Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

Need opinions on CB Radios.

7K views 77 replies 27 participants last post by  Kyle.Roth 
#1 ·
Hey. I'm looking at getting a cb radio and I was really into the Cobra 75 WX ST. I like the compact design and having everything in the the handheld part. Anyone else run this cb? Anyone that got rid of it because they didn't like it? If so, what was the problem with it?
 
#2 · (Edited)
The Cobra 75WXST has some enthusiasts but I wouldn't select one for my Wrangler. First, all of its controls are on the mic which makes it less convenient to operate while driving. Even to change the volume or channel.

My biggest issue is its TINY speaker, which is tiny because there's simply no room for anything larger than its approx. 3/4" size in the mic where it is located. Which means it can be very hard to hear in a noisy Wrangler, especially when the windows are down or top is off. At a minimum I'd recommend you also install an external speaker so you can hear it more easily.

The other issue is you won't find inexpensive replacement mics for it at the local stores/truck stops if yours goes bad while offroading or on the road.

Personally, I'd stick with something like a Midland or Uniden, like the Uniden Pro-520XL. The Pro-520XL is about the most commonly seen CB you'll find used in a Jeep for offroad use because it holds up and isn't expensive. Plus it's easy to operate.

Below is the Pro-520XL which is what I've run in two TJs over the past 20 years. Not to mention they're under $50 on the internet. The top pic shows how my Pro-520XL is mounted, it's under a 2 meter ham radio. That overhead mount is available from Arizona Rocky Road at ARIZONA ROCKY ROAD ANTENNA MOUNTS FOR JEEP WRANGLER, UNLIMITED AND LIBERTY. Notice the big size of the Uniden's speaker on the bottom of the CB in the below photograph, it's big enough to hear in pretty much all conditions
 

Attachments

#4 ·
The Cobra 75WXST has some enthusiasts but I wouldn't select one for my Wrangler. First, all of its controls are on the mic which makes it less convenient to operate while driving. Even to change the volume or channel. My biggest issue is its TINY speaker, which is tiny because there's simply no room for anything larger than its approx. 3/4" size in the mic where it is located. Which means it can be very hard to hear in a noisy Wrangler, especially when the windows are down or top is off. At a minimum I'd recommend you also install an external speaker so you can hear it more easily. The other issue is you won't find inexpensive replacement mics for it at the local stores/truck stops if yours goes bad while offroading or on the road. Personally, I'd stick with something like a Midland or Uniden, like the Uniden Pro-520XL. The Pro-520XL is about the most commonly seen CB you'll find used in a Jeep for offroad use because it holds up and isn't expensive. Plus it's easy to operate. Below is the Pro-520XL which is what I've run in two TJs over the past 20 years. Not to mention they're under $50 on the internet. The top pic shows how my Pro-520XL is mounted, it's under a 2 meter ham radio. That overhead mount is available from Arizona Rocky Road at ARIZONA ROCKY ROAD ANTENNA MOUNTS FOR JEEP WRANGLER, UNLIMITED AND LIBERTY. Notice the big size of the Uniden's speaker on the bottom of the CB in the below photograph, it's big enough to hear in pretty much all conditions
And you can save a few $$ if you don't use the PA feature by getting the 510. Great little radio
 
#3 ·
I have the Midland 75-822 which is just like the Cobra.. I love it because it's small, I can toss into the center console when it's not in use and it performs just as well as any full-sized, space-sucking units. If it breaks or a part fails, who cares, it was only $60 - I'll just order a new one.
I have no issues with the small controls even though I'm half-blind.
These small hand-held Midland and Cobra units are very popular.
 
#5 ·
X2 for the Uniden 520XL and ARR overhead mount. I can hear it plenty, in fact, I have to turn it down cause it can get too loud. I have a 3' firestik and I can hear everyone on the trail.
 
#6 ·
I have to agree with the comment re: the tiny speaker. Did not have one myself, but have been in the Jeep with people who do and it's almost impossible to hear what is being said. We also have been pretty happy with the little Uniden 520XL in our TJ. Actually like it better than the big expensive Cobra in our JK.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Some antennas are stiff stainless steel wire, others are fiberglass with the wire wrapped around the fiberglass core which is probably that spiral that you're asking about.

I personally use the Firestick FS-2 which is 2' tall and has the 'Tunable Tip' which makes it easy to tune. If you want that antenna to be a little taller, you can get the FS-3 or FS-4 which are 3' and 4' tall respectively. My 2' works great for me, I never find myself wishing for a longer antenna.
 
#8 ·
I have it, but frankly mostly use it for the weather these days...

It's a good unit, small and compact. I have too much other stuff in my cockpit to fuss with a larger CB, but understand how others prefer them.
 
