Should i buy this CB radio?

Question

Cobra 19 Ultra III Citizen Band Radio. its a 4 watt radio for 34 bucks from walmart, it has mixed reviews but most are encouraging. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4642484

Answer 1

No, don't buy it. Get your Ham radio license instead.

Answer 2

It is a good radio for a beginner. If you are looking  for what the pros use in a cobra radio though, you may want to get a Cobra 25, or a cobra 29. They are the same radio but the 29 has more gadgets on it. Take it to a radio shop near a truck stop and have it peaked and tuned for optimal use, and start talking!

Answer 3

If as someone said, you understand CB radio is different than FRS (you do get more range, but you do get more noise and will get interference due to skip) it's a good beginner radio.

Used many of the Cobra CB radio line. Usually a radio like this for $34 will do it's universal job of getting you on the air and talking. However there is no way to cut some of the interference down except for the squelch (the one reviewer that rated it bad, must of thought it was like a FRS radio, which it's not)

remember you will need a outside antenna to get better range (more money) but normally this is a true 2-3 mile radius radio (unlike FRS that claims 2 but can't get more than 1 at most in my testing)

IF you've never had a CB radio, read this first before buying

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cb_radio

Answer 4

Go for it.  It's a nice basic radio that has everything you need.  The bad reviews seem to be attributed to people not knowing what a CB is.  CBs use AM, so naturally there is going to be static a lot.  It isn't FM like cell phones or FRS.