CB Radios

Sometimes you just do need the top of the line item, you just need a reliable tool for a simple job. The Cobra 19DX IV CB Radio is a good, basic CB radio that is just that. It does not have all of the features of the Cobra 148 GTL SSB CB Radio, but is a very affordable, quality CB.

If you drive a lot, or have always been interested in CB radios, you may want to check the 19DX out.

The 19DX IV CB is great for use as an entry-level CB, or for a second CB for emergencies. It is also compact, and very easy to use. We have them in stock and ready to ship for $44.95. Compact size, compact price!

Also, with the holidays rapidly headed our way, these are great gifts! Check back soon for more here at Banoggle.

This time we are going to talk about a radio for your truck (or car). For many of us, a hand held two way radio meets most of our needs, but a CB radio is what we want in our vehicle. CB radios are usually capable of connecting to external antennas, which dramatically increase outdoor range. They are also useful if you like the idea of communicating with other travelers outside of your immediate group. Here at Banoggle we carry a nice selection of CB radios for serious drivers and mobile radio enthusiast.

If you are looking for a classic CB radio with modern updates, give the Cobra 148 GTL SSB CB Radio a look. It may look like an old CB on the exterior, but inside it is a very modern radio. This one is popular with professional drivers for a reason, great performance and features in a functional design.

Looking for a CB with the same classic styling and modern updates but don't quite need all of the features of the 148? Then check out the Cobra 25 LTD Classic CB Radio.

Want a handheld CB radio? You will want to look at the Cobra HH-Roadtrip CB Radio. It even has a detachable antenna for longer range.

So go and give our CB Radio Section a look.

Citizens band radios, or CB radios as they are more popularly known, allow you to communicate with easily with others, especially when you are travelling. Regular readers know that CB radio have already been discussed in detail. We even have done a comparison of CB radios to two way radios.

This post is a bit of an update on the Cobra 148 GTL CB Radio. Manufactured by Cobra Electronics Corporation, a leading designer of mobile communications products around the world, the Cobra 148 40-channel radio was a huge hit with truckers. It was taken off the shelf by Cobra some time back, but due to popular demand it has been launched again with many added features.

The most notable update to the Cobra 148 CB Radio is the addition of 80 Single Side Band (SSB) channels to the already existing 40 standard CB channels. So you can now combine different frequencies together to get a custom frequency. 12 watts of SSB RF output gives you a wider legal range, while a dual conversion AM receiver provides better reception. It has high frequency response range of 300 to 2500 hertz. You can even use the Cobra SSB CB Radio for making public addresses through an external speaker.

The control panel of the Cobra 148 GTL CB Radio is designed for easy operation and the illuminated display lets you read even in the dark. A 4-pin microphone connector is located on the front, which makes for very convenient in-dash installation. The Cobra 148 40-channel radio also comes with automatic noise limiter and switchable noise blanker, which recognizes and prevents any interference. As a result the quality of transmission is greatly improved.

The Cobra 148 CB Radio comes with mounting brackets and a microphone with a 9 feet long cord.

The basics of how a CB radio works is similar to that of a two way radio. Both allow you to communicate with others over the public airwaves, but there are circumstances where one would be preferable to the other. I will try to outline the major differences here.

CB Radios
CB radios are primarily used in vehicles, so if you are looking to communicate with others only while in a vehicle then a CB is a great choice. With a CB you are not limited to talking to others in your caravan, it is acceptable to strike up a conversation with anyone.

Most CB's are designed to be connected to an external antenna, which can offer range far greater than that of a two way radio. Some individuals mount antenna's on their roofs to allow them to communicate via CB with homes that are miles away. With a 2 way radio, this would require a repeater which can be very expensive.

CB radios are better if you need to a way to call for help. Although it is rare, In some areas channel 9 is monitored by authorities for emergencies.

Bottom line: CB radios have an advantage when travelling and when you need more range without buying expensive equipment. They are great for communicating with both friends and strangers, and do not require a license. Disadvantages are portability, privacy, and the perform poorly inside buildings.

Two Way Radios
Two way radios (walkie talkies) are small and hand held, which makes them very portable. You can use a 2 way radio to communicate with a family member in another vehicle while travelling to a theme park, and then take the radio with you to use in the park. This wouldn't be possible with most CB radios. Even handheld CB radios can be rather large.

While conversations are not at all private on either a CB radio or a two way radio, two way's provide better perceived privacy. They offer features such as privacy codes which filter out the transmissions of other radios, making it appear that your group has the frequency all to yourselves. This makes two way radios a good tool for communicating with a group but, unlike a CB, they are not especially useful for communicating with strangers.

Two way radios are available in many frequency ranges. VHF two way radios work well outside, while UHF radios (such as GMRS and FRS radios) work well in many environments including inside buildings. Many types of two way radios, however, require a license which can be an added expense.

Bottom line: Two way radios have an advantage in portability, size, and privacy. They operate adequately in most environments including inside buildings. They are not intended for communicating with people you don't know, and range is usually less than 2 miles unless you buy expensive equipment like a repeater. Some types require a license.

The following is a list of CB radio "10 codes". Ten codes are an abbreviated way of sending messages, some of which are very common among those that use CB radios frequently or professionally. If you're new to the CB world, take a look at the list below to get familiar with some codes you may hear.

As you can imagine, some are more popular than others. I don't recommend that you memorize the list below, just use it as a reference if you hear something that you're not sure about. The list of 10 codes below was taken from the manual of a Cobra CB Radio.

CB Radios are communications devices that are almost exclusively used in vehicles. They are typically used to listen to or participate in friendly conversation with others on the highway, but they can also be used to communicate with friends or report emergencies.

A typical CB radio is mounted and hard wired directly into a vehicle. An antenna is typically mounted on the outside of the vehicle. Connected to the main CB unit, will be a palm-size microphone. A button is pressed on the side of the microphone to transmit a message over the currently selected channel. Other CB owners within range will hear your message if they are tuned to your channel.

Standard CB Radios support 40 channels, and those supporting SSB (Single Side Band) support even more. Channel 9 is an emergency channel and should only be used to transmit an actual emergency. Channel 19 is the preferred highway channel in most areas. Many CB radios have "Instant Channel Access" buttons to let you quickly tune to channels 9 or 19.

CB radio range varies from a few miles to possibly thousands of miles. The type of antenna and the output power of the radio most directly affect the range, but other factors can contribute as well. Radio output power is limited to 4 watts by the FCC and most CB radios operate at this maximum. Antenna's, however, can vary widely. In general, the longer the antenna the better.

Because of the frequency range within which CB radios operate, it is possible that radio signals can bounce off the ionosphere (called "skip") and be heard hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Taking advantage of this "skip" to communicate with those hundreds of miles away is discouraged by the FCC.

CB radios are now predominately used by truckers, but there are several reasons the average person may find them convenient. For exclusive vehicle use, they may be better choice than a two way radio for communicating between vehicles on a road trip. Many offer NOAA weather channel support, which allows you to stay aware of local weather. Just being able to communicate with other travellers has many other small benefits, such as getting suggestions for where to dine or being alerted to speed traps.

CB radios can also be fun! CB radio users have their own lingo, including ten codes and slang. They can also be quite inexpensive to get started with, so why not give one a try?