Right Channel Radios

The most important thing to understand when choosing a broadcasting is that all CBs, regardless of their price, are limited to 4 watts of transmission power by the FCC. This means that a $50 bare-bones CB broadcasting and a $200 chrome plated CB broadcasting with every feature imaginable will have exactly the same transmission power. While a broadcasting can be “peaked and tuned”, a process that increase a CB’s performance, all CB radios will have the same transmission power out of the box.

What primarily differentiates CB radios from apiece other is their features, not their output strength. CB radios come with a number of features, the most favourite of which are outlined below:

Squelch Control - This control sets the break-point at which a CB broadcasting outputs a signal. In effect, it keeps the operator from constantly having to listen to static and only activates the speaker when a transmission is received. This is a standard feature and is included with nearly every CB broadcasting sold.

RF Gain - Allows the operator to filter the type of transmission a CB broadcasting receives based on signal strength. It’s useful to block out fearful transmissions to eliminate background noise when talking with someone with a strong signal. This feature can also be used to pull-in and better hear weak signals.

PA Capability - Allows use of the CB broadcasting and microphone as a transmitter for a public address system. This requires a PA horn (usually not included) that can be mounted under the hood or on top of the vehicle.

Automatic Noise Limited (ANL) - Filters out static, engine noise and other interference from the reception signal to improve reception sound quality.

Weather Capabilities - CB radios with this feature have the ability to access local NOAA broadcasting stations for real-time weather reports and updates.

Instant Channel 9 & 19 - The ability to quickly jump to two of the most favourite channels: Channel 9 (Emergency) and Channel 19 (Highway / Truckers).

Nightwatch and/or Backlit Displays - A number of higher priced models include a backlit broadcasting display for convenient operation at night. This is an invaluable feature if a broadcasting will be used extensively at night or in dark conditions. 


When choosing a CB broadcasting and its corresponding features, it’s important to focus on how and where the CB will be used. Specific vehicle owners tend to want different features in a CB radio:

Tractor Trailers & Large Trucks: Professional drivers tend to want full-featured CB radios as they are a crucial communication tool on the road. As such, a good after-market broadcasting “peak and tune” to boost performance is often important. The Cobra 29 LTD series is one of the most favourite CB radios among professional drivers.

Jeeps & 4×4s: Off-road drivers usually have smaller vehicle cabs and tend to choose compact CB radios due to space constraints. The Uniden 510XL and Cobra 75 WX ST are both favourite choice with off-road drivers due to their compact size.

RVs: RV owners traditionally have ample equipage space that can accommodate large CB radios. Popular features with RV owners include weather channel capabilities as well as front-mounted speakers for convenient in-dash installation. The Cobra 18 WX ST II and Uniden Bearcat 538W are both favourite with RV owners.

There are a wide range of features acquirable for CB radios and only the individual can best determine which feature set best suits their needs.

As all radios are limited to 4 watts of output, the biggest bourgeois determining broadcasting performance is the antenna. A cheap CB broadcasting and correctly installed calibre CB antenna will perform infinitely better than an expensive broadcasting and a poor antenna setup. Before selecting an antenna, we recommend reading our article titled Choosing a CB Antenna which can be found online at http://www.RightChannelRadios.com.

© 2008 Right Channel Radios

© 2008 Right Channel Radios. Additional CB articles can be found online at www.RightChannelRadios.com as well as a large selection of CB radios, CB antennas and related accessories.