Who Uses CB Radios?

[DK35vince]

Oh, I think they all have them installed, but the apparent usage is down because of the lack of skywave propagation. Ground wave still works fine for shorter distances though. The end result is if you just casually flip through the channels you won't hear as much usage as in years past.

The average stock truck CB radio's I've ever had, or been around (unless turned up or modified) are good for 1 or 2 miles.
Same as they've been the past 40 years.

 

[k0ua]

The average stock truck CB radio's I've ever had, or been around (unless turned up or modified) are good for 1 or 2 miles.
Same as they've been the past 40 years.

UH, no. When the solar flux is high you can talk coast to coast on a 5 watt CB radio.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I just got back from Toronto. Four or so hour drive, Didn't hear booo on 16. A couple of words so I know it was working. As soon as I wrote that, I checked and sure as sheit, I see trucker channel is 19, not 16, and did check radio which was tuned to 16. I believe that is, or was the SSB call Channel. If the radio is off long enough it reverts back to 9.

 

[DK35vince]

UH, no. When the solar flux is high you can talk coast to coast on a 5 watt CB radio.

I must never have been in a high solar flux. (not sure what that is)
Been using CB radio's since the early 80's, best I ever get is a couple miles.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Sporatic E skip. At that frequency the waves bounce off the Ionisphere enabling communications of many hundreds of miles usually. The problem is that there is always such a high noise level on that band. When I first turned the radio on months ago, I heard a very clear signal, I thought was local, only to find it in Alabama or some such place.

 

[Jstpssng]

I just got back from Toronto. Four or so hour drive, Didn't hear booo on 16. A couple of words so I know it was working. As soon as I wrote that, I checked and sure as sheit, I see trucker channel is 19, not 16, and did check radio which was tuned to 16. I believe that is, or was the SSB call Channel. If the radio is off long enough it reverts back to 9.

Does anybody actually moniter 9? I tried it once years ago (pre cell phone) when I came across a woman broke down on the interstate. I may as well have hollered out the window. I ended up going up to the next exit, turning around and going back... she said that she'd been sitting there for a couple of hours.

 

[deserteagle71]

Does anybody actually moniter 9? I tried it once years ago (pre cell phone) when I came across a woman broke down on the interstate. I may as well have hollered out the window. I ended up going up to the next exit, turning around and going back... she said that she'd been sitting there for a couple of hours.

I understand there are a few communities around the country that still have people monitoring 9. But most of the country - no. Cell phones have done away with the need for using Channel 9 to report emergencies. I used CB when commuting just for road reports but since I've retired, all my radios (I must have at least 5) are removed from my vehicles and stored in my garage.

 

[k0ua]

I must never have been in a high solar flux. (not sure what that is)
Been using CB radio's since the early 80's, best I ever get is a couple miles.

I am not sure where to even begin. But I will assure you a CB radio is capable of communicating over thousands of miles at the peak of a sunspot cycle (11 year cycle). At the minimum of a sunspot cycle (where we are now) and with poor (inefficient) antennas, then that "couple of mile" is about right.

 

[RalphVa]

Had 2. Took them to an outfit that recycles such a couple weeks ago.

Range is very low on them, maybe 2-5 miles.

Ralph

 

[Industrial Toys]

You need a voice changer box from Male to Female if you want to get help on CB 9.

 

[MossRoad]

Yes, and no. There are many repeaters that have fairly active road information during times of severe weather. It just depends. Yes there are more people on any given stretch of road with CB vs. Amateur vhf/uhf rigs in their vehicles, BUT repeaters can cover a wide area, and during severe weather they are often linked together and nets are called to provide information. Now as far a warning you about a wreck up ahead, the CB will likely be more help. Also keep in mind, with the relaxing of the Amateur Radio licensing requirements, more and more truck drivers are licensed amateurs and many do have Amateur rigs in their trucks. Some both vhf/uhf and even HF. I am not saying even every 1/10 truck has an licensed amateur aboard, but they are a fair number of them.

And let's face it, a cell phone with a GPS and map application will show you traffic conditions in real time anywhere in the country (for the most part). A CB you can call up ahead and ask what's the reason for the traffic jam and is there any hope of moving in the near future. :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

I am not sure where to even begin. But I will assure you a CB radio is capable of communicating over thousands of miles at the peak of a sunspot cycle (11 year cycle). At the minimum of a sunspot cycle (where we are now) and with poor (inefficient) antennas, then that "couple of mile" is about right.

Yeah, it's capable. But the truth of the matter is someone buys a CB, tosses it in their truck, slaps up an antenna, and they're good for 5 miles or so. I was happy to get 15 in my car with friends in other cars.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have had good luck getting winter road information off the Government of Ontario website. I tried a couple of days ago, and a whole new platform with much complexity, made it impossible (within time and patience contraints) to find the particular area I was intending travelling.

All this high tech stuff just seems to get worse with time. the people that design this stuff have spent hundreds of hours using it and then expect someone to figure it out, when someone may only need it once in a blue moon. And then the platform changes again!

One reason, I like something, stupid simple like a CB radio!

 

[L120]

Breaker one nine you big sack of monkey nuts howz it hangin 10-4...You got the Clutch we slipping & gripping up the north side come back.:laughing:

 

[DK35vince]

Yeah, it's capable. But the truth of the matter is someone buys a CB, tosses it in their truck, slaps up an antenna, and they're good for 5 miles or so. I was happy to get 15 in my car with friends in other cars.

Yes, we use them at work daily (all the trucks have CB's and many of the company pickups), couple of miles is all that is needed.

 

[MossRoad]

 

[Ken]

Yes, we use them at work daily (all the trucks have CB's and many of the company pickups), couple of miles is all that is needed.

I still have and use a hand held C-B purchased from BIRD of Texas
Here they are used when pulling into wood lot with logs to be unloaded the dispatcher tells you a number so when unloader is ready for your truck to pull into line.
also same method for in the woods. truck loaded has right of way in exiting the area.
the state weight police parked on side of road and there will be no logging truck on the high way.

Deer hunting and CB's keep track of who is moving from one location to another.

I prefer not to listen to skip or the local yokels in the city.

ken

Also here the cell phone signal is directed along the highways get 4 miles away and no signal available.


ken

 

[PA Scott]

I have a CB as well as a VHF/UHF ham radio installed in my truck and I use it almost daily. I don't talk much but I am listening while I drive. CB radio is still in wide use and I don't think there are many truckers without a CB. If you are only getting a mile or 2 range out of it then improving your antenna installation should greatly improve your performance.
While cell phones are great, there are lots of places her in the mountains of PA where they just don't work. I have cell coverage where I live but once I get out of town there is no cell signal for several miles in any direction. I am always able to communicate by radio in any of these dead areas.
The biggest problem with a CB is outside of professional drivers, not many people have them anymore. Everyone has a cell phone and they are pretty reliable if you don't live in or travel through rural mountains.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Gravel pits use them around here. When I was working in their office, I thought, how primitive, thinking they used them for on site communications. Then I realized and observed how they could talk with any incoming or outgoing dump truck. VERY effective, and CHEAP!

 

[RobertN]

That sounds more like a bad antennae or the system needed tuning. Radio is not always plug and play; sometimes the whole system needs to be tuned.

A mismatched system(CB, ground, antennae cable, antennae etc) may just give you bad results even tuned.

You should easily get more than 2 miles...

I must never have been in a high solar flux. (not sure what that is)
Been using CB radio's since the early 80's, best I ever get is a couple miles.