Midland 75-785 40-Channel CB Radio

• Power: 7W Input, 4W Output
• Full 40-Channel Pll
• Operation With Pinpoint Channel Tuning Accuracy
• High/Low Power Switch Reduces Power Consumption
• Handheld CB radio with 40 CB channels and maximum-allowed four watts output power
• Power with nine AA batteries or included cigarette lighter adapter for mobile use
• Charge jack allows NiCad batteries to be charged without removing them from the radio
• ANL (automatic noise limiter) and squelch control for improving reception/eliminating noise
• One-year manufacturer's warranty

To me this radio works better than the small two way radios, thats why I bought it. Yes it's a little bigger than the 2 way radios, but what I really wanted was more clearly transmission and a longer range which is what I got.

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This is a reasonable product for the price. I liked that I could power it with the included car adapter without any batteries required. With the small attached antenna, it seems the range from inside a car is probably only a few hundred yards. So I bought a magnetic roof mounted antenna at Radio Shack for $35 (I later saw one at a truck stop for $20), plus a $5 adapter to convert the normal CB antenna plug to the smaller plug on the Midland. This improved reception, I'm estimating to about a mile radius (my estimate is based on conversations I hear from truckers in the opposite direction on the freeway; at 60 mph (so about 120 mph differential speed), a conversation comes in and then fades out in about 1 minute total. But a 1 mile radius is still pretty pitiful for a CB, you really don't hear much of the chatter even on a busy truck freeway like the I-10 between California and Arizona. And transmission seemed even weaker; I couldn't get anybody from the opposite direction to hear me, but rather only people a few hundred yards in the same direction. So in short, if you want something to chat with a caravan buddy, two of these would likely work fine and are a great price (and you don't have to mess with batteries like with many newer handheld two-way radios). Add an antenna if you want the bare minimum ability to communicate with truckers. For anything more, you have to lay down more bucks for a much more powerful CB radio that can blast a signal and can pick up signals much farther away.

For those who buy a CB for their kids to have fun on family road trips, be aware that some truckers have really really foul mouths (I have a very high tolerance for those things, and even I think some of the things a few drivers say are just downright gross). It can still be fun, but be ready to turn down the volume!

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I think you're missing a fundamental fact about handheld radios. They don't work well inside of a car. For people who are used to mobile CB's with an external antenna, of much greater length, sitting out on top of the car and using the body of the car as a ground plane... you just can't compare that to a handheld. You're going to hate it. If you're inside of the car, the metal body of the car is destroying most of your transmission. You need to get the antenna outside of the car. If that means getting the necessary adapters and wiring your handheld to a magnetic mount antenna on your roof, then so be it. You will find you radio is getting out MUCH farther with that external antenna.

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I purchased the Midland radio for motorcycle use, with a headset mounted helmet. I am very pleased with the performance of the Midland radio. Recommend it to anyone who needs a compact CB.

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I've bought 2 of these. Outdoor reception is great. Sound clarity is better than the FRS radios a friend has. The only drawback has been poor reception from inside a vehical. They do have the standard jack for an external antenna which can be picked up for around $20. Mag mount to your car and reception is great.