Cobra HH50WXST Handheld CB Radio - Emergency Radio with Access to Full 40 Channels and NOAA Alerts, Earphone Jack, 4 Watt Power Output, Noise Reduction and Dual Channel Monitoring, Black

As advertised.In summary -Because I have thoroughly tested this radio,I now know that it provides my family & me an EASY TO USE(including a well written, organized & illustrated Manual),portable, proven/stable technology, easy to keep energizedmeans of local (i.e., "line of sight" to the horizon) e-m-e-r-g-e-n-c-y communication.Based on the above (and with lots of hands on experience with other popular meansof family communication, such as GMRS & FRS) this is, for us, an optimal investment.Update – Jan. 28, 2025:Wanted to offer the following FAVORABLE ‘field testing’ FINDINGS to those,i.e., NOT ‘everybody’ : ),who would want THIS GRANULAR LEVEL OF DETAIL.This is based on running the Cobra HHRT50 (aka HH50WXST) CB thru the following test cycles:6 Charge mode and then 6 thru Listen, aka Receive, mode, using NiMH batteries +1 test cycle thru Listen, aka Receive, Mode using Alkaline batteries.None of the following field testing has to do with Transmit mode, or Scan mode.CHARGE mode: Used a well known / proven brand of NiMH 2500 milli-Ampere hours (aka, “mAh”) AA batteries. Number of hours to Charge averaged 11. This 11 hours statistic does NOT include the 1st full Charge which took the characteristically longer NiMH 1st Charge cycle, which in this 1st Charge case took 28 hours.LISTEN, aka, RECEIVE mode:(a.) NiMH: Used the above NiMH 2500 milli-Ampere hours (aka, “mAh”) fully charged AA batteries. Number of hours of usage averaged 28 for the batteries to deplete.(b.) Alkaline: Used a fully charged well known / proven brand of NON-rechargeable 2500 milli-Ampere hours (aka, “mAh”) AAs. Number of hours of usage was 22 for the batteries to deplete. I only cycled thru THIS specific test using Alkaline one time, thus, this number, 22, is not an average.Associated technical FAVORABLE experience to be reported:I found the Cobra User Manual *, cover to cover, to be well organized, illustrated & written.Meanwhile, the User Manual does not include the Ampere consumption rates in the various modes.I recognize that only a small percentage of CB users would actually ever want this level of detailed information.In my case, I did, hence, I posted related questions on this to "Amazon Q & A." & learned as follows.Want interested readers to know that with in less than 2 days I received the needed & helpful information directly from the Cobra Manufacturing Support Department(along with their professionally required responsible statement:“These values are estimates and may vary based on specific conditions and settings”).For all of the above, I am MOST appreciative; here were their replies that some Review readers might want to know:Charging mode Amperes consumption rate: 500 – 1000 milli-Amperes, depending on usual variables.Listen, aka Receive, mode Amperes consumption rate: 100 – 150 milli-Amperes, depending on usual variables.Transmit mode Amperes consumption rate: On “high power” 700 – 900 milli-Amperes, depending on usual variables.______* Cobra Part No. 480-1088-P-001, Version D (Publish Date: 2017).

I was a very active CBer in the 70's and 80's with mobile units and a base station so I'm not new to them. I'm retired and on the road a a lot as a snowbird from MA to FL, and annual trips to our Nova Scotia farm. I still have my older CB but there is not a convenient place to install them in today's nice vehicles so I researched handheld CB's a LOT! I decided on this one and I am very happy I did. Granted, I only received it just today (2 day delivery). To be ready when it arrived I also ordered rechargeable batteries (not included and I recommend) , an AC power cord to quickly recharge them (not included, which you can do while in the radio), and a telescoping antenna. Well they all arrived well packed at the same time. Knowing CB's I had it out of the package (actually the hardest part lol) and up and running within within 15 minutes. Installation is a breeze and the manual is perfect for beginners to understand. Turned it on - with the rubber ducky - and sat back to read the manual while it scanned. In no time it was talking to me quite clear. Turned on the Sound Tracker System, which we didn't have in the "old" days and the the voice clarity was great. Played with the telescoping antennae and got even more channels, and some skip channels also from who knows where!! Have not tried the magnetic mount yet but will be using it on our way back up north in a couple weeks. I know I'll have no problem getting helpful info from the truckers. Don't pay any attention to reviews that say they get no response on channels and it was a waste of money ... they just don't understand the CB world. I'm very happy with it and would definitely recommend it.

It’s a cobra it works. It’ll come in handy when the apocalypse hits.

I don't care about noise reduction but it makes it louder but don't seem to reduce noise but I don't feel I need it. Scans all 40 channels in under 7 seconds! Received skip from the West Coast here in the Midwest. Added an extendable antenna but doesn't seem to really need it. Manual has useful tips and info but doesn't specify current draw for power supply, it's 1A.

we purchased the handheld CB for when we are traveling to listen to the traffic to help us pass time and for our grandson to use while traveling. You cannot receive any buddies messages or talking and they do not hear you talking. It is very unfortunate because cobra makes quality product. I’m not sure what’s wrong, but we are turning it

The stock rubber duck antenna and magnetic mount were useless (only gave about 1/4 mile range) so I purchased a 53" telescopic antenna and a BNC magnetic mount to test this radio. I had my daughter man my base station with pre-amp and a lot of power, I drove in a car with the Cobra handheld unit using a 53" antenna and BNC magnetic mount on the roof of the car. My driving was pretty much a straight city road with some 2-story buildings along the road. At about 1.5 miles the base station couldn't receive my transmission without the pre-amp turned on. At about 2.7 miles the base station could still receive my transmission but with a lot of background statics and my audio was barely audible at the base station. All this time I heard the base station loud and clear. Conclusion, the stock rubber duck antenna gave very short 1/4 mile range, upgrade to a 53" telescopic antenna will increase the range to 1 mile, using the magnetic roof mount will further increase the range to 1.5 miles (2.7 mile if the other side has a pre-amp). The longer antenna really helps but not convenient, magnetic roof mount helps as it provides a good ground plane from the vehicle. So if you are looking for a handheld radio for short to medium range GMRS radio is better than CB radio.