Handheld CD Radio

[demesauce]

I am thinking about buying an handheld CB. Like a walkie talkie/HT style. I have heard they don't have great range. But I like how portable and mobile they are and you don't have to mount them inside. My dash is stock (and in good shape) and I don't have a Center Console/Tuff Box to mount it in.

My question is, what are your thoughts on a portable CB Radios. Does anyone have one/use it? Do they get descent range?


*Whoops, Title should Read "Handheld CB Radio"

 

[El Kabong]

Back in the fad days when they were common in passenger cars, we had both. We had family in Oregon & would make the trip almost every year. Anything we'd travel in had one mounted, plus we had an extra handheld with a small rooftop magnet mount antenna if we were traveling with someone who didn't have one. The vehicle mounted versions worked better & reached farther, but the handheld/magnet was fine for cars within the group, which was our main usage for the CBs. I would like to think they have improved in the last 30 years, but even then it was good for the range we needed.

There is also this style where an installation box mounts out of site behind the dash or under a seat & the controls are all in the mic. You can unplug & remove the mic when you don't want it there. I'm thinking about one of these for my 73.

 

[sprdv1]

Got a rollbar you can mount it to...?

 

[Pearlcoat]

I have the one shown above in post #2. I paid about $99 for it, the antennas and power supplies were separate.The range isn't much over a mile but we mostly use it when traveling in a group so it works fine. The speaker went bad in it so I bought a small external speaker for both the bronco and RV ($12 ea). That worked OK. Then the power supply in the RV quit working so I ditched the whole thing and bought a cheap traditional Cobra CB at Walmart for $40. I still use the portable in the bronco.

It is very handy to be able to unplug it and put away when the vehicles are parked as opposed to having one installed that can't quickly be removed. Maybe others here have had better luck with the portables than I have.

 

[jw0747]

best place to buy a CB is at a truck stop. the numbers to select from will make your jaw drop and they have all the dandy accessories too.

 

[BroncoDawg]

Unless you buy an expensive handheld, they are junk. The mics suck and will irritate the folks you are traveling with. If in a tight group on the hwy they work, but in the woods with any separation, good luck. Antenna on the roof will help, but still have mic issues. For the same price as a handheld, get a tiny little cobra that can fit anywhere.

Many folks are switching to ham radios for real communications and the safety it brings. Most of our 4x4 club have gotten their licenses. Even the handheld hams far outperform cbs.

 

[NYLES]

marine handhelds............

 

[bknbronco]

marine handhelds............

Funny you say that because we have both CB and marine band in the ice house, and cab mount to cab mount CB were lucky to get 2 or 3 miles on the frozen lake. But with the cab mount marine to hand held marine we can get at least 5-8 miles and that is bigger than most lakes are. And with cab mount to cab mount marine (ice house to ice house) we can go a long ways. We have gone 15 miles form one lake to another and that was up in the hills and woods! Marine band puts out 15 watts in think and CB is only 4?

 

[matt w]

Nothing like a small headmount cb. Get a 50.00 Uniden and call it done. You wi;;; be super happy with the compact size as well as how well it works!;D

 

[Madgyver]

i had a handheld with external antenna and mount. i got it because i was one driver with many EBs. it lasted a few years until the batteries leaked and messed it up.

next will be a cab mounted one for each rig but for now the FRS radios work fine in our area.

 

[dube]

I have the iPhone it works great lol and don't the hand held CB bouncing around in the truck. Just get the two way walkietalkies from motarola they have more then enough chanels to use and can pick up CB's

 

[phred]

I've got a handheld as a back up to my regular CB, but range is pretty limited and its hard to use on the trail because the antenna is about 3 feet long. Go with a radio mounted in the truck. You will be much happier.