best cb

[Gypsy]

What's the best cb to have. As far as working well and not to expensive. Or do you pay for what you get. Thanks

[Weave]

Yes, you get what you pay for. Although they all have the same legal output power (4 watts) Galaxy radios sound the best over the air, esp. when peaked by a professional radio man. I am currently using a Cobra 25 NWWXST (around $120) which is a decent middle of the road radio with a lot of features. Don't bother with the cheapo jobs in a truck, they sound so tinny you won't be able to hear anything. But as Wild Bill says, there's not much to hear on the "Children's Band" anyway. I mainly just listen for traffic tieups.
-Weave-

[teacel]

The most important thing about any radio is the antenna you put on it. The galaxy is one of the better radios, but if you don't have a good antenna and ground it won't matter. The best thing to do is to go to a CB shop, and have them set it up. Not all CB shops do good work so be carefull who you go to. Channel 19 can be a pian, but if you meet someone along the trip you can always go to another channel and pass the time.

[Fr8 Shaker]

Hi Gypsy, I agree with teacel 100% about the antenna. dividing it up your radio is about 30% and your antenna 70 % and i also agree that the galaxy is one of the best radios out there but if your not ready to spend about 300 dollars for more radio then you'll ever need. and if your just starting out with your first cb. i suggest you just buy a small cobra or a uniden radio for about 40 or 50 bucks. it'll work just fine but also buy an external speaker for it. just plugs into the back of the radio. but you'll also have to have your antenna matched to the radio. swr ( standing wave ratio ) you can have this done at a cb shop for a few bucks. you didn't mention if this was for a van or a truck. francis makes an excellent fiberglass antenna which is very inexpensive about 13 bucks and they say with 18 feet of coax it'll give you a 1:1 match you can get by with 9 feet. wilson also makes an excellent antenna but that'll cost you more. all your radio needs to do is get across to the other side of the road to get whatever info you need. but it will get out farther then that. actually having a bigger radio, if your not running a linear and theres alot of air wave traffic your not going to get out much farther anyway. and whats the sense of getting out 20 miles if the person that hears you can't get back to you anyway. also you can just get a hand held that plugs into your cigarette lighter outlet and comes with a magnetic antenna for about 35 to 40 dollars. all have 40 channels.
**** i have to quit writing books lol
best of luck,
Fr8 Shaker

[Wild Bill]

I currently have a Uniden Grant XL (only reason I know that is because I am looking straight at it :+ ) I turned it on for the first time in months on Thursday to talk to another FECC driver to arrange a transfer. Only reason it is in here at all is I can remember Will and Sonny having one in "Movin on"...lol I figure its some kind of law that I have one in here.

Galaxy is great. I hear Connex is a good one too.

Personally what I am planning to do in a few months is study and get a amateur radio license. many drivers are going that route and it has many benefits to it.

1. You can legally run a linear in your rig

2. You can talk all over the world

3. Given the FCC still monitors and regulates the amateur band
it is more civil and decent compared to the "childrens band"

These are off the top of my head I am sure there are more benefits to it.