Review: President Thomas FCC AM/FM CB Radio
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioSports.com

If you have noticed much chatter as of late about CB Radio making a comeback, you’re not imagining things. Even with the introduction and embracing of a myriad of high-tech communications gadgets available today, CB Radio – which saw its heyday in the late-1970s – remains strong. In fact, CB Radio, which over the past decade has seen a steady rise in popularity, never disappeared.

Think of CB communications as the original social network. In the 1970s and early-1980s, every suburban street was flooded with homes housing CB base antennas. There was a good chance that your neighbour had a mobile CB rig, and an even bigger chance that every household had a least one child who owned a CB walkie talkie. Before the Internet and smart phones, people of all ages spoke with friends and met new ones on the CB radio, socialized at CB coffee meet-ups or jamborees and exchanged QSL cards by post. I always have my CB radio on during highway travel – there’s no better way to ask about traffic congestion or accidents ahead. You can read more about the upswing in CB Radio popularity at the links below.

Until now, the biggest changes to CB Radio came in four stages. First, modern circuit boards replaced the use of tubes. Then, in the early 1970s, modern practices erased the use of crystals – receive and transmit for every channel/frequency – from CB radios. In 1977, with every channel overloaded with activity in both Canada and the U.S., channels jumped from 23 to 40 – this created a marketing boom for manufacturers. And finally, in 1978, both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Canada’s Department of Communications (DOC) – later Industry Canada and today Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) – had no longer required General Radio Service (GRS) licenses for CB use. Licenses were inexpensive – plus there were hundreds of thousands of unlicensed CB operators – and government on both sides of the 49th Parallel decided it was no longer cost effective to license Citizen’s Band users.

Enter FM mode for CB Radio use, now including radios like the President Electronics Thomas FCC AM/FM 12/24 Volt radio, reviewed here. Note: LondonOntarioSports.com was the first North American publication to write about FM coming to North American CB radio – a story link is listed below.

FM is not new – it’s a common Ham (amateur) radio mode. And FM has been available with CB radios in Europe prior to making their way across the Atlantic. Manufacturers including President Electronics had already offered CB radios with FM (as well as AM and SSB) to the European market. But a summer 2021 decision by the FCC saw the legal use of CB radios with FM capability in the U.S.

Canada didn’t immediately jump on board. But in September 2022, ISED announced the legal use of CB Radios with FM mode in Canada. Immediately, manufacturers including President Electronics made these new radios available – Canadian communications superstore Radioworld and U.S. CB superstore Walcott Radio in Iowa both sell FM-capable CB radios.

Time will tell how FM mode is accepted by consumers. Many doubted that 40 channels would revolutionize the industry, even during its salad days. Initially, it decluttered traffic on all bands, although everyone had their favourite call channels. But as the 1980s progressed, CB use waned and by the 1990s, 40 channels seemed in excess of demand, other than the fact SSB users now had their own home with USB and LSB from channels 35 to 40.

FM is a different animal, though, with clearer communications than AM mode, and it’s here to stay. But without CB seeing as much use as during the 1970s, there won’t be a huge jump into FM right away – that will change. However, it does offer a much better mode of communication, and it’s the biggest change to the industry in 45 years.

AM, FM, SSB: A Comparison

FM mode provides a cleaner, clearer communications mode than AM. With FM, clarity will greatly improve communications, in particular during short-range communication – no worrying about atmospheric conditions hammering local chit-chat with skip rolling in from across the continent. However, users with AM-only radios will not have the option to tune out interference from FM communications, nor will they be able to listen in and/or join in to those conversations.

SSB CB, as is available with the President McKinley CB radio reviewed here, is an entirely different animal compared to simple AM mode operation, yet they are communications cousins. They share the same 11 meter radio spectrum and channels, but that’s where the similarities end. SSB CB can provide twice as much range as AM under identical conditions, and can provide up to 12 watts legal peak power versus 4 watts for AM (FM mode also carries 4 watts). SSB voice quality is crystal clear compared to sometimes static-filled AM. The secret lies in additional circuitry.

