Are there any radio's that will perform out of the box. I'd like to find something around $200 (including antenna) that I can transmit and recieve with. I don't need to talk to some one 2 states over or on all 40 channels at the same time, but 8-10 miles would be nice. Would i just be better off with something like a Cobra 29 and have P&Ted. Mostly will be listening for bears and for use at shippers and reciever that communicate in this manner.

a cobra 29 is good just make sure it does not have sound tracker on it
now i have a galaxy 99 hooked up to a texas star 1200 amp 8)

a cobra 25 or cobra 29 will work for your radio.

your biggest concern is you antenna.

your antenna is 95% of your radio operation.

get the best antenna you can buy.

i personally would go for a Wilson trucker 2000 for your application.

also you need to get good quality coax. don't use that stuff that comes already preinstalled in the trucks. 95% of the time the ends are installed incorrectly and a lot of trucks now days use the CB coax for the am/fm radio too.

buy a standalone mirror mount with a good antenna and have your SWR set on the antenna and install new coax and you will be good to go.

go to a reputable show that will go out side and set your SWR to the lowest possible match witch is 1:1.

also a peak and tune will also help out if your tech does an alignment for your receive side.

My cobra 29 works great but it is not a soundtracker. I was thinking of getting newer model myself and putting my old one in a pickup. what is wrong with the soundtracker?

All it does is reduce the performance of the radio, even when that feature is supposedly turned off.

I bought one a few years ago, put it in my truck, and could only hear trucks that I could see (within maybe 1/3-1/2 mile). Thought maybe it was just a bad radio so I exchanged it for the same model, same deal, exchanged it once more, same deal. (Took about a week to do all the exchanges) Finally said hell with it, got rid of the POS and bought a Uniden 78 and was able to hear for over 5 miles. Same antennas and everything.

BTW it was a Cobra 29 NWST (nightwatch soundtracker)

Briefly, the benefits of the soundtracker circuitry can never be realized unless this is understood. The circuit only works (in the on position) when communications are taking place between (2) two or more units that are equipped with the soundtracker circuit. (Soundtracker activated in all units) If you have one of these radios and you are talking to another user who has a radio that IS NOT EQUIPPED with sound tracker, the benefits will never be realized! Again, kudos to the people in manufacturing and advertising for not explaining this to the radio buying public. So, before you take your new (or used) soundtracker radio to some chop shop to have the soundtracker circuit "terminated", find someone else who owns one of these fine pieces of equipment and experience the benefits of this additional circuitry for yourself.

There is also the possibility that this was not mentioned because the buyer would view the obvious "incompatibility" of the soundtracker radios with others not similiarly equipped as a "shortcoming", thereby reducing the number of units sold! Either way, you owe it to yourself to try it out first before having your radio "castrated" by some wanna-be technician! Someone who, by the way, should have explained this to you first before taking your hard-earned money and destroying your investment!

The elimination of the amc circuit is the number #1 cause of soundtracker instability in transmit mode.

So, bottom line - their ain't nuttn' wrong with a soundtracker!

guess I will keep the one I have. It is not a nightwatch but it does have the weather and other stuff. I just wanted the newer look because the one I have has the mic attachement on the side instead of the front. I bought it at a cb shop in NM at a petro and it was already P&T. works great. but it is an early 90's model. kind of scratched. But hey it works.

Man, it's like chumming the water. :shock:

Ray will be along any minute to school you on the art of violating the 10-meter ban.

id like to blast him off the air :lol: