I would be interested in hearing from owners of ranger rci 2970 N2 as I'm looking for a high powered radio for a base what other options would I have as I'm not a licenced ham operator I'm also based in Ireland
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ranger rci 2970 N2
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Receiver not better than superstar3900.
It have power and big digits for blind operators.
Bunch of garbage if you ask me.
Mike
It have power and big digits for blind operators.
Bunch of garbage if you ask me.
Mike
I really like mine. People complain about the noisy receive, but I just adjust the rf gain. It will really pull out the weak signals then.
I have received nothing but praise on the quality of the audio. I purchased the unit without any mods and did the echip conversion myself. On frequency and very stable. Heat sink gets warm-not hot. Fans on the bottom turn on as required by the temperature sensor. I like it a lot. Easy to use and best value for your dollar.
I owned a original 2970DX and also tested the N2 and I'd take the old 2970DX any day of the week. It was a workhorse and never had a single issue while many of the N2 models tend to be very picky. For the price of a new N2 you really should look at some of the low end HF ham radios as they really have everything the N2 has plus more features and higher quality.
DXman
Yes, that's 3100 degrees F. Nine yrs of hard work.
Well my N2 is of the 1st series and I sent it to DBT on the east coast of the USA for a general tune.
It came back doing 225 watts on SSB and 250 on AM, that's @ 14.2 volts. I have now had it for about 5 or 6 yrs and no complaints with it.
In all honest though, I really do like the 2970dx models a little better, they only produce 90 watts mostly and it's just right for talking DX.
I only use my N2 when I may need to get that really hard DX contact of some far away place. The "white noise" on the N2 is "quieter" than on my 2970's. I also use a Heil Clear Speech external speaker on all my radio's, which really improves the receive.
I think I used the N2 for about 30 hrs in the last 5 yrs.
The radio works as is, would I buy one again? No.
It came back doing 225 watts on SSB and 250 on AM, that's @ 14.2 volts. I have now had it for about 5 or 6 yrs and no complaints with it.
In all honest though, I really do like the 2970dx models a little better, they only produce 90 watts mostly and it's just right for talking DX.
I only use my N2 when I may need to get that really hard DX contact of some far away place. The "white noise" on the N2 is "quieter" than on my 2970's. I also use a Heil Clear Speech external speaker on all my radio's, which really improves the receive.
I think I used the N2 for about 30 hrs in the last 5 yrs.
The radio works as is, would I buy one again? No.
They are not worth the money when you have new Ham radios for a little bit more.
Fiddly and cumbersome to use and a PA section that can go poof at any time.
Another 25w CB radio and a Texas Star DX500 will cost the same for double the watts and half the trouble.
Fiddly and cumbersome to use and a PA section that can go poof at any time.
Another 25w CB radio and a Texas Star DX500 will cost the same for double the watts and half the trouble.
It's not expensive to replace the MOSFETs, just time consuming and yes it will work for a few years @ 14V as mine did... then "poof". My old 2970 with the (2) Toshiba 2sc2290s in the PA section has been going for about 20 years. Wonder if I can swap the amp from that and stick it under that 2970N2. Need to look into that...
Baring the AR-3500 the RCI 2950 front display and controls are as close to perfect as I have seen. Big display not too bright in the past and controls you can use in the dark while driving without taking eye's off the road. No idiotic menu like the Stryker 995 and not so many controls that you can not work them with man-sized hands.
I owned a 1st Gen made in Taiwan version from 1991-1998 if it had not been stolen I would still have it.
My take on any radio with a built-in high power amp is that they are all $h1t!! Nothing is dumber than strapping a linear amplifier to the inside of the radio. If the amp fails you lose the amp and the radio while it is being repaired. If you have a separate radio and separate amp if one fails you do not lose both. Again how dumb is it to but an amp under the main PCB for the radio? Why? Heat rises and heat is the enemy of electronics so again only a moron would package a radio that way!
In the N2 they use 8 devices to do what could be done with 1-2 high power rf bjt's. The second people take the golden screwdriver to them or to a "Tech" and I use the term loosely they start popping those fet's left right and center. That is 8 more chances for the parts and system to fail!
The N4 is even worse since they use DEI transistors in them and want top dollar for a product that is inferior in almost every way.
RCI 2950DX, AT-6666, President Lincoln II+ or V3 combined with a 2-4 pill class AB amp is advice I would give you if you were my friend or one of my 3 sons. The audio quality on the AT-6666 or President Lincoln II is not that great out of the box but if you can work on smd boards they can be made to kick-a$$ and their receivers are not as noisy as the RCI lineup.Out of the box the AM audio on the RCI is the best of the bunch. Oh and the Yeti Optima MK III is really nice too but you can not get a great deal on them. The other radio's above can be had for $212-$249 new if you shop around.
Take a look at Telestar Electronics Skywave DX350. I own some of his products myself and love them!
I owned a 1st Gen made in Taiwan version from 1991-1998 if it had not been stolen I would still have it.
My take on any radio with a built-in high power amp is that they are all $h1t!! Nothing is dumber than strapping a linear amplifier to the inside of the radio. If the amp fails you lose the amp and the radio while it is being repaired. If you have a separate radio and separate amp if one fails you do not lose both. Again how dumb is it to but an amp under the main PCB for the radio? Why? Heat rises and heat is the enemy of electronics so again only a moron would package a radio that way!
In the N2 they use 8 devices to do what could be done with 1-2 high power rf bjt's. The second people take the golden screwdriver to them or to a "Tech" and I use the term loosely they start popping those fet's left right and center. That is 8 more chances for the parts and system to fail!
The N4 is even worse since they use DEI transistors in them and want top dollar for a product that is inferior in almost every way.
RCI 2950DX, AT-6666, President Lincoln II+ or V3 combined with a 2-4 pill class AB amp is advice I would give you if you were my friend or one of my 3 sons. The audio quality on the AT-6666 or President Lincoln II is not that great out of the box but if you can work on smd boards they can be made to kick-a$$ and their receivers are not as noisy as the RCI lineup.Out of the box the AM audio on the RCI is the best of the bunch. Oh and the Yeti Optima MK III is really nice too but you can not get a great deal on them. The other radio's above can be had for $212-$249 new if you shop around.
Take a look at Telestar Electronics Skywave DX350. I own some of his products myself and love them!
It's ok if you need is a high powered radio in a small package. Why is it not ok to have a 100w cb, but perfectly ok to have a 100w ham rig?
I for one would never buy it, but understand it's place. If your going between vehicles..or you just want a linear output and don't want to deal with all the spaghetti wiring of separate amps.
As for the first gen, it was awful. I had a Summerkamp 2000 and the first RCI 2950 available. Terrible radio's. Kept jumping channels when you unkeyed. My friends had a terrible spur right out of the box. I heard it got better, but I still used, and use my Lincoln.