With AM transmissions, the power is distributed across the carrier in upper and lower side bands. SSB is much more efficient, however, using only one of the side bands to get your message across. Because there is no carrier, unless you speak into a keyed microphone, the operator at the other end will hear nothing and see no signal on his/her S-meter.

SSB also boasts less noise and interference than AM. Forget about heterodyne whistles when two or more AM CB operators transmit at the same time. However, if you’re conversing via SSB (channels 31 through 40 are typically preferred for SSB, with different communities using their favourite channels), you will occasionally hear heterodyne interference from AM operators in the same channel. AM operators may also hear interference from SSB operators which can sound a little like Donald Duck yapping in the background.

President Thomas FCC

President has a long history of manufacturing some of the most elite CB mobile and base radios – my vintage collection includes a working President Madison base and working President Teddy R mobile. One of President’s newest offerings is the compact but feature-rich President Thomas FCC mobile CB radio with AM/FM capability, 12 or 24 volt operation, VOX capability third-generation Automatic Squelch Control (ASC) plus a choice of seven LCD display colours.

Upon arrival, I put the President Thomas on my bench and was pleasantly surprised by its performance. My setup includes an Antron 99 base antenna, and an Alinco DM-330MV switching power supply. Note: when testing radios with modern circuitry and LCD screens (not radios with analog metres), I have noted slightly less noise filtering through my coax and into a radio when using a linear power supply. Even though the Alinco switching power supply I use is as quiet and clean as they come, it is a switching power supply. When testing older (1970s, 1980s) radios, or modern radios with analog metres, there is no difference. I have three of these Alinco power supplies and have tested radios in various locations of my office and shop, and have noted a consistent, slightly-higher noise level while using a switching power supply – just an FYI as it relates to modern LCD displays, in particular with a radio featuring built-in frequency counter and lit face plate.

Before jumping into the aesthetics and functions of the President Thomas, I’ll note that I received an ideal match of 1.3, received loud, clear audio from near and distant operators and received very positive reports on both AM and FM modes – the FM mode really does make a difference. Power output was just a shade under 4 watts in both modes. The President Thomas delivers what it promises: crystal clear audio, in particular while in FM, and maximum output performance.

Measuring just 4.92 in. x 6.89 in. x 1.77 in., the President Thomas is typical of today’s smaller radios for more compact automobile interiors. But don’t sell this CB radio short: it’s full of features that yesterday’s radios could only hope for. Operating on either AM or FM mode, the President Thomas front panel is simple yet complete. A conveniently-located six-pin microphone jack allows for either an electrec mic, like the one included with this radio, or a dynamic mic. An electret is more suitable for a wider frequency response, and is superior for noise cancellation/shock resistance. This electrec mic includes Up/Down channel buttons.

The on/off and volume knob rest on the right, and at the top left sits the squelch control, which also features ASC – you choose what type of squelch you wish to use. Up/Down arrows control channels (this radio also scans – an important feature today with fewer radio users on the air today). There’s also a USB charging socket for any device with 5 volt – 2.1 amp power requirement.

The four function keys along the bottom of the President Thomas face provide multiple features, including selection of microphone type (see above), mode (AM or FM) selection and noise blanker and Compander selection. Compander – Compressor-Expander – is a controlled audio speech processor which works as a modulation compressor in TX and as a modulation expander in RX. It offers a stronger and more clear and readable audio signal.

Also controlled by the front panel buttons are features including Emergency Channel storage and VOX setting. VOX, of course, allows transmitting by speaking into the original microphone (included) or an optional after-market VOX microphone without pressing the PTT switch. The President Thomas includes key beep and Roger beep functions, and talkback. The choice of seven LCD display colours include orange, green, blue, cyan, yellow, purple or cyan light – I’m partial to orange and green, which really pop, especially when driving at night.