#12 ·
That might not work as you think.

Since the LED leads would be metal, and the resonant part of the antenna would be metal, having the two in such proximity would likely change the resonance and effectiveness of the antenna.

I.e. Metal in close proximity of an antenna changes the antenna (not for the better).
 
#13 ·
And to add on about the CB itself, Jerry's advice is good. Get a decent brand mid-size unit with a nice speaker. Uniden, Cobra, or Midland. There is almost no value in the fancier, flashier units.

They'll take up more space, cost more, and likely perform the exact same.
 
#14 ·
Jerry's advice is good. Get a decent brand mid-size unit with a nice speaker. Uniden, Cobra, or Midland.
Unless you want a smaller, hand-held unit like the Cobra 75 WX ST or Midland 75-822. Then in that case, get one of those.

Remember that since all of these radios perform the same, virtually all the other info is opinion based on what the person with said opinion likes or does not like.
Get what YOU want, not what someone else tells you you want.
 
#24 ·
If I recall, that's actually not a CB radio at all FYI.

That's one of the high power 10m "amateur radios" commonly illegally converted for use on the CB band.

It's not legal for use their and will likely make nasty spurious emissions anywhere it would be used, even on the jam bands it's supposedly designed for.

They're not suitable use anywhere. Not on CB bands and not likely Part 97 compliant due to spurious emissions. May even cause interference to other onboard electronics as well as other vehicles and electronics in nearby buildings.

Get a proper CB. You'll be better off. If you want more power, get a real amateur radio and use t on the ham bands.
 
#25 ·
There are always a few people who seem to feel that if some is good, then more must be better, so they want to bash the kit and amp up the power of their radio. What they don't understand is that in doing so, they don't get much of a range/reach advantage, but they can seriously screw with everyone else's ability to communicate around them. CB radios have legal limitations on the power they can broadcast with, and those limitations are there for a reason. Buying a big ass radio doesn't necessarily get you a better radio. In fact, it's likely no "better" than a small and simple one. Especially for the use the CB was intended, and the way it's used in Jeep groups. You're not going to talk to some cute blonde in Russia with the damn thing, and you're not going to phone home from some remote canyon to ask your wife what's for dinner. The CB is most used by Jeep people to communicate to other Jeeps nearby (less than a mile, usually), and maybe to other vehicles along the highway to and from Jeep events to check road conditions, etc. Buying an expensive radio only wastes money, and bashing the kit to huge power gains just pisses off everyone else in your group who has sensitive electronics or another radio in their rig.

Like the knowledgeable folks here have iterated, buy what you want and for whatever use you intend. Just understand that there are others around you who may also want to use CB band to communicate with others in the group.
 
#27 ·
Oh yeah. If I have learned anything from these guys, it's that the antenna is the most important part of the whole thing.
 
#31 ·
I started with a Midland 75-822 CB radio. I since have changed to a Stryker SR-89MC mainly because it puts out more power. Contrary to what was said about the Cobra 75WXST, the controls on the Stryker SR-89MC are all push button and easy to operate with one hand. The only thing that may be a bit inconvenient is while shift gears.

 
#33 · (Edited)
I started with a Midland 75-822 CB radio. I since have changed to a Stryker SR-89MC mainly because it puts out more power.
Yes and the Stryker SR-89MC is 100% totally and completely illegal for use on the CB band. Depending on how you measure the power, it puts out between 3X and 4X the legally allowed power. It is also not "FCC Type Accepted" which is another reason its use is illegal in the US.

Some don't care and they say 'so what'. The technical reason that using illegally high amounts of transmitter power on the CB band is illegal is due to the very narrow spacing between the CB channels. The band was always meant strictly for low power use due to that narrow spacing. The more transmitted power, the wider the signal gets to the point it bleeds over into adjacent channels where it interferes with legal CB operators who often have to move to a different CB channel to avoid the "splatter". I've had to change channels multiple times over many years due to the AHs who splatter into my channel and force me to change channels. Those running excessive power... the ones who just don't care about anyone's use of the CB band except for their own.

Don't want to beat a dead horse here, but the Stryker is also not a CB radio. It's an illegally converted radio built to pass as an amateur 10 meter radio.

Folks, just get actual CB radios.
X2, let's keep beating this dead horse.

And for those who just can't live with the CB's legal power limit, get a ham license and you can then run the big power. It isn't even hard to pass the Technician Class license test, no serious technical knowledge is required. No Morse code test or any of that any more either.

N6TAY
 
#32 ·
Don't want to beat a dead horse here, but the Stryker is also not a CB radio. It's an illegally converted radio built to pass as an amateur 10 meter radio.

Folks, just get actual CB radios.
 
