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 Ranger-built 10m mobile 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 plus +10kHz switch give 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 PL-259 antenna connector work with the vast majority of aftermarket mobile CB and 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. Simple, reliable, and easy to preset for your amp's input requirements.
• 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.

General Lee vs. Ranger Longhorn Superior N6

Both radios are Ranger. Both are 10 meter mobile transceivers. The choice comes down to power and modes:

• General Lee — AM/FM/PA, ~45W PEP stock, dual IRF-520 MOSFET finals, trucker-focused audio and control layout, the value pick.
• Ranger Longhorn Superior N6 — Full AM/FM/USB/LSB/CW/PA, 400W+ PEP stock, higher-priced flagship for operators who want SSB DX capability 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 Ranger 10m experience without paying for capability you won't use. If you want SSB DX during band openings or plan to run more serious power, look at the Longhorn or one of our other higher-tier Ranger radios.

General Lee full specs

License required

The General Lee operates on the 10 meter amateur radio band (28 MHz) and requires a valid FCC amateur radio license to transmit. A Technician-class license covers 10 meter FM voice operation — the primary mode most General Lee operators use. See our 10 meter radio licensing page for full details on getting licensed and study resources.

Pro Tune & Alignment

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. The Ranger service manual specifies specific settings for TX audio, receiver sensitivity, mic gain, and RF drive levels. Pro Tune brings your radio to that spec on our bench before it ships. If you're planning to run an external amplifier, this is also when we can custom-set the low-power RF drive to your amp's input requirements — set-and-forget.

Recommended pairings

• Antenna: Standard 10m/CB mobile whips (mirror-mount, magnetic-mount, or roof-mount). The General Lee + Stryker SR-A10 truck combo bundles everything needed for a mirror-mount install with 18 ft of Driver Extreme M213 coax.
• 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 to bring out the General Lee's audio quality — 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.
• Pro Tune upgrade: Add the Pro tune and alignment service at checkout for factory-spec alignment on our bench before your radio ships.

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) and requires a valid FCC amateur radio license to transmit. A Technician-class license covers 10 meter FM voice operation, which is the primary way most General Lee operators use the radio. The controls, channel layout, and general feel are intentionally similar to a CB, which makes it a very 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 hi/lo RF power switch on the front panel 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 settings have internal potentiometers that let a technician set each level precisely during Pro Tune. This is a mobile radio and pairs with mobile whip antennas, mirror-mount installs, and 12V vehicle power.

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 configurations 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 makes the General Lee?

The General Lee is manufactured by Ranger USA. It shares circuit boards and design lineage with Ranger's Connex 3300 family. Warranty and factory service are handled directly by Ranger — contact Ranger service at rangerusa.com/warranty-information or by phone at 619-271-4035 for warranty questions.

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) for 10 meter DX or CW (Morse code), look at the Ranger Longhorn Superior N6 or one of our other full-mode 10m radios. The General Lee's design intentionally omits SSB and CW to keep the control layout simple and cab-friendly, which is one of the reasons it has been such a durable seller in the trucking community.

What antenna should I pair with the General Lee?

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

What license do I need to operate the General Lee?

The General Lee operates on the 10 meter amateur radio band and requires a valid FCC amateur radio license to transmit. A Technician-class license — the entry-level ham license — covers 10 meter FM voice operation, which is how most General Lee operators use the radio. See our 10 meter radio licensing page for details on the licensing process and study resources.

Should I add Pro Tune and Alignment to my order?

For most General Lee buyers, yes. Pro Tune sets TX audio, receive sensitivity, mic gain, and RF drive levels to Ranger's factory service manual specification. It also lets us preset the hi/lo RF power switch potentiometers for your specific use case — for example, setting the low-power position to a specific dead-key wattage for your amplifier's input requirements. Add Pro Tune and Alignment at checkout.

Can I run an external amplifier with the General Lee?

Yes, and the General Lee's hi/lo RF power switch is well designed for this use case. The low-power setting is user-adjustable via an internal potentiometer and is typically preset to 1.5-2 watts dead key for amp input drive, keeping the audio swing intact. The high-power position sits at the full stock output for barefoot operation. If you order Pro Tune with your radio, we can preset both positions to your specific amplifier and driving requirements.

What warranty comes with the General Lee?

The General Lee is covered by Ranger USA's one-year factory warranty. Warranty registration and service are handled directly by Ranger USA at rangerusa.com/warranty-information or by phone at 619-271-4035. CB Radio Supply does not provide in-house warranty on this radio, and given the specialized bench-tuning process most General Lee radios receive, all sales are final.

Ready to order

Add the General Lee 10 Meter Radio to your cart. 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. If you want an install-ready package, see the General Lee truck combo for a mirror-mount install kit or the General Lee audio combo for a speaker and noise-cancelling mic upgrade. Or browse the full 10 meter radios collection.