Have you ever seen cops or truckers hollering over small, hand-held gadgets and wished you could own and use one? Yes. That small device over which your favorite heroes communicated is something called CB radios. And their use is not limited to just inside movies and to hobbyists but they are actual, very handy devices that you can use for communication. CB is the acronym for Citizen Band and Citizen Band radios are a system used for communication via short-distance radio transmission, over around 40 channels.
These devices became popular around the 1970s and they have survived through the rise of the internet, Wi-Fi, and advanced telecommunication systems, due to their indispensable real-life applications. If you are a cross-country traveler or going on hiking or trekking to a remote area where telecommunication system and other modern communication systems are unreliable, you can use this system to know about weather news, landslides, blockades, accidents, traffic conditions etc. from other users of the same channel. Its uses are versatile, starting from something as small as chatting up with other users to keep you company on a long journey to even giving you information on natural disasters that could even save your life.
They are exceptionally handy on road-based journeys because if you were using internet on your phone to check the weather or road conditions, you have to stop and not drive while you were doing the checking and focus on the screen. The CB radios can be used just using voice and you don’t need to look at them for communication.
Not only do they shine in the above-mentioned settings but they can also be useful communication tools at big construction sites, farms, factories, etc. where the users can pass instructions and information over these devices.
Depending on which country you are in, the rules and regulations regarding CB radios can vary but once you have gone through all the formalities for using one, the next big step for you is to choose a CB radio that works best for you. There are many different kinds of CB radios out there in the market and this article is going to give you the information you need about buying the best CB radios that are available and also discuss the key things to consider before buying one.
This product made it our best pick because of its well-roundedness. It efficiently executes all the things a CB radio is supposed to do and comes with a compact and durable design. Regardless of what you are going to use it for, whether you are someone who is using it daily or you are an enthusiast who will use it only occasionally, we think this is the best that the market has to offer.
What we love about this product is that it offers very useful features, while being within your budget range. In addition to delivering a crisp, high-quality sound, it allows you to connect an external speaker or a PA speaker to it so you can amplify the sound. Other features like backlit screen and compact design make it a user-friendly product.
Apart from many other great things that this radio can offer you, it allows you to use it as a speaker, so you can easily call-out for help or make announcements. This radio can be connected to an external speaker so that you can listen to it with a louder sound and also a PA speaker jack which is a great feature for a radio to have.
Sometimes it is useful to be able to see the strength of incoming transmission that you are trying to receive on your radio, and this radio makes it easy to do so by a signal/RF power indicator.
It also allows you to surf through 40 different channels and an instant access to channel 9, which is the channel for emergencies.
To ensure high quality of sound, it has a squelch-control knob that you can adjust according to your needs to suppress weak signals and therefore enhancing the sound quality.
The screen is backlit with an orange light that will prevent glares during daytime and also be clearly visible in the dark.
Are you looking for a well-rounded, efficient CB radio with useful features? If you are, then this will be a great product for you. When it comes to features, this radio is a treasure trove. First, it performs automatic scanning of all 40 channels while letting you save up to ten of your favorite channels for quick access. It also has automatic scanning system for ten NOAA weather channels which means you will be notified about any weather conditions that might pose a threat to you.
What is especially great about this feature is that it will notify you with an alert even if your radio is turned off, which just might save a user’s life. The radio also gives instant access to channel 9 and channel 19, which are important channels for CB radio users. The AM RF output is 4 watts, which is the highest legal power output and it means you can have the maximum amount of transmission.
The backlight color of the screen can be chosen from four aesthetically pleasing colors, not only that, you can control the brightness of the screen to assist you to focus better on driving by dimming the light if necessary. If you are a professional driver and you install this radio in your car, you don’t have to worry about counting the hours you have spent driving, since this radio will do it for you! There is also a clock and an alarm that can come handy in different situations. Have you ever wanted to use the radio’s microphone and frowned at how short the cord is? However, with this radio, that won’t happen, thanks to its nine-feet-long microphone cord. To give you high clarity of sound, it has Delta Tunes and RF gain controls. Plus, you can also use this radio to call out in a loud sound by connecting a PA speaker to it.
Lastly, the most unique and advanced feature of this radio: Radio diagnostics. This feature will save you from having to worry and to test radio RF power, antenna power, battery voltage, etc. because it diagnoses itself and tells you the results. How hassle-free!
Are you looking for a simple yet efficient CB radio with only the essential features? If you are, then this is a reliable product from Cobra that you might want to consider buying. It has all the necessary features that make a good CB radio, no more no less.
It allows you to scan all 40 channels, plus ten national weather channels so that you can know about weather conditions. Moreover, it has Dual-Watch feature which will let you check on two selected channels at the same time.
