Can someone explain to me the pros and cons of having a CB versus a couple of cobra hand helds. I am under the assumption that the handhelds will also pick up CB communications when on the trail, have weather channels etc. I am not convinced I need a CB if I can get a couple of good quality portable handhelds instead.
Please help.

 

The handheld GMRS units are basically good for a mile or so
and use different frequencies and arent capable of receiving the cb frequencies.
They may receive weather info.
IF your going to be offroading with a Jeep group, most of them use cb s.
Hope this helps.

 

It pays to get a regular cb radio and antenna mounted in the Jeep. It makes running trails much more fun. You can hear about others having trouble on a bad spot and let the leader know if you or the one behind you has had a problem.
An added benefit is on the way to the trails you can talk with the others and let them know if you need gas or something. You can also hear about road conditons to avoid problems on the highway.
There are lots of places where the cell phone has no service. Around where I live there are highways where I can't call or receive cell phone calls. In that same area I can talk to the house just fine from radio to radio.

 

you will not be able to hear CB chatter on a GMRS.

 

Even if you get a few GMRS radios, if you ever go out on a run with a bunch of guys, you will not hear the majority of people out on the trail....sure you can give one of your radios to somone else without a CB, then the two of you will have no idea what everyone else is doing...

You can get a CB for like $30...if you dont want to hardwire a CB in the JK, get a hand held one. Your reception with a hand held will not be great but should be more than fine for the trail. A good in between radio is the midland 75-822 which transitions from a hand held to a mobile. I have the cobra 75 wxst which is a nice, compact all in one radio....

 

Thanks for the responses.

What features should I look for besides my preference for weather channels. A local shop has a Cobra 29 WXNWST on sale for $129 Cdn vs $250 reg. price. Is that a good deal?
What things do I need to know about a CB?
Thanks,

 

IF you have a cb shop close to you, go by and talk to them and tell them what you would like to do.
They should be able to give you some good info and help you get setup.
Another way to go would be a handheld cb with a mag mount antenna.

 

Look.....if you want a handheld GET a handheld. Like said, the GMRS won't work for CB, but a good CB handheld will. Many companies make after market rubber ducky antennas that provide a little more gain. If you wanted even more range from your handheld you can mount an antenna on the JK and get an adapter which allows you to use it with the handheld. This way you get pretty much all the benefits of a hardwired CB without the need to have one. Another nice thing about handheld CBs are you can use them once you get to where you're going if you want to keep in touch when you go hiking or something.
I am a HAM radio operator and if I was to need a CB for anything, a handheld is what I would go with for sure.