Looking For CB Radio Advice

Howdy, ya’ll. Im 7 months young into the trucking industry and I was wondering if ya’ll could lend your experience in guiding/helping me choose the right radio and setup that will meet my needs out on the road: communicating and receiving info, safety, traffic, shipper/consignee check ins. I run OTR flatbed throughout the lower 48 and after this winter, I got tired of not knowing what was going on up ahead. I would rather be safe than sorry. Just moved into a company owned 2026 Cascadia that has a cb mount, wire harness and coaxel already installed. My company wont do an install nor attach antennas. That's up to me. I appreciate any advice, recommendations and help! Be safe out there.

Good Morning James,

A good CB set up is subject to the old consumer virtue "You get what you pay for". Please bear in mind a good CB setup will let you hear what's happening miles ahead and will allow you to divert from major delays and also be safer by knowing what's coming around the next mountain curve.

There are many good CB brands. Cobra is a good brand many drivers use. I personally have a President McKinley. It has auto squelch and weather band.

I'd recommend finding a truck stop where you are commonly routed that has a reputable CB shop to provide and install the antenna and coax right there. Then they can hook it up to your CB and tune it right there. I can personally recommend the CB shop at the TA on Burr St, in Gary, Indiana.

All in you will pay $300-$400 if you take this route. Again, what results are you willing to pay for? My CB set up paid for itself in about a year with potential lost time and being able to avoid major delays.

Good luck in your search!

I personally run a Cobra 29LX on a stock Freightliner antenna i get about 3-5 miles ahead and about 1 mile behind.

I have a Cobra 29LTD Classic. I started with the Cobra that has built-in weather, I think the model Bobcat has, but got rid of it because the weather alerts would come across even when it was off somehow. Kept waking me up on my 10 so I switched.

I second what ZenJoker said. It's money well spent. I've had great results from the CB shop at the Petro in Atlanta. Heard good things about the one he mentioned as well.

I have a stock uniden bearcat 880 SSB. Stock Kenworth firesticks. Works fine. I never get much traffic on the single side band. Has built in noaa radio, though I usually use tge trucks on board weather radio. I have a standard 880 and there was a cobra29 in the truck when I got it.

One of these days I'll probably have walcot radio tune it, I usually run through iowa80 a few times a month, since my company is out of cedar rapids

The Cobra 29 has been around a long time and is a hard working little radio. Put a good mic on it, I prefer ranger and a good external antenna and it will serve you well. You can have a radio shop peak/tune it to make it a bit better over out of the box if you want, but is not necessary.

Yep those 29 classic LTDs have been around as long as I can remember. I had 1 in my car that was peaked n tweeked a bit, then I scored a little 100 watt kicker. Traded this kid in the neighborhood a switch blade knife for it, he was a local radio geek too. I'd talk to my mom after work @ Pepsi in Torrance, 50 miles to home on it. Dad had a big ass base station set up Illegal radio then a Galaxy +1000 watt linear. His radio was cool, USSB/LSSB & it had sliders to use on the FM & AM bands, He'd talk to his friends like being on a phone call

Many CB fun times back in the day lol

Good Morning James,

A good CB set up is subject to the old consumer virtue "You get what you pay for". Please bear in mind a good CB setup will let you hear what's happening miles ahead and will allow you to divert from major delays and also be safer by knowing what's coming around the next mountain curve.

There are many good CB brands. Cobra is a good brand many drivers use. I personally have a President McKinley. It has auto squelch and weather band.

I'd recommend finding a truck stop where you are commonly routed that has a reputable CB shop to provide and install the antenna and coax right there. Then they can hook it up to your CB and tune it right there. I can personally recommend the CB shop at the TA on Burr St, in Gary, Indiana.

All in you will pay $300-$400 if you take this route. Again, what results are you willing to pay for? My CB set up paid for itself in about a year with potential lost time and being able to avoid major delays.

Good luck in your search!

ZJ, I’ve spoken to the guy who runs that shop, real nice fella… great reviews on him, but I don’t think he has an installer. Did you put your CB/antenna in yourself, or did he recommend someone? I’m looking to upgrade… I don’t know if it’s the installation, or my equipment… But my range seems pretty weak. I’m also not very confident in my own skills as an installer…