CB's for a complete beginner.

I'd look at a Cobra 19 or Uniden 510. Less than 50 bucks, about as simple as it gets, and as powerful as all the other legal CB radios on the market, some at double or more the price.

With a good antenna, coax and installation, you'll be able to participate as good as any other legal CB on the road.

If you want more knobs for more adjustment choices, get a Cobra 29 for about twice the price.

 

Most trucks come from factory with cb hookups installed ( antenna,coax,power studs) that being said, they will get you on the air but in most cases are not your most effecient option. The majority of drivers will install their own system which requires mounting your own antenna mount, upgrading to a quality antenna, like the Wilson 2000 you. mentioned, and using quality coax, if you do not want to attempt the install on your own most cb shops will install system and set swr ( which is impirtant) for you. The Cobra 29 is a very good radio to consider you can buy the basic 29 ltd classic or if you want more features like weather, talkback, radio diagnostics, digital face you may want to consider the 29 lx, as far as peak and tune, radio will work fine stock out of the box or all that is necessary is a transmit and receive alignment by a reputable, competent cb tech. It is my opinion, based on previous experience, to upgrade to a quality noise canceling mic , instead of using stock mic, like an Astatic 636, Ranger Sra 198, or the Palomar sl41 just to mention a few. In my 20 + years of driving I have gone from cobra 19 to high power Galaxys and other dual final radios and now I am back to using a cobra 29 or Bearcat 980 and with a good antenna system have no difficulty transmitting and receiving 10+ miles, just my 2 cents, hope this helps.

 

Get a Uniden Pro 520XL. Use the stock mic, an electret condenser mic that is very well matched to the radio and will modulate it better than any other mic you could use with it. Then, make sure your antenna system is up to snuff. That'll be a great setup, and those little radios are tougher than nails.

I don't recommend the 510 as it doesn't have RF gain.

 

Cobra 25 or Uniden PC 68 are all you will need

 

If you'd like long distance DX, you may want to get a radio with SSB! The Uniden 980 is a good choice.

 

To the original poster, I would suggest that you do a google search for used CB radio books . Especially books that sound like the Beginners Guide to CB radio or Dummies Guide to CB radio. While I hate the names, I find them kind of demeaning, the basic information is worth every cent.
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.Once you get to your company, keep your ears open to learn who are really good with troubleshooting CB radios and who gives solid advice. And avoid those who don't. CB radio basically can be quite simple. A radio with a mic using decent coaxial cable to connect to a sufficient antenna that when put in a truck with a decent antenna ground plane --- just works.

 

I'm in a similar boat to the OP, only I've been on the road a few months. I LOVE Trucker Path, and there are a few other apps I also find helpful, but sometimes I'm not really in a position to look at my phone, even if it were actually legal , and I also think for up-to-the-minute info on things like "how is the Pass?," etc... a CB would be most useful.

I'd prefer to spend a little more and be fully prepared than just continue to wing it. I felt infinitely better and more confident once I purchased my overpriced POS 8" Rand McNally GPS (don't even get me started). Even for all of its many MANY flaws, it is unquestionably better than going it alone.

So a CB is my next purchase. I nearly bought a Uniden 880 Bearcat when it was on sale at Love's last month for under $80, but it went off sale before I got paid. Since then, I've slowed down and really started looking at the options. I hear a lot about Cobra, specifically the 29, but then as I start to look at those, I still see a lot of options. Someone above said the LX is better. But then there is also the LX Max. Is it worth the upgrade in price? I can already use hands-free for talking and texting on my headset. What about the other features? Are they just a lot of fluff, or do you find them useful?

Lastly, in addition to usefulness, what I need in a CB is user-friendliness. Both because I am a CB newbie (and basically a baby trucker at that), but also because my codriver is not super tech-savvy, so though I am confident I can figure out a complicated gadget eventually, he won't have the same success.

I will welcome your CB Brand and Model suggestions, as well as your reasons behind them.

Thank you!