New CB. What would you recomend

The 980 is a good radio, not much that you can do with them. Don't waste you time on a peak and tune with that radio they are 4 watts out of the box a tune up will only bump it to if your lucky 12 watts. Also the receive is very good on this radio.

 

There's a 99% chance you would decrease your performance with a wattage increase.

 

The legal limit for a CB radio is 4 watts. This is by federal regulation. If you want to run an amplifier and be illegal, that is your choice. You can pretty much do as you wish as long as you:
1. stay on the Cb band and not go into the ham radio frequencies.
2. Do not be a [bleep] and deliberately go around and key up to deny others from using the air waves.
3. Keep your transmissions relatively clean. No cursing.
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.Personally, I am not a big radio or amplifier guy. I do not care to spend alot of money on CB radio equipment because there is , aparently, little intelligent life on the CB band anymore.

 

Invest in good coax and antenna and make sure your radio and antenna are on par and enjoy.

 

Times microwave LMR 240 is an excellent coaxial cable

 

that seems to be an overkill for anything under 2kw

 

Overkill is my name......
66% the speed of light as opposed to 84% the speed of light.
18% greater efficiency goes a long way

 

Im sure kelgar50 meant 12watts pep swing after tuneup not 12 watt carrier, the maximum carrier you might see would maybe be 5 watts that wouldnt be worth it. From what ive read is that most of the 980s are set at 3 to 3.5 watts carrier and swinging to 10 to 14 watts from the factory, which is comparable with a cobra 148gtl and a uniden grant xl. That being said the receive is excellent and the transmit is good, very clear with stock mic, if you want more modulation try a power mic.