President McKinley II, President Walker III or just a regular Cobra 29/ 29 LX peaked and tuned?

[corneileous]

Alright guys, after coming to the conclusion that I just really don't need basically a Ham radio with CB frequencies, radios like the Anytone AT5555, President Lincoln II+, anything from Stryker, Galaxy and Connex is out and I think I've just decided on a plain CB radio but I still dont know exactly what I want so I have it narrowed down to the President McKinley II, President Walker III and just the simple, tried and true Cobra 29 or 29 LX. I thought about adding the Uniden Bearcat 980 or 880 to the list but I'm not so sure I'm sold on Uniden radios. I know they make great police scanners and radar detectors but not radios. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe some of you can change my mind on that.

I really don't need built-in weather frequencies which would make some of the Cobra 29's the clear winner but, I do like some of the other features the President radios have like, the automatic squelch control, much nicer digital display, RF power knob(even though I highly doubt I'd use that often) and the channel selector buttons on the Mic. Which, speaking of Mics, is that new President Digimike better than the mics that come with the President radios worth it to buy tat too?

 

[slowmover]

Minimums for CB radio:

1). AM/SSB unit.
2). NRC-equipped.
3). Optimal vehicle systems.

The Q5 or QT60 aren’t any more difficult to use than the radios proposed above. But performance is far better.

Once one falls below this specification set, he loses first, ability, and, second, performance, that saving just a few dollars can’t justify.

Some will argue that deleting SSB delivers a radio with a smaller physical footprint making it viable . . . but in last ditch circumstances, the role of radio is heightened even more (AM = a few miles, SSB, potentially 20-30/miles).

Standard electret mic on this radio is very good performer.


1). Antenna System is what matters more.

That daycab Pete will be better where components are new and mount location is optimal. Antenna of longest length AND reaching nearest 14’. Then RF Bonds and use of coax chokes at both of its ends.

2). DC Power Cable such that radio voltage (engine-running) doesn’t drop by more than 3% at DK. Shortest positive cable to battery and negative to closest ground. (Build at 10A for radios above).

3). Audio Performance is to mate NRC-RX with a quality extension speaker mounted optimally in a big truck.

— The radio unit is just a component within those systems. It’s of secondary priority versus these three.

Get all these right — systems & radio spec — and operation is low-stress and within a quiet background. TX & RX then assume an ease which is shockingly beyond the experience of 99% of long-term mobile CB users.


NRC/DSP trumps all other radio spec. Any radio system with it trumps any radio without it for what matters most: to hear, and to get heard.

I’ve been using DSP/NRC ten years in big truck mobile. There’s literally no second place once it’s experienced.

.

 

[corneileous]

Minimums for CB radio:

1). AM/SSB unit.
2). NRC-equipped.
3). Optimal vehicle systems.

Isn’t both 10 meter ham and 11 meter CB AM?

The Q5 or QT60 aren’t any more difficult to use than the radios proposed above. But performance is far better.

Once one falls below this specification set, he loses first, ability, and, second, performance, that saving just a few dollars can’t justify.

Some will argue that deleting SSB delivers a radio with a smaller physical footprint making it viable . . . but in last ditch circumstances, the role of radio is heightened even more (AM = a few miles, SSB, potentially 20-30/miles).

Standard electret mic on this radio is very good performer.

So is there a difference between the Radioddity QT60 and the Anytone AT5555? That Scott fella over at Scott’s Radio said they were basically the rame radio with a different name and when I asked why he sells the QT60 is because he said their warranty is better but if you go changing it so that it’ll talk on the CB frequencies, wouldn’t that void the warranty?

BTW, I don’t know what that Q5 is. Tried searching it but came up with nothin’…

1). Antenna System is what matters more.

That daycab Pete will be better where components are new and mount location is optimal. Antenna of longest length AND reaching nearest 14’. Then RF Bonds and use of coax chokes at both of its ends.

I ran a single 18 foot coax but when you say coax chokes, are you referring to these things? I might actually have some of those. Not sure if they’re the right size or not.

 

[K4EET]

Isn’t both 10 meter ham and 11 meter CB AM?

So is there a difference between the Radioddity QT60 and the Anytone AT5555? That Scott fella over at Scott’s Radio said they were basically the rame radio with a different name and when I asked why he sells the QT60 is because he said their warranty is better but if you go changing it so that it’ll talk on the CB frequencies, wouldn’t that void the warranty?

BTW, I don’t know what that Q5 is. Tried searching it but came up with nothin’…

I ran a single 18 foot coax but when you say coax chokes, are you referring to these things? I might actually have some of those. Not sure if they’re the right size or not.

First, I’ll vote for the President McKinley II FCC:

President McKinley II FM | Limited Edition CB Radio with AM / FM / SSB Modes | Din Sized

Check out this President MCKINLEY II FM at www.WalcottRadio.com

www.walcottradio.com

Walcott Radio has it on-sale and free shipping. One unique thing about this radio is it has a front-firing speaker. Most radios have the speaker firing from the underside. With McKinley’s speaker on the front, you may not need a separate speaker.

President McKinley II FM | Limited Edition CB Radio with AM / FM / SSB Modes | Din Sized

Check out this President MCKINLEY II FM at www.WalcottRadio.com

www.walcottradio.com

Second, the 10 Meter ham band is not just AM. All modes (SSB, FM, etc.) are permitted following the FCC’s rules. Look at the band plan per this ARRL chart.

