CB RADIO
Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
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RE: CB RADIO
ORIGINAL: dubya
Cobra 29 WX NW ST, best bang for you buck.
Cobra 29 WX NW ST, best bang for you buck.
For an Antenna I'd go with a Wilson 1000 or 5000. That or a 102" whip I think oneof those two would be the best options.
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 458
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From: Mid Missouri
RE: CB RADIO
BEst, Cobra 29LTD or if you want side band, go for the 148 GTL. Stay away from radios with the plug in mic's, get one with a screw in 4 pin mic. The straight plug in ones end up wearing out, and being crap in the end. If you want quality, spend the money, the Cobra's I listed are just a hair over $100 to $200, but will give you years of talk time, and can be tuned to the hilt. No matter what dont by a cheap antenna, they are junk and will end up hurting your radio in time. Good luck!
Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
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RE: CB RADIO
I don't know why everyone reccomends the Cobra 29's. I absolutely hate mine. Maybe it something not right with it but I hate it it's very hard to understand people. They usually are too far away or too close to hear them and even when the come through clear it just sounds kind of muffled through the speaker which I can understand but really have to listen to tell what they are saying sometimes.
My friends Superstar sounds like your using a phone as clear as can be. I mean the Cobra is ok but no where as good as his. The only thing I can figure would be differnt is with his we use a differn't channel only his friends use on my Cobra I use channel 19.
Like said above get a good antenna.
My friends Superstar sounds like your using a phone as clear as can be. I mean the Cobra is ok but no where as good as his. The only thing I can figure would be differnt is with his we use a differn't channel only his friends use on my Cobra I use channel 19.
Like said above get a good antenna.
Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,268
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RE: CB RADIO
Another friend had something that said Mirage 44 on it which I have never heard of or been able to find anything on but it works a lot better than my Cobra also.
If you want a Cobra I have the one with the nightlight thingy and basically top of the line Cobra 29 I will sell. I'm seriously thinking about getting a new radio and the only reason I haven't is because I rarely use it so can't decide if it's worth it or not. Most everyone I want to talk to uses side bands also so my Cobra doesn't work there either.
If you want a Cobra I have the one with the nightlight thingy and basically top of the line Cobra 29 I will sell. I'm seriously thinking about getting a new radio and the only reason I haven't is because I rarely use it so can't decide if it's worth it or not. Most everyone I want to talk to uses side bands also so my Cobra doesn't work there either.
All Star
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 939
Likes: 0
From: West Of St Louis, MO
RE: CB RADIO
ORIGINAL: hometheaterman
I don't know why everyone reccomends the Cobra 29's. I absolutely hate mine. Maybe it something not right with it but I hate it it's very hard to understand people. They usually are too far away or too close to hear them and even when the come through clear it just sounds kind of muffled through the speaker which I can understand but really have to listen to tell what they are saying sometimes.
My friends Superstar sounds like your using a phone as clear as can be. I mean the Cobra is ok but no where as good as his. The only thing I can figure would be differnt is with his we use a differn't channel only his friends use on my Cobra I use channel 19.
Like said above get a good antenna.
I don't know why everyone reccomends the Cobra 29's. I absolutely hate mine. Maybe it something not right with it but I hate it it's very hard to understand people. They usually are too far away or too close to hear them and even when the come through clear it just sounds kind of muffled through the speaker which I can understand but really have to listen to tell what they are saying sometimes.
My friends Superstar sounds like your using a phone as clear as can be. I mean the Cobra is ok but no where as good as his. The only thing I can figure would be differnt is with his we use a differn't channel only his friends use on my Cobra I use channel 19.
Like said above get a good antenna.
All Star
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 939
Likes: 0
From: West Of St Louis, MO
RE: CB RADIO
ORIGINAL: 2kramquad
I also have the Uniden PC68XL purchased at Walmart. Uniden and Cobra are really about all that are left in the market anymore, and they are made by the same parent company. The only difference between any of the models is the goodies like noise blankers, anl, etc. Even the cheapest models have the same power output as the most expensive ones. The antenna is what makes the biggest difference. Find a radio that you like, use good quality cable to the antenna, and use a good antenna. The best ones are an 8' whip mounted somewhere (I have a cross-bed toolbox, which makes a great mount), or a Wilson or K-40 and mount it to the roof. Don't use any sissy magnet mount (no offense to anyone who uses them). Drill a hole and mount it properly (after all...isn't that one of the great things about having a truck
I also have the Uniden PC68XL purchased at Walmart. Uniden and Cobra are really about all that are left in the market anymore, and they are made by the same parent company. The only difference between any of the models is the goodies like noise blankers, anl, etc. Even the cheapest models have the same power output as the most expensive ones. The antenna is what makes the biggest difference. Find a radio that you like, use good quality cable to the antenna, and use a good antenna. The best ones are an 8' whip mounted somewhere (I have a cross-bed toolbox, which makes a great mount), or a Wilson or K-40 and mount it to the roof. Don't use any sissy magnet mount (no offense to anyone who uses them). Drill a hole and mount it properly (after all...isn't that one of the great things about having a truck
The cross-bed toolbox makes a great mount - just make sure you run a ground wire from the antenna mount bracket to the frame for best results. Most toolboxes have a foam weatherstrip that they sit on that hurts the grounding properties.
