Important To Those Who Wrote To Me….
Firstly let’s address the rhino in the room. I’ve been asked how did i see a JFK3 long before and not any of the other new President radios. Answer is simple. I was loaned a dealer unit from a dealer under the counter and that’s it. AND if I want to have any of the new radios then it’s money over the counter or via PayPal. That’s it, usual no frill customer. SO I decided to buy a radio and it was drum roll the President Bill II +
Initial Thoughts
Same radio, same case, same engineer mode, cigarette plug and pretty much all cosmetics are the same as before. But the new features and smartness around them is nice. P channels you can turn on and off, NRC selectable 1-5 which makes the radio really a joy. It’s the NRC without ghost noises, fake sort of coughs and farts you get from the “old versions” it’s a joy to hear even when the squelch is open. I’ve tested NRC since before it was initially released and refined. This is the best version!!! People took feedback, listened and changed stuff (Factory not President) And the FM audio has been tickled and sounds lovely. I’ve got mine hooked up to the Digimike and it sounds real sweet. Plus the newly added feature to turn on or off the microphone up and down. Didn’t know I needed it till now, and yes I needed it.
For me turning the Digi to Dyna from elec made it stronger and on FM nicer and on AM louder. Again it’s a case didn’t know I needed one till it was connected and since then won’t be disconnected.
Turn on NRC and N comes on the screen so you’ll see an example 27.325N where when it’s off it’s just 27.325
Six Roger Bleeps, menu reset option, Dyna and Elec on board and all the usual goodies. It’s all you need in a small case.
Above is the service mode menu added as I’ll get loads of messages about that I don’t know it. Yes I do know it but no I won’t share it. From the box nothing to do, but it’s there hidden as it should be.
AM Audio is typically President and a little on the medium scale of tone and it’s clear, sharp and has a little swing in normal run of the mill legal mode. FM as before is stronger than in the past where people needed to make internal adjustments and service mode adjust to make it stronger. No need anymore just plug n play and away you go!
P Channels Are there and work at the end of the 40 channels and are of course labelled P1 to P5. Switchable on and off in the menu of the radio and do exactly what you would expect from a President Radio
Inside Story & Export Mode
At the moment I’m not opening the radio as we know it’s super small and these days cannot easily manage to make the modifications that I’d like too so that’s a wait and see. Maybe someone else will remove the sticker and have a go but I’m not.
Winner OR Looser
Based on the last Bill this is a winner, it’s got what many of us wanted, it’s been tickled and fettled by the smart people in France and although classed as an updated radio it’s really really like a new one. I’m on the record as stating “President Harrison II is the best ever President AM/FM” well maybe there could be a new kid on the block with this one.
What’s Next Simon
I’ve ordered a Randy III+ for when it’s released and all the others like Martin, JFK3, Harrison II+ won’t make it at the moment. I’m dead curious about a Randy with NRC having got a new car need something to put in it easy to use and small. Plus if it has the real NRC then it’s a keeper for me.. Harrison and JFK do not get me wrong also will be awesome am sure but Hungarian Forint v Euro and costs for shipping from Germany or Austria etc all make good prices higher. So not hidden agenda, not showing it doesn’t mean it’s bad or some other matter. It’s money and shipping.. I remain open to add any videos of them just message me and ask!
Conclusion
It’s way more than an upgrade. It works just simply nice both on standard supplied mike, Digimike and or Bluetooth and connects without any issue at all. I like the audio both on transmit and receive. For me this is one of the purchases of the year so far. It’s up there with the repair of my 991A which also now works brilliantly. Congrats GPE it’s a new radio in the skin of an old friend.
What would I change?
Based on knowing nothing about the current export mode I’d add Power Menu so you’d have a choice of 4 / 10 / 20 FM but I don’t know if it’s there or not, also do not know if there is any passion for it. Idea is simply user friendly then makes heat less than all power all the time can make a change when you need it.
Keeper Or Seller?
Keeper
President Randy III NRC
Helmut Frequenzwaschl sent me yesterday an advert for this radio showing it would be €249 which I think is a little too high. Estimates would be it’s around the same price as the current one? Advert below
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