Band Plan

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.

www.arrl.org

Third, the AnyTone AT5555 and the Radioddity QT60 are the same radio. Both are built where AnyTones are built which is Qixiang Electron Science & Technology Co., Ltd. in China.

ABOUT US | Anytone

Get quote! Find details about Anytone, a professional digital radio manufacturer based in China, welcome to get info!

www.anytone.net

Fourth, as for modifying the AnyTone AT5555 radio to cover the CB frequencies, if bought from Walcott Radio, they will modify the radio for you ($40 fee) but also cover the warranty in full. You will void the warranty if you do the modification yourself.

ANYTONE AT-5555N-II Mobile Transceiver AM/FM/SSB

Check out this AnyTone AT5555N-II at www.WalcottRadio.com

www.walcottradio.com

I hope that answers some of your questions.

Cheers! Dave K4EET

 

[K4EET]

<deleted - duplicate post>

 

[corneileous]

First, I’ll vote for the President McKinley II FCC:

President McKinley II FM | Limited Edition CB Radio with AM / FM / SSB Modes | Din Sized

Check out this President MCKINLEY II FM at www.WalcottRadio.com

www.walcottradio.com

Walcott Radio has it on-sale and free shipping. One unique thing about this radio is it has a front-firing speaker. Most radios have the speaker firing from the underside. With McKinley’s speaker on the front, you may not need a separate speaker.

President McKinley II FM | Limited Edition CB Radio with AM / FM / SSB Modes | Din Sized

Check out this President MCKINLEY II FM at www.WalcottRadio.com

www.walcottradio.com

So other than the front firing speaker, are there really any other attributes about this radio of why you would vote for it over anything else?

This truck I’d be putting it in actually has a pretty good remote speaker that’s on the side of the cab so, the fact that this radio has a speaker on front of it doesn’t really matter to me and besides, front firing or not, if it’s still the same quality speaker as what comes on the bottom of most other radios, I wouldn’t be interested in it for just where they put the speaker.

Third, the AnyTone AT5555 and the Radioddity QT60 are the same radio. Both are built where AnyTones are built which is Qixiang Electron Science & Technology Co., Ltd. in China.

ABOUT US | Anytone

Get quote! Find details about Anytone, a professional digital radio manufacturer based in China, welcome to get info!

www.anytone.net

Ok. That’s good enough for me.

Fourth, as for modifying the AnyTone AT5555 radio to cover the CB frequencies, if bought from Walcott Radio, they will modify the radio for you ($40 fee) but also cover the warranty in full. You will void the warranty if you do the modification yourself.

ANYTONE AT-5555N-II Mobile Transceiver AM/FM/SSB

Check out this AnyTone AT5555N-II at www.WalcottRadio.com

www.walcottradio.com

I hope that answers some of your questions.

Cheers! Dave K4EET

Yeah, at first I thought about buying a radio from them and having them do the modification on it but I’ve heard several reviews(from here too) about Walcott radio not being as good as they advertise. If it’s something simple like just adding the 1K resistor and the programming on the face plate of the president Lincoln 2+, I think I can handle that and really wouldn’t worry about losing the warranty on the radio.

 

[prcguy]

On the Anytone AT5555N II, for the mod you only cut one wire and it may actually unplug meaning you can easily make it stock again.

 

[corneileous]

On the Anytone AT5555N II, for the mod you only cut one wire and it may actually unplug meaning you can easily make it stock again.

If I remember correctly from watching the video I watched, there’s one little short white wire that you cut and right next to that wire, there’s some kind of a little two prong or three prong circuit board piece that has to be unsoldered and then moved, I believe, towards the back of the radio one set of holes, and then re-soldered.

 

[ind224]

PC122 small box AM/SSB perfect for a Jeep or quad install. No NRC or rainbow hues.

 

[slowmover]

If I remember correctly from watching the video I watched, there’s one little short white wire that you cut and right next to that wire, there’s some kind of a little two prong or three prong circuit board piece that has to be unsoldered and then moved, I believe, towards the back of the radio one set of holes, and then re-soldered.

No soldering. Pluck and move after cutting white wire.

 

[corneileous]

No soldering. Pluck and move after cutting white wire.

I’m confused… At around 54 seconds in of the video, he shows where he clips the white wire and then moves the diode that’s to the left of that white wire, towards the back of the radio one set of holes….

 

[slowmover]

That’s all there is for conversion. Those two actions

 

[corneileous]

That’s all there is for conversion. Those two actions

So then that little black diode thing to the left of the white wire that gets cut isn’t soldered to the board? Watching the video he doesn’t show the work but now I can’t remember if he said anything about that having to be melted from the board and then resoldered to it in the next set of holes over.

 

[slowmover]

 

[2IR473]

That “little black diode” as you call it, is a simple shorting jumper. Common in computers. It is not soldered to the board. It simply sits over two (out of three total) pins that stick out of the board. You pull it off the two pins it sits on from the factory, and put it on the other combination of pins. If the jumper is connecting pins 1 & 2, lift it up and move it to connect pins 2 & 3. It is really that simple.
As for the white wire, you can just cut it. If one has soldering skills, you can desolder it from one of the through holes, so you could easily restore it to factory, if that was important to you. Otherwise, most people will just cut the white wire.