Question:
Need advice on what CB radio to go with, I don't want to spend a fortune and I've heard they can be "tweaked and peaked" whatever that means! Can anyone shed some light on which ones are worth a darn?

Answer:
Do a search. This topic has come up many times before.
But unless you are aspiring to be a CB Rambo or a certified Billy Bigrigger, you don't have to spend alot of money on a radio, nor do you have to worry about whether someone can peak and tune it, or add all the echoboxes, reverb, and other moronic noise toys.
Get a Cobra (any model), get a good aftermaket mic, and make sure your antenna and coax are top notch. That combo will put out and pick up more signal than you will ever need.
After you get a bit of experience, you will likely do as many other drivers do (and as I did) and run with the CB off most of the time. Because if you have to speed to make a living, ou are working for the wrong company. And what with the other assorted crap and filth that is on the CB airwaves, it is hardly worth it to subject oneself to all that just for a stupid bear report that is most likely going to be erroneous anyway.
Answer:
I prefer the Cobra 29 NWSTWX. I really like the Weather function, I really like the backlit panel at night and I like to be able to tune the SWR thingy.
I bought mine "tuned and peaked" on eBay and I absolutely love it. It came with built in talkback and echo, which I hated at first...but the talkback aint bad. The echo......nice to use when making fun of others with echo, but most of the time its off.
I'd advise you to check eBay for plain normal Cobra 29 NWSTWX. You might be able to get a used one at a decent price.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&a...p;ssPageName=WDVW
Make sure you have a good antenna and setup. The antenna is more important than the radio!
Answer:
Highwayman has it right. Any model of Cobra will do you good. I have a little Cobra 25 and it puts out and picks up well. The biggest reason is the coax and antennas. If they are set right and of good quality your CB will do a great job. As far as "tweak and peak" goes, CB's are set at the factory for basic operation at about 4 volts. When they'r T&P'd they raise the wattage and do other adjustments for maximium performance.
Unless you get good antennas and coax and then have them set your cb still will not perform well. One thing is for sure. There is no need to spend big bucks or get all the fancy stuuf you can. Keep it basic and well adjusted and you'll do good.

Answer:

I don't want to cause trouble but I have to disagree with the Cobra recommendation. I have the above radio sitting in storage now. I tried using it for about 3 years never happy with the reception. The radio had been Peaked and tuned and I could only receive from about a mile out IF I turned the Squelch off and the Gain all the way up. This radio had been into several shops and everyone of them told me the radio was fine and the problem had to be the with the Antenna or cable. I replaced the Cobra radio with a Texas Ranger and now receive out to 15 miles easily with the same antenna setup. I have spoken with many others that have had similar experiences with Cobras.
Your Milage may Vary.

Answer:
I got the Uniden PC "elite", like it alot, seems to be much like The Cobras, I was tossed between it and the Cobra. Definitly get the Weather band feature. Costs a little more with the Weather feature, but well worth it.

Answer:
GET A GALAXY , THEN YOU CAN REALLY BE A BIG MOUTH

Answer:
I would say a Cobra 29, General Lee, Connex 3300, or a Ranger would be one of your best bets.
Stay away from the Galaxy. They are expensive and that is about all they are good for. About the only one worth the money is the 33.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
I prefer a Ranger 2950 with a Dave Made 500,18' OF "Gold" coax, a monkey made antenna and your all set. Make sure your in the "back row" of the truck stop before dark so you can play all night long. J/K.
The Cobra 29 with 18' of good coax, not the pre-boxed truck stop junk and a good antenna, I run a 102" whip,no tunning needed, and you'll be set. Hint to keeping your radio up to par, STAY AWAY FROM C.B. SHOPS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!www.daveramsey.com

Answer:
Apologies in advance for piggybacking on this thread - what would the advice be for a slip seat situation? We run mostly 2003-2005 International daycabs, so I'm in a similar truck every day, but it's always a different unit. For that very reason, I never did bother tuning my setup, as I'd thought that the truck and/or grounding (to mirror, etc.) was a somewhat important part of the overall setup. As an aside, some of our trucks have lousy coax cables (or outright cut ends), so with those I hook up my antenna and cable, while others are fine, so I hook into the truck's coax/antenna.

Answer:

I've seen everything used from gym bags to the elaborate big
$$$ boxes.http://www.walcottcb.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=51
Commercial and homemade your choice.
I found for slipseat a Francis 5' on a visegrip mount with an added ground
wire from the mount to a ground inside the cab(alligator clip) worked best concerning SWR readings. The visegrip allows mounting on the mirror,grab handles or behind fairings.
Answer:
I use the 5.5 foot francis and vise grip mount with 18 feet of very good coax. With cig plug in.
With a connex 3300. Works great. In the am I throw it in my pick up and clamp the antenna to my pick up bed.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
Thanks for the responses. I guess I'd assumed that tuning the setup would've been a waste of time, since the radio/antenna are usually tuned up when installed more or less permanently in the truck (in effect, it's tuned optimally for that particular vehicle/connection), and that doesn't apply for slip seating.
OTOH, I did get an antenna with a tuneable tip, as well as an SWR meter, so I suppose I could just try it out - when I get the time and ambition.

Answer:
I really appreaciate all of the input......Whew...... now I have to process all of it and see what I can do with it...lol
Tomorrow ia my last day with my trainer and I think he has had a short in his coax because evertything that comes through is "fuzzy", I don't want that when I get my own truck. From what I can gather, if you have a good antenna and a good cobra (maybe) I'll be o.k.. I don't know. It's just confusing. I just want want to make sure I can hear what needs to be heard. I go on my own Monday, May 2nd and I want to have communication but I am also on "trainee" pay still, so I don't have alot to invest in a system. As of now what the plan is, is to use my handheld until I can get a CB. I guess sometimes you just have to improvise til you can do what you can do.
I really do appreciate all of your help, I will take all entries into consideration and come up with what works best for my situation.

Answer:
You don't have to go with fancy stuf especially starting out. A Cobra CB, noise canceling mike so you can be understood, good coax, 18', and a pair of fiberglass (or just one) antennas is a good start. May be all you ever need. Just have the SWR's set and it'll work just fine.
By the way you don't even need the fanciest Cobra you can find. All the jazz, backlight, weather etc just takes away from the CB's purpose.