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President McKinley II FCC AM/FM/SSB is here in the US.

RFI-EMI-GUY

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I'm surprised actually, I didn't think it would be worth production to revise this radio just to add the new mode. Glad they did.
The model sold in the UK already has these modes. If anything, they have eliminated a model.
 

prcguy

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A typical US price on this radio is about $219. For that you get 4w AM/FM and 12w SSB, no DSP and I don't see any great reviews yet. For about $40 more you get a proven winner with the Aytone 5555N II with a lot more power a lot more channels and DSP noise reduction. One is legal and one is not but I suspect most legal units will be connected to an amplifier at some point, so there ya go.
 

2IR473

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I saw some photos of the McKinley II FCC circuit board posted by Scott’sRadios. This U.S. version has an FM daughterboard on it. The EU version does not have a separate FM board. While the board is essentially the same as the EU version, which has been available for many years, it appears President has removed some components and circuits, presumably to make it compliant for the U.S. market. Michael Scott from Scott’s Radios did mention light deviation on FM, and did not immediately see an adjustment for FM deviation, but further information will come. President probably spec’ed the FM deviation to less than 2kHz, just to be “safe”.

As stated above, the Anytone 5555N II, and its variants, are a much better value. Yes, the 5555N II is large, but there are other choices available that offer more features than the McKinley II. I think President just bodged together the McKinley II in order to fill the gap until they can sell the new President George II in the U.S., which will have NRC and CTCSS/DCS. Unfortunately, it appears that the George II would probably cost much more than the Anytone variants. Compliance to government comes with many costs.
 

shores

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A typical US price on this radio is about $219. For that you get 4w AM/FM and 12w SSB, no DSP and I don't see any great reviews yet. For about $40 more you get a proven winner with the Aytone 5555N II with a lot more power a lot more channels and DSP noise reduction. One is legal and one is not but I suspect most legal units will be connected to an amplifier at some point, so there ya go.
Anytone 5555n2 even the short model is way bigger. I'd love a 5555n2 in my daily but it won't fit in cubby in console and no leg room if I mount to the side of centre console .

6666pro is perfect except for huge price jump.
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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A radio lacking NRC isn’t worth buying.
My first new CB in my adult world, was an AM only Radio Shack Realistic model sold in about 1993 that had DSP noise reduction (at the post detector (AF) level. I quickly returned it for a SSB model TRC-465. The TRC-465 was entirely an analog radio but was wonderful. I wish I had kept it. The DSP back in 1994 was pretty limited. There were better products eventually like Timewave DSP-599zX.

I have no doubt the newer noise reduction falls somewhere closer to the Timewave than the old low bit Realistic DSP. But I have some concerns about receiver RF design. Are the newer Chinese radios designed and tested to the extent the Japanese and even the radios made in Philippines and Thailand were? I am about to buy my third new CB radio AM/FM/SSB of my adult world. I have no problem plunking down $300 for one, I just want to be sure I am not dissapointed and end up with a closet full of radios. As far as gimmickry, roger beeps etc. I need none of that distraction. But performance is important. I should note that FCC type acceptance is somewhat important due to my day job.

So a ranking of the top 3 FCC certified radios would be valuable.
A second ranking of top 3 "anything goes" or uncertified radios would also be valuable to me.
 

niceguy71

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I can't believe RFI-EMI-GUY is even asking this question.
I thought this group was always discussing the great CBs and antennas out there. I thought the long time members read everything about all the radios on the market, and we're pretty up to speed on all of them.
So I just thought you already had a great CB and you would be advising the newer people what to get and what to stay away from.
But you probably already know what you want and are smartly asking before you buy one.
As for the FCC LEGAL models I personally think any full size President would be great..
. And for the other ... They say the top dog right now is the AnyTone 6666 Pro or the Radioddity clone QT-80
... Personally I love what all the guys advised me to get when I first came on this page... The AnyTone 5555 N II .... it is only 60 watts but it has weather channels... And I like the display better than the 6666 Pro. And right now the price on last year's model is $184 with free shipping and that's just phenomenal for what you get.
What are you thinking of getting???
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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I can't believe RFI-EMI-GUY is even asking this question.
I thought this group was always discussing the great CBs and antennas out there. I thought the long time members read everything about all the radios on the market, and we're pretty up to speed on all of them.
So I just thought you already had a great CB and you would be advising the newer people what to get and what to stay away from.
But you probably already know what you want and are smartly asking before you buy one.
As for the FCC LEGAL models I personally think any full size President would be great..
. And for the other ... They say the top dog right now is the AnyTone 6666 Pro or the Radioddity clone QT-80
... Personally I love what all the guys advised me to get when I first came on this page... The AnyTone 5555 N II .... it is only 60 watts but it has weather channels... And I like the display better than the 6666 Pro. And right now the price on last year's model is $184 with free shipping and that's just phenomenal for what you get.
What are you thinking of getting???
I have had my eye on President McKinley for a long while until FM became legal. Then it was undecided McKinley or George FCC. But if those don't have NRC I guess they "are not worth buying". So I am open minded. What is confusing is that I recall seeing a McKinley 2 FCC that had FM and now I don't see it on the President US website.
 

