I would advise you to be a little patient and save up $800 or so and watch qrz.com or QTH classifieds for a gently used Icom IC-7300. We're only talking a little more than you are looking to spend ($500) the difference between a IC-7300 or an export CB in receive, transmit, capabilities are universes apart. Easy MARS TX mod too (you can probably even find a used one already modded). At 10 watts carrier, the IC-7300 is very respectable sounding on AM & sounds FB on SSB and is going to give you additional band coverage and features that'll keep you learning and entertained for much longer.