Common question I get is, "What CB should I get to talk to people (50 miles, 200 miles, 3 states, et

Written: July 7, 2025

Common question I get is, "What CB should I get to talk to people (50 miles, 200 miles, 3 states, etc.) away"
The answer is, you don't. The long answer, do some study, get your HAM radio Licence, then figure out what you all are going to want to try out. There are different frequency bands that act different. Also antennae designs act different. Most of the hobby is getting it working, and answering just that question is really for you to experiment and explore within the limits of your licensing.
Now, if you want a SHTF radio that is legal in life and death, get a Beofang or Btech handheld 2Meter/70cm HAM radio and watch YouTube's and figure it out. They are $30 and with a couple hours fiddling you should know how and where to call for help to other Ham operators within 5-20 miles. There are a couple national calling frequencies. And you can go online e and find local repeaters. Don't broadcast unless an emergency but you can listen to anything with out a license.
For more information on HAM radio you can go to my website and search or find the category. EMS, school buses, airplanes, those little cheap Chinese radios are amazingly handy to listen on to all sorts of stuff and come a disaster, you are allowed to call for help on the same frequencies.