Anyone still have/use CB radios?

[workinwifdakids]

Does anyone here still have and/or use a CB radio? Just wondering what you use them for, and what you like them for over, say, another system.

[randy]

I have one buried in the back of the vehicle that I've had for 20+ years. Primarily as an additional means of communication with someone that lacks amateur radio gear. A case of optimism over experience as I have found it totally useless in getting reliable help on the road the last 2 times it could have been useful.

My father-in-law has one for traveling as he thinks it's valuable to listen to truckers to find out what's happening in traffic tie-ups. I monitored Chan 19 at times on my IC-706 during this summers trip, and not only did I feel the IQ dropping, I am not going to have that language in the presence of my wife and daughter.

A buddy of mine (also a ham) has one since it's used as an intercom among his Jeep club buddies when out on the trail.

We have a couple of local Gold Wing bike clubs that use CB for on the road comms as well as when assisting with public service events.

[Lokidude]

I have one half-mounted in my truck, and need to finish. In large part, I have it because I travel in a lot of places with zero cell reception, where a CB can still get out, and it's a whole lot cheaper than getting into HAM.

[Netpackrat]

I got one for Christmas and put it in my Jeep last year. I never talk on it, but sometimes I listen to truckers on it. I've heard oversize rigs and their pilot vehicles talking back and forth on channel 9 several times, usually warning about oncoming traffic (me) that the truck can't see yet due to curves in the road. Been meaning to put them in the other vehicles but I haven't gotten around to it yet. They are actually pretty useful for multiple vehicle road trips and 4 wheeling. Lots of off road clubs encourage participants to have CBs in their rigs for trail rides. I almost never hear anybody talking on the CB in town. I think the ubiquity of cell phones has done a lot for cleaning up the CB channels.

[Jered]

Let's make us a convoy.

[The Wizard]

i have one im my truck, i use it when driving from Fort Polk to Houston or well actually anytime i am where truckers will be talking. I use it to keep notes on weather conditions, road conditions, how to get around traffic jams, where stranded motorists are (so i might be able to help them) and so on, also as one of those people that gets tired while driving long distances i have found that talking on the CB helps keep me awake.

[TheIrishman]

Obviously got one in the daily driver Western-Star. Use it mostly to talk to asphalt plant and scale house operators(as well as the guys running the loaders). On the road we stay off of 19 with the squelch turned up(to block annoying yappers) for truck to truck communication. I also had one in every 4x4 I've owned with a P.A. for trail communication. Even used to have handhelds strapped to the quads, but have upgraded to FRS/GMRS with throat mics as now we can talk while riding and not have to stop and remove the helmets.
The next truck is getting one(and probably a linear amp ) with upper and lower sideband capability. Staying on the sidebands you get less mindless chatter but still have the ability to go to 19 and get info if no one is on the sideband. The closer you are to a city the more junk you need to filter out. Driving through Virginia at 2am you rarely hear anything, but Newark at any time is a free for all.

[randy]

(and probably a linear amp )

Not wanting to start an argument or debate here, just want to point out Some facts:

There are no US legal amps for CB.

It is illegal to sell them in the United States.

It is illegal to transmit using one.

It is illegal to transmit with any more then 5 Watts ERP on a CB.

Since they are illegal and therefore unregulated, most 27 MHz linear amps are cheaply built junk that put all kinds of RF trash into the spectrum, effectively jamming legitimate users of not only CB but commercial, public safety, consumer electronics and amateur communications.


The following is my opinion (and worth what you paid for it):

If you want/need more power than the legal 5 watt CB (a service intended for short range communications, even if the FCC did put it on an HF band), then s get an amateur license and do it legally.

Amplifiers (even in the amateur community) are often a substitute for educating yourself on proper operating skills and techniques.

If you do run an amp, I don't want to hear about it, I don't know you, and I will drop a dime to the FCC if it becomes a problem to legitimate radio users.

[TheIrishman]

It is illegal to transmit using one.
It is illegal to transmit with any more then 5 Watts ERP on a CB.
Amplifiers (even in the amateur community) are often a substitute for educating yourself on proper operating skills and techniques.

Transmit being the operative word. I have seen several set to only amplify reception(pick up faint traffic info at a distance as opposed to finding out once you're stuck in it). I just had the radio in the dump tuned and tweaked. 5 watt legal limit(most come out of the box at less) and for communication it is great. However relying on someone down the roads 3 watts with an improperly tuned antenna sucks when you suddenly have to slow down 80k lbs because of a jam around a blind curve.
That being said, I do know how it works and the limitations of line of sight. Unfortunately ham or other amateur radio systems are of no use as most truckers don't have them.

[randy]

Transmit being the operative word. I have seen several set to only amplify reception

What we have here, is a failure to communicate!

In common terminology (at least for what I'm familiar with) that is is known as a pre-amp.

I have never heard the term "linear" used for anything other than an amplifier for the transmit portion of the process.

You are quite correct, attaching a pre-amp to your system is totally legal. Ethical even!

However relying on someone down the roads 3 watts with an improperly tuned antenna sucks

Roger roger, especially the crappy antenna part. Many, if not most of the low end CB antennas are, at best, air cooled dummy loads. And that's even if the user has bothered to tune them up properly.

Unfortunately ham or other amateur radio systems are of no use as most truckers don't have them.

More than you might think. I talk with some that come through here regularly, and the only VHF contact I made during my trip last summer was from a trucker that spotted the antennas and gave me a call on the National Calling Frequency (146.52 MHz). But you are right, they are definitely in the minority.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.