Cobra have been making CB radios since well before the massive craze in the 1970s was underway. The Cobra 29 has been around for decades so obviously has a proven track record and is a great radio. Read our Cobra 29 LTD CB Radio Review to find out if this feature-packed CB is for you.
If you want a full featured radio with classic looks then the Cobra 29 Ltd Classic is an excellent choice. There is also a chrome version which is the same radio with stunning looks.
Key Features
- 40 channels
- Analog S/RF meter
- Dynamike (mic gain)
- RF Gain
- Delta Tune
- High SWR warning light
- SWR Meter
- Channel 9 switch
- Noise blanker (switchable)
Also in the box
You’ll also find a mounting bracket, microphone bracket, power cord, Dynamic Microphone and user manual.
What’s Great
This is a feature packed radio with pretty much everything you are going to need.
UPDATE: Following the FCC approval of FM for CB Radio in September 2021, the Cobra 29 LTD Classic is now dual mode and offers both AM and FM modes.
For those with AM only cb radios there are a couple of things to consider. Firstly, as the numbers using FM mode increase you’ll be hearing more and more incoming signals that are unintelligible. Without a radio that has FM capabilities you’ll be missing out. Secondly, FM mode offers less background noise and a clearer sound. Many find FM more pleasant to use – especially for local contacts.
So, if you are looking for a new CB radio then a dual mode AM / FM radio such as the Cobra 29 LTD Classic is seriously worth considering.
I love radios that have a built-in SWR meter. They are never as accurate as a standalone unit but they give a good indication. Remember long transmits with a high SWR is likely to blow the output stage of your CB so it’s an expensive mistake to make. I’ll always use a decent SWR meter to do my initial setup but having one built into the radio means you know something has changed – and let’s face it, a mobile setup is more likely to be prone to issues because of vibrations on antenna connections or even having the antenna stolen and you not noticing immediately. These things can and have happened! Also having the high SWR indicator light means you really can’t miss if there is a problem.
As someone who is a fan of replacing the standard mic as soon as possible I was pleasantly surprised with the sound quality of the supplied microphone. It feels fairly cheap but actually sounds pretty good. You’ll still notice a considerable difference moving up to a decent mic such as an Astatic but I’ve heard much worse than the one supplied with the Cobra.
Because there are a multitude of knobs and switches to fit in a limited amount of space on the front panel, Cobra have decided to use dual control knobs for volume and squelch (probably the two most used controls) and they work very well.
The internal speaker is certainly adequate but depending where you mount the radio in your vehicle you might want to plug in an external speaker.
The channel display is very clear and there’s even a dimmer switch so if you are using it in a vehicle at night you won’t find it too bright.
Output power is 4 Watts which is the maximum power permitted and the same on all radios so range is going to be mainly dependant on the antenna system you are using.
What’s Not So Great
I only wish the Cobra 29 LTD had SSB as it would make this radio even closer to perfection. Other than that I think Cobra got it right all those years ago.
Verdict / Bottom Line
The 29 ltd classic is a great radio if not the best radio on the market today. You’ll find one in a lot of trucks as it is a firm favorite with many truckers.
If you prefer more modern looks then the Cobra 29 LX might be worth looking at. It’s the same Classic platform as this radio but with more modern features and eye-catching styling.
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