Quick heads-up before I start: running an amplifier on CB in the U.S. isn’t allowed. I follow the rules. I only transmitted with the amp on the ham bands (10 meters) with my license. For CB, I did bench tests on a dummy load. No on-air CB use. I break down the entire build step-by-step in this extended write-up if you want every last detail.
Now, with that clear, here’s how it went.
What I Used (and why I picked it)
I went with an RM Italy KL203P. It’s a small mobile amp folks talk about in truck stops and on forums. My rig setup:
- Jeep Wrangler JK (2008)
- Uniden PRO510XL for CB
- President Lincoln II+ for 10/12 meters (ham)
- Wilson 1000 mag-mount antenna
- Astatic SWR meter and a cheap field strength meter
- 8-gauge power wire, 30A fuse, ring terminals, and a tiny clip-on fan
Why this gear? Simple. It fits under the seat. It pulls hard, but not crazy. And it’s easy to wire without tearing up the dash.
Setup: Not fancy, just clean
I ran power straight to the battery with an inline fuse. Grounded to bare metal on the floor. Coax stayed short and tidy. I tuned the antenna to a 1.3–1.5 SWR. You know what? A good antenna does more for your range than any amp. That’s not hype. That’s facts.
I put the amp under the passenger seat and aimed a small fan at it. Warm knees are cute. Hot amps are not.
So… did it help?
Short answer: yes, within reason.
On the ham band at 28.420 USB, my friend Mia was about 12 miles back on a forest road near Tillamook. With the amp off, she heard me, but it was thin. With the amp on, she gave me a clean S4 to S5. Not booming, but clear. We kept the mic gain low and didn’t overdrive it. That matters.
On my test bench with the CB into a dummy load, I saw a clear bump on the field strength meter. No surprise there. More juice is more juice. But if your antenna isn’t tuned? You’re just making heat.
Real moments that stuck with me
- Night run on I-40 near Amarillo: On 10 meters, I checked in with a small group. Amp on, I slid through some light skip and got picked up fast. Without it, I had to repeat everything. Twice. It felt like yelling into wind. If you spend serious hours behind the wheel, you might also enjoy this look at day-to-day life with a CB in a truck.
- Foggy morning on a logging road: Mia and I tested both ways. On CB, we had to crest the hill to get solid copy. On the ham band with the amp, we held the link down in the valley. That made me breathe easier. No one wants to be lost in fog with dead air.
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The good stuff
- It punches through noise better on SSB than AM. Cleaner voice, less mush.
- It helps more in rural spots than in crowded city air. Less interference around you.
- With a tuned antenna, you hear the difference right away. You just do.
- The case is small. It hides well. It doesn’t rattle if you mount it snug.
The things that bugged me
- Heat: After a long key-down, it got hot. The little fan helped, but I still watched it. Folks on the WorldwideDX forums echo the same warning in this discussion about running these RM amps hot.
- Power draw: Keying up at idle dimmed my dash a hair. Plan for it. This thing drinks amps.
- Noise and bleed: I got a whine from the alternator until I added ferrite chokes on the power leads. Also tossed on a low-pass filter. That cleaned it up.
- Overdrive is easy: If you push more than 4–5 watts into it, you’ll splatter. Keep the drive low and the mic gain calm.
- The big one: legal risk on CB. I never use it there. I don’t want fines. Or a knock on my door.
A quick detour: Fix the right thing first
People ask me for a “secret box” to boost range. Honestly? Fix your antenna first.
The three upgrades that helped me more than any amp:
- A well-tuned antenna (the Wilson 1000 was great)
- Clean coax and solid grounds
- Simple noise fixes: ferrites on power lines, tight connections
If you need high-quality coax, ferrites, or a properly matched mobile antenna, check out the selection at Airtronics before you shell out for more wattage.
Do those, and your radio wakes up. Then, if you’re licensed and you still need more reach, an amp makes sense.
Who it’s for (and who it’s not)
- Good for: licensed hams who run 10/12 meters mobile, storm spotters, folks who manage convoys off-grid on legal bands.
- Not for: casual CB users who just want to “talk farther.” You’ll be fighting heat, noise, and rules. It’s not worth the stress.
If you stick to CB, try an SSB radio like the President McKinley, tune your antenna, and keep it clean. If you’re still shopping around, I put a stack of popular radios through their paces in this big comparison test—give it a read before you buy.
Little things I learned the hard way
- Mount it where air can move. Under-seat is fine if you add a small fan.
- Use a real fuse. Don’t get cute with wire size. 8-gauge is safe for this one.
- Don’t key long on AM. SSB runs cooler for the same talk distance.
- Keep a hand on the case after a long call. If it’s too hot to touch, give it a break.
- Watch your neighbors’ gear. If their TV or speakers buzz when you key up, fix your setup. Filters help.
My verdict
I kept the KL203P. I use it only on the ham bands when the path is rough, like back roads or storms. On CB, I leave it off and just run a clean, tuned antenna. That’s the honest truth.
Does an amp help? Yes. But it’s not magic. It’s a tool. If your system is messy, it makes the mess louder. If your system is tidy, it gives you a bigger voice when you need it—without waking the whole neighborhood.
Would I buy it again? For my ham truck, yes. For CB-only use? No. I’d spend that money on a better antenna and a radio with SSB, then go enjoy the road.