CB/SSB Radio Recommendations?

[mankypro]

Thinking of tossing in a 40 Channel SSB CB to entertain myself in those dead spots between Wyoming and Montana

Last time I fired up a CB mic was when I was 13 talking to truckers 1,000 miles away on skip. Hoping someone here might recommend a good radio to purchase that is well powered and tuned out of the box.

The Cobra 148 GTL looks like a nice little radio. Anyone?

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Forget about the power thing, they're all limited to 5W by federal law. I got your basic Cobra 19 DX and it works okay, I'm sure if I actually adjust the SWR and install a better cable it will work even better...

 

[towcat]

Forget about the power thing, they're all limited to 5W by federal law. I got your basic Cobra 19 DX and it works okay, I'm sure if I actually adjust the SWR and install a better cable it will work even better...

I run a Cobra 148NWST that isn't stock. 5W is only for the stuff that is right out of the box. Truckers on the road will be happy to point you to CB shacks that will tweak on them I also have good cables and good antennas to punch through in remote areas.

 

[Devilish]

Best cb radio ever made is probably impossible to get. When I was a kid my friend got a hold of a cpi 400. It had fully functioning know from 0-9 on each. Also was side band capable. What we did with it using a 250 watt linear amp.....awesome.
Strange I managed to find this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Communications-...39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Don't know about this model but I believe the cpi-400 was pulled off the market for being too good
I think it did 12 watts out of the box

 

[Fozz]

I've got a Cobra 25 WXNBST and Wilson antena that I'm happy with. You can get any radio peaked and tuned for a little better performance.

 

[Agnem]

Here's a better idea... become a Ham Talk to people who talk like they do here, instead of the uncivilized urchins on CB.

 

[mankypro]

Yep HAMming it up is in the plans as well. One of my Army MOS's was radioman and I spent like 6 months in Georgia for it

Doubt I could pass Morse though - it's been 20 years...

But I hear they dropped the dot-dash from the test? Anyway CB for now.

Here's a better idea... become a Ham Talk to people who talk like they do here, instead of the uncivilized urchins on CB.

 

[dakotajeep]

I am interested also....keep the info coming....

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Calvin, I will get to it some day, but I don't travel often enough or far enough to justify any expenses in that area... And I need a linear amp first

But I hear they dropped the dot-dash from the test?

That is my understanding of it as well...

 

[tractorman86]

i've got a uniden pc68xl and am VERY pleased with it. when i had 2 5 ft firesticks on my mirrors i could reach 20 mi pretty easy. then i got it peeked to about 20w and the antenna mounts broke on me right after... go figure. so now i have a 9ft stainless whip i'm gonna put on a ball mount on my tool box, just havn't found a good ball mount yet.

 

[94f450sd]

Here's a better idea... become a Ham Talk to people who talk like they do here, instead of the uncivilized urchins on CB.

i can talk and listen to the hams and no i aint got a license for it but they sound the same as the cbers do so whats the difference?

you want radio info go to www.cbradiotalk.com my name there is grease monkey.right now im pumpin a whole 2 watts but as soon as i get my amp fixed ill be pushing a 250 watt deadkey and swingin to about 550 watts i want to stomp all over the base stations and little mud ducks.

 

[94f450sd]

oh and if you can get your hands on it the galaxy 88 or the mirage 88 are great radios!has a hi/low switch that will switch between 2 watts and 10 watts,echo,USB,LSB,AM,FM,and a bunch of other neat stuff.

 

[Fozz]

Also, no need to get two antennas. Although it looks cool (big rig look), it does you no good whatsoever unless they are separated by 8-9 feet because of the frequency the radio is operating at.

 

[mankypro]

Yeah I'm going to stick with the 1000 wilson center top of cab - better ground plane...

may jump in with two feet if I can find a galaxy 94hp locally for a decent price - I figure somewhere in the high 3's

 

[Agnem]

i can talk and listen to the hams and no i aint got a license for it but they sound the same as the cbers do so whats the difference?

Well I'm certainly not trying to pick a fight, but I should advise you that if your transmitting on ham bands and don't have an amature license, your breaking the law, and probably so are all the other "CB'er's" you hear. It's a self policing community, so you probably don't have any good hams near you that would enjoy a good transmitter hunt, and subsequent prosecution. Yes, it is true that the testing requirments have dropped so low now, that it is very easy to get legal and pass the test, and there is no morse requirment. Perhaps you'd like to get a license and clean up the band some? No need to buy a linear and run illegal wattages on 11 meters (that's the CB band) when your a legal 2000 watts, and wouldn't it be nice to have that FM clarity that makes the conversation sound like a phone call instead of two tin cans strung together?