The design and size of the radio make it very portable and suitable for tough environments. It has cigarette lighter adapter, Illuminated display to enhance night-time visibility and also has a system to reduce noise by 90%.
This could possibly be one of the simplest and easy-to-use CB radio out on the market. If you don't require a lot of features but just the ability to listen to and communicate over a hand-held, portable radio, then this is suitable for you. It allows scanning of 40 channels, with a very minimalistic display. It does have one very useful feature, which is that you can set it to high power output or low power output which helps you save battery life.
What we love about this radio is that it comes with a magnetic mobile antenna. With CB radios, it is more common to buy a separate antenna to let you transmit over longer distances. But with this product, you will have it from the beginning, negating the need to buy it separately.
This radio, although being small, portable and in a compact design, is packed with essential features like noise reduction up to 90%, ability to scan all 40 channels, Dual-Watch, illuminated display, etc.
The great thing about this radio from Cobra is its compactness. It fits perfectly in your hand and comes with a Remote Mount design, which makes it suitable for installation in any small space. Its small size does not compromise its performance. It lets you scan 40 channels, with immediate access to channel 9 and 19, Dual-Watch feature and has memory space for saving four of your favorite channels.
You can reduce noise up to 90% and also access Weather channels using this radio.
When it comes to CB radios, it is hard to find a product that can combine compactness and multiple features together, which this radio from Midland does perfectly. Its microphone is small and will easily fit in your hand, while the mounting part has all the necessary knobs plus the screen that shows the important information.
The mounting part of the radio houses knobs that can be used to adjust squelch, volume, channel and RF gain, while the display shows the channel number and S/RF ranges. There are switches for CB/PA and channel 9.
This well-rounded yet compact radio also allows you to use it as a speaker by connecting it to a PA speaker. It ensures high-quality sound because it has both RF gain control and squelch-control, whereas most other radios have only either one of them.
Whether you are a beginner-level user who does not want to have complicated features but a radio that is easy to use, or an experienced user who wants an efficient radio, this is a product that you can rely on.
If you are looking for a radio with multiple handy features that with a sleeker look rather than a rugged one, then this is the radio you are looking for. It comes in a superb backlighting of the faceplate which makes it look a lot more than a CB radio and will surely add to the interior of your vehicle. The frequency counter and the channel numbers are in bigger blue LED lights that gives good visibility both during the day and the night. For the backlight, you can choose from red and blue, according to your liking and their intensity can be dimmed to help you focus better on driving.
This product is driving-friendly because of the fact that it offers multiple knobs and buttons for quick and easy operation instead of having to look at a screen and scroll through a menu.
Apart from the design, this radio offers almost every feature that you could look for in a CB radio.PA/external speaker jack, SSB and AM, a signal strength indicator, power output control, automatic noise reduction, and many other features can be found on this radio that makes it an excellent choice for any CB radio user.
Our Best Pick
This product made it our best pick because of its well-roundedness. It efficiently executes all the things a CB radio is supposed to do and comes with a compact and durable design. Regardless of what you are going to use it for, whether you are someone who is using it daily or you are an enthusiast who will use it only occasionally, we think this is the best that the market has to offer.
Our Budget Pick
What we love about this product is that it offers very useful features, while being within your budget range. In addition to delivering a crisp, high-quality sound, it allows you to connect an external speaker or a PA speaker to it so you can amplify the sound. Other features like backlit screen and compact design make it a user-friendly product.
Quick Comparison Between The Best CB Radios
[table id=94 /]2. Uniden 40-Channel CB Radio (PRO505XL)
Apart from many other great things that this radio can offer you, it allows you to use it as a speaker, so you can easily call-out for help or make announcements. This radio can be connected to an external speaker so that you can listen to it with a louder sound and also a PA speaker jack which is a great feature for a radio to have.
Sometimes it is useful to be able to see the strength of incoming transmission that you are trying to receive on your radio, and this radio makes it easy to do so by a signal/RF power indicator.
It also allows you to surf through 40 different channels and an instant access to channel 9, which is the channel for emergencies.
To ensure high quality of sound, it has a squelch-control knob that you can adjust according to your needs to suppress weak signals and therefore enhancing the sound quality.
The screen is backlit with an orange light that will prevent glares during daytime and also be clearly visible in the dark.
PROS
CONS
4. Cobra 29 LX 40-Channel CB Radio
Are you looking for a well-rounded, efficient CB radio with useful features? If you are, then this will be a great product for you. When it comes to features, this radio is a treasure trove. First, it performs automatic scanning of all 40 channels while letting you save up to ten of your favorite channels for quick access. It also has automatic scanning system for ten NOAA weather channels which means you will be notified about any weather conditions that might pose a threat to you.
