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Best handheld cb 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]
Last Updated September 1, 2023
My name is Arnold Simmons. I have been a freelance writer for 20 years, focusing mainly on technology related topics. After more than 40 hours of research and testing, which included using 18 different handheld cb in five cities and interviewing product teams at five major companies, I made a list of the best handheld cb of 2018
I will go through the main features and what you should consider when deciding which one to pick over the other. So, you will find reviews on some models of handheld cb that impressed me (and a good many other people), and you will find a few informational pages as well.
Best handheld cb of 2018
There is a wide range of products available on the market today, and below I have reviewed 3 of the very best options. So, what exactly would anyone want to know about handheld cb? I know most of us don’t really care much about the history and the origin, all we want to know is which of them is the best. Of course, I will spare you the history and go straight on to the best handheld cb. If you’re scouring the market for the best handheld cb, you’d better have the right info before spending your money. Many models on the market may be confusing to a person who is shopping for their first time.
Test Results and Ratings
| Rank | №1 | №2 | №3 |
| Product |  |
 |
 |
| Total | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Design |
5 points
|
5 points
|
5 points
|
| Size |
5 points
|
4 points
|
4 points
|
| Durability |
5 points
|
5 points
|
4 points
|
| Quality |
4 points
|
4 points
|
4 points
|
| Awards |  |
||
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the handheld cb by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
№1 – Midland 75-822 40 Channel CB-Way Radio
| Total: |
4.8
|
Why did this handheld cb win the first place?
The product is very strong. Its material is stable and doesn’t crack. I was completely satisfied with the price. Its counterparts in this price range are way worse. I really enjoy the design. It is compact, comfortable and reliable. And it looks amazing! I don’t know anything about other models from this brand, but I am fully satisfied with this product.
5
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
№2 – Midland 75-785 40-Channel CB Radio
| Total: |
4.5
|
Why did this handheld cb come in second place?
I really liked it. It is amazing in every aspect. It did even exceed my expectations for a bit, considering the affordable price. I recommend you to consider buying this model, it definitely worth its money. Seems that the material is good. It has a very beautiful color but I don’t really like the texture. This is a pretty decent product that perfectly fitted the interior of our office.
5
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
№3 – Uniden PRO401HH 40 Channel Handheld CB Radio
| Total: |
4.3
|
Why did this handheld cb take third place?
It doesn’t squeaks nor bents. Looks great in my apartment. We are very pleased with the purchase — the product is great! This price is appropriate since the product is very well built. It is inconvenient to use due to the size. I am going to get something different next time.
5
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
handheld cb Buyer’s Guide
Frequency
The ham radio frequencies you are permitted to use depend on which of the licenses above you have under your belt. Not all radios work with all frequencies, so make sure that you buy one which will offer you the frequencies you want to access.
Most handheld radios are limited to around five watts of power; you may find higher-powered options if you choose a base model. If you purchase a handheld, make sure it has high- and low-power settings you can manually adjust as per your needs.
For emergency communications, you will generally be using the two-meter ham band. The 440 MHz band is another that you will likely make plenty of use of. There are a couple of band-related features you may want to consider. One is dual band, which allows you to monitor two frequencies at the same time. Another is general coverage. This feature allows you not only to use ham radio bands, but also pick up AM, FM, and TV frequencies. Advanced features for bands include SSB and CW (Morse code).
Backlit Display
If you will be using your ham radio at nighttime or in dim environments, you may want to purchase a model that includes a backlit display. Remember, emergencies sometimes happen in the dead of night. If the power goes out, you may be stuck operating in the dark. You should have the option to toggle the display light on and off so that you can conserve power when you do not need it.
Programming
This is the ability to manually program the CB radio. Most models allow you to do this using a keypad and the CB radio display. Some newer high-tech models include a cable you can hook up to a computer. This gives you access to programming software which makes it a lot easier to input what you want.
