I waited for a while to write this review as I just got done installing this very compact CB radio, it took me some time to figure out where I wanted to mount it, I have it hooked up to a Hustler HQ27 mounted on a front fender channel mount, I am impressed with how well this radio works as I was heard around 5 miles out, the sound quality on the receiving end was loud and clear, the only speaker which is the small speaker in the mic or handset sounded way much better than I had expected, I definitely recommend this radio for small vehicles and the main unit could be easily hidden or concealed, I have a few items on order such as a panel mount RJ45 and 3 meter mic extension cable so I can mount the main unit hidden and extend the mic cable.
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Tommy L
★★★★★
False Advertisement!!!
I was really excited to receive my CS-47 all in one mic so I could hide the receiver. Instead I got the small receiver with all the controls on it and not on the mic. That was the whole reason of buying this. VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED and returning immediately!!!
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AceFlyer
★★★★★
Outstanding CB Radio. Better than Cobra or Midland Hand Held
This is an excellent radio. I used it to replace a Cobra 75 that I damaged when removing from my previous car. This radio is half the price. The microphone is much smaller than the Cobra as is the transmitter box. On the road, people comment they can hear me clearly on AM due to it having a condenser microphone. It also has FM which the Cobra does not.
Proper installation is essential, or the radio is worthless. The following is a guide to installing this thing in an SUV, which is the hardest type of vehicle to put this kind of radio into properly.
THE PROBLEM: Antenna location on an SUV is the biggest problem. You want the metal of the car to act as a ground plane which means it should be below the antenna not along side of it. You want the antenna to be as long as possible, but you also have to put your car in a garage, either at home or places you drive to. That rules out a magnetic mount roof antenna.
CB RADIO: The radio I picked was the Radioddity CS-47 Small CB Radio, AM/FM, 40-Channel, One Hander. It is tiny, not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes. You can hide the radio inside the center console with room to spare, which is also where you plug it in because there is a cigarette lighter jack there. Then, the only thing you see is the microphone itself but you can hide that too.
There is another version with the controls on the box which is cheaper.
ANTENNA: The only realistic location for a CB antenna on a Highlander is a fender mount close to the windshield. I used a 2 Foot Firestik II FS Series Tunable Tip CB Antenna. This length is perfect because you can still get the car into a garage and it transmits reasonably well. You can also use an antenna spring (optional).
CABLE: For the cable, you MUST Use the Firestik FireRing CB Coax with Stud. Do not modify this cable in any way. After you bring the cable into the car, do not coil the excess because that would make an inductor out of it. Just shove it under the floor mat in a random arrangement. If you do not do this you will detune the antenna and it will work poorly. Protect the cable with wire loom all the way to the antenna.
MOUNTING: I used the Firestik SS-174 Hood Channel Mount Tall w/K-4 Stud. This requires some modification. You may need to cut off the short right angle part of the bracket after the slots. Using a vise and hammer, bend and reshape the bracket so that it looks as shown in the pictures below. If you do it right, the bracket will slip through the slot between the hood and the fender and won't even touch the paint.
SWR METER: You absolutely positively need to buy this or you are otherwise wasting your time. The antenna must be exactly tuned to match your radio. Otherwise, there are standing waves. This means that the power from the radio gets sent to the antenna and then is reflected back to the radio instead of going out over the air. The antenna is tuned by adjusting a bolt on top of the antenna in very small increments until you get the minimum SWR. Even 1/8 of a turn is significant. The bolt is hidden by a red cap.
Tip: The red cap affects the SWR reading by quite a lot. Take it off to adjust the screw, then put it back on before you make each SWR measurement.
INSTALLATION: The pictures show details of the installation. On the passenger side of the car you need to locate some painted steel inside the hood you can attach a mount to.
Spend some time hammering the mount to the right shape for your car. You should be able to attach it perfectly so that when the hood closes it doesn't touch the bracket and the bracket doesn't touch the fender.
