IT'S BEEN A HUGE YEAR FOR CB

When FM was approved for Citizens Band radios most people yawned. Why? well, anyone serious enough to want to use FM usually bought either an Export radio, or one of the many 10 meter radios - easily converted to 11 meters.

But new radios, at a low price, began selling to those who wanted to dip their toes into the sometimes murky waters known as Citizens Band radio (NEWS ALERT!! CB is not dead, nor dying). Of the two major players in CB radios who pushed to get FM legalized, Cobra and President, only President has come out with guns blazing, while perplexingly, Cobra was slow out of the gate, and somewhat expensive, compared to other manufacturers.

I'm neither an AM or FM guy, I used SSB exclusively, with the occasional trip to ch.19 while on the road, so for these radios I've viewed numerous Reviews on YouTube to gather intel. Some of the videos, of which I have no personal or business affiliation, will be included.

ENTRY LEVEL AM/FM RADIOS

Radioddity CB-27 Pro AM-FM small size CB radio.

You can't find a new AM/FM CB for any less. It's a bargain. The radio features 40-Channel Mini Mobile with AM FM Instant Emergency Channel 9/19, 4W Power Output, LCD Display, VOX, RF Gain, and Handheld Mic.

UPSIDES

It had just about every feature you would need, and it's so small it will fit into just about any compact vehicle that lacks room to mount most radios.

DOWNSIDES

The microphone is not removable, nor is the DC power cord

WHAT COMES IN THE BOX

The radio comes with everything you need except the antenna, and the power cord plugs into any accessory jack (formerly known as the cigarette lighter jack) in you vehicle

PRICE: $59.99 on Amazon

It would be hard to find one less expensive (except for possibly AMAZON or WALMART "Black Friday" sales). This radio has been around for 3 years, but it remains on this list due to the price, and features.

Retevis MB1 AM/FM CB Radio Kit

$99.99*

[*AT THE TIME THIS BLOG POST WAS WRITTEN, 11/20/2024, THE RADIO IS ON SALE FROM AMAZON IN A KIT THAT INCLUDES A MAGNETIC MOUNT ANTENNA FOR THIS PRICE]

It's $30 dollars higher for color screen selections and a removable microphone, but for only $10 more you can get a kit that includes and magnetic mount antenna. Having a microphone that is not removable can be a deal breaker, and if you fall within that group this may be your entry level ticket to CB radio. A manual can be downloaded from the Retevis website.

Features:

AM/FM mode; enables citizen band radio not only to have clear sound quality; but also to have a long talking distance; making it convenient to keep a constant connection while driving
Noise-handle function; SQ/ASQ/NB/HI-CUT function effectively reduces the background noise in driving; offer a clear sound quality for high communication efficiency
Compact size; the size is 124x101x36mm/4.9x4.0x1.4inch; the weight is 0.8kg/1.76Ib; CB radio for off-roading is easy to carry from home to the vehicle and install and won’t take up too much space; package includes mounting bracket
CB radio for emergency communication; supports switching chanenl 9/19 with one-key; helps you transfer the traffic or road conditions; ensures your safety when you get into trouble during severe weather while driving
7-color adjustable backlight; CB mobile radio with LCD screen is easy to read the channel information in both daytime and nighttime
RF gain; is used to adjust your receive sensitivity; help you receive the farthest signals possible; achieve convenient and efficient communication while driving

VOX hands-free; talk without pressing the PTT button; users can focus on the traffic information and ensure driving safety

Cobra 29 LTD Classic AM/FM Professional CB Radio

$139.99 (Amazon)

At $139.95, the Cobra 29 is the most expensive of these 3 radios, as well, the Cobra 29 moniker has been on radios since the 23 channel radio era, manufactured in a long list of countries (I think it's now made in China). The radio has a 4-pin mic connector, which should make some folks happy as well.

FEATURES:

Classic CB Design – Cobra’s classic CB radio has been the standard of excellence in professional CB radios for over 50 years. This radio is durable, reliable, and full-featured with 4 watts of power and access to all 40 CB channels.
Dual-Mode AM/FM – Efficient communication while on the road just got easier. This CB radio provides access to both AM and FM channels, allowing communication with more users, long range or near, and with better sound quality.
Easy to Operate - Ergonomic design with intuitive controls make this radio easy to operate. The included 9-foot microphone cable makes it simple to speak into and reach regardless of vehicle size and results in less clutter vs storing a longer cable.
Instant Access to Channel 9 – CB radios provide reliable communication which is not dependent on satellites and cellular networks. Get access to all 40 CB radio channels and instantly access emergency channel 9 to get updates from law enforcement.
SWR Antenna Calibration – If your CB antenna is hit with tree branches or other items, adjust and calibrate SWR meter for optimum antenna performance and get notified when your SWR antenna needs to be checked with the illuminated indicator.
Adjustable Receiver Sensitivity – Stay connected and clearly communicate when it matters most. Easily adjust RF Gain sensitivity to reduce background noise and static without reducing reception, resulting in the best signal while on the road.

It has the standard 4-pin mic jack, so you don't have to rewire any microphones you have that are currently working on older 4-pin Cobra or Uniden radios. The biggest (pun intended) downside to this radio is its dimensions - this is a full size CB radio.

Radioddity CB-900 Pro AM/FM

$119.99 (Amazon)

The last radio mentioned is relatively new, released in the second half of this year. Like the Cobra 29, the CB-900 Pro is a full size radio, which may cause a problem finding a place to mount it in your vehicle. IMHO, the Cobra 29 LTD Classic is a better looking radio, but looks are subjective, and I've seen several videos, and have read comments from owners who like the look of this radio.

*NOTE: At the time this Blog post was written, you could buy this radio for $119.95 with a free external speaker on Amazon.

Instead of the usual chrome bezel, this one is flat black, which matches the upper and lower covers, as well as the mounting bracket. The face plate looks like it's possibly brushed chrome, but it's hard to tell just by looking at the photo.

For the price, this radio has a lot to offer a CB road warrior beyond the usual full size CB mobile radio:

Additional noise reduction which can be used in conjunction with the usual NB/ANL found on the usual CB radios (i.e. - Cobra 29 LTD)
Talkback
NOAA Weather channels and alert, almost a necessary feature these days
VOX for hands-free talking
A digital meter that can give you the usual S/RF readings and more. I'd suggest downloading the manual to see all that you can do via the menu as well, which can be found on this page.

2 VIDEOS THAT LOOK AT THE CB-900 PRO [once again, I have no affiliation with these YouTube channels, but I often rely on them myself when choosing a radio for myself or a family member]

VIDEO 2:

These are just a few of the legal CB radios available to you this year, and while these seem to have received the most attention, I implore you to see what else you can find in the U.S. market, as well as download the manuals for each radio you're interested in, and compare notes. From the ones I've just mentioned, there are 2 full size radios, and 2 radios that are much smaller, and depending on your situation - necessary to meet the space restrictions of smaller vehicles. I'd love to say I tried each one, but I'm not an AM/FM kinda guy. In part two I'll cover radios that I've actually owned and operated:

President McKinley
President George FCC
President Washington
Retevis HS4
Radioddity QT-60
Radioddity QT-60 PRO
Uniden 980 SSB

Some of these I've already done reviews on, and you can find them by using the search box for my Blog, in the upper left top section of the Blog. I'm trying to get this one (part one) online, before the Black Friday deals come and go, and hope to finish up part two when I return, including the long delayed review of the new President Washington.

Until then...

WOODY