User’s Manual
Usually when you purchase a new product, the quality of the user’s manual isn’t the top thing on your mind. But with ham radio, it is actually very important. Ham radio does have a learning curve, and if you are a beginner, you will need as much guidance as you can get.
Even if you are a ham radio veteran, you may still sometimes hit a button by mistake and find yourself in a mode you do not want to be in. Rather than having to experiment to get the radio back into the mode you want, it is helpful to be able to flip to a user manual which will tell you quickly and easily how to get back to regular operation.
Yaesu VX-8DR
Extra tough. With its rugged polycarbonate resin shell, the Yaesu VX-8DR is built to survive major disasters.
Survives water submersion. This ham radio can last for up to 30 minutes when submerged in meter of water.
Optional GPS. If you get the optional GPS antenna addon, you can broadcast your exact location, altitiude and speed.
Environmental sensors. This ham radio’s built-in sensors can monitor barometric pressure and temperature.
Wide frequency range. In addition to standard short-wave frequencies, this ham radio also picks up FM/AM broadcasts, analog TV stations, audio aircraft and public service channels.
Compass display. The integrated compass shows you what direction you’re headed on the LED display.
TYT MD-380: Excellent Quality Speakers by TYT shines when it comes to audio performance. Voices come in extra clear through its high quality speakers. Its microphones perform well too, and its built-in wind reduction system kicks in when you use this device outside. For even greater clarity, switch you can switch to digital mode.
Awesome audio quality. The audio quality that you get with the TYT MD-380 is quite impressive.
Color display. Most handheld ham radios have a monochrome screen, but this one boasts a full color LCD display.
Choose digital or analog mode. The TYT MD-380 makes it easy to switch between digital and analog operation.
Good menu system. This portable radio’s menus are easy to navigate and use.
Water resistant. Because it can survive rain, you can take the TYT MD-380 with you when you go camping.
Sends text messages. When in digital mode, you can communicate via text.
Comes with accessories. In addition to the TYT MD-380 itself, you also get a battery, a belt clip, a desktop charger, a programming cable and two different antennas.
Portable, 6AAA batteries, 40 channel coverage, NOAA weather alerts.
Handheld, 1000 channel memory, battery powered, Dual bandwidth, Weather/information alters, Alphanumeric display.
This handheld has a dual bandwidth. With an impressive 1000 channel memory, there are constant weather, information, and hazard alerts. The handheld can quickly transmit 144-14MHz and 430-470 MHz and receive 108-520 MHz and 700-999.9Mhz. Portable and easy to use: The radio is handheld and can be carried and used to scan channels easily. There is no need to it to be attached to a direct power source when using. Can be used when hiking or on the move because of the size and electricity supply.
Car Charger
Desktop Charger: I sound picky, but having a well designed charger is quite essential. The very very cheap ones charge at low power continuously 24/The better ones know when to shut off the charging circuitry. The more advanced models allow your units to be on while charging.
FireStik feet II TUNABLE TIP
Another Firestik CB antenna makes this list and is not at all surprising. Firestik is known for keeping a constant level of quality across their models. This one is a heavy-duty antenna a bit on the larger side at 5’ or 15cm that features a tunable tip.
The main strong point of this antenna is the performance. After proper calibration with an SWR meter, this Firestik will allow you to get a strong reception for miles. The tuning part is actually simpler than on some other antennas but you need to be careful because the tuning knob is extremely sensitive. Even in less than optimal weather conditions, the antenna performs flawlessly and considering the size and price, this one is truly a steal.
If getting the best performance for the best price, I think it would be difficult to recommend another model than this Firestik. It’s very hard to find a better deal than this so if you’re interested, make sure you check this one out, you won’t be disappointed.
Midland Mobile CB Antenna
Established in 1972, Midland is now a major player in the industry of radio communications with a very wide and diverse range of products including CB antennas. They use the most advanced technologies for covering all kinds of communication needs. One great example of their dedication to quality is the Midland 18-2442, which is a center load mobile antenna system with a magnetic mount.
