I’ve had no problem with the 880, 885, and 890-series Unidens vis-a-vis the screen lighting or related failures. And I’d bet on a great deal more use of each than you’ve seen with one (unless you, too, run them 10-12/hrs per day, days on end).
The stock mic isn’t trash. And I never said it was the best. But as an OTR truck driver, the minor mod works. I’ve no reports of problems with audio received. I’ve a window nearly always cracked, and the AC with compressor on or off blowing constantly. (I generally run one of the above with a PALOMAR SL-41 microphone. Or one of the powered Astatic mics.
But batteries fail).
I’ve previously seen the CB RADIO MAG info. Great site. I’d highly recommend it.
I admire the way you otherwise wrote of the 980. I believe it correct. Again, I haven’t said this radio was best. But for $100-$120 that I’ve paid for it, it can’t be beat (non-SSB radios not worth considering). That low price puts it in a category of one.
The President Mckinley IS the better quality radio,
but you pay half-again as much.
Which is why you saw me extol the virtues of the 980
as the backup radio to all others.
You do have a backup radio (mobile & base) always at hand, right? Ready to plug & play. (Where several mics have their place). All spares for all else.
One is serious about this, or not.
CB failure on the road is a possibility. It’s unacceptable to be without a backup.
Availability of an SSB radio is another issue. There are very, very retail outlets which carry any SSB-capable radios. Assume there are none and it’s close enough.
As a starter, and as THE substitute, the Uniden 980 is the first radio to buy. Not “someday”. The “better” one comes second. (Hell, third, fourth, fifth depending on how many radios you buy. A tough addiction to crack. I currently have a GALAXY DX-86V in the slot. That’s how to look at it. A slot to fill).
I like any/all of these behind an RM-Italy KL203. It’s enough to get heard in a busy metro. Xtra low amp draw for the package. Can run it off of a typical fleet-spec big truck 15A factory wiring circuit.
The mic isn’t enough — nor are rare QC-related issues — to pass on the 980. At well under $200 for 75W all day, it’s a very clear winner in this package.
The same money as the McKinley, in other words.
Get the install going:
www.K0BG.com
And know that the third leg of the stool is the
Clearspeech DSP Speaker by WEST MOUNTAIN RADIO. As there’s no CB/Export radio not radically improved by its use.
It has no substitute.
The antenna + mount + DSP inside a high quality installation IS the Radio.
The transceiver itself isn’t the heart of the thing, any more than the engine is the heart of a car.
One has to be able to use it. The working environment has precedence with the overall installation mainly concerning itself with the antenna.
The radio is just one more component. Next-to-last purchase. With a 980 in the mix as described, I’ll hear and get heard where you won’t with a McKinley (or choose another radio).
Were I at home I’d have 5-6 radios I could plug in. Same number or more microphones.
The install is altogether of another order.
980 vs McKinley isn’t “real”. Both do the same thing. The $60-$80 more for a McKinley pays for the Apache foam-lined transport case. It’s presence also outweighs having paid more for a radio not capable of more, but one hasn’t proper protection for electronics gear.
Get all the right pieces together. The radio is NOT the important component. Antenna & DSP Speaker out-rank it. KL203 equals it.
And any radio purchased without a transport case is owned by someone foolhardy.
Plenty of radios to plug-in as you go along. (Last. Not first).
.
.