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The cable then goes along the top inside of the fender where you can easily bring it out at the door hinge. Route the wire as shown so it goes inside the passenger compartment and then down to the floor underneath the floor mat.
Randomly arrange the excess wire under the floor mat but do not coil it. That would make it an inductor and mess up the antenna matching. From there, route the antenna cable underneath the passenger seat. Move the seat all the way forward so you can drill a hole in the side of the center compartment about 5 in above the floor height.
Now the antenna connector is inside the compartment. You can mount the radio using some Velcro. Many cars have a cigarette lighter outlet in the center compartment. If so, just plug it in there. Finished! I think the pictures are pretty much self-explanatory.
Oh, you'll also need a CB handle. Nobody uses their name. Something like Happy Rabbit or whatever suits you. 10-4.
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Jon
★★★★★
Amazing space saving CB
My old CB was just that, old. So I decided to update and after looking around a bit found this one. It had a decent amount of features like the high dollar ones without the cost. It is missing SSB but that isn't a huge deal for me. Mine did not include a 12v lighter plug but I've heard the newer ones do. It is super small compared to my old one and saves a ton of space on my dash. It's also got some cool mods floating around on the internet. All in all, this is an awesome CB with good audio quality and small size.
Morty
★★★★★
Awesome CB Unit / Set
This CB setup is absolutely awesome. I bought this to install in my truck and am quite impressed with the unit. It comes with a mic and all necessary equipment to get the full effect. I believe this unit is very comparable to a much more expensive alternative option like Cobra systems. I highly recommend!
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Greg S
★★★★★
Very nice and compact, feature filled CD radio from Radioditty!
Great little CB radio that operates in the AM and FM bands!! Really small profile but powerful output. Had decent reports when transmitting to the local area. I’m pleased with the durability of the unit and the compact nature of this radio. Very intuitive to use too! Easy to recommend!
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RoninUT
★★★★★
Compact, perfect for 4x4 trail use, AM and FM gets best of both worlds.
This is a neat little compact CB radio that will be easy to install in cramped vehicle cabins. If you are having trouble finding a place to mount a more traditional CB radio, this could be the answer.
Menu operation takes a minute to get accustomed to, but once you are familiar with it, cha going settings will be easy. The display shows coded menu options, so keep the instruction manual close so you can refer to it when changing settings.
The main body of the radio is tiny and can almost fit in the palm of your hand. The mic uses what appears to be a CAT5 cable jack, so you might be able to use a cable extension (not a crossover cable) if you need more length in order to mount the unit under a seat or behind a dashboard panel.
It came with a microphone bracket, main unit mounting bracket, mounting screws, thumb screws and rubber washers to go between the unit and the bracket. It also has a spare fuse.
All of the controls are on the microphone head, and you can choose between red, blue, green, yellow, cyan and white backlight colors. This is a cool feature and will let you choose a color that makes viewing easier, or one that matches your interior trim color.
This is a modern CB that has both AM and FM modulation, so it can make use of the new FCC rule changes that allow FM use on the CB band. Additionally, it has CTCSS and DCS squelch options to help mitigate interference in crowded band conditions.
The sound is quite good for such a small speaker. The radio does have an external speaker jack in case you want a bigger speaker.
The regular audio squelch is a 2 step process to adjust it, so that isn't as convenient as turning a knob, but that's a necessary compromise to get this tiny form factor.
If you are using this for mounting in aJeep or other 4X4 for trail communications, I think you will really enjoy the FM capability and the CTCSS/DCS features. It will function much like a GMRS radio when used in FM mode, but without having to get a license. And you will still be able to use AM and communicate with older CBs.
It does not have SSB, but it's not really intended for that type of operation anyway.
Overall I think it's a solid choice for a super compact CB radio with FM capability.
Muffi
★★★★★
Small
This device is very small and compact. Haven't been able to use it yet. Had to order antennae. Have to get back to you with how it works.
