Handheld CB Radios

Looking for some good recommendations on handhelds. Looking at either the Rugged Radio or Cobra HHRT 50 or BaoFeng BF-F8HP.






$101 Cobra HHRT50 Road Trip CB Radio,2-Way Handheld CB Radio with Rooftop Magnet Mount Antenna, NOAA Channels, Dual Watch, 40 Channel
https://www.amazon.com/Cobra-HHRT50-Handheld-Rooftop-Channels/dp/B0794H67JP






$85 Rugged Radios RH-5R 5 Watt Dual Band (UHF/VHF) Handheld Radio with Antenna, Battery, Belt Clip, AC Charging Dock and Earpiece with Lapel Mic
https://www.amazon.com/Rugged-Radios-Handheld-Charging-Earpiece/dp/B07FSS85XF/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3073VFJ53XGC&keywords=rugged+radio&qid=1570113209&s=electronics&sprefix=rugged+radi%2Caps%2C188&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFRSlpETzdaR1E4Q0ImZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzODk4OTJOMTVEVlVVWTBESUUmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDQyNTE5NDJWRUsySzIwVVNQMDQmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl





$63 BaoFeng BF-F8HP (UV-5R 3rd Gen) 8-Watt Dual Band Two-Way Radio (136-174MHz VHF & 400-520MHz UHF) Includes Full Kit with Large Battery
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MAULSOK/ref=psdc_912322_t1_B07FSS85XF

 

Those aren’t all CB radios. VHF / UHF is ham (amateur) radio and requires a license

personally I run a ham radio, the test is pretty easy for a tech license and it’s good for 10 years

 

Don't get the rugged radios.
Also, the UV-5r is as much as you need, if you go that route. Save the money and get a mag mount antenna for it. For what it's worth not sure if you're a ham, but it's a ham Radio. Not here to preach or push morals, just informing.

If got this one. It works.. Eh. Antennas inside trucks are always a compromise. But at least if you get this one it gives you the option of running a mag mount if you find you need better performance down the line.

Midland 75-822 40 Channel CB-Way Radio

$90 Midland 75-822 40 Channel CB-Way Radio

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000K2YR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_8zZLDb2KAG76F

 

Thanks for advice. It's all new to me. Been reading a few threads to try to catch me up to speed. Might also consider wiring a more permanent CB with hood mounted antenna.

 

The biggest thing is antenna. All the cb radios operate with the same power. 4watts. So the best thing you can do is have an antenna set up for success. Either hood mounted, one by the tailgate. Roof mounted. Mag mount. Any will be better than a rubber ducky antenna on a handheld. So save some money on the cb and just get an ok antenna. Neither has to be expensive

 

Thanks. That seems to be the common theme, the antenna. The Cobra handheld that I linked above comes with a roof mounted antenna. For the few times a year I'll be using it in a group setting, would you say that would be sufficient?

 

Probably. Give it a shot. Worse case scenario you might find you need a slightly bigger antenna and you can pick up something like this.

CB Antenna 28 inch for CB Radio 27 Mhz,Portable Indoor/Outdoor Antenna Full Kit with Heavy Duty Magnet Mount Mobile/Car Radio Antenna Compatible with President Midland Cobra Uniden Anytone by LUITON

$36 CB Antenna 28" 27 Mhz CB Radio Antenna Full Kit with Heavy Duty Magnet Mount Mobile/Car Radio Antenna Compatible with President Midland Cobra Uniden Anytone by LUITON

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BDJ8HN9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_oUZLDbSEQZ89X

 

Could even do something like this and a mag mount. Now If you don't want a permanent CB Radio kicking around you can just pull it out after. It's small enough where it won't be a hassle

Radioddity CB-27 CB Radio Mobile 40-Channel, AM Instant Emergency Channel 9/19, Work with PA System, RF Gain with Removable Microphone

Radioddity CB-27 Mini CB Radio Mobile 40-Channel, AM Instant Emergency Channel 9/19, RF Gain with Removable Microphone

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R68N2YD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_a0ZLDbMW86561

 

Thanks for the help on this.I'll do some more research and figure out what might work best. Side note, 603 NH? I'm thinking about doing the Exploring NH Fall Crawl at the end of October which is actually how this thread started. Need to get setup with a comm. Have you gone to any of the ENH events?

 

Yup. Just did the Toyota crawl with them. Good folks.


Also, tons of TW people around you in MA. Don't buy a cb antenna Tuner. Someone can either lend you one or help you tune it real quick. But make sure you tune the antenna or the radio won't work well. If you want to do some research on the just look up tuning cb radio SWR.

 

Was also considering going the permanent route as well. I saw on Amazon for fairly cheap.

 

For trails I wouldn't put too much stress into it. Go the most affordable route you can and you'll be fine. At most you'll be spread out a couple thousand feet and the back of the pack needs to talk to the front. Again, has more to do with the antenna than radio.

You can leave any radio in there permanently if you want. And if you wanted to move to a firestick or other permanent antenna you could do that too. Some company make nifty bed mounts for them

 

Appreciate it. I think for now, the handheld is going to work best for me. Will definitely look into other options as I start to take the truck out more. Need to get on some of those Class 6 roads soon.

 

+1 on the midland. Currently running that with an external antennae. Cheap, easy and functional.

Have the firestik with a quick disconnect so I can pull it off for garages/low clearance situations. Mounted to a relentless cb mount to the passenger side of the hood.

Beware of Amazon. Purchased my antannae, spring, disconnect and antannae cable from amazon. Everything but the spring came in genuine packaging. Spring in a ziplock bag; rusted within a month. All of the amazon reviews had similar experiences; assuming it’s a cheap imitation. Swapped it out from a genuine firestik one.

 

Mine. Works well. I started with the midland and went to this. Just because I got sick of holding the bulky one when connected to a roof antenna. The mic on this one is much smaller and manageable.

All this crap works the same. Haha

 

Was it hard installing the Uniden under your switch panel? Been watching some install videos and would just be unsure of the wiring though the floor into the fuse box and attached to antenna. I do like the look of that and think it could be a good long term solution.

 

Not at all. Just pull some wire through the firewall and go right to the battery. Keep the fuse as close to the battery as possible.

 

The only reason you'd "need" to go thru the trouble of mounting and installing a permanent antenna is if you don't have enough range with your current handheld. That's really the only reason to get a dash mounted one, too, is power/range. Handhelds are super useful since you can use them outside the vehicle too (like for trail spotting, or if you go on a hike).

Personally, I've never had a problem with range with my little handheld GMRS radios. Even on the low wattage FRS channels my Midlands do quite well. I used to want to get a dash mounted CB, or even a HAM, but at least for my purposes, it doesn't seem necessary. I'm also lazy and cheap, though, lol

 

Just to clear up, there's no power difference between any of them. It's an fcc regulated standard.

Antenna placement and length is about the only thing to help with your rx/TX for the most part

 

I meant between FRS/GMRS/CB/UHF.