Lincoln installed in a too-short pair of days off after about a month on the road. (Details on the 579 thread).
1). Still need to access and grind off powdercoat at internal antenna mounts.
2). Wanting to try another set of antennas (such as SIRIO 5000 3/8 series).
3). Power upgrade (6-AWG) not done as order evaporated into thin air, but, hell, it was too cold to work outside.
4). Will be using stock mic for foreseeable future. A pair of others to be modded for functionality & upgrades are awaiting shipment.
5). The LIBERTY mic is along for the ride, haven’t installed as I need to install an APP power cord to run from my new 12V POWERWERX distribution box (was wondering what I’d do with four (4) outlets; ha!)
Am sitting at home at 0335 waiting for clock to roll around to 0700 or so to do last errands before off on next trip today.
Sitting at home isn’t a good much less great place to learn much about RX/TX from a big truck mobile. Too much “noise” in immediate environment.
Noise similar to the Uniden 980 which I’ll employ as foil in this initial impression. The $200 U980 + KL203 50W combo as against an integrated 50W amp Lincoln II+ at $300 where both are SMD type. (Don’t know how it’ll get out on AM yet; Bells shows 12-50W in same price as Walcott tune-up).
First off there’s not a question in my mind that this radio is a step up. It’s quieter than a Uniden 980, but it isn’t “quiet”. I understand that objection and can say that a West Mountain Radio CLEARSPEECH DSP Speaker is born to pair with this radio. They play very nicely together. I’d be displeased without DSP (type of noise controlled to lessen irritation).
I have a greater amount of degrees of adjustment on the Radio volume control to balance against how much I dial in on the DSP speaker. Of which I can also use more range. This is NEW as against all my other radios. (And it’s big).
It’s as if true linearity on the Volume control is present. Versus the fast jump on the U-980. That radio with this speaker was hair-split adjustments to each unit. Here, no need to be within a fraction of an inch. Other radios had a few fractions more. Not so with this II+.
I had found the several sets of adjustments on the U-980 to cut noise. Different starting points. None were ideal, all ended at a point equally objectionable to someone wanting a truly quiet background. The Linc may be no better on that score (type of noise present, but more easily controlled now).
I’d found that the U-980 could be kept on all day despite being static-sounding. (The Galaxy 86 & 99 pair were best at dead-quiet background). It’s SSB performance was slightly better than the Galaxy’s (both of which need to see the bench as insurance).
Tried the BHI Line Attenuator, but it’s built for greater wattage from the radio than this one puts out, same as with the U-980. (Idea is to be able to use a greater range of the Volume control; the new radio has it). I don’t feel the need to find one with different circuit values. I have another radio with which it will work.
The ANL/NB function well, and a feature new to me in a radio I own is a Hi-Cut filter. Between these choices, volume level and the two speaker adjustments I’ll have (again) several paths to make listening all day least objectionable.
That the RF Gain seems also to be linear means can adjust that over a greater range. (Also big).
Let me more forcefully state it: the linearity of radio controls provides such a greater range of adjustment inside EACH control that I’m at sea here at the beginning knowing WHAT control to use first.
That start point was easy to deduce, thus automatic, whether one of my three (3) digital Uniden radios or three (3) analog Galaxy radios as to “knowing” one or more starting points to maximize RF Gain against noise present. This set of conditions, start here. That set, start there.
Thus Volume and RF Gain controls plus Hi-Cut are a genuine step up from a U-980 (radio doubled in price; designs comparable) and I find that important as having the Radio “on” is chief virtue of ownership & use as a driver. I don’t get to quit for the next few hours, leave the radio room and watch, “BJ & the Bear”, on re-runs till sundown.
My day starts & stops 0400-1600 close as I can make that. Plus 500-550 miles. It’s simply different than being a commuter on the same roads daily or as a house-dweller with a base station. The objections to inexpensive SMD radios aren’t negated by my desires on the one hand or needs on the other.
Other radios can be better. A baseline radio was wanted where continuous use can’t be violated (theory, not always practice).
Dealing with on-air retards isn’t a radio function. This new radio looks as though I will be able to turn down the Volume and make noise-control adjustments such that I can still listen for key words & phrases plus excitable speech. The U-980, not so hot at this come mid-day. Relative volume had to stay higher than I wanted. If I can get it further down than before — looking that way — my money is already well-spent (before SSB concerns).
Mid-day can drive anyone off the air when the self-winding morons are slobbering PLUS atmospheric noise is high.
Thus, a marginally-greater amount of clean noise control (doesn’t muffle speech) will be a winner where RX/TX is also overall better (the key sentence of this post).
Today, at clock time 0415 no noise control is needed. At 1615 depending where I am (metro or rural) I may have thrown everything at the problem, right up to and including the kitchen sink. (That late in the day assuming I’m near a metro is when I’ll re-test using the radio-end coax filter).
Ferrites are in place on cables/wire as before. I’m still short a fair number (to use on other installations) so I’ll be purchasing more to be consistent in what mix and where placed.
More generally:
The radio has features I can’t access (outside of Eleven Meter) so while those are interesting to read upon, I’m still a truck driver with more radio than he can use.
That said, my goal has been to have a solid performer on SSB in a mobile, and I’m going to assume that’s what I have unless experience shows otherwise. Installed now means separate systems are isolated: Power + Antennas (work needed shown above).
What I mean by “isolated” is that this is a radio built to higher standard. I don’t have to assume the radio is a weak link. My other radios seemed fine, but . . . .
— I’m very pleased at having both high/low Voltage Protection plus SWR protection.
— The 9/19 button looks as though I can set AM-19 and then LSB-38 to both be available at the touch of a button. Getting lost in the woods is no big deal except while driving. Instant CH-19.
— One feature I truly like on the U-980 is the Day/Night key. As my workday starts before dawn, I use lowered illumination for the Night setting. Instant button change to accompany dashboard lighting, Qualcomm lighting plus GPS and phone. Not present here (unless I missed it).
Plenty of other features to explore.
— In the next day or so I’ll put the 980 in the bunk to serve as on-air audio reference and try to get Audio Features set.
— The KL-203 and CMNF-500 have been retired to the 980 transport case. The Bandpass filter was the one didn’t add points to the radio SWR meter (1.3-4 on AM-20), in fact it reduced SWR by .3. (Grounds coax at both ends entering; hello, antenna mounts).
Clamp-on Ammeter plus Antenna Analyzer and PEP Meter are tools needed to work Power + Antenna systems.
As I wrote in the 579 thread, the PRESIDENT LINCOLN II+ is symbolic for me in continuing forward. I was put off by no warranty service on the Anytones as I figured QC wouldn’t be as good (past design defects, if any). My hope is that I’ve a good unit best showcasing President tech.
I’d like for this radio to be the reference for other radios run mobile as the Uniden 980 + KL-203 is for general AM work (yet includes Sideband).
Receiver noise is neither here nor there where TX/RX performance otherwise matters more.
The extra $100, in other words
.