portable CB question

[anthonymodrow]

can anybody refer me to a portable handheld CB that doesnt cost that much?

 

[jhooten]

The least expensive one I know of:
FRYS.com*|*Midland

 

[Rt169Radio]

There is also the Midland 75-822 and the Cobra HH 38, but they are probably way out of the price range you what.

https://midlandusa.com/cb-radios/product/75-822cb-radio/

https://www.cobra.com/detail/hh-38-wx-st-hand-held-cb-radio-with-weather-soundtracker.cfm

 

[elk2370bruce]

and none of them have any great transmission distance. None are worth the bucks.

 

[KK4HBW]

can anybody refer me to a portable handheld CB that doesnt cost that much?

I have a Radio Shack 21-1679 that I've gotten a lot of use out of. I think it was under $100 new at the store a few years ago. The antenna is removable (BNC); with an SO-239 adapter you can connect a PL-259, such as those found on most retail CB antennas. It has two power level settings, 3 watts (high) and 1 watt (low).

I'm not sure Radio Shack sells that radio anymore, though you could find them used (or one that's just like it) pretty cheaply.

Radio Shack 21 1679 Weather Alert CB Transceiver New NR | eBay


Make sure any portable you get:

1) Has a removable antenna with a standard connector type, so that you can hook up whatever kind of antenna you want.

2) Accepts multiple power sources, such as a Ni-MH battery, AA battery pack(s), and 12VDC.

3) Optionally, has a speaker/mic jack.

 

[robertmac]

And you get what you pay for. But generally not much with portable.

 

[KB7MIB]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux i686; U; en-US) Gecko/20081217 Vision-Browser/8.1 301x200 LG VN530)

I have a Realistic (Radio Shack) TRC-226 which has a TNC connector. Use an SO-239-to-TNC adaptor, and you can hook it up to a mobile or base antenna. I don't know if RS still sells them or not.

 

[jhooten]

No they don't. There are four listed on the unmentionable auction site currently between $10 and $20.

They are worth that much considering a new unit with similar features start at $90.

 

[shortride]

Portable CB radios do not have a good record for being able to talk very far.

 

[mike_gain]

Hamfest or Pawn shop.

 

[sdeeter19555]

I have a Midland 75-822, it has as much range as a typical hard mount CB if you use an external antenna. The 75-822 is nice because it comes with the battery pack, and the auto adapter...you just need the external antenna (a magnetic Wilson works well for me).

 

[robertmac]

Without skip on, one can usually yell a lot further than one can receive portable to portable with crappy bands portables. When skip is rolling in, one can whisper further than portable to portable. Even with an external antenna, the range is generally pathetic.

 

[jhooten]

Yes they do have uses. I'd rather be behind my BIL's rolling Taj mahal guiding him into the parking spot with a HHCB than trying to get him to understand hand signals in the mirror. When I say stop on the HHCB he does. When I hold up my hand like a traffic Cop signalling stop he normally hits the gas and things go crunch.

 

[sdeeter19555]

Without skip on, one can usually yell a lot further than one can receive portable to portable with crappy bands portables. When skip is rolling in, one can whisper further than portable to portable. Even with an external antenna, the range is generally pathetic.

Having owned a Midland 75-822 for several years now, I wholeheartedly disagree.

As I stated before, (if the intended use is in a car) with the auto adapter and an external antenna; they have every bit the range and receive of any other hard mounted (type accepted) CB, without drilling a single hole or cutting a single wire. I've used mine quite extensively in rental cars (travel for work), and I see not one bit of difference.

 

[nonperson]

If this is the same guy, he asked the same thing on another forum, got some answers and now has a radio.