This one features a 17-stainless steel whip and with the help of a relief spring, the whip damage is minimized. The antenna uses a center-loaded coil to boost the efficiency and for optimal adherence it has a plastic coated magnetic base. It also comes prewired with cable and connector and works without any issues with all Midland Mobile Cb Radios.
As all CB enthusiasts who are just starting to get into this hobby, a CB antenna like the Midland 18-244needs to be finely tuned to run efficiently. If you follow the instructions correctly, this antenna will surely reward you with a powerful range with at least miles of guaranteed distance. Spending the extra money on an SWR meter and jumper cable could pay off in the end and that’s especially true for this antenna.
All in all, Midland did a decent job with this setup. It comes with plenty of coax cable and the magnet is very strong and reliable. It’s also quite fittingly priced considering what it offers, so you can definitely be satisfied with this one. With such strong capabilities, the Midland 18-244gains a spot on this recommended list of the best CB antennas on the market.
Specifications list
A decent investment, the FS-4RD CB antenna is the last Firestik product on this list, worth taking a look at thanks to a set of very balanced features. There is no need for more introductions regarding Firestik, a well-appreciated brand in the community of CB enthusiasts.
The FS-4RD is a powerful antenna when paired with a CB radio and one of its main selling points is the tunable tip. This allows for some refined calibration that brings out all the potential of the antenna so that the communications can be smooth and for distances as long as possible. So considering this, how exactly does this model fare in a real world scenario? The range is great, the performance of this antenna is actually above average with a listening range of about 20-2miles. One downside about the FS-4RD is the size, at feet, the antenna is quite long and you should be careful especially in places like underground parking lots. This, of course, is not necessarily a disadvantage as usually the longer the antenna the better the signal.
If you think this CB antenna matches your needs, then you should seriously consider it. It has nice features, reliable construction and a quality red finish which is an added bonus. All in all, this one is highly recommended for anyone looking to enhance their radio communications.
Motorcycle CB Radio
As we said in Part I, CBs’ history in the market, installed base, and simplicity are the reasons they continue to sell as the preferred BTB communication option from manufacturers. If you have a touring model or a bagger from one of the major manufacturers, chances are it has been designed to accept a CB. You can either order it pre-installed on your new bike from the factory (in the case of BMW, Harley, Honda and Kawasaki) or have it added later as an accessory. Since this type of installation is unique for each bike and is of a proprietary design, you’ll pay more, but the existing bike controls and/or integrated AM/FM radio will likely work in an well-behaved manner with the CB. Since the CB unit is usually mounted deep in the bowels of the bike, and often requires the addition of electrical filters, headphone jacks and other such electrical system refinements, installation is usually best left to the pros at your local dealer.
If your ride was never designed to accept an OEM CB unit (as is the case with many cruisers) you’ll have to go with an aftermarket supplier. But don’t despair; these solutions perform just as well. J&M; Audio makes a nice CB unit that mounts on the left handlebar, allowing use of a push-to-talk trigger and other controls while riding—just like the OEM setups. All the electronics are housed in the handlebar-mounted control unit so there’s nothing to squirrel away in the caverns of your bike. Model JMCB-2003B-DU provides a 40-channel CB radio, NOAA weather band radio, rider/passenger intercom and stereo music amplification from any portable music device, all integrated into a compact unit.
Bluetooth
The industrious Swedes, who have given us dynamite, the adjustable spanner wrench and the PC mouse, have most recently given us Bluetooth. As we pointed out in Part I, Bluetooth was originally meant for short distance wire and cable replacement. Several vendors, such as J&M; Audio and Chatterbox, also build Bluetooth devices primarily for short range cable replacement. Bluetooth is also often integrated with other BTB communication technology to facilitate communication to devices like GPS units, digital audio players and phones. However, in this dedicated Bluetooth section, we’re talking about products that use Bluetooth technology primarily for longer range two-way radio communication in place of a GMRS/FRS or CB radio. Sena Technologies and Cardo Systems are just two of the manufacturers that have augmented the basic Bluetooth capabilities to allow for longer range BTB communications, and they also offer high quality products in this class. Both are helmet-mounted units, and both can link up with a multitude of other devices, such as your GPS for voice navigation, audio players for music, or a passenger’s unit for intercom capability. Both units claim 12–1hours of usage between charges and take 2–hours to fully recharge.