What is especially great about this feature is that it will notify you with an alert even if your radio is turned off, which just might save a user’s life. The radio also gives instant access to channel 9 and channel 19, which are important channels for CB radio users. The AM RF output is 4 watts, which is the highest legal power output and it means you can have the maximum amount of transmission.
The backlight color of the screen can be chosen from four aesthetically pleasing colors, not only that, you can control the brightness of the screen to assist you to focus better on driving by dimming the light if necessary. If you are a professional driver and you install this radio in your car, you don’t have to worry about counting the hours you have spent driving, since this radio will do it for you! There is also a clock and an alarm that can come handy in different situations. Have you ever wanted to use the radio’s microphone and frowned at how short the cord is? However, with this radio, that won’t happen, thanks to its nine-feet-long microphone cord. To give you high clarity of sound, it has Delta Tunes and RF gain controls. Plus, you can also use this radio to call out in a loud sound by connecting a PA speaker to it.
Lastly, the most unique and advanced feature of this radio: Radio diagnostics. This feature will save you from having to worry and to test radio RF power, antenna power, battery voltage, etc. because it diagnoses itself and tells you the results. How hassle-free!
PROS
CONS
5. Cobra HH 38 WX ST 4-Watt 40-Channel CB Radio
Are you looking for a simple yet efficient CB radio with only the essential features? If you are, then this is a reliable product from Cobra that you might want to consider buying. It has all the necessary features that make a good CB radio, no more no less.
It allows you to scan all 40 channels, plus ten national weather channels so that you can know about weather conditions. Moreover, it has Dual-Watch feature which will let you check on two selected channels at the same time.
The design and size of the radio make it very portable and suitable for tough environments. It has cigarette lighter adapter, Illuminated display to enhance night-time visibility and also has a system to reduce noise by 90%.
PROS
CONS
6. Uniden PRO401HH 40 Channel Handheld CB Radio
This could possibly be one of the simplest and easy-to-use CB radio out on the market. If you don't require a lot of features but just the ability to listen to and communicate over a hand-held, portable radio, then this is suitable for you. It allows scanning of 40 channels, with a very minimalistic display. It does have one very useful feature, which is that you can set it to high power output or low power output which helps you save battery life.
PROS
CONS
7. CobraHH ROAD TRIP Hand Held 40 Channel CB Radio
What we love about this radio is that it comes with a magnetic mobile antenna. With CB radios, it is more common to buy a separate antenna to let you transmit over longer distances. But with this product, you will have it from the beginning, negating the need to buy it separately.
This radio, although being small, portable and in a compact design, is packed with essential features like noise reduction up to 90%, ability to scan all 40 channels, Dual-Watch, illuminated display, etc.
PROS
CONS
8. Cobra 75WXST 40-Channel CB Radio
The great thing about this radio from Cobra is its compactness. It fits perfectly in your hand and comes with a Remote Mount design, which makes it suitable for installation in any small space. Its small size does not compromise its performance. It lets you scan 40 channels, with immediate access to channel 9 and 19, Dual-Watch feature and has memory space for saving four of your favorite channels.
You can reduce noise up to 90% and also access Weather channels using this radio.
PROS
CONS
9. Midland 1001Z 40-Channel CB Radio
When it comes to CB radios, it is hard to find a product that can combine compactness and multiple features together, which this radio from Midland does perfectly. Its microphone is small and will easily fit in your hand, while the mounting part has all the necessary knobs plus the screen that shows the important information.
The mounting part of the radio houses knobs that can be used to adjust squelch, volume, channel and RF gain, while the display shows the channel number and S/RF ranges. There are switches for CB/PA and channel 9.
This well-rounded yet compact radio also allows you to use it as a speaker by connecting it to a PA speaker. It ensures high-quality sound because it has both RF gain control and squelch-control, whereas most other radios have only either one of them.
Whether you are a beginner-level user who does not want to have complicated features but a radio that is easy to use, or an experienced user who wants an efficient radio, this is a product that you can rely on.
PROS
CONS
10.Galaxy DX-959B Mobile CB Radio
If you are looking for a radio with multiple handy features that with a sleeker look rather than a rugged one, then this is the radio you are looking for. It comes in a superb backlighting of the faceplate which makes it look a lot more than a CB radio and will surely add to the interior of your vehicle. The frequency counter and the channel numbers are in bigger blue LED lights that gives good visibility both during the day and the night. For the backlight, you can choose from red and blue, according to your liking and their intensity can be dimmed to help you focus better on driving.
This product is driving-friendly because of the fact that it offers multiple knobs and buttons for quick and easy operation instead of having to look at a screen and scroll through a menu.
Apart from the design, this radio offers almost every feature that you could look for in a CB radio.PA/external speaker jack, SSB and AM, a signal strength indicator, power output control, automatic noise reduction, and many other features can be found on this radio that makes it an excellent choice for any CB radio user.