Why a cb?

A 10-33 is the CB code for emergency traffic.

Learn the 10 codes here: http://home.att.net/~wizardoz/cbmw/10codes.html

An SWR check is where you verify the signal going out isn't reflecting off something and going back down inside the antenna to the radio. What happens then is not only does your signal not get out but the signal reflected back in goes into the radio as heat.

So in other words a high SWR = other drivers not being able to hear you (unless they're next to you). A high SWR also = burning up the final transistor 0f the radio aka "won't transmit anymore".

An SWR of 1.5:1 or lower is what you want. You can achieve this by tuning the length of the antenna and doing an SWR check with an SWR meter, available at Radio Shack.

For a starter radio. I recommend either a Cobra 25 LTD or a Uniden PC68. Both are under $100 brand new and are more radio than you'll need.

 

A 10-33 is where the accidents are. SWR is for your antenna when they installed it, have the CB shop check the SWR so you can get the most out of your CB radio. I recommend the WILSON 1000 for an antenna, but if its to expensive, try the FRANCIS, alot my affordable and a great antenna. For a CB radio, go with the COBRA 29, you can't go wrong. Unless you want to go all out the first time, then go with EXPORT radios. More power for your buck but more costly. Check out the threads in here, they are very helpful. And you can check this website, cbradiomagazine.com Goodluck to ya.

 

You could always buy an SWR meter and learn to tune yourself. It's really easy to do, doesn't take long to do it, and handy if you have to move from truck to truck.

Cobra 29 is also a good radio, just has some useless features on it such as the built in inaccurate SWR meter. (get an external meter for $50 at Radio Shack - you'll be MILES ahead) That's why I recommend the Cobra 25. The Cobra 29's counter part is the Uniden PC78.

Exports....such as Stryker, Connex, RCI, the double digit series of Galaxys...really more radio than you need for a first timerplus can get you in some serious trouble if you wind up on one of the ametuer radio bands. I suggest learning about CB's first before going for an export.

 

cobra 29 has other features the 25 doesnt too. and they cost the same price in most places.....

 

Cobra 29 has the built in SWR meter which is useless....Cobra 29 also has built in SWR warning light which seems to be hit or miss.

Cobra 29 has the instant channel 9 switch which is now useless. Oh and Cobra 29 has the delta tune knob which is again...useless. (it's useful on a SSB radio though) Well...maybe not if you're one that wants to modify your radio and use the delta tune knob for an echo board or something.

So yes if you want a radio with a bunch of useless features go with a 29. They're a good radio, but I like to keep it simple, that's why I vote the 25.

Also I've yet to see a 29 selling for the same price as a 25.

 

Here are some basic codes for you to start with?