The color backlight allows for setting one of options. AUX outputs enhance the connection capabilities. The radio is connectable to a wireless mic.
Each button when pushed is accompanied by a sound signal.
POWER SOURCE
The moderate price makes this device extremely affordable. A pretty wide operating range boosts transmitting abilities. A solid sound quality.
The radio is pretty bulky due to a large battery compartment.
What is a Cb Radio
CB radios are currently used in many spheres including taxi services, long-haul traffic, sailing, construction, warehousing, fishing, and hunting. Such a wide application of CB radios is explained by a simple way of connection without cell towers, satellites, and other communication facilities. The CB radio stations provide a free communication for or more people, yet their radius of action is limited by the power of receivers or transmitters. We will consider different CB radios and tell you how to choose a device suitable for your needs.
If you need a more portable appliance for a free group communication, we advise you to consider our walkie talkies, as well as parking sensors and car backup cameras for confident and safe driving.
Capabilities
Capabilities are the next important factor in choosing a CB radio. Capabilities include the number of channels, number of memory cells, receiving of NOAA channels, and quick setting for emergency signals. Every frequency range is divided into frequency channels for radio broadcasting. The more channels are available, the simpler it is to find a free frequency. And the coding system allows several users to occupy the same channel. The great number of channels is peculiar to high-power and wide-range CB radios. As for the low-power models, they generally feature a small number of available channels. The memory cells contain combinations of channels and subcodes that are frequently used. Subcodes are used in coding systems to divide users into groups within the frequency channel. The subcodes embedded into memory cells facilitate the use of CB radio. Choosing a proper channel or/and switching between channels is easy and creates no nuisance. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration maintains the broadcasting of weather satellite system. The NOAA weather channels provide users with weather forecasts for local areas. The CB radios receiving NOAA channels usually have memorized channels that are switched by pressing a relevant button. The safety channel of a radio is needed for receiving messages from emergency services. The CB radios are commonly equipped with individual buttons for switching to emergency channels.
Always In Touch
If you are often at the wheel and wish to stay in touch with other drivers, pay your attention to Galaxy Radios DX-959B. The range was the first thing that attracted our attention. Of course, we can’t specify an accurate value since it depends on multiple conditions including terrain and weather. Simply stated, this CB radio will provide a communication in the range from 1to 20 miles. This is achievable thanks to the regular antenna. If you attach a more powerful accessory antenna, the radio’s transmitting and receiving abilities will considerably expand. This became possible due to a high-power receiver of Watts. The radio is mounted into the dashboard and is powered from the in-vehicle network. What is more, this CB radio is designed in a way to provide a minimum distraction from driving and allow an easy setting. It’s remarkable that the radio’s backlight has a neutral color which won’t be dazzling even in the dark.
Interesting Fact
Mahlon Loomis, an American dentist, conducted the experiments that foreran the invention of the radio. He implemented a wireless communication by using kites carrying wires in the air. He succeeded to transfer the signals wirelessly for more than 1miles in 186So, all dentists may be proud of what Loomis did.
Transceiving Capabilities
It’s worth discovering the technical aspects. On buying any radio, it is important to find out how good its performance is and what transceiving range to expect. BEARCAT 880 is designed for broadcasting across 1-miles. The radio supports amplitude modulation and hence, suits best over-the-road truckers who need AM frequency range to be able to communicate on the road. Among the channels the radio includes are emergency channels and weather forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Uniden CB radio is also known for clear sound perception and high sensitivity (µV at dB (S+N)/N) that strengthens even weakest signals to enable better communication quality and clarity of the speech under harsh weather conditions and rumbling background noises.
