# (US) Can someone recommend me a good brand of CB radios? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 8, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-can-someone-recommend-me-a-good-brand-of-cb-radios/217709 "2003-12-08T06:26:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-can-someone-recommend-me-a-good-brand-of-cb-radios/217709/1 "2003-12-08T06:26:34Z")
Being that I’m in the US, and I’m not sure what the UK and Australia and NZ have, but I’m curious about things. . . A few times I’ve traveled across the ‘radio black hole’ I call “Eastern Montana”, being one of the few places on the North American continent where you can’t get either an FM _or_ AM signal in many spots (don’t ask). Anyway, I got to thinkin’, “Hey, I want a CB radio”. I’ve got a handheld, but who’s got an actual unit?" In my old pickup truck, I had a K40 antenna (which I’m gonna stick with in my new truck) and an old Cobra radio. It was good enough that from Ramsey, NJ, I could pick up someone from Central Park, NYC on a good day/ 😃 Is there any difference between the Uniden and Cobra models? Anything I should look for? Hell, any recommendations? Tripler Hey, whaddya got, whaddya recommend? ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-can-someone-recommend-me-a-good-brand-of-cb-radios/217709/2 "2003-12-08T06:58:00Z")
Cobra is probably the best. No matter what unit you get, you’re limited to 4 watts output, so just about any unit that will provide that output is ok. But the most important part of any two-way system is the antenna, You have a K-40, which is one of the three finest (IMHO) on the market. You should be fine. Make sure the PL-259 connector is solidly mounted and not shorted out. If you’re really worried about a good unit, take it to a two-way shop and have them check the output power and the modulation level. CB being primarily AM, if your modulation is low, it will severely reduce the output power. You want as close to 100% as possible. Any other questions, ask. I sell two-way for a living, am a ham operator, and was a CBer for many years before getting my ham license. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-can-someone-recommend-me-a-good-brand-of-cb-radios/217709/3 "2003-12-08T21:48:59Z")
At $ 10 a month 100 channel satellite XM radio is your best friend on long drives where AM and FM fail or are awful (which is everywhere). Check out Circuit City for packages. It’s a lot more fun and entertaining than listening to truckers on a CB. [sub](except of course for listening to Rico on a CB who has been known to sing passages from The HMS Pinafore and The Mikado on Channel 15, and even do complete Firesign Theatre sketches for appreciative truckers.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![cedric45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@cedric45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cedric45)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-can-someone-recommend-me-a-good-brand-of-cb-radios/217709/4 "2003-12-08T22:12:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rico \* > \*\*Any other questions, ask. I sell two-way for a living, am a ham operator, and was a CBer for many years before getting my ham license. \*\* I have a question. (probably get busted by the mods but maybe someone else might want to know?) I have a Johnson 2 way radio (FM band???) that I used while doing cable work before those nextel walkie-talkie things took over. Where’s the best place to sell this radio? I have no use for it. It is in excellent shape and has the antenna, mike and all the wires. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-can-someone-recommend-me-a-good-brand-of-cb-radios/217709/5 "2003-12-09T00:47:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rico \* > **Cobra is probably the best.** You know, I used to have one _waaaaayyyy_ back, in my first pickup truck (like, 1997). I loved that li’l Cobra. But some others I’ve asked have said Uniden or even : gasp : Realistic/Archer :eek: . Is there any difference between the brands I should look for? Much obliged, **Rico** Tripler Ooh, do the Cobra models come with the Weather bands, too? ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-can-someone-recommend-me-a-good-brand-of-cb-radios/217709/6 "2003-12-09T01:30:52Z")
Uniden and Cobra are both good brands, although you might hear purists distingiush between chassis sources, some of which are considered better than others. Uniden radios tend to have more modern styling, while Cobras look like props from 1970s-era trucker and redneck movies. Styling is a personal preference, of course. A basic K-40 or Wilson is a good antenna.