need help choosing a cb radio for my truck

I have the Cobra 29 LTD NW, and just bought a Galaxy 949, which in enroute to me. I'll be putting the Galaxy in my truck. I had it P &T, with a little punch from the RFX 75. I choose the 949 over the 959 simply because I don't personally need the freq counter, and it was a little less expensive.

Wilson has good antennas, and the 2000 is one of them. I have a 4.5 ft, worked great until I broke it. Garage has a low clearance and I forgot to take it off one night.

 

If you just plan on running on channel 19 only then I'd not look at a single side band radio like a 148 GTL or a 949 or even a 959. The 148 GTL, the Galaxy 949 and the 959 are all single side band radios. They'll work for you but you'll be spending a lot more money on features you may not even use.

So again if you just plan to talk on 19 or maybe a few other channels then you don't need a single side band radio. In this case, a Cobra 25 or a Uniden PC 68 would do you good.

Now if you know of a buddy who has a single side band radio and you want to talk side band with him, then a Cobra 148 GTL will work. I'm not fond of the Galaxy 949 or 959 as they're known to drift off frequency until they warm up - meaning you will be fidgeting with the clarifier until you can get your buddy dialed in.

However if you run on side band, the other party has to have side band for it to be useful. Otherwise they will not be able to talk to you.

HTH

 

im running a 959. bought it off craigslist from a radio guru who was looking to clean up a little, scored it for $75. has the channel mod, peaked and tuned, aligned. the thing walks the walk and talks the talk. i dont need all the extra crap i only use 19,27, and some other different channels at different plants and landfills but for $75 i couldnt resist. the radio is awesome, comes in great and everyone tells me it is loud and sounds awesome. its all up to you though and how much your willing to spend and how much you need

 

Start cheap, and see how many drivers don't even turn on their cb's anymore. Then if you think it is worth it get something a little better. You don't need echo either!

Randy

 

The newer Cobra 148's will drift as much as the galaxies.

 

The Galaxy 949, 959, are straight CB radios if I'm not mistaken. The "low side" is commonly referred to when talking about channels below channel one. Example you may be on ch. 19 which is freq. 27.185. Somebody says "go to the low side of this one". You don't change the channel selector, you just change bands and drop down to "low 19, freq. 26.735. You can't do this with a straight CB radio, you need an export radio. Your buddies may call lower side band (LSB) the "low side", but I don't think that is the common way to refer to it. So, I don't think they mean sideband but one of the freq. below ch. 1. You might want to verify that before you make a purchase.
Personally, I would listen/look and find me a used export radio, with sideband. Some driver will get to needing money and you can pick one up cheap. Take it to a good tech and have it gone thru, then you will have all the radio you will ever need. The Galaxy DX88 is a good one with sideband. If you don't think you need sideband, any export Galaxy will do, or Connex. I run a Connex 3300HP in the truck.(not a sideband radio)

Antennas: I would also run new coax to go with those new antennas. That is not true. I would run one good coax to go with one good new antenna. Dual antennas are more trouble than they're worth, IMHO.

 

If you are looking for a cb radio without single side band capabilities, Pilot truck stops have a Uniden PC 68 Ltw on sale for $65 during November 2011. Combined with a Wilson 2000 antenna, it would make a very nice CB radio setup.
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Remember, the antenna is what transmits the signal and gets you range.