Uniden Bearcat 980SSB CB Radio - Detailed Overview, Demo and First Impressions
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- Let's take a look at the Uniden Bearcat 980SSB CB Radio.
Product Page: amzn.to/32bnnOz
My Amazon Store: www.amazon.com...
#cbradio #shortwave #hamradio
Why can’t all walkthrough and review videos be like this one? Very well spoken and to the point. Thank you for the information.
Thanks, glad you liked this!
Ok kids, this is how you do a complete review of a product on RUclips. Kudos to you sir, for the best review ever. Thank you.
Thanks!
I retired 20 years ago driving 18 wheelers. The CB saved me from smokey bear a few times. I drove before cell phones so the CB was our only was of communicating with the outside world. They are vital when it comes to danger ahead like wrecks, etc.
PRO DRIVER MYSELF DOWN UNDER TOTALY HEARING YOU BROTHER FELLOW TRUCKER ALL UHF HERE IN AUSTRALIA NOW RUBBISH RADIO THEY CALL IT BUT HERE IN OZ 40 UHF HIGHWAY CHANNEL IF YA EVER GET CHANCE COME OVER ,FEW OLD BOYS IN OUR YARD JUST GOT RID LAST OF THIER KENWORTHS TRANSITIONED TO SCANIAS, WELL LAST PAY SLIP ETC WE HAD,,,, FEW OLD GIRLS PARKED UP DECOMMISIHIONED PLATES TAKEN OFF ETC. KENWORTHS,
WELL GUESS WHAT ALOT THEM KENWORTH EMBLEMS ON THEM TRUCKS WENT MISSING NOBODY FESSED UP LOL SENTIMENTAL REASONS OR NOT BOSS WAS PISSED ,WE ALL GOT THREAT OF TERMINATION IF FOUND OUT WHO TOOK EM ON OUR PAY SLIPS.
WE ONLY GOT 3 KENNYS LEFT NOW THEY WILL GO IN NEXT THREE MONTHS.30 40 YEARS ETC NOW ALL OF SUDDEN ITS ALL HIGH TECH TOTAL HEADFUC. MAXIMUM STRESS EMAILS TAUNTS IF YOU YAUN LOKK LEFT OR RIGHT FOR TOO LONG TONS OTHER SHIT,ENJOY YA RETIREMENT MY USA FRIEND GOD BLESS FROM DOWN UNDER.......
Not many use a CB now, hence more pile up accidents and backed up traffic. No communication between drivers like there once was.
Thank you SO much for this video. I just ordered a 980. It's my first foray into SSB, and to have you go over every single button/knob/menu was great and I already feel like I understand it more.
Best video on bearcat 980ssb. Very easy to understand.👍👍👍
I got the same radio,paired it up with a dual wilson trucker 5000 set up and it works pretty darn good right out the box for all three.
I hadn't even modded anything but it's nice to know there's plenty of potential for a great cb rig.
I have this sitting on a shelf, been meaning to mount it. This was a helpful video!
When you gonna do a CB radio video?
Best review of this radio I've seen on the internet outstanding job 73
What are your thoughts on the display on the 980 being difficult to see during the daylight in a mobile environment?
I've seen a lot of concerns about this I just want your thoughts on it
I've had this radio about three years and it's a nice talking radio. However, after about a year and a half, the display started going out, as many have mentioned. The display is unusable in a vehicle (unless it's wintertime!). Indoors, it powers up fine, but the display entities start to disappear after about 10 minutes. For grins, I threw it in the freezer for about 15 minutes, and after powering it up, the display was perfect. Then it faded...Oh well. I also have a Grant XL from the early 90s (along with a few old 23 channel units) which I use in the vehicle occasionally. The XL a GREAT radio. Thanks for the review!
glad you enjoyed this!
my 880 does the same thing, and the best radio I've ever had was a grant xl
Love the video it helped me figure out that this is going to be my first cb radio I really appreciate it man thanks for making this video to help understand this one
Thank you thank you thank you. I bought one of these over 2 years ago. Put it in my truck and couldn't figure out all the whistles so after a couple days took it out. Put my old cobra back in but will now use the 980ssb. Great video
Began looking at this unit today and found your excellent review. Thank you!
