The Best CB Radio for Tractors

While there are plenty of communication options for farms now, there is still no technology that comes anywhere close to being as reliable as CB radio. Some are surprised to hear that CB radios are still used on farms throughout the United States and Canada. Of course, to take advantage of CB radio, you will need to invest in some quality gear.

We aren’t going to beat around the bush. There is barely a CB radio for tractors which is good. We don’t want you to pick up a poor quality product. After all, there is nothing worse than buying something that will last a year or two before giving up. This is why we want to introduce you to the Cobra 29LTD Professional CB Radio. This is by far one of the best CB radios for the money.

The Specifications

We know that most people who are planning to pick up a CB radio for tractors will want something that ‘just works’. After all, when you are out in the field, a CB radio is something you need for work. It isn’t something that you want for fun. However, we did think it would be good to give you a quick overview of the specifications. You may not understand everything here, but we will talk about some of the specs in a bit more depth shortly:

• 40 CB radio stations
• Instant channel 9
• Heavy-duty microphone
• Dynamike boost
• RF Gain
• Switchable noise blanker

Radio Channel Options

With the right antenna (yes, you will need to purchase one separately), you will have access to the full range of CB radio stations. It is lacking access to the NOAA weather stations that other CB radios on the market provide, but if you are in a tractor and working the fields, you will probably already be up to date on what the weather is like, so this isn’t going to be that much of an issue.

There is a button which will provide you with instant access to channel 9. This is the emergency channel. While it is unlikely that you will use it, it is useful to have. If you are in a tractor and you have broken down, then you are going to provide quite a risk to other road users and you will need to tell people about it.

Basically, it is only lacking access to NOAA weather stations. It isn’t a major issue for tractor users, however.

Heavy-Duty Radio

This is the main reason as to why we think that this radio is going to be perfect for tractor users. It has been built to an incredibly high standard.

Cobra has been in the radio business since the 1930s, and they have been producing CB radios for as long as that has been a thing. The whole reason why they have been in business for so long is that they are able to make something that actually lasts. We have seen Cobra radios built decades ago which are still in operation, barely a spare part having been installed. Basically, if you want something that is going to last, then Cobra is the way to go.

The Cobra 29LTD Professional CB Radio has, in itself, been built to be used daily. It has been built to put up with quite a battering. While there are some plastic components that may falter if you bang them around a little bit, they are all easily replaceable. The bulk of the unit is going to work well.

One thing that we particularly love about the Cobra 29LTD is that it has a heavy-duty microphone. You will be surprised at how rare that is on CB radios nowadays, even the professional ones. When you are out in the field, it is likely that you won’t have time to take care you aren’t bumping the microphone around everywhere. That isn’t going to be an issue with the Cobra 29LTD. It really is built to last.

Maximum Power

The maximum amount of power allowed by a CB radio is 4 watts. Thankfully, the Cobra 29LTD works at a solid 4 watts.

What does this mean? It means that you are going to have a range of a good few miles with the Cobra 29LTD. We doubt that you are going to be going much beyond this when you are farming, which means that a CB radio is absolutely perfect for you. Remember; the range that you can get on your radio is just as much based on the radio that you get as it is the antenna that you have paired with it.

Fantastic Sound Quality

Being on a tractor can get pretty loud. Pair the Cobra 29LTD with a quality PA speaker (they are really small), and you have a radio that is fit for even the loudest of conditions.

It all begin with the Dynamike functionality. With a small adjustment, you can change the sensitivity of the microphone. Somebody saying they can’t hear you? Well, play about with the settings and eventually, they will be able to do so.

Our favorite feature, however, is the inclusion of a switchable noise blanker. This, essentially, will cut out the static that is caused by the engine of your tractor. This will ensure that outgoing and incoming transmissions are perfect every single time (well, as perfect as conditions will allow).

Easy to Use

Finally; the Cobra 29LTD is easy to use.

It comes with an in-built SWR meter, so you don’t need to purchase a separate one. It saves you both space and money. In addition to this; there is a little indicator on the radio which will tell you whether the antenna needs to be adjusted or not.

The screen is easy to read, and absolutely everything is clearly labeled. You could dive in without reading the manual and have some idea about what you are doing. This is great if you are regularly switching people in and out of your tractor fleet. You don’t really want to spend hours teaching them how to use the radio, do you?

Conclusion

The Cobra 29LTD is well-built. With its premium sound qualities and rugged nature, this is the perfect addition to any tractor that needs a CB radio.

Additional Reading

• Cobra 29LTD Manual