Miata Mailing List: June 1998, Message #561

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At 01:02 AM 6/4/98 +0000, you wrote:
>Today I saw an ad for a $49.95 RS handheld CB radio, when I called the store
>the clerk said the radio was "almost" as good as a mobile unit; I am
>thinking of getting one and possibly using it at MMM or Deal's Gap.  Given
>the probablity it will be used only one or twice and I'm not interested in
>spending much for state of the art but will settle for acceptable
>performance, what are the chances I will be satisfied with this unit?   I
>could also find the old RS mobile in the basement and get one of Jeff's
>antennas, if available, and have somewhat better performance.  Has anyone on
>the list tried a handheld CB and how did it perform compared to a full power
>mobile?
>

The handhelds suck. Period. The tiny little speaker is just not capable of
putting out enough sound pressure for you to hear it in an open top
roadster. Yeah, they have sufficient range if you're at a traffic light,
but when you really need it, it won't help. Besides, for the same price,
you can get a regular non-handheld CB. You can velcro it to the side of the
console. (I put it on the driver's side, other people put it on the
passenger's side.) You get the lighter weight of a microphone instead of
having to hoist the entire thing. The speaker is larger and louder. You get
better range since you use a magnetic antenna on the trunk. Overall, a much
better solution.
--
	Gary Fischman
	Miata.net