The
29 LTD WXNWST from Cobra
includes all the bells and
whistles and can be had
for around $140.
So you've decided to get a CB radio for your
vehicle? Great! Now comes the tricky part. There is a wide
range of radios on the market, and they come with a dizzying
number of options. To decide which radio will best suit
your needs, you'll need to keep these considerations in
mind.
The universal FCC transmission limitation
You may be surprised to learn that all CB radios,
regardless of size or price, have exactly the same transmission
power out of the box. This even playing field is a result
of the Federal Communications Commission's 4-watt power
restriction for all CB radios. While it's possible to have
your CB radio "peaked and tuned" after purchase
(a process by which a radio technician adjusts the radio
to achieve additional transmission range), all CB radios
are shipped with exactly the same transmission wattage.
With the transmission power a constant factor, choosing
a CB radio becomes an exercise in determining what features
are most important to you.
Common CB radio features
CB radios range in price between $50, which
will get you a bare-bones radio, and $200, which buys you
a fully loaded, top-of-the-line model. Carefully evaluating
which features you'll use the most will allow you to get
the most value from your radio. Some common CB features
are explained below:
Backlit displays.
If you'll be operating your CB regularly at night, you
should consider a backlit display. As the name implies,
this feature illuminates the entire CB display for easy
operation in dark conditions.
Weather capabilities.
Features that allow users to receive real-time weather
updates are some of the most popular add-ons for CBs.
Some models even issue severe weather alerts when the
CB radio is turned off.
Channel scanning.
If you'll be using your CB primarily for recreational
purposes, channel scanning is a great feature to have.
Channel scanning allows you to automatically scan all
available CB channels for activity, ensuring you'll know
of anything happening on the airwaves.
Public address (PA)
capabilities. With the addition of an external PA
speaker, this feature allows you to use the radio and
handset as a public address system. With the speaker mounted
outside the vehicle (often underneath the hood) the system
can be used to address large groups and is both a useful
and an entertaining feature.
Single Side Band
(SSB). Found on higher-end radios, SSB allows you
to make use of the frequencies both above and below each
standard CB channel. Without getting too technical, this
feature makes use of a smaller frequency spectrum and
provides two significant benefits: access to 80 additional
channels and the ability to legally transmit at 12 watts
of power without needing a FCC license. While the additional
transmission power is extremely attractive to some users,
remember that only other SSB users can receive your SSB
signal and respond to you. Luckily, all SSB radios support
standard AM-mode operations to allow for communications
with non-SSB CB users. For more information about how
SSB works, read
Bruce Clark's explanations.
RF (Radio Frequency)
gain. This feature allows the radio operator to filter
transmissions being received according to signal strength.
It's extremely useful for isolating a weak signal amid
a barrage of stronger transmissions, or to block out background
noise when communicating with someone nearby.
Built-in meters.
Many higher-end radios include a meter that displays transmission
and reception strength, as well as Standing Wave Radio
(SWR) antenna readings. While built-in SWR meters aren't
nearly as accurate as stand-alone meters, they are useful
for quickly identifying potential antenna problems.
Photo
Courtesy of Cobra Electronics
Cobra's
19 DX IV is a great example
of a no-frills, affordable
CB radio and is priced around
$50.
Radio size considerations
One important radio feature that is often overlooked
is size. CB radios range in size from small, hand-held units
to large, full-chassis units. It's important to consider
where your radio will be mounted and to pick a CB that will
fit conveniently within the space. For example, Jeep and
off-road vehicle owners usually have little room in their
cabs and tend to use smaller radios; RV and large-truck
owners with ample room have a much wider spectrum of radios
to choose from.
Summary
Despite the large number of CBs available,
selecting an appropriate radio is fairly straightforward
as long as you consider which features will best suit your
needs. As a radio's transmission performance is primarily
a result of the external antenna, which is purchased separately,
that shouldn't be a factor when deciding among various models.
In a future article, I'll cover CB antennas at length and
discuss how to pick and mount antennas on a wide range of
vehicles.
Andrew
Youderian is the founder and manager of Right
Channel CB Radios, an online store specializing
in CB equipment for vehicles. Right Channel CB Radios
carries a large selection of CB radios and antennas,
and hosts a CB
Radio Resources Library, containing numerous CB-related
articles and guides. Youderian lives in Salt Lake City,
Utah, and has traveled extensively throughout the American
West. His most recent excursion was a 10,000-mile, five-week
road trip across the United States.
Andrew
Youderian is the founder and manager of