I am in the market for a CB radio, the last time I used one the antenna was 10 feet high. I hope that the technology has improved in 20 years. Anyone have a good suggestion?

 

Any of the Cobra CB radios are good. They have some that are old school and some new ones that are very compact, like an oversize microphone.

The antenna is very important for a CB. You have to tune the antenna for decent performance, and you need to understand things like "ground plane" and "standing wave ratio"(SWR). Firestik makes very good antennae, and their website has a lot of good technical info. http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm

 

I am looking at a new cobra, mine blowup a little while ago. Had it for nearly 8 years also had a few extra mods done to it. Firestik is the only way to go for an ant.

 

The best location for an antena is as close to the center of the vehical as possable and as high as possable. IE: the back of the cab roof by the third brake light, this will give you the best range, transmission and reception in all directions.

 

I have the top of the line galaxy and it out preforms any of the cobras, unidens, midlands I've owned. Very happy with it, got two 3ft firesticks on the headache rack.

 

I have a little Cobra 19 it not a "big performer" but I have had it since 1988. It has been in 6 or 7 different cars /trucks and has been through New Jersy winters ans South Ccarolina summers and still works just fine. I have it hooked up to a 8 inch long stubby magnetic mount antenna on my roof. The truckers hear me when I talk. I have been eyeying up a Cobra 29 in the truck stop, but just can't justify to myself replaceing old faithful.

 

Clays Radio Shop has answered questions for me on CBs and base stations. They also offer special customizing. Think he is in Ok some where. They have everything.

 

I have an old Kris 23 ch radio made in Ceaderburg WS I've had it since the eary 70s i have bought a lot of radios since then but I keep putting old faithful back in because the clearity is so much better on it.

 

Well .... I'm running a Radio Shack radio and a Lil Wilson mag mount antenna on the roof.

I got the Radio Shack radio because it was a last minute thought before a trip down to Florida. I also liked that it lit up red, and it was PERFECTLY sized for where i wanted to mount it. It also has channl up and down buttons on the mic. It seems to work OK I guess, I dunno.

The antenna like I said is a LIL Wilson mag mount. I popped it up on the roof and ran the wire acroos the roof into the drivers side passenger door since I never really open that door. I had just enought wire to tuck it all in nice and neat up to the raido. I never did a SWR on it for two reasons. 1, I don't have a SWR meter and 2, I don't know how to do a SWR test !! Hopefully someday I'll run into someone who has one and can do it for me.

Do any of you guy's "tune up" radios?

 

Looks like Little E has his own radio out ....