Ranger RCI-69 Base Plus Plus V2 — 125W+ PEP AM/FM/SSB/CW 10 Meter Base Station Amateur Radio

The Ranger RCI-69 Base Plus Plus V2 is Ranger's flagship desktop base-station 10 meter amateur radio — 125W+ PEP AM/SSB output stock with a built-in 110V AC switching power supply so no external supply is needed. Ranger's updated main PC board and RT6 MOSFET finals give the V2 revision meaningfully improved stability, receiver sensitivity, and TX headroom over the original RCI-69 Base Plus.

This is a base station radio, not a mobile transceiver. It runs on standard household 110V AC, sits on a desk or shelf in your shack, and is designed for home operation with a base antenna. If you're looking for a truck-cab or vehicle radio, look at the Ranger Longhorn Superior N6 instead — that's the same Ranger sound and audio character in a mobile chassis.

Who this radio is for

• Amateur radio operators building a dedicated 10m shack. Built-in 110V switching supply, front-panel 4-pin mic jack, back-panel PA/external speaker/CW key/frequency-counter jacks — everything a shack station needs, none of what a mobile install needs.
• Licensed hams working 10m SSB DX during band openings. 125W+ PEP SSB with fine and coarse clarifier controls, low-noise reception with dual noise-blanker/ANL circuits, and echo/talkback controls for AM ragchew. The Base Plus Plus is the shack-radio equivalent of the mobile Longhorn.
• Operators who want the trucker-audio character in a home radio. Roger beep, variable echo, variable talkback, and the RT6 MOSFET-driven audio profile Ranger is known for — brought indoors in a base-station form factor.
• Buyers who plan to Pro Tune the radio. The RCI-69 family is well known as a Pro Tune candidate. A professional bench alignment brings TX audio, receive sensitivity, and RF drive settings to Ranger's factory service manual spec — essential if you're pairing this radio with an external amp.
• Anyone driving an external amplifier. The variable RF power control lets you dial back drive to 1-5W for amp input protection while still keeping the audio swing. This makes the Base Plus Plus V2 a particularly good "front end" for a home 10m amplifier setup.

What's new in V2

Specs at a glance

Why choose the Base Plus Plus V2

Purpose-built for the shack. Unlike mobile radios pressed into desktop service with a separate power supply, the Base Plus Plus V2 was engineered from the start as a base station. Built-in 25A switching supply, fixed AC cord, integrated cooling, and full jack panel for shack peripherals (PA, external speaker, CW key, frequency counter) — plug it in and operate. No 12V supply to buy, no ground-loop hum from a mismatched supply, no fan-noise afterthought.

Real 125W+ PEP from a stock desktop radio. Most 10m desktop radios in this bracket hit 25-50W stock and rely on an amp for anything above that. The Base Plus Plus V2's 125W+ PEP stock output means you can work respectable DX on 10m SSB during band openings without touching an amp. When you add one, the variable RF power control gives you clean drive-level management for amp protection.

RT6 MOSFETs and updated PC board. The V2 revision is not a cosmetic update. RT6 finals give measurably better SSB linearity than the RT5s in the original Base Plus, and the updated Ranger main board improves receiver sensitivity and stability. If you're evaluating between the older RCI-69 Base Plus and the V2, the V2 is the meaningfully better radio.

Base-station audio controls. Fine and coarse clarifier are essential for working SSB DX where slight frequency offset is common. Variable echo and variable talkback let you dial in the audio character you want on AM. Large illuminated S/RF and SWR meters make antenna tuning and signal reporting easy from across the shack.

Amp-friendly by design. The variable RF power output control makes this radio an unusually good driver for external amplifiers — you can dial output down to 1-5W for amp input protection while keeping full audio swing. Independent shops routinely customize the RF pot for specific amp requirements.

License requirement

The Base Plus Plus V2 operates on the 10 meter amateur (ham) radio band and requires an FCC amateur radio license to transmit. Technician class covers 10m FM voice; General or Amateur Extra is required for the full 10m SSB and CW portions of the band where this radio's real capability lives. See our 10 meter radio licensing page for full details.

Pro Tune & Alignment

Don't forget to add the Pro tune and alignment option at checkout so that your radio is professionally bench-tuned for best performance per the manufacturer's service manual. Pro Tune sets receive sensitivity, transmit audio, mic gain, and RF drive levels to Ranger's factory service manual specification, and lets us custom-configure the RF drive range for external amplifier requirements at the same time. If you're building a serious 10m shack around this radio, the tune is where the last of the value lives.

Recommended pairings

• Base antennas. This is a base station — pair with a base antenna, not a mobile whip. Look at vertical base antennas rated for 125W+ (Sirio Vector 4000, Antron 99, ProComm Proton PT99, or comparable) in our antenna collection. Contact us if you'd like a specific base-antenna recommendation for your install.
• External speaker. The DRX-9010 premium external speaker pairs naturally with the Base Plus Plus V2's back-panel external speaker jack for improved shack audio.
• Aftermarket microphone. The front-panel 4-pin mic jack accepts a wide range of upgrade mics. The DRX-6560 4-pin noise-cancelling dynamic mic is the standard upgrade path for a warmer trucker-audio character on AM.
• CW key. The back-panel CW key jack accepts standard straight keys and iambic paddles. If you're planning to work 10m CW during band openings, you'll want a good key alongside this radio.

