General Lee 10 Meter Radio — AM/FM/PA Mobile Amateur Radio (~45W PEP, Front Mic Jack, Blue LED)

The General Lee is one of the longest-running best-sellers in the 10 meter amateur radio market — a mobile 10m transceiver that has been the go-to trucker radio for well over a decade thanks to a rare combination of easy operation, real-world power, and a feature set built specifically for cab-mounted operation. The controls are laid out logically, the front-panel mic jack makes cab installation clean, the dual-control echo and switchable talkback dial in the classic trucker audio, and the six-band selector gives operators plenty of frequency coverage inside the 10 meter band.

Stock power is roughly 45 watts PEP on the Bird wattmeter (30 watts RMS on the Dosy) — enough to reach out well during 10 meter openings and enough headroom to drive a modest amplifier for those who want to run bigger. The General Lee is a mobile 10 meter radio, not a base station, and pairs naturally with a mobile whip antenna, mirror or roof mount, and a proper 12V power feed to the vehicle.

Who this radio is for

• Long-haul truckers looking for the classic 10 meter cab-radio experience. Front-panel mic jack, blue LED display that reads clearly at night, dual-control echo for the recognizable trucker audio, and a chassis size that fits standard cab mounting.
• First-time 10 meter operators stepping up from a CB. Familiar 40-channel-style layout across six bands, no SSB or CW to learn, and controls that map cleanly to what a CB operator already knows.
• Amateur radio hobbyists building a mobile 10m station. Simple AM/FM operation on the 10 meter band, standard 4-pin front mic, and an SO-239 antenna connector that work with the vast majority of aftermarket mobile 10m accessories.
• Anyone driving a modest linear amplifier. Two-position hi/lo RF power switch with internal potentiometers lets you preset a low-power dead key (typically 1.5-2W) for amp input protection and a higher setting for barefoot operation.
• Value-conscious 10m buyers. At its price point the General Lee remains one of the best power-per-dollar picks in the 10 meter mobile category, especially compared with higher-price Stryker and Longhorn radios that add SSB/CW modes many casual operators never use.

How the General Lee compares

General Lee

• AM/FM/PA, ~45W PEP stock, dual IRF-520 MOSFET finals
• 28.015–28.585 MHz, six bands
• Dynamic microphone included
• The value pick for simple AM/FM mobile use

Connex 3300HP

• AM/FM/PA, ~45W PEP stock, dual MOSFET finals — same power tier
• 28.015–28.465 MHz, six bands
• Ranger SRA-198 noise-canceling microphone included
• Choose it if you want the upgraded mic in the box

Ranger Longhorn Superior N6

• AM/FM/USB/LSB/CW/PA, 400W+ PEP stock
• Higher-priced flagship for operators who want SSB alongside the trucker audio

If you don't work SSB or CW and don't need 400W of power, the General Lee gives you the classic 10m trucker radio experience without paying for capability you won't use.

General Lee full specs

• Type: 10 meter mobile amateur radio (in-vehicle, 12V DC)
• Modes: AM, FM, PA (three-mode operation)
• Power output (stock, measured): 45W+ PEP (Bird wattmeter) · 30W RMS (Dosy)
• Manufacturer RF power rating: 12W high / 3W low (AM/FM)
• Power control: Hi/Lo RF power switch with internal preset potentiometers
• Finals: Dual IRF-520 MOSFET (newer production; older units 2SC1969)
• Frequency range: 28.015 - 28.585 MHz · Six-band (A through F) selector
• Frequency control: PLL synthesizer
• Power input: 13.8V DC · 3-pin power connector · 7A minimum supply
• Metering: Illuminated S/RF meter (blue meter light) · Front-panel LED channel readout · TX/RX indicator LED
• Controls: Volume · Squelch · RF gain · MIC gain · Tone · NB/ANL switch · Dimmer switch
• Audio effects: Dual-control echo (echo level + echo time/delay) · switchable talkback · PA mode
• Mic connector: 4-pin standard · front-panel mounted for clean cab installation
• Antenna connector: SO-239, 50 ohm · accepts a standard PL-259 plug
• Rear panel: External speaker jack · PA speaker jack · frequency counter jack · antenna SO-239 · DC power
• Display: Blue LED channel display · illuminated blue meter light
• Dimensions: 7-7/8" W × 9-1/4" D × 2-3/8" H · 5.0 lb
• Included: Dynamic microphone · microphone bracket · DC power cord · mobile mounting bracket · owner's manual
• Warranty: 1-year warranty through General's warranty department

License required

An FCC amateur radio license is required to transmit with the General Lee. General class or higher is required to use the radio's full frequency range. Receive-only monitoring does not require a license.