Great commentary and explanation of the Bearcat 980SSB. Thinking about getting one and setting it up as a base but I didn't really know much about it but your video was a demonstration and gave me a great feel for what the Bearcat is capable of.
You explained all this very well and CONSICELY! Keep up the good work!
Thanks!
Excellent video
You explained it very well for somebody like myself that does not know a whole lot about CB radios. Thank you.
Remember Your 70s "handle" and trying to find a channel without a motormouth ? I turned mine on a while ago and put it on scan and it was hours before it picked up half of a Trucker conversation.
I just bought this radio for a new truck , my other radio wasn't transmitting but it was an older cobra but now I'm showing sky high swrs with this one and everything is new
OLD CB GUY YEARS GONE PAST, SEEN DONE ALOT TX RX , YOUR VIDEOES ONE CLEAREST MOST INFORMATIVE IVE SEEN IN LONG LONG TIME GREAT CHANNEL
Thanks!
thanks so much. I am getting back into CBs I am 56 but i had a CB from the time I was 10 to 25 and then life hit... "looking to walk that dog again" Hoping to get my HAM cert soon. Peace and things some much.
Get your Ham tickets at least a general. The FCC has made the tests a little easier they don’t want the hobby to die, remember radio is fun have fun. KJ7TBR JohnBoyUtah 😎🇺🇸📡🎙
Great review! I've been considering this for my next purchase, and think it would be a great addition to my station. 73!
I bought a Bearcat 980 from E bay new in the box. It is a not a bad radio. I have a lot fo CB radios vintage and new. My oldest is a Realistic TRC 48 with a Siltronix model 90 VFO, I shoot tons of skip with it, Cheers
Great video and CB radio. I just bought for my wife's vehicle and it arrived today. I installed it and it works great! I have it hooked up to a RM 203 P amp and a Tram 300 mag mount antenna. Cheers
Are your swrs with that amp on I have a 300 watt and when I run it on high the swr goes up a little .. but running a good antenna also
@@nightlife7231 On my base stations at home I run Texas Star high amps 350 watt & 500 watt SWR on my 3 different antennas is 1.2 and goes up with amp on. In our vehicles we each run a 200 watt RM 203 P linear and Tram 300 antennas. Match is good without boot but never tested it with boot on
I loved this Radio but display stop working after 2 years.Was using it as a mobile.I replaced it with a President McInley radio as the Uniden as a bad reputation here in Canada for screen issues.Best use as a base station.
I believe mine is not as bright as it used to be.. I'm looking for a new rig now.. great radio and served its purpose..
Im in New Fairfield, i'll keep an ear out for you. I always have a radio in the shack tuned to 38LSB just for old times sake. Great content, 73! Lou
Me too!! 357 NWCT waving!!
I recently bought a bearcat 980 the same radio you have I love it thank you for the overview
I’ve had this radio for a few years but I picked up some great info from this video. Thanks!
Now recompound all the heat sink plates to cover the whole backing and add a stinger amp and a powered road devil mic. Now your set. The factories are a bit cheap these days. It’s a great radio though to have.
All that's missing is the Roger Beep 😁
it is a nice radio and I got mine for a hundred which is cheap in today's standards
I'm ready to get one but it seems right now everyone is down to their last unit. I suspect a new shipment will be going out in the next few weeks and I'll hold off till then. I'm just leery of the last unit being damaged or a return
Awesome video. 357 NWCT waving!! 73’s....as soon as I heard that 38 QSO I’m like, I know that voice. Bruce, Mike, Andy, the whole crew. I’m a regular out there too. Thanks for helping me choose my next work truck mobile!!
I love you guys that do these reviews. I won't even need to open the manual.
I have 3, after 6 months to a year the displays went out on 2 of them.
