Uniden 980 ssb good backup radio?

[codeman]

I have a Magnum s45 that I am overall happy with. Great audio reports on am and ssb. But it does have some problems that need to be taken care of.
Now, I have got so use to having a radio with ssb and don't want to go without while my magnum is being repaired.

I like the looks of the 980 and have read just about every post on here relating to it. So, I am pretty sure it's the radio I'm looking for. I want a radio that will easily move from one vehicle to another with the ease of plugging it into a 12 volt outlet and not wired directly to the battery. Plus I really want a radio with the weatherband, so this radio seems to be ok for some backup up use.

My one concern is the low power output from the 980. Is 12-15 watts going to be enough juice for me to make some decent dx contacts? I know, I know mother nature has a lot to do with it. My magnum does about 70-80 watts on ssb and i do get my numbers called often. So my question is...is there really that much difference between a 70 watt radio vs a 15 watt radio when it comes to talking skip?

 

[Lil'Yeshua]

More juice and Mother Nature can result in more contacts especially when everybody and their monkey's cat's uncle's squirrel are trying to talk skip at the same time. Low power makes it more challenging but more rewarding when somebody answers back.

P.S. I usually make my contacts before everybody wakes up and when a contact comes in overly strong. It's listen and pounce.

 

[codeman]

Well, I got the 980ssb radio yesterday I hooked it up checked my swr's and it's good to go. Yesterday I had no luck on sideband, but I didn't try too much. This morning I made good solid contacts to NYC, Virginia and Lake Ontario, Canada. That's with the stock mic and hooked up to a 10k predator antenna. The weather band works great and I have been picking up at least 2-3 wb stations where ever I have gone. The beep is annoying but not as annoying as I thought it would be.

I got the radio for 130 bucks after an instant rebate of $50.00 at a flying j truckstop. I guess I'll look into getting a good power mic and a tune up on the radio to get a little more out of it. But I am already happy with it.

 

[space cowboy]

that's a pretty good price. not worth the hours drive it would take for me to get it though.

 

[Brake Weight]

Hmmm. All Flying Js or just the one? I may get one for the car, too.

 

[codeman]

I guess it is all flying j's. They merged with the pilot truckstops so they might have them as well. I usually don't stop at those truckstops. From the price tag it looks as they have been priced with the rebate for almost a month. The sale ends on November 4th, so you better hurry if you want one at a good price

I was told from a couple of the contacts I made that the radio sounds clean. Now I'm thinking of getting a good antenna for my pickup and seeing how it does in it. It's a good feeling making some long distance contacts with such low power

 

[Mudfoot]

The Superstar pistol grip microphones sound good on the 980.

 

[codeman]

The Superstar pistol grip microphones sound good on the 980.

I found a microphone that I had forgot about. So I hooked it up and I get good reports back with it. I can't remember where I bought it, but I was looking through my old mics and found it so I gave it a try on the 980 and I think I have a winner. It's called a M-80c/u. It has some nice weight to it and nice feel holding it.

American Milspec, LLC - Military M-80C/U microphone used

Hers's another pic http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-131965428135321_2202_25833699

 

[Mudfoot]

Looks like an old BUM (big ugly mic) microphone. Can you post wiring pinout?

Post an audio recording? That'd be cool.

 

[codeman]

All I know is that it is a 4 pin plug. I don't even remember where I bought the mic. I hope to get some audio recorded of it in the not too distance future because I'm curious to see what it sounds like myself. But I did get complimented on a good clean sound without asking, I wish I could be more helpful.

 

[Mudfoot]

Ah! You mean it comes with a standard 4 pin plug?

 

[Mudfoot]

Disregard