For those who have ever used CB radios, you will know the importance of going for a product from a reliable and trustworthy brand. Going for a product such as the Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB is a great place to start for many reasons. You get a powerful radio, which comes with a host of convenient and ease of use features. This radio is a reliable addition to your unique communication needs. The radio has a large LCD, rugged design, easy to use the software, and an illuminated control panel. It is the perfect radio for emergency assistance services, because it offers fast response and boot up times.
Quick Summary
Best Features
- Easy to use LCD interface
- Noise cancellation and management functions
- Heavy-duty stainless-steel construction
- Laser-etched keys for ease of use
- Wireless compatibility and 40 channel radio
What’s in The Box
- Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB CB Radio
- Microphone and microphone Hanger
- DC power cord
- Mounting bracket and a pair of 5mm mounting knobs
- Owner’s manual
Useful Specifications
- Weight – 4 lbs.
- Dimensions – 15 x 1.5 x 8.5 inches
Why We Liked It
Heavy-Duty Radio
CB radios are bound to be used regularly for communication purposes. Thus, it’s important that you go for a unit which can withstand all the high levels of activity. The most notable benefit of using this radio is that it has a rugged design, which makes it a reliable companion for years to come.
The robust structure can resist high impact forces, and this makes the radio suitable for everyday use. This radio is simple to use and can have you communicating within minutes. Furthermore, the radio also features a neat user interface that lets you customize the machine functionality to suit your needs.
Large and Clear LCD
The user experience is also a key aspect to consider when it comes to buying a CB radio. User experience for such tools boils down to a few components such as design ergonomics and the presence of LCDs.
Not so many CB radios have a screen that is large enough for communication purposes. Thus, Uniden seemed to have noticed the importance of including a convenient and sturdy display on this unit.
The Bearcat 980 comes with a large LCD, which is easy to use, and is also bright even when used in sunny conditions. You won’t have to struggle to view the screen in the dark, and the screen won’t reflect any images when in use.
Wireless Compatibility
There is nothing better than when you have a radio that has convenient functions to make radio use simple for your needs. In addition, the Uniden Bearcat 980 is also compatible with wireless microphones. Again, this is one of the few unique features that you are likely to come across in most CB radios today. The ability to use a wireless microphone gives you the room to focus on the road. You don’t have to worry about a long cord, which might easily drag the radio to the fall. That said, the wireless microphone has to be compatible with this specific radio brand.
Key Features of The Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB
Backlit Faceplate and LCD
Perhaps the most critical aspect of this radio is that its entire faceplate is backlit, which is easy to read and use. Furthermore, the LCD screen also comes with an illuminated control panel that has as many as seven colors personalized display options. These unique display options make it easy to customize the functionality of the radio to suit your needs.
The best part about using the LCD on this unit is that it’s bright regardless of the lighting. Most radios are not easy to view outdoors such as when out in the sun and might even reflect images. However, you don’t experience such with the Bearcat 980.
Ease of Use Features
Taking things to the next level, Uniden has also done well to include ease of use features on this radio. There is nothing better than a radio that can get your message shared to recipients with just a few simple clicks. For this reason, the Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB comes with a host of features to make it easy to use. For instance, the radio comes with easy to read laser-etched keys, which you can see even when in the dark. More so, the radio is also capable of automatic scanning, to make it convenient to access the common communication channels.
40-Channel Radio
Like all the high-end radios you may find on the market, this radio accommodates all channels on the full spectrum. The channel capacity of your chosen device is crucial for your ability to communicate and also to ensure that radio serves its purpose. You can instantly switch to channel 9, and this makes the radio highly convenient for your specific communication needs – especially for emergency assistance. Moreover, the radio also accommodates the NOAA weather channels, which you can access with the simple push of a button. Even more, the 40-channel radio is powerful, and you are sure of receiving your communications loud and clear.
Noise Control Features
Another crucial aspect of using a CB radio is that you have to consider the noise management features that are available on the device. Noise can affect your ability to communicate, and this can be serious such as when you have an emergency. In this case, the Bearcat 980 SSB comes with several noise management functions. For instance, it comes with a noise cancelling microphone which ensures that your recipients always receive quality information from you each time. On top of that, the radio even has noise blanker which helps to eliminate any noise interference during the communications process.
Compatible with Wireless Microphone
The other benefit of using this radio is that it is also compatible with a wireless microphone. It’s a contemporary function, which makes it easy to use your radio in small spaces. To be specific, this unit features an integrated SWR, which offers exceptional antenna matching benefits. Using the wireless microphone makes it convenient to share communications with other recipients. The best part is that the microphone has an excellent communications range so that you can move around the room without issues.
Pros of The Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB
- Large and easy to read LCD display
- 40 channel radio with an automatic scanner
- Noise cancellation features available
- Illuminated control panel with seven personalized displays
- Comes with 10 NOAA weather channels
Cons of The Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB
- Could use a much louder speaker system
Final Verdict
Communication has come a long way over the past few decades. The consumer market is not home to a host of unique communication devices. We recommend this Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB as one of the few devices that can be reliable for your communication needs. It is a powerful tool which is easy to customize and has convenient noise cancelling features.
Additionally, the radio has a rugged design, which ensures years of reliable communication for your needs. Whether it’s for emergency assistance or personal purposes, you can rest assured that your communication process will always be smooth and effortless. Ideally, you can’t go wrong with any radio that is manufactured by a top brand such as Uniden.