#35 ·
I've been down that road personally. Years back before I knew anything about radio I just wanted the "most powerful CB radio" I could get.

Ended up ordering some Galaxy mess that was tweaked and tortured to great extents to put out foolishly high power.

Of course it splattered and tore up every radio I was around. CB. FM. Whatever. Absurd amounts of interference was generated.

On the bright side it left me wanting to find out about radio. That led me to amateur radio. I sold the splatter box and bought a couple ham Kenwood radios. Started studying and passed my tech and general tickets in one sitting. Went back a year later and got my extra. Been sharing radio knowledge ever since.

Now I have all sorts of lovely gear. Yaesu. Icom. Kenwood. Elecraft. On my home station I can transmit 1500w PEP legally and clean as a surgeon's scalpel.

Power can be done right, but it has to be very well made gear (not junk "export" radios) and you need the licensing and knowledge to do it.

And never on CB.

73 de K5PO
 
#37 ·
Unfortunately, damn near all of these "export" rigs are tweaked so much they really are splatter boxes.

You're right that high power doesn't have to mean high splatter, but the correlation in these rigs is huge.

So again, just run the standard 4 watts AM and enjoy CB for what it is.
 
#44 ·
I had to think about this for a bit. With the radio we have been talking about the only way you are going to get big power out of it is an external amp. The same could be said with any of the smaller radios. But a tweaked and tuned 520 will have a 6 watt CP and cost less money than the Stryker.

If we are talking about the bigger exports then all bets are off. But we could say the same thing about the bigger legal CB's. If you open up the freq's on say a Stryker SR-655HP you would be into it for about $300. If you took a Uniden 880 and added a RFX-85HD final you would be into it for about $250. Both radio's are going to run a 15 watt carrier and peak at around 60.

As far as just running a standard 4 watt AM radio, what is really standard. Out of the box it is a total crap shoot on what you are going to get. I have seen radios with 2.5 watts to almost 6 watts CP out of the box. Modulation is usually only 60 to 70 percent. The reason there is a tweak and tune market out there is because the QC in the CB world sucks.

At the end of the day it is about responsible usage. If we are operating within the parameters of a giving band then the type of gear being used should not be an issue.
 
#40 ·
Nothing nearly has small as the Stryker. The Stryker is a good 2-3 inches shorter than say the Midland 1001LWX with coax connected. About 1 inch less in height and width also. The case is not plastic or thin sheet metal but cast aluminum. The mic even with all the controls on it is no bigger than most standard mics and smaller than some. If anyone made a CB like this my bet it is what everyone would have in there rigs.
 
#41 ·
I was given a Uniden Pro-520XL for my birthday a few weeks ago and have it set up with a ss whip antenna. From the high ground by my apartment I'm coming through clear as a bell to my buddy almost 8 miles away, through all of the RF noise of downtown Boston. Very happy with the results. (Pic is of install)

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Automotive tire Tire
 
#51 ·
A properly tuned GOOD antenna will make a so so two way radio work correctly.
A cheap incorrectly tuned antenna will do nothing but possibly enable said device to have a very short life.

Some of us like to be heard above the crowd.....because we don't run off at the mic like a lot a operators do.
 
#53 ·
I think you are correct that the FCC would have to take a closer look at the rules. But in the end I think it comes down to the market, the cost of entry and lets not forget cell phones.

First we have the FCC licensing requirement. Much easier than it used to be but still over the head of most people. Then you have the size of the market, it is really small and a radio like the little Yaesu is $800 plus. And then of course there are cell phones which in my mind is the biggest reason there has been diminished CB usage over the years and radio in general.
 
#56 ·
Hi Radio users and experts.

I'm looking at my first CB in my TJ (soft top and no top usage).

I plan on using the CB on highways at speed and on trails.

In my use case, would anyone recommend spending extra for SSB radios? Or extra for internal SWR, channel scan, instant 9/19?

Any reason to get a 5' firestik vs a 4' or 3' (assuming they are all properly tuned). Left side tail light mount with spring.

And what is the deal with the different lengths of coax? Why not run just the right amount of Coax, install the ends and then tune the ant.?
 
#59 ·
Unless you have friends that use SSB I would not spend the money for it. Internal SWR, Channel scan and instant 9/19 are also nice to haves, not required.

The more your antenna can get above the roof line the better as far as distance goes. You might think about 2 antenna's, a 5 footer for the highway and a 3 footer for the trails.

Don't sweat the coax. Look for a cable that has a removable FME connector. This way you only need to drill a small hole. If you want a good cable get RG-8X or mini-8. FYI, don't coil or cross the excess cable.
 
#58 ·
The Midland 1001 LWX is about the smallest radio with weather
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top