Ranger RCI-2970N2
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| Frequency | 10 meters: 28.000-29.700 MHz, 12 meters: 24.890-24.990 MHz |
| Bands | 10 meters + 12 meters (amateur radio — requires license to transmit) |
| TX power | 200 W (200W PEP on SSB (USB/LSB); ~50W RMS on AM/FM/CW; AM carrier variable ~10-50W. A 10/12 meter amateur radio - a license is required to transmit (not legal CB power).) |
| Modes | AM, FM, USB, LSB, CW, PA (public address) |
| Weight | 3.63 kg (8 lb) - 8 lbs (3629g). |
| Connector | SO-239 (UHF female) |
| antenna | SO-239 (UHF female) |
| mic | 6-pin front panel (channel changing mic included) |
| ext spkr | external speaker jack |
| pa | PA speaker jack |
| dc in | heavy gauge DC power cable. 13.8VDC (requires 50A class power supply like Astron RS-50A). |
| power req | 13.8VDC. Requires 50A class power supply (Astron RS-50A or equivalent recommended). WARNING: switching power supplies can generate receiver noise — linear supply recommended. |
Estimated (unverified): Introduction year is not documented by independent sources. AM/FM/CW output is ~50W RMS; the 200W figure is SSB PEP. Memory count is 10 on early N2, 16 on later black-display N2.
200 W PEP on 10 and 12 meters in a mobile package (200 W SSB PEP, ~50 W RMS AM/FM/CW). All-mode (AM/FM/USB/LSB/CW), with variable power 10-200 W. An enhanced receiver uses a dual-FET balanced mixer. It is microprocessor-controlled with 10 memories, scan, and a programmable repeater offset with CTCSS for 10 m repeater access. Three frequency-selection methods and surface-mount components for vibration resistance. A 6-pin channel-changing mic is included.
It is not a CB radio; it requires an amateur radio license. 200 W PEP needs a serious 50 A power supply (Astron RS-50A class, not a cheap switching supply). At 8 lb it is heavy for mobile, and 200x283x83 mm is large. The common CB conversion is illegal. Some users report SSB frequency drift as the radio heats up. Build quality is adequate but not Yaesu/Icom/Kenwood grade. The RCI-2970N4 (450 W) has superseded it.
A 200 W 10/12-meter mobile radio. The RCI-2970N2 puts 200 W PEP all-mode on 10 and 12 meters for reasonable money. For licensed amateurs who want serious power in a mobile package, it has been a common choice for over a decade. The enhanced receiver and CTCSS for repeater access make it more than a power amplifier with a mic. It needs a linear 50 A supply and a proper antenna for safe operation.
The Ranger RCI-2970 is a high-power 10- and 12-meter amateur mobile, the big brother in a family that traces back to the well-regarded RCI-2950 of the 1990s. The version most people mean today is the N2, which builds a substantial RF amplifier right into the radio: eight MOSFET transistors driven to around 200 watts PEP on sideband, with a thermostatically controlled fan that keeps running after you switch the radio off. It transmits on 10 and 12 meters and requires an amateur license to operate legally.
It is fully all-mode, AM, FM, USB, LSB, CW, and PA, which sets it apart from AM/FM-only export radios. AM carrier is variable, keying up around forty to fifty watts and swinging into the 150-to-200-watt range on peaks; sideband reaches the rated 200 watts PEP, while AM, FM, and CW run nearer fifty watts RMS. The front panel gives you a large frequency display with a dimmer, a built-in relative SWR meter, a receive clarifier, RF and mic gain, a frequency scanner, and a programmable repeater split for 10-meter FM repeater work. The microphone is a six-pin channel-changing type.
That much power is a commitment. It needs a serious 50-amp supply and 8-gauge wiring, both of which ship with it, and it draws well over twenty amps keyed up. The MOSFET finals are less rugged than the old pill-style transistors, so over-tuning by an over-eager shop is the classic way to kill one. The N2 has since been joined by higher-power N3 (300 W) and N4 (450/500 W) versions. For a licensed operator who wants a lot of 10-meter power in one box, it has been a staple for years; the simpler AM/FM Connex CX-3300 and the President Lincoln II sit below it in power and price.