"Free" Cobra 19 or hold out for the 25?

hold out for the 25 or a 29, the receive sucks on the 19 and it has no noise filtering.

 

Presuming you're looking at the Cobra 19 Ultra 3 or the Ultra 4 model, they're not "bad" but they're what I call a "starter radio" for someone who has never owned a CB. I didn't care for the Ultra 3 I had, as IMO it felt cheap, the internal speaker sounded like crap, the radio would always go back to channel 1 if you removed the power, as in shutting off the ignition.

In fact if you were going to get into a smaller radio, I'd opt for the Uniden Pro 510XL. That radio is IMO a better radio than the 19 Ultra 3/4 models.

The Cobra 25 OTOH, brings to you not only the chrome/silver face (yes it's indeed a throwback to the 70's because we all know it's chrome that gets you power and gets you laid <--kidding on both of course) but also gives you a better TX/RX meter, you also get the dynamike (for better modulation..although a power mic on a 19 will give you similar results), the RF gain (the Ultra 4 has this as well) plus the removable power cord (handy at times) and lets not forget at least the internal speaker in the 25 is somewhat decent.

As for power, the 25 offers no more power than the 19 does; all FCC certified CB's are limited to 4 watts of power. Your range will come from a well tuned best sized antenna (I like the Wilson 2000) and good coax (mini 8 will work, LMR-240 from a ham outlet is even better IMO) as these are what will make or break your radio.

As for buying the radio, have you considered used? You can find CB's on eBay or craigslist, oftentimes cheaper than a truck stop. In fact I don't recommend buying from a truck stop unless you want to overpay; oftentimes truck stop CB's are geared towards the trucker who's radio just went T.U. on him and he needs a quick replacement to get him on his way. Truck stops see this and they will often mark up the price on CB's.

Just be careful when you buy used, that you don't buy someone's hacked up radio. I personally have bought plenty of used CB's, I bring along a spare antenna and my CB rig set up, and have someone talk to me on the radio i want to buy to see how it sounds, and then I talk to them on it, to see how it hears. I can usually spot when some ding bat has been inside with the golden screwdriver.

Also....in case you didn't know, the Uniden PC 68 is just as good as the Cobra 25 (if not better) and is usually more economically priced.

HTH

 

He cannot use the points to buy a used radio at the Truck Stop. Go for the 25 because it can take the vibration in an 18 wheeler setting much better and has superior noise blanking. Something you will soon regret if you pick a model with little to none.

"throwback to the 70's because we all know it's chrome that gets you power and gets you laid"

All these years they lied to me.

 

I understand the points can't be used to buy a used radio, I was pointing out you can get away with buying a used 25 and maybe saving the points for something else. But if by all means you wish to use the points towards the CB, then do so.

 

The 25 is much better than the 19 IV for starters...I tried a 19 IV once because I was looking for a small radio I could install "In the Dash" under my stereo and the 19 fit perfect...BUT, receive was not all that good, and it also picked up allot of noise because of lack of filtering...At $39 you get what you pay for.

Now, you pointed out that the 25 looked like something from the 70's...That's true, however, Cobra has came out with a radio they call the "Cobra 25LX...This radio cost around the same as the 25 you were looking at, only it has a digital face, which has 4 different color light's to chose from and looks allot more modern compared to the other 25's...There is also a Cobra 29LX which is the 25's Big Brother and there not that much difference in price....The 29LX will run you around $129 at most Truck Stops...The 25LX will be a little less, but may or may-not be available at the Truck Stops...

Weather you get a 19, or 25 or 29, they all do around 4w's out of the box...But, the 25's and 29's have better filtering, and receive is much better.

 

Thanks for the clarification! Next time I get "that urge", I should check out the guy's rig, and not his rigging!

 

Well in that case save your points for a Cobra 25.