Nick Guy
When the 12-inch MacBook was introduced in early 2015, USB-C was merely a curiosity for most people, but now that many new laptops have dropped legacy ports, USB-C has gone from interesting to important. The new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models, as well as Windows laptops from HP, Asus, and Acer, offer only USB-C ports, and a number of Android smartphones use USB-C as their only physical connection. This all means that a critical mass of people need cables, adapters, and other ways to get older gear working with newer devices.
How we picked and tested
Each different type of adapter or connector we evaluated required different kinds of testing, but we were able to use some common tests across the board. Our main testing machine was a MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016, Two Thunderbolt Ports), with ancillary testing done using a 201Dell XPS 13, our pick for the best Windows ultrabook.
We tested the data-transfer speed of the USB ports on hubs and adapters using our favorite flash drive from SanDisk; specifically, we used the AJA System Test app to measure the read and write speeds of the USB 3.0 drive. We repeated this process three times per device, averaging the results; if an adapter or hub had multiple USB ports, we repeated the test for each port. To test USB-C–to–USB-A cables, we connected Samsung’s Portable SSD T(one of the fastest drives with a USB-C connection) to the Dell XPS 1and ran CrystalDiskMark. It’s rare to see USB 3.Gen devices at this point, but we’ll test on the faster standard when it’s more common.
We tested video adapters using a Dell P2715Q (our pick for the best 4K display), Intel’s Skull Canyon NUC computer, an older VGA monitor, and a 1080p TV. We measured the refresh rate using the Blur Busters Motion Tests.
A great cable for power and data
This certified cable charges and passes data as quickly as any other, and it’s built well.
Chances are, you’ll eventually need a USB-C–to–USB-C cable, whether it’s to replace the charging cable for a USB-C laptop, phone, or tablet, or to transfer data between USB-C devices. For now, power is the more-common need—few hard drives yet have USB-C ports, and USB-C phones and tablets sync most data with the cloud. You’ll find a ton of inexpensive options, but while we’d normally lean towards saving a few bucks on cables, it’s not worth the risk with USB-C: As Google engineer Benson Leung found out—the hard way, as they say—some cables that don’t adhere to the USB-C specification can actually fry your computer. You should spend a little bit more to get something that’s verified to work safely with your machine.
USB-C–to–DisplayPort cable
Accell’s U188B-006B USB-C to DisplayPort Cable, Plugable’s USB-C to DisplayPort Adapter Cable, and StarTech’s USB-C to DisplayPort Adapter Cable are identical to one another and work as well as our top pick—they just lack the clip that “locks” the DisplayPort plug in place. Don’t hesitate to get one of these if the price is particularly good or if our pick is out of stock.
USB-A hubs
The design of Monoprice’s Select Series USB-C to 4x USB-A 3.0 & USB-C (F) Adapter makes it difficult to fit USB plugs in adjacent ports simultaneously.
Aukey’s CB-C2is inexpensive but especially large compared to the competition. Our testing also showed that one of the ports provided more power than the rest, which was strange and a bit concerning.
USB-C–to–USB-A cable
Nathan K. has verified two other USB 3.Gen cables: the Anker USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable and the Anker PowerLine+ USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable. The former is more expensive than our pick with worse build quality, while the latter is about double the price of our pick. The braided cable of the PowerLine+ may be a bit sturdier than our pick’s, but we don’t think most people need to pay extra for the rugged design. The PowerLine+ did work well in our testing, if you happen to prefer its looks or want something that’s overbuilt.
How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the handheld cb by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
Final Word
First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.
Most important, have fun and choose your handheld cb wisely! Good luck!
So, TOP3 of handheld cb
- №1 — Midland 75-822 40 Channel CB-Way Radio
- №2 — Midland 75-785 40-Channel CB Radio
- №3 — Uniden PRO401HH 40 Channel Handheld CB Radio
Questions? Leave a comment below!
Chatting about handheld cb is my passion! Leave me a question in the comments, I answer each and every one and would love to get to know you better!
