If all you needed was a handheld CB radio that is elegant, powerful, and built by one of the biggest names in two-way radios, then look no further than the Uniden PRO401HH. This handheld CB radio is among one of the best options you’ll come across when you’re in search of a good quality CB radio that is also affordable.
Its neat and simple appearance only tells half of its story as it comes with a myriad of helpful features. Some of them include the convenient High/Low power switch and the impressive automatic noise cancellation that will ensure you get the best audio quality.
Still not convinced? Read our review below. We have plenty more to say about the Uniden PRO401HH to help you make an informed decision.
Quick Summary
Before we dig deep, here are a few details about the Uniden PRO401HH that will give you an overview of what we’ll be discussing ahead.
Best Features
- Automatic Gain Control (AGC)
- Automatic Noise Limiter (ANL)
- High / Low Power Switch
- Automatic Modulation Control
- Low Distortion IC Circuit
What’s in The Box
- Uniden PRO401HH CB radio
- Antenna
- Instruction manuals
- Wrist wrap
- Belt clip
- DC power adapter
Useful Specifications
- Channels: 40
- Power: 4W
- Dimensions: 2.75″ L x 4.33″ W x 8.66″ H
- Weight: 0.56 lbs. (255g)
Why We Liked It
Affordable
For its price, this is truly a gem that cannot be compared to many other handheld CB radios. However, what’s most important is that you get more value for your money. While highly affordable, the Uniden PRO401HH does not disregard quality and we were happy about this.
Highly Compact and Portable
Sure, the 401HH is a handheld CB radio, and as such, we all expect handheld radios to be portable. Nevertheless, the Uniden Pro 401HH’s design is truly incredible as it only packs the essentials. Weighing in at just half a pound, this radio should be the last thing you pull out from your backpack when you want to reduce its weight.
Great Close-Range Reception
If you wanted a CB radio for short-distance communication, the 401HH is more than up to the task. It allows you to communicate in 40 AM channels between a frequency range of 26.965 MHz to 27.405 MHz.
We were also impressed with its instruction manual which was well-written and easy to follow along even for beginners.
Key Features of the Uniden PRO401HH
Below are some of the features that make the Uniden PRO401HH to really stand out from the rest of the pack.
High/Low Power Switch
This radio comes with a High/Low power switch that lets you control how much power you’d want to use when transmitting. In High power mode, the 401HH uses 4W of power which is the recommended power level for CB radios. On the other hand, the radio can use 1W of power in Low power mode. Since the radio uses less power in the Low power mode, it will conserve more battery power and enable you to keep communicating for longer.
Having the ability to choose between the Low and High power modes gives you more control depending on the situation you are in. If, for instance, you’ve been using the radio for a while but noticed you’re running low on battery, you can switch to Low power mode. Of course, the radio’s range will be lower, but you will be able to use the radio for longer in short-range communication.
NOAA Weather Alerts
The radio also features NOAA weather alerts just like many other CB radios. Getting these alerts on a handheld CB radio is very important especially when you are exploring new areas. You can get updated about the weather on-the-go while using the radio. If you were driving, the alerts could also come in handy as they can tell you about the weather situation of the town/city you are driving to.
Because the Uniden PRO401HH also comes with the Dual-Watch feature, you don’t have to remain glued to one channel. You can choose to keep an ear on one of the NOAA weather alert channels while communicating on another channel with ease. This way, you will always be informed about the weather conditions without having to sacrifice communicating with other CB radio users.
Compatible with Alkaline or Rechargeable Batteries
Not all handheld CB radios come with many options especially when it comes to the kind of battery that they are compatible with. Often, CB radios will typically use one kind of battery or offer adapters that let you use different types of batteries. However, the Uniden PRO401HH can use either rechargeable batteries or alkaline batteries.
If you prefer alkaline batteries, you’ll be needing 9 AA batteries to power the 401HH. Of course, your usage will determine how long these batteries last. On the other hand, if you would rather have the option of charging the batteries when they run out instead of buying a fresh battery pack, then you should consider getting the Ni-MH rechargeable batteries.
Do remember to indicate whether you are using the alkaline batteries or the rechargeable batteries. You can do so by pushing the switch located in the battery compartment to reflect the kind of battery that you’re using.
Squelch and Volume Control
While volume control is a feature that almost all CB radios have by default, not all CB radios have squelch control. Volume control on the Uniden PRO401HH is straightforward as it is with other radios. Simply turn the knob clockwise to increase the volume and you’ll be able to comfortably hear other users.
Squelch control, on the other hand, lets you choose the kind of signal that the radio can pick up. Ideally, it filters out the weaker signals so that you can enjoy a clear reception. In addition to that, squelch control also limits some background noises that come about because of interference.
It would have been great if the Uniden PRO401HH also featured the RF gain control since it would also help greatly in limiting background noise. However, having the squelch control is good enough as the radio does not pick up too much noise in short range communication.
Noise Cancelling Features
The lack of RF gain control isn’t that big of a deal too since the Uniden PRO401HH comes with plenty of other automatic noise cancelling features. For instance, the Automatic Gain Control (AGC) does pretty much the same job that the RF gain control would do. The only difference is that the radio itself will be controlling the gain automatically. Additionally, it will help you get a constant sound level during communication.
Other than that, the Uniden PRO401HH also has the Automatic Noise Limiter (ANL) which will help reduce pulse noises during transmission. This works in conjunction with the Automatic Modulation Control to further help in achieving a constant audio transmit modulation level. Since the radio equally uses a low distortion IC circuit, you can already tell that noise won’t be much of an issue for this radio.
Minimal LED Display
The LED display on this unit is small compared to what other handheld CB radios have. It only shows only the current channel you’re tuned to. However, there’s a good reason for this. A small LED display means that it will consume less battery power. In fact, Uniden made the LED display in such a way that the display turns itself off after 1.5 seconds.
The radio also has other LEDs that serve different functions. The transmit LED, for instance, lights up when you are transmitting while the battery low LED blinks when the radio needs a recharge or a battery replacement.
Pros of The Uniden PRO401HH
- Very affordable
- Simple to use even for beginners
- Conserves battery on Low power mode
- It can use alkaline or rechargeable batteries
- Comes with a well-written manual
Cons of The Uniden PRO401HH
- Only ideal for short-range communication
- Lacks RF gain control
Final Verdict
All in all, we found the Uniden PRO401HH to be a handy CB radio that can serve different kinds of people. While it may not be much of a beast when it comes to long-range communication, it does have all the essential features that make it a powerful radio for short-range communication. In addition, the radio’s noise cancelling features equally impressed us. We will admit that we would have loved to see the RF gain control on the 401HH, but for the price it retails for, this is definitely a keeper.