So I've looked around and the pickings appear to be slim in this category, but it's something I've always been adamant about. I'm planning on getting my ham tech ticket, maybe general, in the near future. That may mean in a few months, but that also may mean in a year. Depends on how much time I have to study as an over the road driver. So what fcc approved radio with cb and ssb capability do you guys recommend? I need something off the shelf, no mods needed other than tune and align, no linear. I want this to be a completely legal setup for a person with no ham ticket. Right now, I'm not going to be broadcasting on ssb but I will most definitely listen from time to time to get a feel for the band. Sorry for posting this when there are so many other threads reviewing different radios. Being that I've just recently gotten my first cb, which is a very old cobra 26 (aka 29a according to the back) 23 channel cb, I have no idea what I'm looking for. Thanks in advance.
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Which legal radio?
- Thread starter Krazymonkeys
- Start date
You are correct, there are NO (to my knowledge) approved radios for both services.
look around, find out what you want to do and ask questions, the people on this forum will help you out.
I thought that the 148GTL and a couple of the Galaxy radios were FCC approved? I read somewhere once that you could legally operate a CB radio with ssb capability but not a SSB radio with CB capability because of the power limits for each as well as easy modifications.
I could be mistaken but I read this as you don't want to break the CB rules while studying for ham and not a request for a legal CB/ham crossover, is that right?
The only legal new SSB CB's that I know of right now are the Uniden 980, the Cobra 148 and the Galaxy 959 and 979, I don't have any real personal experience with any of them but google those models and you should find some reviews.
Note that Cobra considers the 148 a "legacy Product" so it's uncertain how long that one will be available new.
Added on edit: We must have posted at the same time.
I'm not sure but I believe Road Squawker thought you wanted something you could use for both CB and ham, there is no such thing as a legal ham and CB rig. An unmodified 148 is legal for the CB band but not on the ham bands, so you'll be all set for CB use.
The only legal new SSB CB's that I know of right now are the Uniden 980, the Cobra 148 and the Galaxy 959 and 979, I don't have any real personal experience with any of them but google those models and you should find some reviews.
Note that Cobra considers the 148 a "legacy Product" so it's uncertain how long that one will be available new.
Added on edit: We must have posted at the same time.
I'm not sure but I believe Road Squawker thought you wanted something you could use for both CB and ham, there is no such thing as a legal ham and CB rig. An unmodified 148 is legal for the CB band but not on the ham bands, so you'll be all set for CB use.
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If you want to be sure not to end up on the FCC radar do not buy a radio that is not with in your privilege to operate.
There are no radios sold in the US that are approved for both services.
There are some who will buy a 10 meter radio and modify it for CB, but sooner or later people will transmit in an area that is not allowed and get caught.
There are no radios sold in the US that are approved for both services.
There are some who will buy a 10 meter radio and modify it for CB, but sooner or later people will transmit in an area that is not allowed and get caught.
the stock 148 is a perfectly legal AM/SSB CB radio.
in fact, most newer CB radios have both modes.
if you see a "CB" radio with FM mode, it is NOT a "legal" (FCC certified" in the U.S.) CB radio.
before some one jumps in and gets "technical",
yes, you can legally OWN a non-certificated radio.
in fact, most newer CB radios have both modes.
if you see a "CB" radio with FM mode, it is NOT a "legal" (FCC certified" in the U.S.) CB radio.
before some one jumps in and gets "technical",
yes, you can legally OWN a non-certificated radio.
Just so we're all on the same page here are you looking for a radio that's legal for both CB and ham or just a legal CB radio for CB use only?
I was looking for info on a radio that I can use to broadcast on cb while studying for ham but still listen on ssb to get a feel for how to talk on ssb once I get my ham license but not get busted by the fcc for having in my truck. I have no intention of transmitting in any channel I'm not legally allowed to. Should I buy a scanner that is capable of listening on ssb instead and just use my cobra 26 for now? I think my biggest concern was not having to have two different radios in my truck, even after I get licensed, but stay legal while doing so.
I would go with the Uniden 980. Do not have it peeked and tweeked, will decertify the radio and blow the finals.Mount it in a well vented area to keep from getting to hot, and have fun. Just remember "broadcasting" is not legal, you transmit to another station.
Rich
Rich
SSB is a mode not a frequency. With a SSB CB you can transmit and receive in both the AM and SSB modes legally on the CB frequencies, a SSB CB will not let you listen to SSB on ham frequencies because it just can't tune into those frequencies. If you want to monitor hams while studying for your ham license you'll need something that can listen to ham frequencies. You won't find a radio that can listen to ham frequencies while legally being used as a CB.
If you want to listen to hams a separate receiver would be the way to go, but do some homework on the difference between modes (type of modulation) and frequencies before spending your money. Being able to listen to SSB won't do you any good if it's not on the right frequencies.
If you want to listen to hams a separate receiver would be the way to go, but do some homework on the difference between modes (type of modulation) and frequencies before spending your money. Being able to listen to SSB won't do you any good if it's not on the right frequencies.
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The uniden 980 like stated. They come pretty well aligned out of the box. No need for a tune. Keep it stock and like said watch the temps on the back of the radio. It will get hot if you speak for a long period of time. There are mods to resolve this. One is to simply turn the power back. Especially on SSB. Also they make a wireless mic for this radio that is pretty handy while mobile or even for base use. They are the best CB/SSB radio for the money on the market right now that are new radio and cost much less than most other CB/SSB radios. They are definitely FCC approved. Uniden made sure this radio is right on the money out of the box as far as power is concern. They are very stable on SSB and have clean, clear audio. Be my choice anyway. Have one and it works very well for the cost of the radio. JMHO.
Ok apparently, I do need to do a lot more homework. I thought any SSB transmission was HAM territory. That's why I always thought it was odd that a few of the SSB CB radios were legal. I just figured that if the option was there, I'd use it. I'm not even sure if this is the right area of the forum for what the thread has evolved into, but I'll ask anyway. What is SSB and what does it mean for the average CB user? This way I'll know next time what I'm really asking. Thanks everyone for the replies.
In a nutshell (as if this subject could fit in one) when you transmit you are sending out a signal, this signal has information on it that your receiver uses to recreate your voice. The frequency is where your signal is at within the radio spectrum and the mode is the method used to put the information that your receiver uses onto the signal. In CB the modes used are AM (think regular old CB) and SSB, ham has more modes available but there are rules concerning what ones can be used and where to use them.
I'm sure the hams on here can explain things better than me so I'll leave the more technical stuff to them, if I keep going I may start spreading CB legends.
PS: SSB is mostly used for DX (long distance contacts) which really isn't legal on CB so if you want to be strictly legal there won't be much you can do with a SSB CB.
I'm sure the hams on here can explain things better than me so I'll leave the more technical stuff to them, if I keep going I may start spreading CB legends
.PS: SSB is mostly used for DX (long distance contacts) which really isn't legal on CB so if you want to be strictly legal there won't be much you can do with a SSB CB.