Looking for C.B.

Of the radios you listed...The Uniden 520xl would be the best... Not bad radios, biggest downside is channel rejection not all that great. If anyone within 500' of you is talking on another channel, they will bleed all over you, but that's the story with most of these entry level radios...

 

Might find a cobra 25 for around $89.00

 

You have multiple choices in antennas. I use a 5 1/2 foot francis, but I wouldn't go less than 5 foot. The Cobra 25 is smaller than the 29 but is the same radio minus the swr meter, and Delta tune, which I have never figured out what Delta tune does. And as far as emergency channel 9 it is pretty much useless nowdays..It used to be monitored by REACT volunteers years ago.

 

Best bang for the buck.
Cobra 29 LTD Classic Professional 4W RF Power 40 Channel Truck CB Radio 29LTD | eBay

 

I've got several radios I would sell worth the money. But by the time they pay shipping it probably wouldn't be that great of a deal. Plus I don't want to deal with them arriving and not working for what ever reason and having to do refunds. Wonder where the OP is located? Profile doesn't say. I've never figured out why folks can't at least put the State they are from on their profile page?????

 

Kecmonkey2, your idea of getting a simple compact is a good one in my book. In fact, that's all I use in my vehicles because they're small, effective and easier to operate, which is important to me when running down the road at 70 mph. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the radios mentioned in post one.

For your F150, assuming it doesn't have an aluminum roof, I would recommend a Wilson 1000 magnet mount antenna. This 63-inch classic won't do quite as well as the classic 102-inch whip you mentioned because it's not as long, but it will come close and won't be ungainly.

This radio/antenna combo will get you out there with the best of the legal CBs on the road. And if you decide to get naughty and multiply your communication range for whatever reason, a $75 RM 203P amplifier will boost your output to around 80 or so Watts and get you way out there.

 

Back in the old days,the 23 channel radios had crystals in them to control the channels. The crystal sometimes would drift with age. The Delta tune was used to fine-tune the transmit or receive frequency in. Kind of like what the clarifier control does on single side band radio’s. Today the new radios use PLL circuitry , and the Delta tune is a worthless feature to have. Along with the instant channel 9 switch and possibly the built in SWR meter, since they usually aren’t very accurate.