Im interested in putting a CB in my truck. What is the best one out there?

 

Hugely vague question. What use do you want from it? Talking to other rigs on a trail or talking DX skip across states. For me, I've used Cobra 200 and really liked them, work well for both long and close range talking, but in my opinion the clearest radio I've ever had is a Magnum S-680. It also depends on the tune you get, if you take it to a good shop, they'll take care of you. The two radios I mentioned are more high dollars set ups, you can get a Cobra 19 or 29, they're more on the lower price range. I've heard people talking skip on a 29 with an amp, sounded good. A lot of people around here that I know that ride trails with us use Cobra 19 or 29 for close proximity talk grounds.

 

Yeah I made that same question at a CB shop back in 1992. I was shocked when I was told the best they got was a $800 radio. I kind of tucked tail and asked what about something a little cheaper. Which I got a Cobra 148GTL. Still have that radio today, highly moded.

You don't need to spend a fortune to have a good talking radio.

Some good points to go by. A quality antenna that is tunable. Getting your VSWR's down as low as possible will go a long way to helping your setup talk well. I try not to push brands, but these are just what I have had experiance with, the key is don't skimp.

Just as a reference I had a 5' Firestick II on the back of my trunk of my car, and I had a friend with a wilson 1000 on the roof of his truck. we sat side by side doing some radio checks and most people said that we were hetrodyning together. SO we pretty much were evenly matched. So antenna tunning is one key.

The radio while there are cheap and expensive. Most of the time cheap ones can talk just as well as the high dollar ones. What you usually get with higher dollar rigs is more control of radio functions, albiet they are actually made for the 40Ch. Citizens Band. I have modded something as simple as a Uniden 510XL that talked just as well as some of the more expensive radios. Difference is I had to mod it to unlock it's potential, as where some of the higher Dollar radios have the mod built in, just as another **** on the face of the radio.

The other key factor is the Michrophone selection, up-grading from a stock mike is most of the time money well spent. I have ran a Astaic D104-M6 "Minuteman". Not to be confused with the D104-M6B "Minutman II".
D104-M6 Minuteman

D104-M6B Minuteman II


Call me snobby, but I think the Minuteman Has a better audio quality than the Minuteman II. But still are good solid rugged mics. that have better audio quality than stock.

 

the only radios i will buy are galaxy radios.
i have tried them all over the years, and nothing lasts like a galaxy.
all three of my radios are over 15 years old. the best i ever got out of any other brand was 3 years.

 

My 148GTL is 18 Years old, my 142GTL is even older. Don't remember how old my PC122 Black Face is.

Had a TRC-57 Navaho that worked flawlessly. I sold that one, shouldn't of.

 

I've heard nothing but good things about Galaxy rigs, but I've never personally owned one. Maybe it's time I did?