Newbie And CB Radio

Hello, fellows I am starting with a trainer monday. I will be with him for a month minimum. After that I will be assigned my truck. Well I need a cb radio to communicate with shippers. What would be a great starter one for me. Would like to have one with weather channel. Thanks again everybody.

SAM IV

Look at Google. If you only want it for communicating with shoppers and receivers then any of them will do for that. I got a cobra 29lx which is only around 100 bucks and I can pick up anything within 5 miles. Not sure how far I transmit but I don't really talk much on it.

The Cobra 29 or the Uniden 78 have been the industry standard for decades. There's a wide variety of options you can choose from including different looks, different types of lighting, weatherband, and things of that nature. They are also quite expandable. So if you'd like to increase your power output or add an echo box down the line there's plenty of room for them to do it right inside the radio. No need for external devices of any sort which is very convenient when moving it from truck to truck.

I second the Cobra 29, that's what I have and it works great.

You can pick up a Cobra 29 LX on Amazon for $99. And the less expensive/feature set models for even less (25 ltd for $69 - 19 DX IV for sub $40). Similar or less expensive on Ebay.

You DO want to get the radio setup for your trucks antenna system - any truck-stop-radio-shop can do this for you - should be around $25 and take about 10 minutes (barring issues with the existing wiring/antenna in the truck).

I've have a 29 LX with Final Output Mod (boosts transmit power) and Echo Mod that I picked up locally (already mod'd) for around $150.

If you're just looking for shippers/receivers to use it at - run the cheapest one. But the Cobra 29 is the "classic CB". I've been running variants in my 4-wheelers since the '80's.

Rick

I know all you guys recommend having a CB but I just don't get it.

I don't have one and I have no plans to get one either. I have no trouble at shippers or receivers. I get asked for a phone number way more often than I get asked if I have a CB.

I deal with enough stuff just doing my own job to listen to everyone else whine about theirs on the CB. And it seems like that's all there is anymore.

I listen to the weather band on the FM radio and hubby monitors Twitter and radar on my phone if we have weather concerns.

Just my opinion!

Here my blog post about why I can't get a CB... it's my attitude. Lol

http://www.rhodadettore.com/rhodas-blog/may-14th-2016

I got a CB, and I'm glad I did because it wasn't until after I got it that I realized that at a couple of shippers I go to regularly, most everyone was checking in at the gate on the radio (saving a trip in to the office or getting out to use the phone), and you can generally just keep up with what's going on while you're there. But I turn it off when I'm on the road because it's mostly just noise (unless there's a traffic backup, then I turn it on to find out what's up). I think maybe it doesn't work well enough and I only get people who are very near, so maybe I need to take it to a shop and have them check it out. But I'm still glad I have it, even with the limited use I make of it.

I always run my radio. It honestly is really quiet most of the time. I will occasionally pick up a couple of local drivers having a conversation but the only time it gets annoying is around the major cities. Other than that there isn't much talk. I really wish more people would run them so there was more chatter. It gets pretty boring out there sometime.

I know all you guys recommend having a CB but I just don't get it.

I don't have one and I have no plans to get one either. I have no trouble at shippers or receivers. I get asked for a phone number way more often than I get asked if I have a CB.

I deal with enough stuff just doing my own job to listen to everyone else whine about theirs on the CB. And it seems like that's all there is anymore.

I listen to the weather band on the FM radio and hubby monitors Twitter and radar on my phone if we have weather concerns.

Just my opinion!

I rarely hear a ton on the CB unless I'm in a truck stop, and then it gets shut off. Among other things, having a CB can save you from being a part of a pile up in inclement weather. I think it's worth having just for that.