President Bill 2 CB Radio Teardown

In this video we take another look at the President Bill 2 CB radio. I have had various messages about bridging the two points located next to the "white wire" and in this video we do exactly that to see what, if anything, that does to the radio.
The Bill 2 ASC is a tiny little powerhouse of a radio but that smallness makes it difficult to work on. The official services manual has not surfaced yet and we are still exploring what hidden gems we can find in this radio.
For more articles on everything CB radio related visit our website nlkmediagroup.com/
You will have legal obligations in your region with regards to radio transmissions, licensing and power outputs. Expanding a radio may increase its power or frequency range outside of what is legally allowed with or without a license. If you choose to modify your radio then it is done at your own risk. Remember, ignorance is no plea so stay on the right side of the law and double check before proceeding.
If you would like to buy me a coffee and help support the channel then please follow this link www.buymeacoffee.com/nlkmedia Your support is greatly appreciated, thank you so much

[@drsysop]

I just ordered my Bill II EU version & they shipped it to the US & like it.

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi DrSysOp, thanks for letting me know. It’s very helpful to know US viewers are able to get them imported. Nice little radio the Bill 2. All the best and thanks for commenting.

[@anstef1485]

Thanks for the video! Incidently the FCC version I got did not come with a 12volt connector. I had to buy and install one.

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Thanks for letting me know, there are differences between the EU models and the FCC models. Glad you managed to get it sorted and I hope your enjoying the Bill 2. All the best and thanks for watching

[@fecheverria]

Thanks for that. I was thinking on doing that but now you help me not do it yet

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi Felipe, Glad to help and from my testing it has no benefit in performing the mod so hopefully saved you some time and pain in trying it out. All the best and thanks for watching

[@LIVINGRETIRED310]

Was clipping the wire necessary for channel expansion? Or just moving the jumper. Hmm if someone wanted the am low increased to 4. All he would need to do is adjust the AL in service menu correct? Would the radio need to be in AM mode? Thank you for your video. I have the EU version coming this week

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi, no the wire is for power adjustment. If you jump the jumper it will put the radio in expanded mode and wide band it (unlock the frequencies). To adjust the power you use the PL (power low) adjustment menu and it adjusts the power for both AM and FM at the same time. (ie it adjusts the output amplifier regardless of modulation type used) Avoid the AL mode, its the AM low power amplitude adjustment and should be set to around 89%. When expanding the radio and enabling high power mode you get additional options P2 is high power adjustment and A2 mode AM high power amplitude adjustment. The factory will set P2 and A2 accordingly so you shouldnt need to adjust it. (ie you dont adjust AL in high power mode as the P2 and A2 settings are used) if you jump the jumper back again it puts the radio back into low power mode regardless of the wire being cut or not. Hope that all makes sense. All the best and thanks for watching

[@andik859]

​@@NLKMediaGroup Hallo Sir. Also muss nur der Jumper versetzt werden für mehr Leistung und erweiterten Frequenzbereich ? Was hat das durchschneiden des Kabels für einen Sinn ? Kann man es lassen und nur den Jumper versetzen ? Hier in Deutschland hat es einer so gebaut das man das Radio nur links mit dem Finger antippen muss um zwischen hoher und niedriger Leistung umzuschalten. Hohe Leistung wird angezeigt durch eine kleine Leuchtdiode. Sehr gut gemacht. Such sie nach dem YT Video.

[@roberthoffman4713]

Thank you for another informative video.

