Table of Contents
Introduction
Buy from Amazon!You never know when you might find yourself in need of calling 911 but your phone is dead. This is why CB radios have been used for a very long time and are still very popular among truckers. A CB radio can help you contact emergency services or just keeping in touch with your buddies on the road or while hunting.
CB radios have a better range than FRS and it’s also less way expensive than GMRS. You also don’t need any kind of license to be able to use them. The average range between two base stations is about 20 miles. And a well-installed car system should offer about 15 miles of range.
You should also keep in mind that CB radio and Ham radio are pretty different. CB radio is required by law to transmit at 5 watts. On the other hand, Ham radios can legally transmit at more powerful levels of up to 1.5 kW. Another difference is that CB radios are limited to the 27 MHz bands, while radio equipment can offer a much wider choice of frequency bands.
A CB radio, aka a citizens band, is a special device designed to do 2 things. It can capture radio-frequency signals and then convert them to electrical signals by the receiver. And it can also take electrical signals from the transmitter and convert them into radio-frequency signals.
While many drivers find CB radios to be outdated, they are still very popular among older truckers. Especially, those who have been in the industry for the last 10 or 20 years. Although many drivers are using GPS apps now, a more advanced radio system can provide a better route.
Even today, CB radios are a valuable tool to have with you on the road.
Best CB Radio – Advantages
Before mobile phones took over the world, the most used form of communication on the road was CB radios. They were widely used all over the world by drivers to communicate with each other. They were and still are, very used to alarm drivers when their truck has a serious problem that they might not know about.
CB radios can be used to alarm fellow drivers when there is a police routine check-up or other similar things. This made CB radios a very important part of the drivers community. Being all alone on the road can be difficult but knowing other drivers have your back can give you some peace of mind.
You can find CB radios almost anywhere on the market and they are very easy to install and use. Today’s models are a lot less bulky then they used to be and they barely take up any space inside your car. They can make communications easier than ever and allow you to speak with anyone connected on the road.
One of the biggest advantages of CB radios is that you don’t need any kind of license to buy and use the equipment. They are also still very popular when it comes to communicating in devices installed in vehicles. No matter what happens on the highway you can know all about it through your CB radio.
There might be an accident on a road and if you don’t change your way in time you might end up stuck in place for hours. But if someone warns you early enough you can be on your way and avoid the situation. Another big advantage is that they can be very affordable. They usually cost less than $100 and you can even find models at just $50.
Best CB Radio – How to choose
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Buying a CB radio can be a little bit tricky especially if it’s your first time so let’s take a moment and talk about what exactly you should look when shopping for a CB radio. Its job is to make driving less stressful so you have to make sure your CB radio fits your needs.
The first thing you should consider is the cost of the equipment. Although a CB radio won’t break your bank, it’s still important not to spend too much on something you might not use. Many people believe that the most expensive an item is the better the quality. However, that’s very rarely true.
Most of the CB radios have the same output power of 4 watts. This means that the range greatly depends on which kind of antenna you have. It’s also very important where exactly you mount the antenna.
You can find CB radios that are fancy and expensive but lack some basic features. And you can also find highly affordable models that have more than you already need. So be careful while choosing.
Another thing to keep in mind is the size of the CB radio. Before buying one you should first find a suitable place inside your vehicle where to mount it. The reason why the mounting place is so important is that most radios have their internal speaker at the bottom. This means you might not be able to hear it very well especially in very noisy cars.
Investing in an external speaker that can be mounted anywhere saves you from all of these problems.
In this article, we’ll talk about our Top 3 CB Radios.
Best CB Radio – Comparison Table
Product Name | Cobra 29LTD | Uniden PC78LTX | Midland 1001LWX |
Image |  |  |  |
High Quality | Yes | Yes | No |
Reliable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
RF Gain | Yes | Yes | Yes |
4 Watt Output | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Instant Channel 9 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
40 Channels Access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Noise Blanker | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Link |
1 Cobra 29LTD Professional CB Radio
Description
The Cobra 29LTD Professional CB Radio features a compact design that can be mounted almost anywhere inside your vehicle. It also doesn’t take much space and you barely notice that is there. It fits perfectly in your hand and has easy to use buttons. This will allow you to communicate with anyone within a 15 miles wide range. This makes it the Best CB Radio available on the market.
The 29LTD Classic has been the standard choice for any professional driver for over 50 years. And even today it’s the most popular choice thanks to its optimal performance. Although it’s designed for professional drivers it can be easily used by anyone at a very affordable price. You won’t have to drive worrying about what might happen anymore.
While modern CB radios try to incorporate the latest technology, the 29LTD continues to be manufactured based on the original design. This has kept it in the top and is widely known for its high-quality performance and long term durability.
Cobra listens and takes every driver’s request seriously. This has led to various driver-requested improvements thru-out the years. And they will continue to enhance their product performance and durability and continuing the unmatched Cobra tradition.
One of the nice improvements that you could have used a decade or two ago, is a front panel microphone connector. This makes in-dash installation a breeze. You will also benefit from 9-foot microphone cord that can help you keep in touch for a longer distance. This means you can use it from either a truck cab or despatch office.
Other high-quality improvements include tactile controls for safer and accurate performance. The package includes one 29LTD CB radio, 9-foot microphone cord, transceiver bracket, microphone bracket, DC power cord, and the user’s manual.
Features
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The Cobra 29LTD Professional CB Radio is designed with an SWR calibration that ensures your antenna system is functioning at full power all the time. This will give you maximum performance for communication whenever you are on the road. It also has a very low distortion rate even when you speak with vehicles fairly far away from you.