niceguy71

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I have had my eye on President McKinley for a long while until FM became legal. Then it was undecided McKinley or George FCC. But if those don't have NRC I guess they "are not worth buying". So I am open minded. What is confusing is that I recall seeing a McKinley 2 FCC that had FM and now I don't see it on the President US website.
the George has NRC President George
... your right! the President Mckinley doesn't have the NRC... I'm shocked!...

I just bought a little Radioddity CS-47 and even that has NRC (but no side band) .. I wished I had noticed the CS-47 doesn't have NB noise blanker on it... I always use that and it always helps with ignition noise

I have been on a Anytone 6666 Pro / QT80 website and I am constantly hearing that the new radio over heats and has a lot of glitches... so I take back my 6666 Pro is the top dog..... just went on it to see what most of the problems are... sadly they are numerous... mostly a buzzing and over heating..... if you got the 5555 N II I highly doubt any of your co workers would know it was an illegal radio.... ( guessing FBI??? ) and they only know that if they see you using the 11 meter band... maybe just keep it on the ham band when you're with your fellow CIA guys??
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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Right you are, the George has NRC. I am doing some research. It sounds effective.


The AT 5555 N II looks interesting. I have just 12 inches (promised) depth in the console it is to go in, vertically. I have not measured the final fit as the Havis console has not yet been installed. There is supposed to be a short chassis radio that would fit.

(So much to do, and now I have the COVID)

federales? I don't need no stink'in badges!
 

niceguy71

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Right you are, the George has NRC. I am doing some research. It sounds effective.


The AT 5555 N II looks interesting. I have just 12 inches (promised) depth in the console it is to go in, vertically. I have not measured the final fit as the Havis console has not yet been installed. There is supposed to be a short chassis radio that would fit.

(So much to do, and now I have the COVID)

federales? I don't need no stink'in badges!
I had the long term covid from December 28th 2023 to July of 2024..... Every day was a fight to do anything ... Nothing to take lightly ... Hope it runs it's course quickly.... I'm sure you'll pick a great radio.... The new short version 5555 N II is 9.84 inches long,.. but I wouldn't want to put those huge heat sinks in a console..... Going to be interesting to see what you wind up with
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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Dec 22, 2013
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That is a very long time to be sick. Did you test positive right at the start or did it sort of creep up on you? Reason I ask is I have had strange congestion for a very long time. My son and wife suddenly got sick and think it happened getting hurricane supplies as they had really not been anywhere exposed prior. My taste and sense of smell are now whacked. I had this happen once when very young and it put me off ketchup forever. Today it was lasagna and then later mustard. Getting nauseous just thinking of it.

The Prez George is looking pretty good.
 

slowmover

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IMG_3581.jpeg
Well, friend, given your helpful comments in the past, let me see if I can do justice to this request:

Geo II fits your needs.

I’m a PRESIDENT fan, admittedly, and believe then to be best choice.

(I’m going to add non-FCC electrojuice comments as context from the standpoint of mobile which is the more difficult environment. It’s possible these days to outperform a base station from a hot-**** mobile).

Depth of experience (time over a year) shows they’ll surprise you pulling in signals when intuition is saying otherwise.

Add the PRESIDENT DIGI-Mic. The higher quality innards make a noticeable difference. I run it on One.