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi Robert, thanks for your feedback which is greatly appreciated. All the best

[@ferrandcyril6422]

Bonjour, si vous dessoudez seulement la partie haute du fil blanc et que vous le soudez sur la partie haute du fil bleu alors vous obtiendrez 4W AM - 18W FM et 18W UK. Il faut croiser le fil blanc et le fil bleu 😉

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Salut, merci pour le commentaire. Si vous regardez ma vidéo sur le President Harrison 2, la modification du mode haute puissance a été effectuée sur cette radio. La même modification peut être appliquée au Bill 2 pour débloquer le mode haute puissance. Je pense que c'est ce que vous dites dans votre message. Désolé de devoir utiliser un traducteur, alors j'espère que rien ne sera perdu dans la traduction. Bonne chance et merci pour vos commentaires Hi, thanks for commenting. If you watch my video on the President Harrison 2 the high power mode modification was performed on that radio. The same modification can be applied to the Bill 2 to unlock high power mode. I think that is what you are saying in your message. Sorry having to use a translator so hope nothing lost in translation. All the best and thanks for commenting

[@johnmknox]

Does President do firmware updates? If so then that might be the only way to get the P2 mode?

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi John, not that I am aware of. The USB socket on the front of the radio's is power only so there is no way I am aware of to perform an update. Would be good to find out if the firmware can be dumped from the chip using a header on the board. Might open up some room for improvements. Something to look into when time permits. All the best and thanks for watching

[@samuelkopta4067]

Nice video I would love to get some advice in priv if possible

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi Samuel, please visit my website nlkmediagroup.com and you can contact me from there and I will try and assist you. All the best and thanks for watching

[@davidmckenna5875]

When radios are installed in a car(directly to the battery) how do you prevent the Radio from draining the battery if left on. Thanks

[@waltsmith6515]

You don't you remember to turn it off leave it on once & you will

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi David, you could connect it to the yellow ignion wire which is only powered when the key is in and turned to the ACC or ON position. Apart from this, if you leave the radio on then the battery will drain. Thanks for watching

[@sleshinepinki774]

So, if you cut the wire? What happens? And if you cut that white wire and and move the wire to the next hole, what happens? Is it best to add a switch between the jumper wire? Should that be a hetter option to easily expand and change back to stock when needed? Awaits response. : )

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Some President radios expand to a high power mode when the wire is cut and others expand when the wire is moved. The jumper enables export mode to open up the frequencies. So, you can expand the radio just by moving the jumper but to get more power the wire needs to be dealt with. Some people add a switch so this can be done easily and I have also seen modules being added which switch based on holding the PTT button at power on. The only problem with the Bill 2 is its size and finding somewhere to put a switch. All the best and thanks for watching MJ7NLK

[@sleshinepinki774]

Appreciate for the prompt response, So, for high power on this model you should? To get expanded frequency range alone you need to? And for both high power with expanded Frequencies we should..?

[@sleshinepinki774]

Should I move the jumper to the next and add a switch in the first jumper cable point?

[@NLKMediaGroup]

@@sleshinepinki774 To get the expanded frequency range you just need to set the jumper. Moving the wire provides more power but only when the jumper has been set to expanded mode. So, moving the wire and then changing the jumper back to the standard position will revert the radio back to standard power as well. It is a three pin setup for the jumper. Bridging 1 and 2 puts the radio into standard mode. Bridging 2 and 3 puts the radio into Expanded mode. Pin 2 is common to both and you need to switch between 1 and 3. So, you will need a 3 way switch to switch between 2 and 1, 2 and 3. Hope this helps, all the best MJ7NLK

[@Askager2]

Сколько WATT в АМ модуляции ?

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Несущая около 6 Вт и с тоном 18 Вт. Результаты теста полной мощности в моем предыдущем видео. Всего наилучшего The carrier is about 6W and with tone 18W. Full power test results are in my previous video. All the best

[@kcstafford2784]

dude i just watched a video of you and the Bill FCC model ??you did years ago???

[@NLKMediaGroup]

The Bill 2 is a nice little radio, although its difficult to work on due to its size, but very handy for an ultra small bug out radio with some power under its belt. I revisited the Bill 2 a few days ago trying to find the High Power mode adjustment to be able to dial back the expanded power output but was unable to find it on the EU model. All the best and thanks for watching MJ7NLK

[@kcstafford2784]

@@NLKMediaGroup I think it junk and president going down hill quick...

