CB radios are used for short distance communications. CB stands for Citizens’ Band meaning that a license is not required to operate on these channels; they are open for everyone to communicate on. They can be used for whatever purpose you need, be it business or pleasure. Many people, especially truckers, use CB to communicate with others on the same stretch of open road. Businesses often use CB radio to communicate between several teams of people, or to keep in contact with key personnel.
To determine what the best CB radios are, you have to evaluate your own possible usage, and your budget, and then it’s helpful to evaluate some of the top companies in the market, what people are saying about their products, and how many people are purchasing them.
Galaxy CB Radios
Galaxy is one of the most popular and well-known brands in the CB radio market. They make standard configuration cb radios, no handhelds at the moment, but they have been in the radio business for many years outside of CB. Here are the list of features, found on the Galaxy website, that are exclusive to their brand of CBs
- Large, easy-to-read meter with 4 scales:
- “S” Meter Scale indicates up to 60 dB over S9
- Modulation Percentage Scale for use on AM
- Power Scale calibrated for AM and SSB
- SWR Scale
- Automatic SWR Circuit (no complicated calibration procedure)
- “Talkback” Circuit with On/Off Switch and Volume Control
- Variable Power Output Control
- Roger Beep with On/Off Switch and LED Indicator
- Galaxy Noise Filter for use on weak signals
- High SWR Alert LED Indicator
Uniden is well known for many wireless communication devices. From Bluetooth to CB, they have been in the business long enough to have built a large following, and strong brand, and they know how to build quality products. Their quality is so good that many companies (Phillips, for example) brand Uniden’s products under their own name.
Cobra is another well-known and popular brand in CB radios. They get some of the best reviews on Amazon, as well as having some of the bestselling products in the market. This is a sign that they produce quality products at an affordable price point. The Cobra 29 LTD series are the highest rated radio in the category.
Handheld CB radios are sometimes used, but their use isn’t the most practical. The frequency used for CB – 27 MHz – propagates poorly in small configurations because a long antenna is required to transmit and receive this frequency. As such, for handheld operations many people prefer to use an FRS Radio.
FRS Radio
CB radio is still a great way to communicate over short distances though, and when the base cb radio can be placed in a vehicle or building in a permanent location with a long antenna, these radios work excellently. While the popularity of mobile phones and the internet have caused the usage of CB to decline, but there are still many enthusiasts out there keeping the Citizens’ Band alive. We’ve done an overview of some CB manufacturers above. Some other noteworthy companies in the field are Connex and Magnum CB radios. As for which is best – the best CB radios are going to be those that, as stated above, meet your needs, and fit your budget, and also have a history of high-quality, good reviews.