Base Plus Plus V2 vs. Ranger Longhorn Superior N6

Both radios are Ranger. Both hit similar power ranges (Longhorn is higher — 400W+ PEP stock, 600W+ peaked). Both share the Ranger audio character. Choose based on where the radio will live:

• Base Plus Plus V2 — desktop shack, built-in AC supply, base-station form factor. Pairs with a vertical base antenna. Right for home operation.
• Longhorn Superior N6 — mobile chassis, needs external 12V supply for base use (60A minimum) or plug straight into a truck's 12V. Pairs with a mobile antenna like the SR-A10. Right for trucker installs and mobile operation.

You wouldn't buy both for the same install — they're the same Ranger sound in the right chassis for your use case.

Warranty and service

The Base Plus Plus V2 is backed by Ranger USA's one-year factory warranty — register at rangerusa.com/warranty-information or contact Ranger service at 619-271-4035. CB Radio Supply does not provide in-house warranty on this radio. Given the specialized nature of high-power base-station radios and the way peak & tune configures each unit for specific amp or antenna requirements, all Base Plus Plus V2 sales are final.

Frequently asked questions

Is this radio a mobile transceiver or a base station?

The RCI-69 Base Plus Plus V2 is a dedicated base station radio. It runs on standard household 110V AC through a built-in 25-amp switching power supply, has a fixed AC power cord, and is designed to sit on a desk or shelf in a home radio shack. It is not designed to be run from a vehicle's 12V DC electrical system. For a mobile 10 meter radio, see the Ranger Longhorn Superior N6.

What is the actual power output of the Base Plus Plus V2?

Stock power output is 125W+ PEP on AM and SSB with the RF power control all the way up. Pro Tune brings TX audio, receive sensitivity, and RF drive settings to Ranger's factory service manual specification. The RT6 MOSFET finals in the V2 revision give it meaningfully more headroom than the original Base Plus, which used RT5s and made approximately 100W stock.

Do I need a separate power supply for this radio?

No. The Base Plus Plus V2 has a built-in 25-amp switching power supply and plugs directly into a standard 110V AC household outlet with the included fixed power cord. This is one of the practical advantages of buying a base-station radio over a mobile radio pressed into desktop service — no external 12V supply to source, size, and wire up.

What antenna should I pair with the Base Plus Plus V2?

The Base Plus Plus V2 is designed for base antennas, not mobile whips. Common good pairings are vertical base antennas rated for the radio's 125W+ PEP output — Sirio Vector 4000, Antron 99, ProComm Proton PT99, and comparable base verticals. The rear-panel SO-239 accepts standard 50-ohm coax. Contact us if you'd like a specific base-antenna recommendation for your install.

How does this compare to the Ranger Longhorn Superior N6?

Both are Ranger radios with similar audio character. The Longhorn is a higher-power mobile transceiver (400W+ PEP stock, 600W+ peaked) designed for truck cabs and vehicles, requiring an external 12V supply for base use. The Base Plus Plus V2 is a purpose-built base station with built-in AC supply, 125W+ PEP stock output, and shack-friendly features like back-panel PA, external speaker, and CW key jacks. Choose based on where the radio will live: shack (Base Plus Plus V2) or vehicle (Longhorn).

What license do I need to operate the Base Plus Plus V2?

The Base Plus Plus V2 operates on the 10 meter amateur radio band and requires a valid FCC amateur radio license to transmit. A Technician-class license covers 10m FM voice. A General-class or Amateur Extra-class license is required to legally use the 10m SSB and CW portions of the band where this radio's real capability lives. See our 10 meter radio licensing page for details on getting licensed.

What warranty comes with this radio?

The Base Plus Plus V2 is covered by a one-year Ranger USA factory warranty. Warranty registration and support are handled directly by Ranger USA at rangerusa.com/warranty-information or by phone at 619-271-4035. CB Radio Supply does not offer an in-house warranty on this radio. Given the specialized nature of high-power base-station radios and the peak-and-tune configuration each unit typically receives, all Base Plus Plus V2 sales are final.

Should I add Pro Tune to my order?

For most Base Plus Plus V2 buyers, yes. Pro Tune sets receive sensitivity, transmit deviation, mic gain, and RF drive levels to Ranger's factory service manual specification — the difference in audio quality and stability is meaningful, particularly on SSB. If you plan to run an external amplifier, the tune is also when we can custom-set the RF drive to your amp's input requirements without needing an external attenuator. Add Pro Tune and Alignment at checkout.

Can I use this radio to drive an external amplifier?

Yes — the Base Plus Plus V2 is unusually good in this role. The variable RF power output control lets you dial output down to 1-5W for amp input protection while keeping full audio swing on modulation peaks. Many external amps require input drive levels well below the radio's stock output; the variable pot handles this without needing an attenuator. If you order Pro Tune, we can custom-set the RF drive range for your specific amp requirements at the same time.

Does the Base Plus Plus V2 support CW mode?

Yes. Native CW (Morse) mode is standard, with a back-panel CW key jack that accepts standard straight keys and iambic paddles. General-class and Amateur Extra-class licensed amateurs who want to work 10 meter CW during band openings have a fully supported mode and jack on this radio.

Ready to order

Add the Ranger RCI-69 Base Plus Plus V2 to your cart. Don't forget to add the Pro tune and alignment option at checkout so that your radio is professionally bench-tuned for best performance per the manufacturer's service manual — this is where TX audio, receive sensitivity, and custom RF drive settings for external amps get dialed in. If you're looking for a mobile 10m radio instead, see the Ranger Longhorn Superior N6. Or browse the full 10 meter radios collection.