Works great just not sure where I am at all the time.
I have this radio and have noticed the mic is a little quiet. I may open it up and remove that filter thing you talked about.
Somehow I missed the weather alert option thank you.
As always great video thank you
Get a powered road devil and put the radio mic gain on 3 on the radio and a tiny bit of echo and your golden!
Is there a instruction on removing the filter?
I took the microphone apart, then realized, I don’t know what I’m doing, lol
@@harryallenpearce89 no there was no real instructions. They just said the filter was right in front of the mic. I havent opened mine up yet so I have no idea
This is what is in my truck but I changed my display color to the Hartford whalers green. }3 and backed down the carrier to push a low drive RM Italy Guido torch
Very informative from a total noob. I was looking at the Cobra 29 LTD for a 1st CB but now I'm thinking a radio with SSB and Scan modes (not to mention NOAA) might be superior in similar price range! Cheers
This is basically a throw away radio after a couple of years of heavy use. The screen goes out and buttons fail after being pushed many times. It is average at the beginning, receive and transmit, and as it drops out, losing one thing after another, it goes to the closet. When you try and design a modern menu operated CB, and you try to do it cheaply, you get this. Keep it simple at the bottom end and just design a radio that works reliably. Save the fancy things for the higher end (cost). The 980 is over designed for the quality of parts used. (My Opinion)
Getting back into CB after many, meany years... pretty sure I'm gonna get this unit. I'm on a tight budget so if anyone has a recommendation for a better radio at the same price point, let me know. Thanks.
I like the president McKinley better than this one
@@SevenFortyOne OK thanks... looks a little pricier. Any rationale or just personal preference?
@@SevenFortyOne Haha just found your video comparing these two exact radios! This will be a base station in temperature controlled room so, I think I am gonna stick with the Bearcat 980. The only thing that bums me out is the bottom speaker... but I can prop it up or buy some cheap externals. Thanks.
Thanks! Bought one for a Christmas present for a friend. Might change the microphone, looking simple, maybe D-104...Great explanation!!
I don't like the stock mic...a replacent mic will serve you well.
BTW, CB will become more useful as Solar Cycle 25 has started. Although it’s unlikely that it will ever again be as popular as in the 1970s, CB ‘crazes’ have usually occurred during Solar max cycles.
Just bought a new one online yesterday for $60 with free shipping. Score!!!
Wow... That's a fantastic deal!
That’sa great deal. I was stoked when I got one used like new for $107 out the door on amazon
Thanks for the review a beautiful looking radio.
That over the air review at the end was great LOL
I think I want to get one of these just to see if I enjoy it
1st mod you might want to check out is unlocking the clarifier.
Thank you for this video, it saved me reading the manual!!! 😅
I am from Enfield. I have a bearcat 980 coming by the end of the week. It will be my first CB radio and I am excited to get started.
You'll have plenty of people to talk to 7n Enfield
@@SevenFortyOne Glad to hear. I have plenty to learn but am looking forward to figuring it all out.
I have my radio installed and calibrated. Swr 9on channel 1 and 5 on channel 40. I'm using a Tram 1480 8ft antenna. What the heck am I doing wrong. SWR is way off.
I have no idea, is that a cb antenna or something 3lse? The swr reading makes me think your antenna is too short
@@SevenFortyOne It is a CB base antenna. It's 8ft long with a ground plane. I also have a 3ft antenna without a ground plane. The 3ft SWR is 1.9 on 1 and 1.9 on 40. For some reason the longer antenna is 9 on 1 and 5 on 40 as if it needs to be longer. I have been reading online and can't seem to find anything past the basics.
I have the non ssb 880, fantastic radio, thanks for the video Rob 👍
Fantastic presentation!
I just bought one thru Amazon, LOVE IT!!
I have this radio ! It’s ok, great transmit, lousy receive. Noisy front end. The old side microphone cobra 148gtl has the best receiver ever made cobra 2000 base the same. Take the bearcat microphone apart ditch the foam that will up your audio a little. Chow JohnBoyUtah KJ7TBR. It a good radio I have it in my truck, also good video here.