The rear of the President Thomas is typical, with antenna coax connector, external speaker and PA speaker jacks and VOX jack for an after-market mic. The power cords (positive/negative) are hard-wired with this radio.

Bottom line, how does this radio perform? For its size and price point – typically $139 in Canada – it’s an excellent performer. As mentioned, I tested this radio on my work bench, but I would have no problem using this in any of my vehicles. Remember: an antenna is an integral part of any CB Radio setup. The 18-foot Antron 99 is a great omnidirectional performer and the best-selling CB Radio antenna type for many years. For mobile use, I highly recommend the Wilson 1000 for great match/tuning, performance and gain. I also recommend an external speaker, although in a tight fit, the internal speaker with maximum 2.5 watts suffices.

The only things missing from this terrific little radio are SSB, which you’ll only find in higher-priced radios, and a new feature to CB radios: CTCSS/DCS, commonly found in amateur radios, scanners and world-band receivers. President now offers the President Harrison FCC AM/FM mobile radio with CTCSS/DCS. In short, CTCSS (Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System), and DCS (Digital Coded System) is a dual noise reduction system, great for eliminating talk from those on AM or FM mode when you are listening/speaking on the opposite mode. You will need to choose one of many codes to share with the other radio operator(s) conversing with you. Walcott Radio has a video explaining more in depth about this feature – visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVGqLfmPm48. It will be interesting to see how this feature takes off in future, but the science makes perfect sense.

If you are looking for a quality-built, smaller-frame CB radio – compatible with 12 or 24 volt vehicles – bursting with modern features including the new CB FM mode, then the President Thomas FCC is a great choice.

Learn more about this radio and all others from President Electronics at president-electronics.us.

President Thomas Mobile CB Radio
General
Number of channels: 40
Modulation modes: AM / FM
Frequency ranges: 26.965 MHz to 27.405 MHz
Antenna impedance: 50 ohms
Power supply: 13.8 V / 27.6 V
Size (W x D x H): 4.92 (W) x 6.89 (D) x 1.77 (H) inches / 125 (W) x 175 (D) x 45 (H) mm
Weight : ~ 1.98 lbs / 0.9 kg
Accessories supplied: Ultra light electret microphone with support, mounting cradle, screws
Filter: ANL (Automatic Noise Limiter) built-in
Transmission
Frequency allowance: +/- 200 Hz
Carrier power: 4 W AM / 4 W FM
Transmission interference: inferior to 4 nW (- 54 dBm)
Audio response :300 Hz to 3 KHz
Emitted power in the adj. channel: inferior to 20 μW
Microphone sensitivity: 7 mV
Drain: 1,7 A at 13,2 V / 0,85 A at 26,4 V
Modulated signal distortion: 2 %
Reception
Maxi. sensitivity at 20 dB sinad: 0,5 µV – 113 dBm AM / 0,35 µV – 116 dBm FM
Frequency response: 300 Hz to 3 kHz
Adjacent channel selectivity: > 60 dB
Maximum audio power: 2.5 W
Squelch sensitivity: minimum 0.2 µV – 120 dBm, maximum 1 mV – 47 dBm
Frequency image rejection rate: 60 dB
Intermediate frequency rejection rate: 70 dB
Drain: 160 ~ 420 mA (13,2 V) ;100 ~ 250 mA (26,4 V)

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Jeffrey Reed is one of North America’s leading experts on CB Radio and a hobbyist/enthusiast since the early-1970s. He’s a former lead contributing writer on CB Radio for Popular Communications Magazine. Reach him at jeff@londonontariosports.com.

Other CB Radio stories at LondonOntarioSports.com:
FM Mode Coming To CB Radio, by Jeffrey Reed – click here
CB SSB Communications, by Jeffrey Reed – click here
CB Radio Popularity Grows, by Jeffrey Reed – click here
CB Radio Feature, by Jeffrey Reed – click here