Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Bearcat 980 Tuning

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by ThatFlatbedGuy2013, Sep 17, 2014.

Page 1 of 4
  1. Sep 17, 2014 #1
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013

    ThatFlatbedGuy2013 Medium Load Member

    591
    119
    Feb 4, 2013
    Somewhere in the US of A
    0
    I've been aware that this radio is terrible for modding as a tuned 980 would only bring 10 watts when tuned, a mere 3-5 watt difference from its factory output out of the box. I'm still looking to get it tuned for that little bit extra wattage plus add an amp ( this could bring it up to 100 watt peak output?). The RM Italy amps appear to be the choice amp, specifically the 203 model but apparently isn't really legal in the US. Would these Amps also boost reception? I would like to be able to get some decent range out of it.
     
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013, Sep 17, 2014
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013, Sep 17, 2014
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Sep 17, 2014 #2
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

    20,729
    100,997
    Dec 18, 2011
    Michigan
    0
    the 203 has a pre-amp but I found that with a good antenna, you don't need one. Without a good antenna, it seems to drag into the radio a bunch of garbage.
     
    Ridgeline, Sep 17, 2014
    Ridgeline, Sep 17, 2014
    #2
    bored silly and Turbo-T Thank this.
  4. Sep 17, 2014 #3
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013

    ThatFlatbedGuy2013 Medium Load Member

    591
    119
    Feb 4, 2013
    Somewhere in the US of A
    0
    I have a firestik II. That kind of good or better?
     
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013, Sep 17, 2014
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013, Sep 17, 2014
    #3
  5. Sep 18, 2014 #4
    W900AOwner

    W900AOwner Heavy Load Member

    714
    1,282
    Jul 2, 2014
    0
    I have a stock 980 out of the box I just put in my truck a couple weeks ago. Not my dream radio, but I got it for "free" by using accumulated Pilot Points for fueling...so the price was right.

    I like a few features on it like being able to change the background color, but I don't really care for the RF Gain being either ON or OFF and not adjustable. I find myself having to constantly turn it off to hear a lot of signals that may be a bit weak after passing.

    All in all though, it's decent. If I were to actually spend some bigger money, it would be on a Connex or Galaxy next time.
     
    W900AOwner, Sep 18, 2014
    W900AOwner, Sep 18, 2014
    #4
    12 ga Thanks this.
  7. Sep 18, 2014 #5
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013

    ThatFlatbedGuy2013 Medium Load Member

    591
    119
    Feb 4, 2013
    Somewhere in the US of A
    0
    You can actually adjust it. You press (or hold i think) and then you PTT and use the channel selector to adjust.
     
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013, Sep 18, 2014
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013, Sep 18, 2014
    #5
  8. Sep 19, 2014 #6
    MsJamie

    MsJamie Road Train Member

    2,368
    1,334
    Sep 11, 2012
    Somewhere I'd rather not be...
    0
    The Uniden x80 series was designed to NOT be modifiable. The FCC is pretty stringent these days for type acceptance; the days of "screwdriver mods" are gone.

    That said, the stock 980 should make an awesome driver for a good amp.

    A preamp (which is what would be on an external amp) isn't needed on this radio. The designers of this radio did a good job on the receiver.
     
    MsJamie, Sep 19, 2014
    MsJamie, Sep 19, 2014
    #6
    25(2)+2 and ThatFlatbedGuy2013 Thank this.
  9. Sep 19, 2014 #7
    MsJamie

    MsJamie Road Train Member

    2,368
    1,334
    Sep 11, 2012
    Somewhere I'd rather not be...
    0
    From the manual:

    If you lost yours, you can download it at
    http://www.uniden.com/content/ebiz/uniden/resources/ownersmanuals/Bearcat980SSBom.pdf
     
    MsJamie, Sep 19, 2014
    MsJamie, Sep 19, 2014
    #7
    slim6596 and darthanubis Thank this.
  10. Sep 19, 2014 #8
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013

    ThatFlatbedGuy2013 Medium Load Member

    591
    119
    Feb 4, 2013
    Somewhere in the US of A
    0
    I've seen a few YouTube vids of the 980 being tuned but dang hard to do.
     
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013, Sep 19, 2014
    ThatFlatbedGuy2013, Sep 19, 2014
    #8
  11. Sep 19, 2014 #9
    ShooterK2

    ShooterK2 Road Train Member

    5,533
    89,469
    Dec 14, 2012
    Oklahoma
    0
    Yes, there are some videos on YouTube, and a chart somewhere as well that shows all the important adjustments. It will not make big power, however. But still is an awesome talker, and the receive is as good as any radio I've ever owned, and a lot better than most.

    I've owned a lot of "big" radios (Cobra, Galaxy, Connex, Magnum, etc), and I like this one way better. I still have a Connex 3300 and a Magnum OmegaForce sitting in my dresser drawer. Not a thing wrong with them. I just like this little radio better. As far as sideband goes, I've made way more contacts and had far more compliments on the sound of this rig than any other I've used.
     
    ShooterK2, Sep 19, 2014
    ShooterK2, Sep 19, 2014
    #9
    darthanubis Thanks this.
  12. Sep 19, 2014 #10
    W900AOwner

    W900AOwner Heavy Load Member

    714
    1,282
    Jul 2, 2014
    0


    That's good information folks...I wasn't aware of being able to adjust the RF Gain...An indication that I did NOT read the manual. I just "winged it" through all the adjustments and thought I was smart after that, but I proved myself wrong once again.

    Thanks for that.
     
    W900AOwner, Sep 19, 2014
    W900AOwner, Sep 19, 2014
    #10
    Blaskowitz and ThatFlatbedGuy2013 Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 1 of 4