CB
Bands
4 W
Output
2000
Introduced
Frequency26.965-27.405 MHz
TX power4 W
ModesAM
Weight700 g (24.7 oz)
ConnectorSO-239
Year2000
Connectors
antennaSO-239
mic4-pin CB standard
dc in13.8VDC (red/black power wire)
power req13.8VDC (vehicle power)
40 channels AM compact + affordable 4W RF / 7W audio ANL + RF gain S/RF meter + PA
Strengths

One of the cheapest name-brand CBs available, compact enough for a glove box. Uniden keeps it in production because there is steady demand for a bargain-basement CB. It has 4W output, 7W audio, an ANL switch, RF gain, an S/RF meter, and PA, and is functional for Channel 19 monitoring and basic communication.

Weaknesses

Budget construction. AM only (no SSB). No weather channels. No built-in SWR meter for antenna tuning. The included microphone is basic. Receiver sensitivity is modest. A no-frills radio.

Verdict

A bare-minimum, very cheap CB. The Uniden PRO510XL exists for truckers who need a cheap replacement and overlanders who want a CB without spending much. It is basic but functional for monitoring Channel 19 and short-range use, and it is one of the least expensive name-brand CBs available.

The Uniden PRO 510XL is a no-frills, compact mobile CB radio built for durability and a low price. It covers the 40 license-free CB channels at the legal 4 watts AM on the 27 MHz band. It is AM only — Uniden has not added the FM mode that newer Cobras carry — and it is a CB, requiring no license, not amateur radio or GMRS.

The whole point is simplicity and toughness. It has the essentials: squelch, an automatic noise limiter, an instant channel 9, a backlit display, and a signal/RF-power meter, in a very small chassis that fits where larger radios will not. It has earned a reputation as a rugged budget workhorse for off-road, industrial, and work-truck use. (Note that a power figure of 7 watts sometimes seen in listings refers to audio output, not the 4-watt RF transmit power.)

It is a current product and a common entry point into CB. Its companion the Uniden PRO505XL is the even more basic model, while the Cobra 25 LTD is a similarly compact rival with optional FM.