I am building an overland 4x4 and while I have an old Realistic TRC-465 AM/SSB radio, but am looking for a nicer radio with WX, this looks like a winner...
Danm dude, good review... the Bearcat 980 isn't the radio for me, but your reviews are. Not too basic and glossed over, but not too deep and nerding out either, just the right amount of information.
I'm glad you liked this, thanks for letting me know!
@@SevenFortyOne I don't often sub within a few vids, but I did yesterday. You earned it, keep up the great work.
Excllent video! Just got one of these and setting up in my comms room. Your video is just what I needed. Good instructions. Now I need to adjust swr and I will good to go. Thanks!
Cool!
Thanks for the vid. That's a much bigger brick than I was expecting.
i like this channel 73-51 from denmark
I could only focus on the busted shelf , mount that mic on the side so the wood doesn’t split. Fix, Glue, clamp , pre drill holes for screws. What kind of antenna are you using?
I purchased my first 980SSB radio about a year ago. It was easy to setup and use for me. The problems quickly started happening. The screen began to lose it's brightness, then the LED's began to die out. Over the next couple months the radio began just taking a crap all together. So I thought well I'll purchase a replacement. I purchased the same radio. Thought well maybe my SWR's were the issue. Setup the new one, checked and adjusted the SWR's and boom, within a few months the radio did the same thing as the first one. Here I am a year later and I have still yet to hear from the manufacturer on the warranty return for the first one. I haven't even told them about the second one yet. The warranty says they will replace it.... well, at this point I think I just proved replacing it is pointless as I already did that with the same results. So I do not recommend to anyone that wants a radio to purchase this one. Go purchase a Cobra or a Stryker. Sorry to bust your video bubble. I am sure yours did what mine did anyway. lol
Mines been ok so far. Bummer yours has been screwed up. I hope they work with you to get it fixed
@@SevenFortyOne Yea, I had the radio out of the box again today while I was trouble shooting another radio I have. I really liked the design and all the feature and while I had it out was admiring it and thinking why couldn't you just work. lol So I have a Cobra 29 LTD in my truck now. I am getting a Ant light while pressing TX. I checked the ground of my antenna and then everything in between. Checked and adjusted my SWR and it's nearly perfect at 1.5 to 1.8. I can't get it any lower. I did find an adjustment internally which I adjusted that controls the warning light and I also found another adjustment which controls the SWR internally. I adjusted them and still no luck with the warning light. I am just not having luck with these radios. ha ha... I tested the location mount ground for the antenna all the way back to the radio and have the best Coax wire you can get. Everything looks good. transmit is good, receive is good... idk I will pass a CB shop on my way down to Fl next week and have them check it out.
@@wayneschoenberger3245 wow, good luck. I hope the CB shop finds the problem. Now I'm worried about buying one of these.
Did you know under the diagnostic menu that the RF out and ant normally fail when in USB and LSB untill you speak into the mic? I’m pretty sure a smart guy like you knew that and knows why too?!! 73’s my friend
Yes
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!
just picked up the same one, had to order a power supply, location here is Harwinton Connecticut , I was in cb in the 70's.
Check out channel 39 lower sideband. That's where most of the local CT activity is
@@SevenFortyOne I will, thanks.
Very good explanation! Thanks.
I have this radio, and find my SWR is all over the place according to the radio.
I also heard the SWR reading may not be right.
to sevenfortyone the reason why you have a high swr on the bearcat 980 on am your 5/8 antenna might be to long check the antenna length to make sure it is 22feet + 5inch,s if the antenna fine then check the cable to make sure it,s ok to i allso have a 5/8 27mhz antenna and the length of it is 22feet + 5inch,s and i have a good swr of 1;1 from channal 1 to channal 40 and that is on my bearcat 980. start from ch 1 go ever 10 channel,s up on am if everthing is ok maybe the swr bridge hasn,t been calibrated right in the radio
Thank you, very helpful for me as a beginner. Got my 980ssb but can't get the antenna check via DIAG option..any suggestions?
