Compact Cb radio recommendations for new hot shot drivers?

I purchased a cobra 29 off of eBay quite a few years ago for $99, already praked and tuned.

I then purchased a noise canceling mic for about $30 I think.

Make sure to get yourself a good antenna, otherwise it’s just a waste

 

A Cobra 29 is a good reliable radio. have had 3 in 34 yrs driving.
throw the mike out the window. I use a cheap $10 one and it sounds better than the new one. lol.
The antenna and cable are important. I use a Wilson and a good coax cable.cheap antenna and cable can make a high dollar radio sound like crap.

stop buy a CB shop for advice on hook up.

 

If it were me...I would stay-away from the handheld CB's like the Cobra 75's...If you drop it, it's done! Plus they just don't have that good of sound...

Good cheap radio that is also small (4.5"W x 6 3/4" D x 1 3/8" H) would be the Uniden 520xl....You can pick these up for under $50....10X better radio than those handheld type...

 

I have a Wilson, but you can talk to guys at the CB shop and they will point you in the right direction

 

I use several small compact CBs: Uniden 520, Cobra 19, Midland 1001Z. All of them work well for me and produce the legal 4W or less which, given a good antenna, communicate as far as the other legal radios.

For more power, I attach an Italy RM 203P amplifier between the radio and the antenna, which boosts the signal up to 60 watts or more. This is enough to get good strong signals out there which can make a difference in some situations.

I would stay away from the everything-handheld models. I've heard a lot of complains about their limitations regarding poor speakers, hard to manipulate in the hand, etc.

 

It’s a REALLY small budget. Make a start. Weather radio good idea. Bluetooth, no.

I ran hotshot years ago in South Texas oilfield. Your trucks, or someone else’s?

A digital UNIDEN 980 AM/SSB (look up single sideband) is the lowest priced radio I’d want to recommend ($120) as spending more won’t get a lot more.

But you’ll want an RM ITALY 203 amp, ($75) and a WEST MOUNTAIN RADIO CLEAR SPEAKER ($199) to go with it for best performance (good or better than many/most “big” radios). 70W kick and the speaker cuts out noise & static. And will all run off a 15A circuit.

The antenna is always key. For a pickup (not yours) a WILSON 1000 or SIRIO 5000 ($100?) magnet mount. For a truck I own, a puck mount.

Get a decent little radio then save towards antenna. A total of around $500 will allow you to HEAR, and BE HEARD.

Look up radio mounts to fit truck. GENOS GARAGE sells mounts for a Dodge one ton like mine. In the meantime, get a luggage strap to attach to seat console.

.