Having or buying the right CB or HAM Radio for your Jeep is an option that should not be overlooked. It can be very difficult to know which CB Radio or HAM Radio is best suited to the needs and wants of the driver.
A CB Radio is a personal communication radio which allows a user to communicate with other drivers and users on a specified frequency. And HAM Radio is also a form of wireless communication; however, it uses frequencies licensed to amateur radio operators.
The use of the two is very similar in the sense that they are used for personal communication. A CB can go about 10-12 miles whereas a HAM can do about 25 miles.
The question still remains which one is better suited for your Jeep?
It depends on your needs. If you wish to be able to communicate with other Jeepers, then CB is the way to go. The CB radios are much cheaper than their HAM counterparts. You can easily find a CB for less than $100.
They receive just about any CB radio channel, so you don’t have to worry about the fact that there are 40 channels and not everyone uses them all. If you decide to get a CB for your Jeep, make sure you get one with a PA system. It is very useful if you have something important to say in an area crowded with Jeeps.
The two different frequencies that these radios transmit at are the CB band from 26.965 to 27.405 MHz and the HAM radio band from 28.000 to 29.700 MHz.
A CB radio has a much wider range however it can only transmit over a mile away, so it is good for general conversations with other Jeepers nearby but not much farther than that. It is also limited to about 4 watts of transmit power. A CB radio is best used when you have other Jeeps in close proximity.
Your jeep`s capabilities
If you have a Rubicon model or lifted jeep, we’d recommend that you go with the best cb radio for jeep because they are capable of producing up to 40 watts of power on the low band and up to 50 watts on the high band. HAM radios also produce high amounts of watts. They are the best option if you don’t want to get a radio antenna installed on your Jeep.Â
Your budget
Depending on what your budget is, there are a variety of different radios that will work for your Jeep.
CB Radios are generally measured in two categories:
- CB Radio Power
- CB Radio bandwidth or Frequency Range
So remember, when choosing the best CB radio for your Jeep, keep these variables in mind.
CB Radio Power
The higher the wattage rating on the radio, the farther you can transmit your voice.CB Radio power is measured in decibels (dB). Generally, the louder a CB Radio is, the more voltage is required to get the same amount of output power. This is why, in general, radios with a higher “watts” output rating generally have a large power cord coming out of them.
It’s also important to look at the “SWR”, or “Standing Wave Ratio“. If your SWR reading is too high, you’re at risk of burning up your power transformer.
An ideal SWR reading is 1.5 or less.