Stupid Question

One has all kinds of "toys" on it while the other doesn't.

A lot of times the BIG CB is made as an Export Radio, which is really a claim to be a 10 meter radio and has really broad receive and transmit but comparing it to say a plain Cobra 29, even a 23 channel version, it is about the same.

 

Well, it's sort of a loaded question....but so it seems, what is referred to as a "big CB" is something like a Connex, General Lee or any of the two digit series Galaxys. You can also consider Stryker, Superstar, Northstar, RCI and Magnums as big radios as well.

So what makes them big CB's? Well first off in reality they're not true CB's, but rather "export 10 meter radios", designed to be "converted" to CB, to circumvent the FCC's rules of "no more than 40 channels/frequencies, and no more than 4 watts of transmitter power, tops".

Now....my guess is the reason they're considered "big" is because they in fact do have more than 4 watts of power, and have more than 40 channels, is what gives them the "big" impression. It could be also because some of them come factory with echo and roger beep. Also many of these radios are in a full sized chassis. A few, such as the Magnum 257HP are in a chassis smaller than a Cobra 25, yet pack a 15 watt deadkey/80 watt swing, with SSB and the ability to cover several channels/frequencies, from 25 MHz to 29 MHz.

But alas, how thee can be easily fooled. I have installed echo boards and roger beeps into mainstream 40 channel radios such as Unidens and Cobras and have had people thinking I was on a "big" radio, even if I was only packing a 4 watt deadkey/12 watt swing punch.

On the flip side, most Cobras, most Unidens, all Midlands and all three digit Galaxys, are considered your typical CB, as they're certified CB's courtesy of the FCC. Cobra does have two models (DX 150 and DX 200) and Uniden has their HR 2510. Neither the Cobra DX 150/200 nor the Uniden HR 2510 are FCC certified as they exceed the 4 watt/40 channel rule...some may consider to be big radios.

Anyways that is my take on it.

 

Idk I've seen cobra 25s that I'd consider a big radio as a matter of fact most use them in keydown comps.a big radio is one that's loud and gets out usually with the help of a linear doesn't matter what the make is export or not.

 

That was not a stupid question. And you got good answers.

 

So many opinions you will hear as you log more time on CB.
Typically, loud, echo, strong.
My thing is accurate voice reproduction and clarity while having the most volume. Not many people have an ear for that.

 

most people consider the export radios big ones but when your talking to someone a cobra 29 with the

final changed to a 1969 final or a 520 plus the caps and resisters you have to change and it sounds loud

with the watts and adding echo board

if its clipped i consider that charlie brownish

 

If you're going to use a Linear with a cobra 29 you can have the dead key output lowered to 2 watts and have your modulation turned up so you have a swing output of 8-12 watts. It is LOUD like a BIG radio. I've received numerous compliments on how loud and clear my Cobra 29 is.