Q: Do handheld SSB CB radios exist ?

[gman59]

I'm just starting to research CB radio and stumbled upon SSB CB radios. I like them for the 12w output and extended range.
I am finding base unit SSB CB radios but not finding a handheld.
Is there such a thing and where can I find it ?

Secondly, Which base SSB CB unit do you recommend ?
Thank you

 

[iMONITOR]

They used to:

 

[gman59]

I found this link . Some of the radios are no longer available, including the Cherokee AH-100.

Handheld unit? (w/SSB?)

THe only handheld cb I found that had ssb was an "export" radio. There don't seem to be many handhelds out there -- presumably due to crappy battery life - but for reasons that are not worth going into -- I need to find a decent handheld cb. Any suggestions?

forums.radioreference.com

 

[prcguy]

They are available all the time used, I've bought and sold several over the past few years. They are very popular and you will probably pay more than what the radio cost new. My last two radios, basically the same as the Apache above sold for well over $300 used.

 

[alcahuete]

Yes, you get more power on SSB, but it's still a handheld CB, which isn't going to work terribly well.

 

[prcguy]

Long Beach, CA to the UK on a Magnum handheld with 5ft telescoping whip is not considered working terribly well?

Yes, you get more power on SSB, but it's still a handheld CB, which isn't going to work terribly well.

 

[alcahuete]

Long Beach, CA to the UK on a Magnum handheld with 5ft telescoping whip is not considered working terribly well?

Sure, when the conditions are right. I quite literally did that with a back of set antenna 20 years ago. But most people aren't looking for handhelds to shoot skip, and most people are not going to walk around with a 5' whip on their handheld. I'm guessing the OP is using it for local communications, hence the need for a handheld.

 

[gman59]

Alcahuete, you are correct.

 

[alcahuete]

Alcahuete, you are correct.

So that being said, handheld CBs just generally don't work well...especially if you're trying to use it with a reasonably sized antenna. As was mentioned, you can work DX with just about anything when the conditions are good, but during those times, local conditions are all but wiped out during the daylight hours. Yes, you can run a 5' whip, but that's a litle silly. I personally don't know of any handhelds with SSB that are made brand new anymore.

To answer your second question, with the popularity of CB having faded so greatly, there aren't a lot of actual base units made anymore. I believe Galaxy still makes a couple, but they aren't cheap. Most people just run a good mobile radio along with a power supply, to make a base station.