As an antenna needs a bonded ground plane, so, too, does an NRC radio need a high fidelity extension speaker. I’d put it against most all $$$ Amateur speakers in a test.

DRX-901


IMG_3111.jpeg

And, at transceiver per @prcguy :


I’d also have a feedpoint choke.

You’ll note in @jcrmadden post of a couple of days ago that the base stations and mobiles are dumbfounded at how quiet is the TX from his Toyota.

Treating both ends of the coax has become SOP for my radio rigs.

When one’s voice arises from a background of silence, others find it not only uncanny, they respond that much more quickly.

This is why you’ve seen me advocate clarity as the path to pursue over just some extra power. The former far outweighs too much of the latter in the real world (150W mobile limit, IMO).

In turn, the Hi-Fi speaker gives one a leg up in comprehension and “data transmission rates” go up accordingly as you’ll ken to his state of mind more rapidly.

If you want the last piece of that puzzle then a MORGAN 11M BANDPASS FILTER takes things another qualifying step (mobile). Heading into a location with atmospheric garbage it’s easy to lose a signal when the yahoo passing you has almost blanked your RX capability.


Son just ordered this for his HF mobile rig.

M&P 7

We both liked that supply, adapters, tools, etc are a complete system within which to work. One source QC.


My PRESIDENT Lincoln II V.3 matches up well with RM ITALY products. It’s temperamental about it, but I’ve had zero problem once I’ve used an MFJ tuner and PEP Meter to dial in the settings. 35W “should” be enough, but it isn’t, even with my diesel pickup featuring a 7’ roof antenna in or near a major metro as the asswipes using Skip are such a problem.

That’s when one needs the extra punch to alert listeners that you’re local to them. Understand that it’s the equivalent of a flashing red light. It’s not that they can’t hear you . . it’s that the vast majority of radio rigs aren’t very good (they’re poor, as the operating assumption) and distinguishing local from Skip is more than your disciplined protocol of identifying State, Road + Direction and clearly stated observations. Some power is a wake-up.

Locals really don’t have much problem in being heard immediately around them. But the psychological dissuasion of Skip masks that.

Thus:

NRC Clarity with some extra juice and CMC cleanup (plus assuming Hi-Fi) is: Hear, and Get Heard.


I’d get the George 2 from Scott’s Radio. As another factory radio tester states, “He makes a clean radio just that much cleaner”. (You’ll find other testaments from the knowledgeable to be similar). His tests indicate that these latest top shelf 11M radios are slightly better than an ICOM 7610 (we’ve entered a golden age).

I can guarantee that in areas where standard comms go down (cell service) that the version above (gold-plated as described) is exactly what hundreds of men whose cars didn’t disappear wish they’d had at least the first week.

IMG_6618.jpeg

.
 
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slowmover

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As to Top 3?

It’ll be pretty similar for the major brands.
But most reserve the gild for the Export models.
G2 the outstanding outlier in this regard.

ANCOR power cabling capable of extra-HD work would still be how I’d set for FCC. Have options.

6-AWG is a reasonable limit for installation ease. That’s keydown 40-50A @ 3% over 20’ before other losses. IOW, do a mobile power system that’d handle most HF Amateur.

No reason to do that twice when you decide to swap in an FT-891 and Little Tarheel.

This is how my son is doing his Cummins Dodge. But starting with a separate battery system able to be isolated.

Worst comes to worst he can still swap in his Washington.

BUSSMANN MBRP & PD75 are how I do my installs.

.
 

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slowmover

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IMG_1394.jpeg

Am expecting to see BREEDLOVE and SIRIO if you don’t find a LAIRD CWB-27 (maybe @prcguy will sell you his latest NOS acquisition).

Low watts needs all the help it can get. NRC is an enormous boon to RX & TX. Total length plus total height will be crucial. (Max is 14’ in all cases with 7’ antenna preferred).

Shown is 6’ 8” clearance. So whip flex will handle to 4’ or so above roof depending on circumstances.

Atop my 6’ pickup that’d be right at 13’ on the puck mount. My “city” or GP antenna type & height (a 13’ clearance base-load 83” PRESIDENT Texas).

A mid-coil is yet higher performance, but as the road trip antenna (Interstate).
PREDATOR 10-1-27 or the shorter top hat GR-45 by S-E.

.
 
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