Uniden Bearcat 980ssb DOA

[unidenjim]

UPDATE

ok so this thing is now driving me insane. just like the old antenna, it stopped working. worked out of the box, 1.0 swr on channels 1 through 40, solid calibration, meters not jumping around, talkback works. just like the first antenna.

bring it home and turn on the hf receiver. talkbalk works and i can hear myself.

try it out about three times, didn't change a thing, then it stops working, now the radio is behaving the same as before not working with the new antenna or old antenna. swr jumping all over, can't calibrate, antenna tests pass/fail. radio starts getting solid readings, will key up with silence on the HF receiver tune to same freq, but not modulate. then it started keying up with static.

i'm worried because on the car ride home, i closed the window on the coax. when i took it out, it was bent 90 degrees, and there's a small indentation on it, not enough to cut open the coax. straightened it out and was able to modulate, but only a few times. now it's dead again. i suspect the coax is dead now. unbelievable.

anyway, literally going insane over this. ordered a 195 crimper, some uhf connectors, and a new radio. have some old solid core 195 coax. can't give up on this hobby just yet! will keep you posted.

 

[slowmover]

UPDATE

ok so this thing is now driving me insane. just like the old antenna, it stopped working. worked out of the box, 1.0 swr on channels 1 through 40, solid calibration, meters not jumping around, talkback works. just like the first antenna.

bring it home and turn on the hf receiver. talkbalk works and i can hear myself.

try it out about three times, didn't change a thing, then it stops working, now the radio is behaving the same as before not working with the new antenna or old antenna. swr jumping all over, can't calibrate, antenna tests pass/fail. radio starts getting solid readings, will key up with silence on the HF receiver tune to same freq, but not modulate. then it started keying up with static.

i'm worried because on the car ride home, i closed the window on the coax. when i took it out, it was bent 90 degrees, and there's a small indentation on it, not enough to cut open the coax. straightened it out and was able to modulate, but only a few times. now it's dead again. i suspect the coax is dead now. unbelievable.

anyway, literally going insane over this. ordered a 195 crimper, some uhf connectors, and a new radio. have some old solid core 195 coax. can't give up on this hobby just yet! will keep you posted.

WELCOME TO RADIO!!

Gets better with experience. Let nothing stop you.

 

[unidenjim]

UPDATE!

so i finally rooted out the issue. it's the uniden. sending it to texas.

went to the closest truck stop and bought a new transmitter. it works perfect with the previously opened antenna, and the new antenna. modulates every time, all tests pass, calibrates, good SWR. took it with me on a drive along the famous highway and make my first contacts with some truckers. keyed up each time i saw a truck with cb antenna on mirrors.

i first tried the new transmitter using a sheet metal ground and it worked. then i installed in car and got bad readings and tests failed. the numbers weren't good until i took the excess coaxial and tied it in a figure 8.

that being said, wrapping excess coax in a figure 8 is VERY IMPORTANT!

 

[slowmover]

UPDATE!

so i finally rooted out the issue. it's the uniden. sending it to texas.

went to the closest truck stop and bought a new transmitter. it works perfect with the previously opened antenna, and the new antenna. modulates every time, all tests pass, calibrates, good SWR. took it with me on a drive along the famous highway and make my first contacts with some truckers. keyed up each time i saw a truck with cb antenna on mirrors.

i first tried the new transmitter using a sheet metal ground and it worked. then i installed in car and got bad readings and tests failed. the numbers weren't good until i took the excess coaxial and tied it in a figure 8.

that being said, wrapping excess coax in a figure 8 is VERY IMPORTANT!

Perseverance is everything.

 

[FPR1981]

I bought a mint condition 980 SSB from a friend last week for $40, and it's currently hooked up as my base station, with the mic adapter in use so I can use my D104. I get rave reviews on audio quality, and I love the accuracy of the digital S-meter. This is my only experience with this radio, but my buddy had it since 2017, took good care of it, and he always sounded great on the air with it.

Best $40 I've ever spent on a radio. Meters right at around 4 watts, swinging about 12.