Champion
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,313
Likes: 8
RE: CB RADIO
Whatever CB you buy,
one of these BHI noise eliminating speakers will GREATLY improve it.
See these reviews:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4858
one of these BHI noise eliminating speakers will GREATLY improve it.
See these reviews:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4858
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
From: Mid Missouri
RE: CB RADIO
I didnt recomend the 29 WXT, That is the one with the night lights and weather, not the best Cobra made by far. I recomended the 29 LTD or the Clasic, Far best radio ever built that a poor man can afford. If you got the bucks, buy a Gallaxy or a RCI 2950 ranger and have it converted to 10 meter band.
Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,268
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From:
RE: CB RADIO
ORIGINAL: Racinfan83
WOW! The Cobra 29 is and has been the best selling CB in the country. Kind of hard to believe they are as bad as you say! Maybe you have a bad one. I know for a fact that the 29 is the choice of most dump truckers, because they are about the only thing that will take the beating they get in a dump truck. I agree that the stock speakers sound a little muffled, get an amplified external speaker and that problem will be cured. Run your "RF Gain" control all the way up, use the squelch **** to adjust. I usually have my squelch **** about halfway up here in the city on channel 19. Take it to a reputable CB shop and have it "peaked and tuned". This usually costs $35 to $50, depending on the shop and what they do to it. Tuning makes a big difference. I would suggest having this done to any CB. They can add a "Connex Board" to a 29 that gives you echo and talkback for about $80, if you like that stuff. livinginh is right about getting a radio with the screw-in mic plug. A good noise-canceling power mic helps too. I have had CB's for 25 years, and have tried many different radio/antenna combinations. I have had the best luck with a single K-40 antenna. The nice thing about the K-40 is that the coil/whip is on a twistlock base, so if you park your truck in a questionable place, or go into a parking garage, or car wash, you can get out and quickly remove it. I have mine mounted on a bracket on the side of my toolbox, on the passenger side. The key to mounting an antenna is to make sure the base is properly grounded. I ran a 10 guage wire from the mount to the frame of the truck. I had one guy tell me that I needed to build a higher mount to get the antenna coil above the side of the toolbox, but my SWR's are very low (good) with the way I have it grounded. I might redo it one of these days - it can't hurt. My 29 kicks *** and takes names. About the only thing that will talk over it is a radio with an illegal amplifier. Most truckers think I am in a big truck when they hear it - and I have gotten lots of praise on how it sounds. CB's are like anything else - you have to have all the details right for the best performance.
ORIGINAL: hometheaterman
I don't know why everyone reccomends the Cobra 29's. I absolutely hate mine. Maybe it something not right with it but I hate it it's very hard to understand people. They usually are too far away or too close to hear them and even when the come through clear it just sounds kind of muffled through the speaker which I can understand but really have to listen to tell what they are saying sometimes.
My friends Superstar sounds like your using a phone as clear as can be. I mean the Cobra is ok but no where as good as his. The only thing I can figure would be differnt is with his we use a differn't channel only his friends use on my Cobra I use channel 19.
Like said above get a good antenna.
I don't know why everyone reccomends the Cobra 29's. I absolutely hate mine. Maybe it something not right with it but I hate it it's very hard to understand people. They usually are too far away or too close to hear them and even when the come through clear it just sounds kind of muffled through the speaker which I can understand but really have to listen to tell what they are saying sometimes.
My friends Superstar sounds like your using a phone as clear as can be. I mean the Cobra is ok but no where as good as his. The only thing I can figure would be differnt is with his we use a differn't channel only his friends use on my Cobra I use channel 19.
Like said above get a good antenna.
I also want the hi and low bands so thats another big reason why I want to start over.
I really just am not happy with mine. I have had somone else ride in there that said they couldn't understand anyone on it either and that back 30 years ago they had friends with them that they remember working much better that the one I have doesn't seem to work well at all so it's just not my opinion. I'm not sure if it's a bad one or not. I have the RF gain all the way up.
Seriously if someone wants to buy it make an offer. It's the one with the weather and nightlight things on it. I would like to sell it and get a radio with the hi and low bands and hopefully one that sounds clearer.