handheld CB radio

[MD1]

Hi, here in Canada the sale of CB radios is regulated and so I hope to pick up some type of small size radio device in the US and honestly I am not sure where to start and what to get. I may be traveling along some routes where there is poor cell signal coverage and I think a little handheld radio could be somehow useful to carry along for the trip. I certainly am not interested in the bulky truck driver style CB radio but just a little one with a scanner, AM / FM and an option for emergency calls. And yes I do not wish to spend too many $$$ , after I bought the Jeep the few $$ are at the bottom of my boots.

Best small CB radio option for the jeep is the Cobra 75 with a good 3 or 4 feet outside mounted antenna. Thats what I have in my 2018 4 door Rubicon and it works great and stores in the center consol when not in use. I also have a Midland 822? which is supposed to be one of the best portable "hand held" units on the market and receive/transmit distance is crap with the antenna that is included with the radio. You will need a good tall antenna for the Midland radio to work well in your jeep (just like any other CB radio). Both these radios have weather band and similar features.
The favorite of the small CB radios seems to be the Cobra 75 which works good when trail riding in close proximity. Check prices on the internet for best deals.

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[Kluk Ztopolovky]

In Canada CB is not regulated. HAM, UHF, VHF, HF is regulated

right, thanks, I know I was going to get the baofeng radio on amazon.ca and it is not available in Canada but I understand what you mean, thanks

 

[W5MQS]

https://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-BF-F...aofeng+bff8hp&qid=1563939959&s=gateway&sr=8-3

This is not CB radio but a great little radio to learn and use in an emergency. I have one in the Jeep and one in a bug out bag. There are tons of YouTube videos on how to setup and use.

Correct...that is NOT a CB..it's a 2m/70cm amateur radio and it requires at the very least an FCC issued Technician Class license that you MUST test for. The FCC is serious about illegal operation of those radios in the US and have been known to track illegal users down, confiscate the equipment and fine and jail users. Just sayin'... so beware. I'm sure Canada has similar regulations as well.

 

[W5MQS]

Here's a link to someone recently caught by the FCC as a result of illegal radio operations...and this guy was licensed!

http://www.arrl.org/news/radio-amateur-to-lose-license-as-part-of-enforcement-case-settlement

 

[INCRHULK]

Hi, here in Canada the sale of CB radios is regulated and so I hope to pick up some type of small size radio device in the US and honestly I am not sure where to start and what to get. I may be traveling along some routes where there is poor cell signal coverage and I think a little handheld radio could be somehow useful to carry along for the trip. I certainly am not interested in the bulky truck driver style CB radio but just a little one with a scanner, AM / FM and an option for emergency calls. And yes I do not wish to spend too many $$$ , after I bought the Jeep the few $$ are at the bottom of my boots.

CB radios are not regulated in Canada. At least no more so than the US. Your rig has to conform to broadcast standards for max power, minimal channel bleed, noise, etc. HAM is regulated and licensed. I'm running a Cobra 75 that I pulled from my wrecked '16 trailhawk.

 

[Slowpoke]

CB radios are not regulated in Canada. At least no more so than the US. Your rig has to conform to broadcast standards for max power, minimal channel bleed, noise, etc. HAM is regulated and licensed. I'm running a Cobra 75 that I pulled from my wrecked '16 trailhawk.

Your Cobra 75?
The mic also has the radio controls and speaker, correct?
What's the volume like of the speaker?
I use external speakers but looking at these small units.

 

[Kluk Ztopolovky]

Correct...that is NOT a CB..it's a 2m/70cm amateur radio and it requires at the very least an FCC issued Technician Class license that you MUST test for. The FCC is serious about illegal operation of those radios in the US and have been known to track illegal users down, confiscate the equipment and fine and jail users. Just sayin'... so beware. I'm sure Canada has similar regulations as well.

I have read that only in cases of serious emergency one can call for help otherwise it is illegal to do so and in Canada they are not available for sale at all

 

[INCRHULK]

Your Cobra 75?
The mic also has the radio controls and speaker, correct?
What's the volume like of the speaker?
I use external speakers but looking at these small units.

Volume isn't too bad - usually I have my passenger run the rig, as I'm dead in one ear and don't always pick up what is being said. Like any CB, there's noise and such. When I do use it, I find it decent. I may install one of the external speakers for it though.

 

[Slowpoke]

Volume isn't too bad - usually I have my passenger run the rig, as I'm dead in one ear and don't always pick up what is being said. Like any CB, there's noise and such. When I do use it, I find it decent. I may install one of the external speakers for it though.

Thanks for your help. My earing is shot as well, the reason I run external speaker in my truck.

 

[INCRHULK]

I have read that only in cases of serious emergency one can call for help otherwise it is illegal to do so and in Canada they are not available for sale at all

I don't know where you're reading that, but 2m radios are easily available in Canada. You do need to be licensed as a HAM radio operator, however. The network is great in emergencies and natural disasters. If you're looking to keep in touch with others while running trails, get a Citizen’s Band radio, or FRS handheld. If you're really using a radio to call for help when out of cellular service a 2m rig would be a good start, but you need to be licensed.

 

[Kluk Ztopolovky]

I have read about it at a few places plus amazon.ca won't sell them in Canada for that reason as well

https://www.rapidsurvival.com/baofeng-radio-legality/

 

[PatrickM]

I’d forget CB. As others have said, the range is pretty limited. You can get a ham licence with little effort or expense, and then you can use more power as well as using repeaters. Dual band radios are generally pretty cheap, with Baofeng 5’s being amongst the more popular of the cheap ones .

 

[StrikeZ]

I got this Midland. I also got the external antenna. Radio get’s. A couple miles, with the external antenna I get about 8 miles.
https://www.amazon.com/Midland-75-8...3JW&qid=1564431559&s=gateway&tag=spyonsite-20

 

[rideflydivejeep]

Best small CB radio option for the jeep is the Cobra 75 with a good 3 or 4 feet outside mounted antenna. Thats what I have in my 2018 4 door Rubicon and it works great and stores in the center consol when not in use. I also have a Midland 822? which is supposed to be one of the best portable "hand held" units on the market and receive/transmit distance is crap with the antenna that is included with the radio. You will need a good tall antenna for the Midland radio to work well in your jeep (just like any other CB radio). Both these radios have weather band and similar features.
The favorite of the small CB radios seems to be the Cobra 75 which works good when trail riding in close proximity. Check prices on the internet for best deals.

I have used the Midland 75-822 for a long time in the JK. Used the coax connector, antenna kit from Quadratec, and a Firefly antenna I was able to get 2+ miles. The great part was being able to jump out, and throw the battery on, and you're mobile. Get a longer antenna at least 1m. All that being said, I am looking into Ham Radios now.

 

[NCIC105]

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