CBs are practical safety and information devices, but their bulk usually
relegates them to being installed in pickups and other large vehicles.
With Midland's 77-104XL, all of your excuses for adding a CB to your
vehicle evaporate. Although it comes with a convenient full-size
microphone, a standard jack for an external antenna, and other features
found on larger units, this CB radio measures less than 5 inches wide, 6.
5 inches deep, and 1.5 inches thick. That's small enough to find a home
in almost any vehicle. Installing the 77-104XL requires some familiarity with your car's
wiring, and although the included instructions are well written, the
novice will want to enlist the help of a professional to avoid shorting
out any part of the vehicle's electrical system. The 77-104XL comes with
a mounting bracket, and you should be prepared to drill some small holes
in the bottom of your dash to install it.
In our tests of the 77-104XL, the unit performed well when connected
to a large Midland antenna that we were also testing. The full-size
microphone was easier to handle than the miniature ones that come with
similar portable radios, and the sound quality of the 77-104XL was as
good as could be expected from its aging AM technology. The large
rubber-coated knobs that are used to tune channels, adjust volume, and
control squelch were very easy to use.
The rear of the 77-104XL has two jacks for connecting an external
speaker and a PA speaker, and a switch on the front let us easily switch
between CB and PA modes. Another switch on the front enables or disables
the built-in ANL technology, which can reduce static, although we never
had a need for the switch. A bright green LCD displays the currently
tuned channel and is flanked by other LEDs that illuminate when you
transmit or receive.
Novice users will enjoy the 77-104XL's quality and performance, and
advanced users will enjoy all the extra features Midland has included.
Basically, this is a full-featured CB squeezed into a relatively small
and attractive package, and anyone thinking about permanently adding a
CB radio to their vehicle should seriously consider this capable
alternative. --T. Byrl Baker
Pros:
- Compact design
- Many features for the price
- Controls are clearly
labeled and easy to use
Cons: - Installation requires some wiring
knowledge - Mounting bracket requires drilling holes
