What is the effective range of my Cobra CB radio?
All Cobra CB radios transmit using the maximum IC/FCC allowable power output which is four watts. The amount of power that actually gets out can be affected by the type of antenna used, its condition and location, the physical length of the whip and more importantly the proper matching of the SWR. For more information on setting the SWR, access the question on “How do I set my SWR.” Other factors that can enhance or detract from the effective range is the environment. Tall buildings, trees, hills, and interference from other CB radios all limit the effective range of a CB radio. Certain atmospheric conditions can also limit the range of your Cobra CB radio. If we were able to eliminate all negative environmental factors, a properly set up base station could transmit 17 to 25 km (10 to 15 miles), a mobile unit 8 to 12 km (5 to 7 miles) and a hand held unit approximately 3 km (2 miles) with the only variable being the type of antenna used with your unit. Unfortunately, these optimum cond
