980 Updates - amplifier+software testing

[@N4TCM]

Interested in that radio. If it'll do 20 watts on Sideband, I'm happy. A good base antenna will surprise you.

[@FarpointFarms]

I'd love to get in contact with you about ordering one of these boards. I just got a 980 SSB and LOVE it, but this upgrade board you've made would really bring it to the next level!

[@paulgrodkowski3412]

Wow, hey there @FarpointFarms. It is motivating to see that you are interested in others' KZbin videos about CB radio!😀

[@Dirt_Floor_Garage]

Very knowledgeable dude! If you don't have a radio shop, you need to open one.

[@samiam5557]

How sweet it is! I like your RF gain setup, I agree the factory settings were nuts.

[@matthewdavies2057]

Hey Mark, don't know if you will ever see this but do you work on people's 980's? I have the amp and my eyesight's not good enough to do the work myself. Plus you have several mods that I'd like done to it. :) Channel King already in the radio and working fine. Any chance of making the display brighter? Thanks!

[@richdavis6446]

Where would I buy one of those amplifier u showed in this video? How much does a amp usually cost. Thanks

[@prinler1081]

You are amazing! I cant wait to watch more!

[@rpcomms1]

50watts pep should be fine,I always put a 3dB 50ohm pad on input to keep input impedance nominal,I think the resistor is the pad resistor,ur correct do no do this! I also add a extra lowpass or bandpass filter to keep things extra clean. Duty cycle on SSB will be a lot lower than fm\am modes on tx. For Am always set mine 4 times carrier so 12.5W Carrier =50w pep@90% mod Narrow Fm well not applicable in USA but is in UK,EU land,but same as Am due to duty cycle. SSB 50w pep two tone test. The amp boards are based on a RM italy design CB amplifier,thinks its RM203. Like what you done to VHF side,Uniden missed boat there handy for 2m HAM band and VHF MURS 151mhz.Dont forget the FM receiver is set up for 16KHZ bandwidth wide fm for marine. Does the 1050 Hz alert warning still work on WX channels? Project looking good! 73's Rob

[@VOLKZZORN]

FM is missing then it is a very nice device hope there is an update because of FM, I'm from Germany and I just think the devices are great 👍🏻 not like here boring boxes where something new always comes in years and yes more AM and FM boxes than with LSB or usb!

[@jamesrobinson6441]

Just got a 980 SSB. Interested in your upgrades.

[@mikesradiorepair]

For SSB with the amplifier you might try adding a electrolytic capacitor to the base of the switching transistor. That's basically what most amplifiers have. The higher the value the longer the hold time. The 980 is looking good. Like you I hated the original RF gain control system. Much better the way you implemented it.

[@Mark19960]

The amp has a cap on the base of that transistor already. But if we can switch the amplifier properly there is no longer a need for the delay or having the cap. It's a "keep it simple, stupid" sort of design.

[@mikesradiorepair]

Mark19960 10-4 Couldn't make out on the schematic you showed if one of those was a electrolytic capacitors or not. So the WX frequencies can be added to memory. In other words we now have a 2 Meter scanner with memories.

[@Mark19960]

basically, yes.

[@mikesradiorepair]

Edward DeShazier Waiting for Mark to get the first run of boards out the door. Should have them soon and will know more once I have one in my hand.

[@warrenw2119]

Nice job Mark.

[@polarwireless]

Where do I get one of these radios or how do I send them to you to get the board replaced?

[@johncraig3261]

I want to know if you can tell me what final you replace on the uniden bearcat 980ssb . I pick up one a guy mess up with a liner hook up and I want to fix it so I have a nice free radio

[@cooluncle2614]

John Craig it's probably an irf 520

[@alfilreyalfilrey]

HELLO! EXCELLENT VIDEO, THE BC980SSB IS A GOOD RADIO; BUT I REALIZE THAT YOUR SCREEN IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURES, IN THE REGION WHERE I LIVE, WE HAVE TEMPERATURES OF UP TO 136F, AND THAT AFFECT MY EQUIPMENT, WHILE THE TEMPERATURE IS LOW, I CAN SEE THE SCREEN IN ITS ENTIRETY, BUT AS IT GOES AHEAD THE HEAT, EVEN IF IT IS OF THE SAME EQUIPMENT, THE SCREEN BEGINS TO LOSE HIMSELF.