Alligator Blown Tire In Road Alligator Radio CB With “ALL Mouth
and NO Ears” Ankle Biter Small Child Antler Alley Deer Crossing Baby Bear Rookie Cop Back Door Behind You Back Door Closed Rear Of Convoy Covered From Police Back ‘em Up Slow Down Backslide Return Trip Back Off The Hammer Slow Down Back Out Driver Has Finished Talking Bear Police Officer Barefoot Using An Unmodified CB Base Station Radio At A Fixed Location Bear In The Air Police In Helicopter Bear Bait Speeding Car Bear Cave Police Station Bear Trap Stationary Police W/Radar Beaver Female Bean Popper Pill Popper Big R Roadway Express Truck Bikini State Florida Big Slab OR Big Road Interstate Better Half Significant Other (Wife) Blew My Doors Off Passed With Great Speed Catch Ya On The Flip Flop See Ya On Return Trip Full Grown Bear Highway Patrol County Mounty Sheriff Clean Shot Road Is Clear Of Police Ahead City Kitty City Police Comin In Loud & Proud Strong CB Signal Bulldog Mack Truck Bumper Sticker Car Too Close To Bumper Cash Register Toll Booth Chicken Coup Weigh Station Chicken Lights Extra Lights On A Truck Comedian Center Median Strip Comic Book Trucker’s Log Book Covered Wagon Flatbed Truck With Sides And A Top Cover Diesel Cop DOT Better Half Spouse Big Road Interstate Bird Dog Radar Detector Big Hole Top Gear Bobtail Driving Tractor With
NO Trailer Attached Brake Check Traffic Is Slowing Ahead, Possibly To A Stop Break Need Others To Quit Talking On CB To Ask A Question Chicken Coup Weigh Station Crotch Rocket Motorcycle Deadhead Drive An Empty Truck and Trailer To Get A Load Elsewhere Dispatcher Brains Hauling A Very Light OR Empty Trailer Dragon Fly A Truck Who “Drags” Up a Hill And “Flies” Down Double Nickel 55 Miles Per Hour Dry Box A Plain Freight Trailer With NO Refrigerator, etc. Evil Kenevil Motorcycle Cop Flip Flop U-turn OR Return Trip Four Wheeler Car Freight Shaker Freightliner Truck Georgia Overdrive Put Into Neutral Going Down A Hill To Increase Speed Good Buddy Now Used As A Term For A Homosexual Granny Lane Slow Lane Greasy Side Up A Car With It’s Wheels In The Air Ground Pressure Weight Of A Truck Hammer Lane Left Lane [Fast Lane] Hammer Down Move Faster Hand Driver Handle CB Nickname Home 20 Your Home Landline Wired Telephone Large Car Very Fast, Nice Truck Left Coast West Coast Meat-wagon Ambulance Motion Lotion Diesel Parking Lot A Truck Hauling Cars Pickle Park Rest Area Pole Cat Skunk Radio Check Does My Radio Work? Sesame Street CB Channel 19 Salt Shaker Snow Plow Shooting You In The Back Police Who Is Backed Up Out Of Sight Hitting You With Radar Where You Can’t See Short Short Short Time Shake The Bushes Run Ahead Of Others To Lure Out The Bears Stand On It Stand On The Fuel Pedal Taking Pictures Police Using Radar 10-4 OK/Copy 10-33 Emergency 10-20 Location 10-36 What Is Correct Time Travel Agent Dispatcher Triple Digit Ride Truck That Can
Exceed 100 MPH Turkey Day Thanksgiving Yard Trucking Terminal Yard Stick Mile Marker Wally World Wal-Mart Wiggle Wagons Double OR Triple Trailer Trucks

 

You might be right Turbo-T, but all those useless knobs and switches look really COOL. Anyways the 29GTL was my first radio I bought back in 1980, wait a minute, I lied, I bought a used BOWMAN with sidebands for about 50 bucks. But a radio shop convince me to buy a COBRA 28GTL. Then after I came a few months later so I can have tune, I saw that BOWMAN radio in his own vehicle. Did I miss something here ?

 

By the way, whats up with Crusher ? I think I missed something.

 

Do truckers really use all that CB slang anymore?

Oh....you didn't post the code for "ah aint gawts no panties on".

 

Today was a good example of this. Good thing I had my radio on! I had been running I-80/I-90 in Indiana, was getting close to the 80/90/94 junction, and heard on the radio to take the skyway... I had my squelch up a little too high, so i turned it down and got on, "WTF?"....apparently a construction worker was killed on I-80/I-94 this morning, between the 80/94/90 JCT and the 80/94/65 JCT, and the moron that hit him ran away. Detour was simple, stay on i-90 and go south on I-65 to get back on I-80, and it didnt even cost an extra toll. However, 80/94 was totally shut down due to the accident and I would've been sitting for quite a while.

Admittedly by the time I had gotten there, they had put up some road construction style LED signs that said to use the skyway to get to chicago to avoid "delay", but that's not informative, at all. I wasn't going to Chicago, I was going to Channahon. If it wouldn'tve been for the CB i would've been stuck in traffic!