Thanks to the antenna warning indicator, you won’t have to continuously keep an eye on the antenna. If the system needs a check-up light will automatically illuminate and attract your attention. This will ensure that you won’t have any connection failures when you need the CB radio the most.
With the 4 watt output, you’ll benefit from the best range of communication and the maximum power allowed by the law. You will be able to communicate with various vehicles even when they are pretty far away and exchange road information.
This CB radio is also designed with instant channel 9. This means that as soon as you are on the road the radio offers you immediate access to emergency channel 9. You will be able to drive safely from the very beginning.
Thanks to the 40 channel access, you will be able to scan the complete range of 40 channels and the benefit of full coverage. You will also benefit from a CB microphone that was designed to last as far and as long as you spend on the road. And with the adjustable dynamike boost you will be able to increase the microphone’s sensitivity and enjoy high-end voice clarity.
Thanks to the switch-able noise blanker, the unit is able to reduce the amount of static and unwanted electrical interference caused by your car’s engine.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Easy to use
- High durability
- Long-lasting
- High-end performance
- Very reliable
- SWR calibration
- Antenna warning indicator
- Has a 4-watt output
- Instant channel 9
- Gives you access to 40 channels
- Heavy-duty dynamic microphone
- Adjustable dynamike boost
- Switch-able noise blanker
- Features RF gain
- Front panel microphone connector
- 9-foot microphone cord
- 2 year limited warranty
Cons
- No Modern Features
2 Uniden PC78LTX Trucker’s CB Radio
Description
The Uniden PC78LTX Trucker’s CB Radio has a small and easy to mount design. It can be used by both professional and beginner drivers but it’s specifically designed for truckers. You can use it to communicate with other road users or with your buddies while you are on a hunting trip.
Thanks to this CB radio powerful and tough design you will be able to hit the road in trucker’s style. You will also benefit from various advanced features and customize-able settings that will offer you high-quality road communication. You also won’t have to miss another transmission ever again. And no matter who you will be talking to you will benefit from an excellent sound.
With this unit’s microphone settings you will enjoy multiple adjustments that allow you to fine-tune the sound and signal. This way this piece of equipment will provide excellent clarity and high-quality sound. This means you won’t miss any important information transmitted.
You also won’t have to worry about the static and the unwanted electrical sounds created by your engine. By changing the squelch control settings you will be able to use the ANL/noise blanker option to reduce them. And if you need to control the microphone sensitivity all you have to do is to adjust the microphone gain.
Thanks to the integrated SWR meter you can keep your CB radio performing optimally and at it’s best all the time. This is why you need to use the built-in SWR meter to precisely tune your antenna for achieving the best signal. Chose the mounting place carefully.
The package includes one PC78LTX CB two-way mobile radio, microphone, mounting bracket kit, DC power cord, and a user’s manual.
Features
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The Uniden PC78LTX Trucker’s CB Radio offers you a new rugged microphone and front mic access. This means you will be able to easily get to the microphone and contact anyone. The microphone will also not take much space and it can be easily used by anyone.
Thanks to the 40 channels access you will benefit from full coverage from the very beginning. The unit is also designed with an S-RF-SWR-Mod-meter and a channel indicator. If something happens the unit, you will be alarmed.
Naturally, this CB radio also includes a channel selector and a TX-RX indicator.
As soon as you start the engine, the CB radio will automatically open channel 9. This allows you to receive and transmit emergency information in a very short amount of time. Other important features include dim control, noise blanker, RF gain control, PA mode, microphone gain control and high cut function.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Easy to use
- High durability
- Long-lasting
- High-end performance
- Very reliable
- Powerful and tough advanced features
- Customize-able settings
- Excellent sound
- Front microphone access
- New rugged microphone
- Access to 40 channels
- Has a S-RF-SWR-Mod meter
- Channel indicator
- Channel selector
- TX-RX indicator
- Instant channel 9
- Dim control
- Noise blanker
- RF gain control
- PA mode
- Microphone gain control
- High cut function
Cons
- The quality could be better compared to other CB radios within its price range
3 Midland 1001LWX Mobile CB Radio
Description
The Midland 1001LWX Mobile CB Radio is also designed with an SWR calibration that makes sure your system works at its full strength all the time.
This will allow you a great performance for communicating with other vehicles within a 5-10 miles range. Thanks to the 4-watt output this unit uses the maximum power by the law. And to ensure that you are driving safely from the very start this CB radio also offers instant access to channel 9. And to benefit from full coverage of CB station this unit also offers access to 40 channels.
With the adjustable RF gain control, you will be able to adjust the range sensitivity. This means that communication with nearby vehicles is of high-end quality.
This CB radio is also made with a built-in weather scan that instantly finds a local weather channel. This will keep you continuously updated on the weather that awaits you ahead. Thanks to the automatic noise limiter you will also enjoy an improved reception for any weak signal. This means you will get clear transmission even from away vehicles.
With the heavy-duty microphone, you will benefit from a long-lasting and durable microphone that will be with you for the entire journey. And if your antenna shows any signs of problems, the unit’s light will illuminate and let you know if it’s time to do a check-up.
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Pros
- Easy to install
- Easy to use
- Decent quality
- Pretty good range
- Mobile CB with built-in weather scan
- Adjustable RF gain control
- Adjustable sensitivity range
- Automatic noise limiter
- Weather scan instantly finds local weather channel
Cons
- Cheap microphone grip quality
Conclusion
CB Radios have been around for quite some time now. However, they’re still very used. Especially by old truck drivers. This is why these devices are also ideal as a father’s day or birthday gift. They offer an easy and useful connection between you and the vehicles around you. You never know when you’ll need someone to tell you about a bad tire before it’s too late.
