Uniden Bearcat 980 set up

[copperhead_red]

I got one today, they look great and pickup as good as any but the watts are at 3!
Didn't matter I ordered a kl-203 amp and a power supply.
Im going to set the AM watts down to 1.5 will that be enough for a clean signal or does it need to be 1 as a rule?
This is my second setup or "backup" to my Texas Ranger TRE top primary set up.
Im going to have 3 set ups all together at some point.

 

[doffo]

You will be fine at 1.5 watts on AM. SSB I personally never try and push the KL-203 with more than 10 watts during peaks.

I did unlock the clarifier on the 980 earlier this year. Simple enough to do.

 

[copperhead_red]

Well I hate to say it but im just going to send it back before any problems happen, too many bad reviews ruined it for me.

 

[W4KVW]

Well I hate to say it but im just going to send it back before any problems happen, too many bad reviews ruined it for me.

I'm no longer doing CB but before I sold them all I had a 980 & it worked great. I got great reports on AM & SSB & if I were going to get back on the 11 meter band I would buy another one.

 

[SuperLid]

Well I hate to say it but im just going to send it back before any problems happen, too many bad reviews ruined it for me.

Don't believe everything you read on the internet. It is a solid radio. The displays were failing, but that may have been addressed by Uniden. It is a much better radio than the TRE Top One. I recommend unlocking the clarifier.

 

[doffo]

I wonder if the extreme cold/extreme heat ruins the displays. I dont leave the 980 in the vehicle but use it inside the house.

 

[BC Coyote]

Well I hate to say it but im just going to send it back before any problems happen, too many bad reviews ruined it for me.

You did the right thing! The displays are notorious for failing. Everyone I know that bought one of those had the display fail within two years.
On top of that, it's just a 40 channel, 4 & 12 watt radio. They sound pretty good on air but beyond that.......meh.

 

[BC Coyote]

I wonder if the extreme cold/extreme heat ruins the displays. I dont leave the 980 in the vehicle but use it inside the house.

I think you may be onto something there doffo! Up here we have hot dry summers and then the infamous Canadian winter cold. Temperature extremes are never very good for electronics...........

 

[W4KVW]

I wonder if the extreme cold/extreme heat ruins the displays. I dont leave the 980 in the vehicle but use it inside the house.

Mine was in my Ram 1500 for over a year with Zero issues here in North Florida. I promise you it gets Very HOT in a vehicle here.

 

[FlyBoy50]

The 980 is probably better used as a base. It was the first SSB radio I started to make SSB contacts with because the two Uniden Washingtons I bought online were duds. The trouble with mine is it is the first version with that awful beep when you change channels and I hate the menu and the display is hard to see in the bright lite of a mobile. Mine works fine set up in the house for a test radio to talk too which I still use. There is guys who swear by them. If someone is looking for a cheap entry level SSB to run as a base,as long as they get the latest version they will probably be OK as long as you set the menu to what you want and leave it. I wonder what they go for these days ?

 

[SuperLid]

The 980 is probably better used as a base. It was the first SSB radio I started to make SSB contacts with because the two Uniden Washingtons I bought online were duds. The trouble with mine is it is the first version with that awful beep when you change channels and I hate the menu and the display is hard to see in the bright lite of a mobile. Mine works fine set up in the house for a test radio to talk too which I still use. There is guys who swear by them. If someone is looking for a cheap entry level SSB to run as a base,as long as they get the latest version they will probably be OK as long as you set the menu to what you want and leave it. I wonder what they go for these days ?

The beep can be disabled.

 

[SuperLid]

I wonder if the extreme cold/extreme heat ruins the displays. I dont leave the 980 in the vehicle but use it inside the house.

I had a bad *EARLY* one out of the box, years ago, so who knows.

 

[FlyBoy50]

The beep can be disabled.

Yeah I heard it can, but it is easier in the second version because I think it is a menu choice. I wonder how many versions there are now ? I won't open mine up and bother because it has taken it's place as a test radio to talk to.

 

[SuperLid]

Yeah I heard it can, but it is easier in the second version because I think it is a menu choice. I wonder how many versions there are now ? I won't open mine up and bother because it has taken it's place as a test radio to talk to.

Just early and late. Early beep disable is hardware mod, as you said.

 

[doffo]

The beep is kinda annoying after a bit, but I let it be on the replacement board. The original 980 my wife had gave up out of nowhere and lost its transmit power. (Even after a final replacement it still behaved the same way.) , I got lucky and found a parts one off ebay for $35 that had its display ruined, but the board still worked. Swapped the faceplates and its back up and working. I forgot there was different versions of the mainboard, so I got lucky and the one that came in was the same board.