Both.... CB to talk to any other wheelers on the trail... and Ham to go beyond that or to contact the few wheelers that have a ham radio.

Cobra 19 DX IV and FT-8800r in my XJ.

KF5WUF

 

Yes down in the canyons and valley's about the only thing that works for ecomm is 80m using an NVIS antenna, I load my loop metal Roof Rack. It works very well for an NVIS using 100-200w depending on what HF rig I'm using. On my GC I use a Screwdriver antenna and a Turbo Tuner running a TS-480HX 200w HF.

 

A lovely setup. I'm a bit cautious about mobile antenna farms though, what if you roll the unit out in the woods somewhere?

Currently thinking cheap SSB with a full gallon switchable for emergencies, and my old Icom 2100 for the ridgetops. Minimum fragile antenna, not too conspicuous so as to have to guard the thing when out of the garage.

Fellow near me is selling an old Uniden Grant XL for a hundred bucks, supposed to be a pretty good rig, but I know nothing about them. Do you? Or anybody? Pretty much a CB newby..

 

Cobra 19's are selling cheap around here. What do you think of 'em?

 

They are fine for what they are...a disposable CB radio. If you are wheeling and it gets wet/muddy you are out $35-$40.... rather than $150+ for the big radios with all the pretty ***** and dials.

My Cobra 19 is probably 10+yrs old and per my watt meter only puts out about 2.5 watts (4 watts is max legal limit) and with my 102" antenna I can talk 10 miles +/- over flatland (Oklahoma).

I would worry more about a good properly mounted tuned antenna than the radio itself. They are really all about the same (Cobra, Uniden, Midland).

If it wasn't for the local Jeep group being so dedicated to the CB I probably wouldn't run one anymore.