago which still works.

It's sad that even Uniden's quality is not what it was. They used to make quality rigs, like the Grant LT, which were solidly built and performed well.

Buying anything new for CB/10m is going to be a roll of the dice. Just make sure you can return it if there is a problem.

 

[billdean]

Well, you all hit on just exactly what I am talking about. They make throw away junk so you have to buy more sooner, rather than later. Every thing is throw away so you have to keep buying more and more. It's all about money and nothing about the consumer. The better quality stuff is priced way above what the average consumer can afford. I will probably still get the President Radio and maybe a Radiodidty QT 80 as a back up so this doesn't happen again. Being without a radio is not OK with me now that I have a good antenna system in my $105,000.00 dollar throw away truck with another hole in the roof.......

 

[kc2asb]

I will probably still get the President Radio and maybe a Radiodidty QT 80 as a back up so this doesn't happen again.

A second radio as a back-up is always a good idea and the QT-80 is a solid choice. Also if you spot any yard/garage sales in your neighborhood, sometimes good radios can be picked up at bargain prices. Used, older radios are always a gamble, but having purchased a number of older radios for my collection, the majority of them had no issues.

 

[billdean]

I am learning a big maybe expensive lesson today as far as buying a CB radio from anyone other than Amazon! Amazon return policy is far superior than the not so local shop I am dealing with. Amazon said just send it back and refunded my money before they ever received the item on my Bill 3. I told them I had all ready threw the box away. It didn't matter! Not so with my AT 5555n2. They act as if I am at fault. They say, send it in and we will have to look at it first before we make any decision on what we might do. All the time I am without a radio. Never again with these guys!

 

[kc2asb]

Not so with my AT 5555n2. They act as if I am at fault. They say, send it in and we will have to look at it first before we make any decision on what we might do. All the time I am without a radio. Never again with these guys!

This could turn into a nightmare if they decide it can be "repaired" by their crack team of techs, who probably messed up the radio in the first place. Thanks for exposing the truth about Walcott. Good reason to avoid them.

 

[niceguy71]

Well, you all hit on just exactly what I am talking about. They make throw away junk so you have to buy more sooner, rather than later. Every thing is throw away so you have to keep buying more and more. It's all about money and nothing about the consumer. The better quality stuff is priced way above what the average consumer can afford. I will probably still get the President Radio and maybe a Radiodidty QT 80 as a back up so this doesn't happen again. Being without a radio is not OK with me now that I have a good antenna system in my $105,000.00 dollar throw away truck with another hole in the roof.......

I see a base station in your future.... if your going to have a "spare" radio....you may as well put it to good use.
A base station can talk all across the country on SSB and is a lot of fun. .. I talked to 22 countries in the first month I had my anytone 5555 N II base station
And if the SHTF
Your family can reach you in the truck 20 plus mikes away... maybe 30 with SSB
I like having the same radio in my mobile as my base so I develope a memory touch of all the features
With that said.... I haven't gotten around to putting my 5555 N II in the truck yet. I still have a lot of tests I want to finish using the test mule President Grant Export in my truck

 

[niceguy71]

This could turn into a nightmare if they decide it can be "repaired" by their crack team of techs, who probably messed up the radio in the first place. Thanks for exposing the truth about Walcott. Good reason to avoid them.

You can't say that, sometimes you just get a bad one
I wonder if the jumper loosened up???? They pull it off and push it back on the other two pins. It may have come lose in the delivery????

Something to be said for having a radio checked out by professionals.... ... but Walcott workers are probably high school kids

Me personally
I won't pay that extra money. .. I go with Amazon. If it doesn't work.... it gets returned 20 minutes away and I don't have to box it up or even have paperwork.... just show them my phone where Amazon sent the return authorization.
I order another one and it will be at my front door tomorrow