RCI Ranger 5054

[KD5KUF]

This little radio gets bashed a lot but sometimes I think it is pure snobbery or anti-CB maker sentiment.
The fact is for the price it is a fine radio. When my 6m friends (with Kenwoods, Yaesus and Icoms) are complaining of S5-S7+ noise level my receiver is usually quiet. The ANL/NB works like a charm. Audio output was a tad bit lower than I like with the stock handmike and instead of trying to tweak it up inside the radio I wired a Shure desk mike to fit. Easy to hook up and works great.
Unit will slightly exceed the rated 25watts on a PEP meter on SSB. It was a little shy of the FM and AM rating at 8 watts. A small tweak on the clearly marked power pot brought it right up to the rated 10 watts.
I got the radio for Christmas, and on Christmas Day I made contacts into Nova Scotia and Newfoundland from Oklahoma (3000 miles to NF). This was on a hastily strung up wire dipole at 12 feet (it was too cold to do better). 5,7 report from both. New Years Day I made another contact into Newfoundland bagging another 5,7 report.
No, this radio won't compare to the HF+6 radios out there. But for just under 3 bills it is hard to beat. For us not rich hams, which is better, a good radio we can afford and put on the air, or saving and wishing for the radio of our dreams. #I say buy the Ranger and keep working toward the dream without missing out on the air time. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[KD7KOY]

Hi,
I was looking at the radio and for the money can't beat it. Nice way to get on 6 meters without spending alot.
Go's to show you don't have to spend a grand to have fun..

I hate to say but I have a negative response to the 5054. I purchased a 5054 this spring during the peak of the band opening so I did not have to drag my 706 out of the car every time I wanted to work 6. As soon as I hooked it up and checked in on our local 6 meter net people complained that my audio quality was not up to par and that I was off frequency. I checked the outputs with an analizer and found that the radio was off 3.5-4 kc from indicated and drifted. The output was far below rated, and the recieve was poor.

BTW - Kudos to the Portland, OR HRO store. They took it back a week after purchase no questions asked - I'm sure it broke their hearts when I bought another 706 that now resides in the shack.

73's to all KD7QCG

[KG6FTL]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif ...THE 5054DX; WHAT A GREAT RADIO! EQUIP THIS RADIO WITH AN ASTATIC 575 M-6 POWER MIC, AND YOUR AUDIO OUTPUT IS EXCEEDINGLY GOOD. HAD TROUBLE WITH THE BLUE BACKGROUND DISPLAY. IT QUIT 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. HOWEVER, RANGER CORP IN NATIONAL CITY CALIFORNIA, REPAIRED IT WITH A SMILE.

ALL AND ALL, THIS IS A VERY INTUITIVE AND MORE THAN FUNCTIONAL RADIO. FOR MONEY SPENT, IT IS ALOT OF RADIO FOR THE BUCK. SURE, THE BELLS AND WHISTLES ON THIS RADIO ARE SPARSE. HOWEVER, FOR AROUND THREE BILLS, YOU WILL FIND NOTHING ELSE.

WOULD I BUY IT AGAIN? IN A HEARTBEAT. FACT IS, AS SOON AS MONEY WILL ALLOW, I WILL BE BUYING ONE OF RANGER'S 5054 DX-100 WATT RIGS. I GIVE THIS RADIO...VERY HIGH MARKS... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

73zzz;

STEPHEN / KG6FTL

[K5VFF]

I don't know any thing about the RCI 5054 25 watt rig, but the 100 watt rig, is great. Just wish the band was open more. I have only had good reports on it. It would be nice if Ranger would have put tone in it for repeaters. I bought a tone board for it, but have had no luck, with it yet. Knowing me I did some thing wrong. It needs to be set, & I don't have any equip. to do it. I bought it for ssb, any way. If you don't have a gold mine or money tree. Get a RCI 5054 DX 100, & get on 6 meters.
Jake K5VFF

[w5lda]

I got my first taste of 6m with the 25 watt model.Talked to both coasts,Canada and Mexico with a homebrew rotatable dipole. Good audio reports and was making as many contacts as the guys with their KW amps and $10,000 rigs.But now have upgraded to a TS2000 and m2 6m5x.I am also on 50.125 every day.