Uniden Pro 340XL Vintage Portable Handheld CB Radio Review

[@eqradman]

My pro 340xl has a high/low power output switch instead of the tone switch in the same location. Confirmed with a watt meter.

[@bigstick5278]

Just picked two of these up at a yard sale for $5.00 seem to work..

[@countryfriedgamer15o]

Nice!

[@user-dh4qq3jh8y]

no volume

[@orisisseibert3507]

Lacking info for the layman. Stop smoking weed

[@bobdillaber1195]

I just picked one up for $5. What kind of batteries does it take?

[@countryfriedgamer15o]

Double A's

[@bobdillaber1195]

@@countryfriedgamer15o Thanks

[@-_-_traveltripper-_-_]

wanna hear something weird? mine is the same model and looks identical to yours - but there's another video posted on here of the PRO340XL and it has inputs! 🤷‍♂️

[@countryfriedgamer15o]

I think I know what you mean, there are variations of the same model. Some had a tone switch and others had a hi and low power setting. I'm wanting to say it had to do with the model year, not sure which one is the later or earlier model. Don't quote me on that though, it's been awhile since I've researched it. My guess is maybe it was changed because one would be more useful than the other to the consumer.

[@JimBow-kh3hy]

What is it's range?

[@-_-_traveltripper-_-_]

@@JimBow-kh3hy not sure but i pick up people about 20 miles away. i replaced the original antenna with a retractable one.

[@countryfriedgamer15o]

Not sure about the 20 miles but definitely get more range with the retractable antennas. The little rubber duckie antenna only gets you about a mile. I got a retractable antenna that extends out 5 ft. and I was surprised the difference it made. I can imagine it being difficult though to walk around with a 5 ft. steel rod in the air. You better hope there isn't a thunderstorm or trees around because you'd be knocking it on every low limb or be a lightning rod lol.

[@daienaa]

Hi I find a radio like that but couldn’t hear anything so a neighbor said I need a stationary radio with higher effect and a bigger antenna to be able to hear. So what do you use the handheld cb radios for if they aren’t powerful enough?

[@countryfriedgamer15o]

Sounds like either the radio you got is defective or the antenna is defective or just drained batteries. Generally speaking a stock handhelds range is around 1 mile on a rubber antenna aka "rubber ducky." You can purchase an extendable metal antenna, i bought mine from Amazon that extends 5 ft. With that and this low powered radio i barely got contact with my cousin who was 3.5 miles away. You should be able to hear people talking skip which often run tons of power but you won't be able to talk to them. I think handhelds are good for listening more than anything but if you're out camping it can be good communication if someone gets lost. There are other walkie talkies on the market but i think there range is more limited because you're stuck with the short antenna they come with. If you get an adapter to hook it to a regular cb antenna mounted on a car you can roughly get the same result as a full size radio. The only thing you lack is swing on power and loudness. Check out my other video of the Midland 75-822 with the tram 3500 antenna and car adapter, i was making contact 5 miles away.

[@daienaa]

@@countryfriedgamer15o wow this is so strange, a guy told me that the handheld cb radios had a range of maybe 1 km in flat open terrain, in city environment maybe a couple of 100 meters not more. He suggested that I get a stationary cb radio with a good antenna to increase range?

[@countryfriedgamer15o]

@@daienaa Don't get me wrong, having a full size radio and good antenna will ensure the best possible outcome for sure. That's not to say handhelds have no purpose, I had quite the interest in them for a bit which is why I reviewed them. I think no matter how you choose to engage in the hobby it can be a lot of fun. People who have been in to cb radios for a long time know that the cobra 29 is the most iconic radio out there. That is a full size radio and one of the best if not the best. I can't blame anyone for suggesting it to a first time buyer because you cant go wrong with it. They want to set you up for success so you'll comeback to dive deeper into radio communication. I drive a small car so i dont always have the space for a full size radio so you have to think what works best for you in your situation. If you have the space for a full size radio then go for it, the recent video i just posted of the walker 2 from president is a great radio as well and quite a bit smaller than the cobra 29. It also comes with weather stations in which the cobra doesn't. Sorry for the lengthy comments, i just like to be thorough in my explanations.

[@daienaa]

@@countryfriedgamer15o I’m happy you are so comprehensive so I can learn more. The ones I found is really old like from the early 80s built like a tank with a looong rubber antenna on both of them. They have fm and am mode, you change with a switch on the radio. They are heavy and look so cool together, and they both feel and look like they are more professional or how to say, than a plastic walkie talkie that kids have that you can buy in the supermarket. Both uses the same cb band I have been told, so I guess I could test the range myself if I have someone who take one of them and walk around with it just to see how they work. My dad said it’s old crap that will collect dust on the shelf therefore it’s better to throw them out or give to someone, but I honestly think I want to keep them regardless of how they work or not work. For some reason they look nice in my room with that long antennas even if other people don’t see the beauty of them that I see.

[@countryfriedgamer15o]

@@daienaa I don't know much about the am/fm switch, I've always known them to work exclusively on am. In recent years there's been talk about adding fm and I believe there's a couple radios that do. I would agree that vintage radios are cool looking and have a bit of a nostalgic charm to them. There's so much history I have yet to learn about. I really don't know that much honestly. I'm just a guy who's learned a few things off the internet and played around with them trying different things. Best of luck to you in your exploration of the hobby. If you have any more questions feel free to ask, with my limited knowledge I'll try to answer the best of my ability. Take care and God bless.