Recommended pairings

• Antenna: Standard 10m mobile whips (mirror-mount, magnetic-mount, or roof-mount). The General Lee + Stryker SR-A10 truck combo bundles the antenna, a DRX-3402 mirror mount and 18 ft of Driver Extreme M213 coax. The DRX-3402 does not fit every truck mirror; measure your mirror and mounting location first.
• External speaker: Our General Lee + DRX-9010 speaker + DRX-6560 mic audio combo pairs a 15W low-inductance speaker and a noise-cancelling dynamic mic — the two upgrades most likely to matter in a working truck cab.
• Microphone: Driver Extreme DRX-6560 noise-cancelling 4-pin dynamic microphone (included in the audio combo, or add separately).
• SWR meter: Any inline SWR/power meter with PL-259 connectors — we always recommend checking SWR at your antenna install before running full power.

Frequently asked questions

Is the General Lee a CB radio or a ham radio?

The General Lee is a 10 meter amateur (ham) radio, not a CB. It operates on the 10 meter band (28 MHz), which is above the CB band (27 MHz). An FCC amateur radio license is required to transmit, and General class or higher is required to use its full frequency range. The controls, channel layout, and general feel are intentionally similar to a CB, which makes it a natural upgrade for CB operators who want more power and want to get on the 10 meter band.

What is the actual power output of the General Lee?

Stock power output is approximately 45 watts PEP measured on a Bird wattmeter, or 30 watts RMS measured on a Dosy. The owner's manual rates RF output at 12 watts on high and 3 watts on low (AM/FM). The hi/lo RF power switch selects between a low-power setting (typically preset for around 1.5-2 watts dead key for amplifier drive) and a high-power setting for barefoot operation; both levels are set by internal potentiometers.

What finals does the General Lee use?

Newer-production General Lee radios use dual IRF-520 MOSFET final transistors. Older-production units used 2SC1969 bipolar transistors. Both are dual-final designs that produce similar stock output in the 40-50W PEP range. If you're ordering a new radio from us, expect the MOSFET version.

Who stands behind the General Lee?

The General Lee is sold under the General brand, and General handles warranty service through its own warranty department. It shares design lineage with the Connex 3300 family.

Does the General Lee do SSB or CW?

No. The General Lee is an AM/FM/PA radio — three modes only. If you need SSB (upper/lower sideband) or CW, look at the Ranger Longhorn Superior N6 or one of our other full-mode 10m radios.

General Lee or Connex 3300HP?

They sit in the same ~45W PEP AM/FM/PA tier. The General Lee covers 28.015–28.585 MHz and ships with a dynamic microphone; the Connex 3300HP covers 28.015–28.465 MHz and includes a Ranger SRA-198 noise-canceling microphone.

What antenna should I pair with the General Lee?

The General Lee is a mobile radio designed for mobile whip antennas. Good pairings are mirror-mount, magnetic-mount, or roof-mount 10m whips with 50-ohm coax. The rear-panel SO-239 antenna connector accepts a standard PL-259 plug. Our General Lee + SR-A10 truck combo bundles a mirror-mount install with 18 feet of Driver Extreme M213 coax. Always check SWR at the antenna install before running full power.

What license do I need to operate the General Lee?

An FCC amateur radio license is required to transmit. General class or higher is required to use the radio's full frequency range. Receive-only monitoring does not require a license.

Can I run an external amplifier with the General Lee?

Yes, and the hi/lo RF power switch is well suited to it. The low-power setting is adjustable via an internal potentiometer and is typically preset to 1.5-2 watts dead key for amp input drive. The high-power position sits at full stock output for barefoot operation.

What warranty comes with the General Lee?

The General Lee carries a 1-year warranty handled by General's warranty department. It is also returnable within 30 days under our refund policy.

Ready to order

• Shipping: Ships within 1–3 business days. Free standard shipping in the lower 48 states.
• Returns: 30-day returns on unused items in original packaging — see our refund policy.
• Warranty: 1-year warranty through General.

Don't forget to add the Pro tune and alignment option at checkout so that your radio is professionally bench-tuned for best performance per the manufacturer's service manual.

For an install-ready package, see the General Lee truck combo or the General Lee audio combo, or browse the full 10 meter radios collection.