If you are in the market for a CB radio, you have many to choose from. Whether for emergencies or daily use, the CB is still a powerful force in the communications industry. Of course, all CB radio manufacturer's are bound by the FCC to give their radios 4 watts of output power. So what's the difference you ask? There are 4 main manufacturer's of Citizen's Band radios currently. For each manufacturer, they have different additional features they add onto each radio. So, when you are searching for a new radio, think about what you want on it and go from there.
Cobra Electronics has been producing radios for 50 years and they are by far the most well known manufacturer. Cobra's products are available in 40,000 storefronts in North America and many on-line retailers. One of the most famous radios of all time is the 29LTD. Recently, Cobra came out with a 29LTD with Bluetooth capability. This gave truck driver's a chance to use both the CB and cell phone within the same device. This also kept driver's safe by not holding a cell phone while driving. To celebrate their 50th anniversary, Cobra released the 29LXLE which was a drastic change in how CB radios look and function. This was also a limited edition radio. An almost completely digital screen has replaced traditional knobs and switches. Many features to this radio are new to the industry including a radio check diagnostic program. This can help diagnose problems in your CB setup. With the success of the 29LXLE, Cobra released the 29LX which has the same features as the 29LXLE, but it is now a standard model on their product line. Cobra continues to be the innovator in the CB industry.
Uniden also produces a full line of CB radios along with a host of other products. Since it's incorporation in 1979, Uniden has branched out to meet the needs of the growing electronics industry. Their CB radio line of products have been popular for many years. The PRO510XL is a compact CB radio with simplicity as it's main feature. A selection knob for squelch, volume and channel is all you need for communcation. From there, you go to their top of the line CB which is the PC78 ELITE. This radio has such features as a backlit display, instant channel 9 and 7 NOAA weather channels among other features. Uniden recently announced 3 new CB radios ready for production. The PRO505XL, Bearcat 680 and the Bearcat 880. Each of these radios is uniquely styled and has many new features. The Bearcat 680 and 880 both have digital screens which replace the traditional knobs and switches. Uniden is an innovator in CB radio and consumer electronics.
Midland radio is best known for their line of weather radios. They are the oldest CB manufacturer in the US. They currently product 7 models for the CB market. Midland produces 2 handheld radios and 5 mobile. Most of their radios are RoHs compliant which means they have been certified lead-free. Some radio manufacturer's do still use lead in the production of their radios. With it's concern and innovation with weather technology, it's no wonder that 4 of the 7 have some weather technology built-in. All Midland radios have a 3 year manufacturer warranty, so you know they are producing quality products.
Galaxy is most well-known in the 10 meter industry. They also have a good lineup of CB radios. Galaxy produces 6 CB radio models. Typically, each model is a step up from the previous as evident in their model numbers, DX919, DX929, DX939, DX949, etc. Some Galaxy CB's are equipped with a frequency counter to fine tune your channel. The DX939 is the newest model to be released. It is equipped with such features as backlit display, blue channel and meter lights and variable talkback which allows you to hear your transmissions over your own speaker.
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