CB Radio

[FSJ Guy]

Yes, I tried SEARCH but it thinks "CB" is too short.

I was poking around for a decent CB and the Cobra 148GTL comes up. Average price seems to be under $150. Seems like a decent unit.

Any other suggestions or recommendations in that price range? Yes, I'll need a good antenna, too. Recommendations there? I'd prefer a magnetic, as I think it'll go on the roof. I do have a front push bar to mount an antenna to, but then I have no ground plane.

TIA

[shackwrrr]

if your going for a higher end cb like that in the $100+ range i would go for a permanent mount antenna and i would definately have a shop tune it. one or a pair clamped to the roof rack might do ya well or maybe a 8 or 10 footer at one corner.

[Rande]

Cobras are now made in China. Quality is poor, longevity is hit or miss. Some are fine, others will be troublesome.

Ranger has a good reputation these days and Uniden makes a good product. Uniden used to make the Cobras among many others.

Cobra 148GTL and the Uniden Grant were the same radio, just different packaging. Radio Shack had one also, same radio, different name. I think it was the TRS-452. There were others. President, Midland, Sears, forget them all now. Anyway, Uniden and Ranger are what I would suggest. Midland still offers a good radio (as I hear it) but not sure who makes them these days.

Modern Radio Shacks are made in Korea by a Hyundai subsidiary last I heard. They are also pretty good. I know folks like to insult the Radio Shacks but they were made by Maxon and Uniden just everyone else's radios. Didn't matter whose name was on the front, most CBs back in the day were made by Maxon, Uniden or Cybernet. I used to enjoy listening to guys argue about their radio being so much better than the other guy's knowing the whole time they were talking on the same radio, just a different name.

For a good magmount look at K40 and Wilson. Both enjoy a good reputation for quality and efficiency.

Some may suggest radios with weather channels. They can sure be worthwhile but the transmitters are near towns and your wheeling is not. You may not receive anything out in the sticks. Won't hurt to try.

Mounting the antenna on the front would work fine if your buddies are behind you.;)

The 148 radios are sideband radios. Sideband can put out about 3 times the power of a regular AM CB but the radio you are talking to also has to be on sideband. The sideband radios also have the AM position so you certainly can talk to regular CBs with one. Its sort of like the difference between AM and FM. Radios can have both modes but they can't talk to each other across the two modes.

Sideband is worth having, it just takes a bit of getting used to. Plus it splits the channels. Technically, it makes a 40 channel radio into an 80 channel radio, in the real world it doesn't quite work out that way. It also is generally less noisy as far as background static is concerned. Personally, I won't buy a CB without sideband.

[JeepBountyHunter]

I have a President Dwight D. Base unit, but for the Jeep I'm using a AMC Cb setup..however I also have one made by J.I.L. that worked great when I had it in an old Delta 88 in high school...that I might try installing.
These being the type made to install in your dash.

[beek15853]

I work construction and found that Cobra's don't hold up well to the abuse, dust, dirt and vibrations. I currently run a Magnum S-3 with a Wilson 5000 mag mount antenna...great setup, but probably overkill for what you need. Magnum, Ranger and Galaxy are all radio's that wont let you down and the Wilson "Lil' Wil" is a very good mag mount antenna. Just remember, the best place to position an antenna for broadcasting and receiving is in the center of your roof...mounting it on a mirror or on the side of the hood will decrease your power.
Joe.

[HorribleHarry]

I've been collecting CB radios for a couple of years... high end, low end...I've learned one thing, The antenna is the most important part of the radio. I have a cheap old RS slim line CB that walks all over other radios in town due to a quality antenna. Good grounding & a good clear roof mount work wonders.
I like 102" whips & wilson mag mounts... firesticks are fine too. As for radios I'm running an 1981 Midland 4001 and a 1977 Midland 888. It seems the consensus is that some of the newer radios are not as durable or of as high quality as they had been made in the past. I hear the Uniden (like the PRO538W ... simple, but a quality unit) & Galaxy's are good radios today.

Harry