Radio Shack TRC-447 40-Channels Base CB Radio

Overall I am pleased with this CB. The handiest feature it has, not found on most affordable CBs, is the built-in SWR meter... indispensable in some form if you're going to get any real antenna performance. Next is the built-in weather/civil alert system, which receives our local WX station pretty well, really easy to use. The RF gain and mic gain controls are also features all CBs should have, and most affordable ones do not. The mic itself looks like a cheap electret microphone, but I tested it in actual transmission-reception and it actually sounds quite acceptable. With the mic gain all the way up, it still won't overmodualte, so the mic output can't be very high. It is a smallish mic, but has cool channel up-down buttons for easy manual scanning, so I won't replace it.

The TRC-447 is not really a "base" radio, because it runs on 12V nominal, not line voltage. Maybe they call it that because of the SWR meter. You'll need a 12V power supply to use it in a base station.

Like most Radio Shack products, it does not seem very rugged overall, but is good enough that way. The silver face is metallized plastic, not metal. The case is wrinkle-painted metal, not heavy, but not too flimsy. The TRC-447 is a thoroughly modern design, though, dating from the 'peak' of CB popularity and development, built around ICs and using frequency synthesis all through. In other words, if it's not abused, it should remain reliable. The product box was a little scuffed up, but all the contents were there and in perfect condition.

this radio very similar to a cobra 29 w/noa weather 7 channels and alerts you of bad weather when listening to the cb . the cb gets out a good distance but i have a wilson 5000 hooked to it. the radio is in a metal type case so its rugged well built the big difference is the mic, it has a up/down buttons on it thats lets you change channels from the mic, the mic is for me a little small but it works fine , it looks like the mic could be replaced with a cobra mic but you lose the channel changing capability. i like the radio its was a good buy for me

This radio is a great value. My 447 has been peaked and tuned and I have had people cursing me every time I try to tune my swr. They all get mad because I am so loud that I cut every one else off. I can be 7 miles fom my Base station and can still get about 90% Modulation even with a wilson lil will antenna. If you want a great radio with an even better price without the need for high end options (i.e. talkback, r. beep and etc) this is your best bet. The weather receiver works great as does the rf and mic. gain. This is just a great all around radio that with a little tuning and peaking can put out in excess of 10 watts. Just keep in mind that it is very pickie about the tuning of your antenna.

Great little radio, I really like the weather channels functions, more user friendly than most weather radios. I also like the channel up/down on the mic. Third one I've owned and would buy again.

I bought two of these just a few weeks ago. I've had Realistic radios before as well. They work fine, and they'll talk as well as Cobras and Unidens. I'm a truck driver and I've used radios for over 25 years. I've never had a real problem with Radio Shack products. I've got this latest radio hooked up to a 48 inch antenna, and it reads great on the SWR meter with little to no adjustments. I recommend buying this radio to almost anyone who wants a good reliable radio at a low price. Just do yourself a favor and learn about radios before trying to use it.