Thank you so much for all this info! This was so helpful and educational. I am totally new to CB use and getting into pilot car work. If you wanted to upgrade your mic choice, do you have a suggestion?
For pilot car work I'd actually suggest looking at president radios. In my opinion they are better suited for Mobile work then this radio and are generally a little smaller too. They also offer the noise canceling digimike which works with their radios but I'm not sure it works on this bearcat radio
Just bought one but wish I would've got a Washington or a George
I'm worried about thr 980
I just picked up this radio yesterday. Anybody know where I can get the pin config for a D104 mic for this 6 to 4 adapter?
If new it should have came with one. Check eBay.
Breaker breaker channel 14 haha God I haven’t seen a CB Radio since 1974 I was like 14 yrs old.
Groovy looking at em tonight thinking of upgrading my uniden 510 pro in my old side by side definitely dig these a lot think I will go with one as early bday gift to myself
Wat antenna setup would u recommend for one on off road conditions that will push good riding in steep mountains and deep hollows?
I have had good luck with fire stick antennas but some people like the Wilson 1000 better
Turner mic has better presence.
Nice features but why are modern CBs still in such large (full size) cabinets? You can get 50 watt amateur radios in much smaller packages. Today's cars and trucks don't have near the room to mount radios like they did when that form factor came out.
I don't disagree but I think it has to do with marketing and what consumers ultimately end up buying. CB buyers, even back to the 60's and 70's were always looking for something a little flashier than a plain utilitarian radio like ham radios generally are today. There are very small, simple CBs on the market but I think these bigger, flashier radios outsell them.
I never thought I'd come back to Cb radio. had one when I was a kid along with my friends ...listening to CB freq on my Yaesu Ftdx10 today...was a crazy blast..but couldn't join in no TX ..so now I'm looking to pickup a CB radio haha go figure ..thanks again for the review K9JFO AND CLEAR
I don't use mine much but it's handy to have to keep in touch with people in the community who aren't hams
Question: Would using the antenna diagnostic feature be adequate when tuning the antenna?
It will get you in the ballpark.
Awesome video. Really helpful for calibration on it!
Nice video. In your opinion, which radio is best in terms of quality received audio and transmit audio. Thanks.
THANK YOU, VERY INFORMATIVE‼️🙏🏼 I just bought this 980.
If I want to listen from home what type of regulated converter can I buy? Any suggestions. Please!
I am new to owning a CB,. And just saw someone say that a ac to dc converter is needed. Would I need a certain wattage for the 980🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤫
Use the 980 as my base station. Excellent sidebander radio.
What Brand Of Power Supply Do You Use?
@@thewatcher5271 Pyramid ps8kx
I have one i baught a few years ago iam still using it but the display fades out i tried to get uniden to warrienty it and no response, so i would be cautious about buying one.
My only beef with this radio it is unreadable in my truck during daytime operation.