[@Scott-K7sce]

so far so good mark i'm likening it, some amplifier is good i like the stinger amp gives just a bit more fire in the wire & does good if done correctly, tim at src adds them to the 980 series radio all the time, anyhow just out of curiosity ever tried to implement that amp into .. say a 148gtl ? i like to see that just for the mear hell of it.... 73's scott k7sce

[@Mark19960]

I think the amp was originally intended for a 148/29 and friends actually. I would have to double check but I think the holes in it line up with the holes on the bottom plate of those radios.

[@visionsofme8004]

Mark how can I get the VCO mods for the extra channels , Do you have them posted somewhere ?

[@Mark19960]

Yeah.. save you the trouble. You just swap the varactor out with a 1SV324 and that will broaden it's VCO.

[@arielinoa9161]

That’s not gonna be fun if you don’t have the right flux and heat gun and solder and patience. And microscope

[@eazystreet5507]

I had some one ask me a question that got me thinking. Can a cobra blue tooth be sync to Iphone so the controls are on the phone?

[@mikesradiorepair]

Eazy Street The Bluetooth is so you can answer the phone through the radio. It has nothing to do with the radio itself really. The radio controls are all still old school analog.

[@josedejesus3117]

I need a display do you have one for sale ?

[@rickymcdaniel6708]

can i send you a 2nd gen 980ssb and you instal a amp for me. and if so how much. would love to have it done this radio out of the box is way under powered. i need a little more.. would you help?

[@johndminigan1869]

Go one for the truck, Like the radio. Would like the conversion done. message me.

[@kenmcdonald4111]

Is the new firmware available now ???? Who can do this ????

[@buckaroobonsi555]

Cool!

[@slowpoke1562]

Will you work on my 980

[@goradios21154]

very nice

[@Jeffsanythingoutdoors]

I just got this 980 I want to get that set up on mine.. i don't got no one in my area that works on them can you help me?

[@Jeffsanythingoutdoors]

I like talking skip and would love to get the extra ch and the extra power..

[@videosuperhighway7655]

Jeff Datres save your time and money and get a yaseu 450d export. 100w out and as many channels as you want.

[@KiloWatt304]

how can I get one of your software mods

[@mikesradiorepair]

Twisted .Radio This isn't a software mod. The entire CPU display board gets replaced. He is still working on finalizing the program. I think there are a few changes he needs to make on the next board design to. It's a work in progress but it's almost there.

[@KiloWatt304]

MikesRadioRepair ok great I will have to keep in the loop on this looks great so far keep up the good work

[@Mark19960]

Mike already answered about getting the software but some additional info: I thought about doing that initially because I do have access to the software and debuggers for the R78 MCUs. Now there is an obviously an application that runs on the MCU and it is copyrighted. The only legitimate ways to alter the existing application would be to get Uniden to let me have the source which isn't happening... OR writing the software myself. Rather than spent gobs of money (which would be in the many thousands of dollars) to get and set up my own development environment I just made a new board. It was cheaper and faster and the only way to "share" something like this would be to swap the board since an end user would not be able to flash the new program on the old MCU. Renesas effectively prices themselves out of the small player market. I would use some of their MCUs in projects - even the commercial ones I do but I end up using a Microchip or Atmel product over theirs because their "tax" is too high. They only want to do business with companies like the Unidens of the world. Not freelancers or independents like myself.

[@KiloWatt304]

Mark19960 well I love to mod and improve on designs. it's amazing some of the things the Radio engineers do . I am new to all the new software driven radio's. anyhow thanks for the great videos I am on a watching binge as we speak or should I say text just subscribed and liked your channel. Have a great night

[@loctite222ms]

What the heck do you need Talkback for? I don't have to hear it out of the speaker to know what I'm saying. Seem like a silly feature.

[@guysmith1826]

TalkBack can tell you if your microphone is working, if the switch is scratchy, or there is a bad wire and your audio is not getting out, you can hear these things if the TalkBack function is on.

[@paulgrodkowski3412]

Hey there mark 19960, do you have an email address, do you read emails or comments posted here in KZbin? Are you one guy or an organization? What is the point of your existence? It seems like you have some strong opinions. Are you willing to discuss with me? Warm regards, Paul. 😀👍💪