Best CB system to buy

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by caviechick, Apr 26, 2011.

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  1. caviechick

    caviechick Bobtail Member

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    Feb 19, 2011
    Springfield, MA
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    My husband is a new OTR driver and needs a CB radio for his rig. We arent familiar with CB's so what brand/model is the best and easiest to use in you guys exp.?

    Any suggestions are so appreciated!

    Thanks!
     
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  3. usmc041127

    usmc041127 Light Load Member

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    Jefferson City Missouri
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    The most reliable and easyest I would say is the cobra 25. It has everything one needs and some extras. Get one peaked and tuned and you will be set. For 20.00 extra you could get the nightwatch feature which is nice at night. I basicly illuminates the whole radio and not just the channel window. Make is it so you can see what the knob your turning does at nigh.

    What ever you do don't buy one from a truckstop cb shop. You will be lightyears ahead and save money if you buy from a shop online like, custom cb repair, gijoes, bells cb, or sparkys to name a few that have good reps.
     
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  4. deerslayer1143

    deerslayer1143 Light Load Member

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    Mar 15, 2011
    Dubuque, IA
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    You are going to get a lot of different opinions on this one. It also depends on your price range.
    The cobra 29 gets my vote. As to which one it depends on what features (like weather or blue tooth etc.) are important to him.
    Here's a good place to shop around for what radio and features and prices etc.
    http://www.bellscb.com/

    Just as important and often overlooked is a good antenna properly tuned to the vehicle it's going in. Which one can vary as to what vehicle as well but don't go less than 4' regardless and use a good RG8 coax.
     
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  5. WitchingHour

    WitchingHour Road Train Member

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    Broomfield, CO
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    That Bluetooth system on the Cobra 29 works really well, actually. If I were willing to give up my Connex, I'd have gotten that one.

    The "right" CB also kinda depends on how much talking he actually plans on doing with it. If he's going to be one of those drivers who only turns on their radio when they need to at a shipper's, there'd be no real cause to get picky.
     
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  6. Wallace

    Wallace Bobtail Member

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    In my opinon for many reasons the General Lee made by Connex is a amazing value for the money. Get one from Sparkys CB and it will come peaked and tuned. It has more power than needed for line of sight communication low enough power draw so direct to battery wiring is not required. Comes with a great mic so the cost of a additional expensive mic is not needed. Very clean and clear audio, dimmer switch for night driving. And if you later decide you need more power it has a low power switch so you can feed it into a linear easily, very well thought out radio for the pro driver. Check on youtube for reviews.

    Wallace
     
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  7. deerslayer1143

    deerslayer1143 Light Load Member

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    As someone with the cobra 29 with blue tooth I can say it does work better than I ever expected. Also Paul at Bells CB Radio is easy to work with and will take the time to answer any questions you might have before and after you buy.
     
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  8. eddennis1

    eddennis1 Light Load Member

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    quanah, tx
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    i have a connex 3300hp general lee and wouldnt trade it for anything-excellent radio
     
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  9. jessejamesdallas

    jessejamesdallas Road Train Member

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    Buy New, and get one that works!:biggrin_2559:
     
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  10. Turbo-T

    Turbo-T Road Train Member

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    May 31, 2009
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    There's only two models that fit the bill here:

    Cobra 25

    [​IMG]

    Or Uniden PC 68 XL

    [​IMG]

    Note the above is the WX version of the PC 68 XL but it looks real similar to this radio. "WX" is the weather bands. The standard PC 68 XL doesn't have the weather bands.

    Both of the above radios are IMO the best starter radios, that give you everything you really need without all the useless stuff, plus they're both under $100 brand new.

    The Cobra 29 is good too, just you pay more for a physically larger radio that really doesn't offer anything more that's worth having over either the Cobra 25 or the Uniden PC 68. The Blue Tooth version of the cobra 29 is an exception.

    General Lee and Connex 3300 are good radios but they're not true CB's, they're actually an export radio not FCC certified and can land you on the improper amateur bands if you accidently flip the wrong switch. I don't recommend a General Lee, Connex 3300 or any export radio to anyone other than those who actually know what there is to know about what band to stay on and where not to land to.

    And as pointed out, don't skimp out on good coax and a good antenna. The antenna will make or break the radio as will the coax.
     
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  11. WA4GCH

    WA4GCH Road Train Member

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    Yep AGREE !

    One of the few things the FCC IS enforcing is intrusion on to the ham bands ..... Like 10 meters ( 28.000 - 29.700 ).

    Any coax that is produced within spects will work just fine on CB I run short length on RG-8X on 440 mhz .....
     
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