Cobra 19 DX IV
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| Frequency | 26.965-27.405 MHz (40 CB channels) |
| TX power | 4 W (4W AM (FCC Part 95 legal limit).) |
| Modes | AM |
| Weight | 1.47 kg (3.2 lb) - ~3.25 lb (1474 g). |
| Connector | SO-239 (UHF female) |
| Year | 2015 |
| antenna | SO-239 (UHF female, rear panel) |
| mic | 4-pin CB standard screw-on (front panel, CA73 electret mic included) |
| ext spkr pa | 3.5mm external speaker / PA speaker jack |
| dc in | hardwired DC power cable (red/black). 13.8VDC negative ground. |
| power req | 13.8VDC negative ground (vehicle power). Power cable permanently attached. |
Estimated (unverified): Introduction year is not firmly documented by independent sources. Included-mic element is described as electret by some sources and dynamic by others; the 4-pin screw-on connector is consistent.
A bare-essentials compact CB at a rock-bottom price. It has the same 4 W legal-limit output as larger radios. The ultra-compact single-DIN design fits almost anywhere. An RF gain control adjusts for weak and strong signals, and PA capability works with an external speaker. The illuminated LCD is readable day and night, and PLL tuning eliminates drift. It has a front-mount mic connector and a mounting bracket with thumb screws.
No NOAA weather channels (the 18 WX ST II adds them for modestly more). No ANL or noise blanker. No SoundTracker. No SWR meter. No dual watch. AM only, with no SSB. The electret mic quality is basic. At 3.25 lb it is heavy for a 'compact' radio. The power cable is permanently attached. The speaker is small.
A bare-essentials compact CB. The 19 DX IV exists to put a working CB in a vehicle for the least money. RF gain and PA capability lift it slightly above the bottom tier. For modestly more, the 18 WX ST II adds weather channels and SoundTracker, a better value for regular users. The 19 DX IV suits a glove box or a backup radio.
The Cobra 19 DX IV is the radio you buy when you want a working CB in the truck for the least money possible. It is the latest in Cobra's long-running 19 series, a compact single-DIN AM set with the same four-watt legal-limit output as radios costing three times as much, stripped to the essentials and priced accordingly, generally somewhere around fifty to sixty-five dollars.
Essentials is the operative word. You get the 40 channels, an illuminated meter, RF gain to tame strong signals, squelch, the instant channel 9 and 19 buttons, and the ability to drive a PA speaker. You do not get NOAA weather channels, which is the single most common surprise for buyers, the weather radio is the "WX" 18-series, not this one, and you do not get SoundTracker, an SWR meter, or single sideband. It is AM only.
For a lot of users that is exactly enough. An off-roader who wants trail comms, a fleet that needs basic radios across a row of vehicles, or anyone adding a CB to a vehicle on a budget is well served by it. The four-pin microphone and SO-239 antenna jack are standard, so it works with the usual CB antennas and aftermarket mics. If you find yourself wanting weather alerts or cleaner audio, the step up is the Cobra 18 WX ST II; if you want the full-size professional set with a display and diagnostics, that is the Cobra 29 LX.