[@stefando1ass]

have you tried to bridge the Transistor ( the final)?

[@simonwalters4842]

That may give another few watts but the goal here is to have controllable high power

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi Stefan, as Simon mentions, I was hoping to be able to control the high power mode. Temps are the worry with this thing being so small. Bridging might give a further uplift in output but more heat will be generated. I would ideally like to be able to have the radio in expanded mode but dial back the output. It's rather strange that in expanded mode this radio does not have a P2 mode like all the others do. Maybe I am missing something here with how to enable it or possibly the software version may not have it. Thanks for commenting and for watching. All the best

[@fecheverria]

I tried all the MODS in both your videos on a FCC version and i can tell you there is no change at all. Just letting you guys know so you wont have to.

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi Felipe, thank you for letting me know, this is really helpful as I do get asked quite a lot about the FCC version and what does and doesnt work. Really appreciate your comment as it helps others as well. All the best and thanks for watching

[@mikeyf103]

No mods available on the FCC version sorry

[@AffanKhan-uo5rh]

​@@NLKMediaGroupX1

[@sureshkuppisetti7539]

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[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

In other words install a TVI filter and a Braid-breaker in line with the television aerial to prevent interference.

[@mariussny]

Hello, I would like if you could make a video with the President Ronald 10/12m cb station or some advice about it, I am waiting for a response from you

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi Marius, I have a lot of President Radios but the Ronald is one that I don't currently have. I will add it to the list and see if I can source one when next ordering. The President Richard is such a good radio that I just can't see the Ronald being superior but will check it out and see. All the best and thanks for watching

[@mariussny]

@@NLKMediaGroup Ths Man for the answer👍🙌

[@mariussny]

@@NLKMediaGroup Ok, so Richard is superior to Ronald?

[@NLKMediaGroup]

@@mariussny Yes, the Richard is an amazing radio and superior to the Ronald. The order is Ronald, Richard, Lincoln 2+. You get a lot of radio for your money with the Richard. The Lincoln 2+ is the best of the three as it has SSB but its double the price.

[@mariussny]

@@NLKMediaGroup Ok so as I don't need SSB Richard ist the best

[@billycassels7300]

President Electronics Thomas FCC 40-Channel AM/FM Radio, IS THERE A POWER MODE FOR USA MODE

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi Bill, The Thomas FCC is the US version of the Barry 2 EU model. I have done videos on the Barry 2 which you can check out on the channel. I do not have access to the FCC models so am not able to 100% confirm if the Thomas is expandable but suspect the FCC have had the options removed. All the best and thanks for watching MJ7NLK

[@warrenksanbornjr.6643]

The FCC just simply need to bring the UK ones here in the states

[@cariboooutlaw4852]

Ha ha ha ha, you're kidding, right? Why would the FCC do that? The FCC would never allow non approved radios from the UK! LOL

[@NLKMediaGroup]

Hi Warren, from what I have heard it is the FCC that impose the restrictions on the radios and insist on expansion options being removed before they grant license. What I am not sure on, is if the restrictions are in software or on the PCB re the removal of components. I would like to get an FCC version to compare and see, just for curiosity sake as I get asked that lots. All the best and thanks for watching

[@NLKMediaGroup]

You are correct, they would simply not approve them for use, which means they cannot be used legally in North America. President Electroincs is a French company and the radios are built to service the EU, Eastern Europe and further East again as well as Asia, etc. The laws vary greatly between regions so the radios are able to cater for these variances. When importing into NA President have to gain type approval from the FCC and they will only grant approval if these variances are removed and they are locked down to meet the NA requirements. So, we end up with an EU version and an FCC version which is the EU version with some changes to only meet the FCC requirements. I even think that there would be issues with attempting to import into NA as well but have no idea on how this is controlled. Thanks for watching and for commenting. All the best