@SevenFortyOne I got the president Lincoln 2+ or v3. I was looking at this radio but i was told it was too hard to unlock the clarifier and add extra channels. I do like the looks of the bearcat but that's about it. I when I got my Lincoln 2+ in I put the half watt 1k ohm resistor in it and took the audio limiter out so the radio would swing to 45 to 50 watts depending on swr 1.1 or 1.2, the radio sounds real good without the Audio limiter it's not like other radio when you remove it. I can easily turn the mic gain down to control the pep or swing power. The channel nob is continus rotating it acts like a vfo and has a 6 digit frequency counter. It has a clarifier but it doesn't even sound like it does anything 🤷🤣. No need for clarifier if you have a VFO. Push in channel knob and you can select which digit or Hertz you want to adjust. It goes from 24.7 mhz to 30.1mhz and literally every Hertz in between 😊. In other words it's a 10 and 12 meter ham radio that works on CB frequency too. Even works in 25 mhz too🤫. It also has of course AM, FM, upper and lower side band and has CW or Morse code too. For $240 dollars you can't beat what this radio does. It also has different colors for screen lights and brightness adjustment, I like the blue light. The only radio I loved more than this was an old Midland 7001 precision series made in 1981 had ssb and extra channels but dang that thing sounded good on SSB, it sounded like a ham radio. That's another story I got that old Midland in 2015 when I was first getting into CB radio, this guy sold radios and I wanted a SSB so he sold me a brand new 148 pop the transitor after about a week he warranty it and gave me another it popped again in three days 🤣 yet again he gave me another one just to see what happens and in 5 days pop goes the Cobra 🤣. He turned the radios up himself that's probably why. He said the New 148s have bad transitors in them so he said I got something for you he gave me this kinda beat up ugly green thing had a couple little dents and a few scratches and a cracked knob. But that Midland out perform many other radios around on sound quality. Right on frequency didn't drift any I loved that radio it lasted me about a year and half before it bowed out on me😔.
Another thing I forgot to mention it has adjustable echo 2 different adjusts. And it also has 10 meter repeater capability split shift frequency and ctcs and dcs tones for repeater
I am from CT as well, best suggestion for a radio and antenna - then place to have it tuned? Going to be doing a lot of upcoming highway work and am compiling suggestions! Many thanks!
Wolcott radio online is pretty good. I don't think there are any CB shops left in CT aside from maybe truck stops
Great review, thanks.
Heard the CB. Are changing. From. Am to. Fm. Not sure. When the 980 looks like a great radio.. Jim.
Not changing...FM is being added..am will still be in use for a long time to come
Nice review. But i think ill stick with my old cobra! lol
Very discriptive and informative video excellent Job
Thank you!
Cool video thanks for sharing this information with us.
Superb explanation!
Very cool! Enjoy Your new radio. Thanks for sharing, 73's from 151 SC.
151 .... Iron Duke?
@@SevenFortyOne You know it buddy! Best Engine ever built!
@@MowerJunkie I had one back in the day...it was a good engine and a good car.
Heh I just realized your CT when you radio checked on 38l. You can hear that SCADA system on 23 all over CT but its strong as heck in litchfield county because Plymouth uses them. I don't know if other towns are using it or if Plymouth's system is just getting out statewide. On ch23 1 way scada is allowed 25 watts. -909Connecticut
By the way to adjust your transmit frequency to zero it in it is L215 216 and 217
Great video! Thank you.
Mine just took a dump, , thinking of getting the president 2
thanks for posting this video. it's a big help. What SDR setup do you use? Or which SDR setup do you like best?
I'm using the SDRplay RSPdx and SDRuno software
Great review, with things going on in the world this should be a good one you think
Thanks for sharing. I might have to consider this someday.
Great radio and great review! Glad to see some CB love here!! Hope you are doing well my friend!
Things are moving slow due to C19 but we are making progress...so far so good. More CB stuff is on the way so stay tuned!
@@SevenFortyOne is the UNIDEN 980 CB radio a better performer than my COBRA 148 GTL CB radio made in the Philippines in the year 1994 ?
uniden 980 ssb can one buy this radio with fm have written to uniden but they do not respond and now fm is legal in the usa
No
Thank you sir you have a great video im waiting mine to come but i need some antenna what is the best antenna for it i need a magnet mount antenna
Straight up, informative. Verygood useful review! And is that a Yaesu "FROG " 7700 I see in the background? Had one for 10 yrs. Loved it!
Yes that's an frg7700...I've had mine for something like 30 years now
Awesome demonstration.
So for a beginner that know nothing about CB radios and lives in the city can you make a video on what we’re going to Experience as new CB owners and how to get around typical issues that one might face like how long the cable should be for the antenna or if that matters SWR and if radios work in the city or if you’re better off not having one if you live in the city what kind of an antenna is a Wilson 5000 to strong?
I've never lived in a city so I really can't make a video from that perspective