Do i need an antenna for a hand held cb radio?

i am looking into purchasing a hand held cb radio. its a small factor between getting one with or without an antenna for the car...or just an extension on the radio? what is the best hand held cb radio with best overall signal strength, with the most pro's and least cons?Do i need an antenna for a hand held cb radio?
The best cb radio is the one that gets you on the air! Four watts is the maximum legal output for a CB, 12w for sideband but I doubt if any handheld units will have SSB capability. The "pro" is that you're dealing with a single compact unit, battery powered, that you can take anywhere, very versatile. The "con" is that your mike IS the CB, and you are holding something heavier than a mike, which can be a bit unwieldy as a mobile setup. Yes it can be done, but the coax connection to the mobile antenna is going to be attached to your handheld which makes it even more awkward.



A "rubber duck" antenna would be little more than a dummy load -- but it would work for short distances. You can get the longer antennas, but this again would be problematic in a vehicle. I'd say decide how you're going to use the radio. If it's mostly outdoor portable operation, get the handheld. If it's going to be used in a vehicle, just get the mobile.