Who Uses CB Radios?

[Industrial Toys]

It's something I don't think I have EVER seen mentioned here.

I often get stuck in traffic and get frustrated because you don't know the cause or what to do. A CB radio might be just the ticket. No other technology can give you real time, highly localized traffic information.

Anyway, I picked up this small Radio Shack 40 Channel Transceiver at a thrift store for $3.98 CDN and am thrilled that it works.

Tomorrow I will hit the road with my new technology!

 

[bunyip]

On the road yes, in the suburbs never, just idiots talking rubbish,
I the country truckers have something to say and RV's will pass on info.
UHF CB

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have been a HAM since the 80s. But that is useless for this purpose. UHF CB, really? That is the band it SHOULD have been on all along.

 

[hslogger]

Roger, this one duz

"leaving the landing, headed down the hill"

"mile post six, headed down"

"empty, heading up from the gate, I'm pulling over at MP 3"

"Mp five headed down"

"I'm pulled over at mp3, go ahead on'er"
--------------------
"Leaving the highway, headed to the Rickard Pit"

"headed up the hill to the gate"

"through the gate, headed down to the Pit"
--------------------

"howdy, 3/4minus for the truck, one inch open for the trailer"
"roger, swing to the left and stop"
10-4

 

[Jstpssng]

We use them on woods roads calling out the mileage markers to keep track of the log trucks. Truckers may not always answer if you're driving a pickup, but at least they know where we are.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I have one in my jeep. Use it for traffic info on the highway, especially when hauling the RV. Also use the weather radio feature often. I do about 2 hours of highway driving per day.

We do some off roading and a bunch have cb's to communicate on the trails.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Funny. They won't answer you driving a pickup, but I'm pretty sure they'll answer a lady driving just about anything. Need to get me a voice changer.

I drove out to MN last year and took a Kenwood Wide band Receiver to listen to CB. What a piece of junk! Absolutely nothing. I kept my eyes peeled for a yard sale to get a CB radio, but came up empty handed.

 

[k0ua]

I have been a HAM since the 80s. But that is useless for this purpose. UHF CB, really? That is the band it SHOULD have been on all along.

It was originally. BUT in the mid 50's the state of the art to create affordable CB radios in the 462Mhz range just wasn't there (class A and B). They were just too expensive so the FCC created Class D CB on 27MHZ in 1958, taking the frequency range away from Amateur radio operators. It was much easier to make affordable radios at 27Mhz instead of 462 Mhz. Ironically 462 Mhz is where the FRS service is today, and they are a dime a dozen blister packed at Wal Mart.

 

[bunyip]

27mhz is unheard of now, have been gone for at least 30 years, even 40 channel UHF are almost unheard of.
I use a super compact GME 80 channel
UHF CB Radio - TX31DP Super Compact UHF CB Radio

I also use marine 27mhz and VHF, there is no UHF in marine, don't know why.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Re: Blister Pack GRS radios. AND, the better ones get up to 60 mile range!

I did some camera work for the local gravel pit. They needed to look into inbound truck boxes to make sure they were empty to avoid cross contamination for loads bound for a batch plant.

Anyway, I was surprised to see a CB radio in the office/scale house, and I thought, how unsophisticated. I came to realize, they used them to talk with the gravel haulers. Quite a good and universal solution.

Just my guess about Marine UHF or lack thereof. I would say, you get more range over water with VHF.

 

[Stimw]

I always have a CB in my RV's for any traffic info on the road.
My dad got his CB licence in the late 50's, had call sign 19W----.
He built his own transmitters and receivers from military surplus, also for friends.
He even made his own crystals from old military surplus!
He could buy 10 for a dollar, take out the crystal and grind it on a piece of glass with cleanser to the right frequency. If he missed it cost a dime. Store bought crystals were about $5. and you needed 2, broadcast and receive.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I know, they were the bain of my existence in the CB era. I never owned a 23 channel rig because I had no money and farted around with a few channels on X-Tals! That was a lot of money back then. Five dollars could probably feed a family of ten (no doubt driving a Vista Cruiser) at McDonalds and get change back!

 

[bunyip]

Just my guess about Marine UHF or lack thereof. I would say, you get more range over water with VHF.

Yes but UHF would be useful in some popular spots where the body of water is only about 3 miles across, we are also required to carry HF for serious offshore cruising.
VHF is also more expensive than UHF but if you can afford a vessel you should be able to afford a radio.
If you get caught without one the fine is more than a radio.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I ran a UHF repeater VE3MPR for many years and had Frequency Agile Cross band to VHF, so I am not unfamiliar with the coverage of both, but don't understand your thinking. Are you talking lack of band space for a lot of traffic?

 

[Stimw]

VHF is line of sight for the antenna, CG, Marine Patrol have very high antennas and boats need antenna mounted as high as possible.
Civilians are limited to 25 watt but the Pros can crank up their wattage for emergencies.
Have heard CG Tampa when offshore Jacksonville like they were parked next to me!
Some think their VHF is a CB.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Some think any two way radio is a CB! Many movies certainly promoted that notion.

 

[deserteagle71]

When I was working (retired now) I had a CB installed in my commuter vehicle. I live about 12 miles from I-80; when I pulled out of the garage on a winter morning I would turn on the CB and within 5 minutes would have a complete idea of what the road conditions were and any trouble spots, just from the truckers talking to each other. Very handy, and some mornings that information would determine the route I would take to work. And in the afternoon, I would listen to some entertaining conversations between the truckers and the ladies at the local cat houses!

Information for newbies to the CB world - the quality of the antenna is more important than the radio. And that antenna must be "matched" to the radio. That makes the most difference in how much range your radio will have!

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have a Bird Wattmeter with only a 100 Watt Element in that band. Now I'm thinking of spending eighty bucks for a lower wattage element (slug) for my new four dollar radio. The 100 watt set up tells me that my Larson NMO-27 is well matched, but a lesser wattage slug would give me better resolution especially for reflected power.

I remember as a kid, once trying underground shielded telephone cable as coax and a chromed ski pole for an antenna! There was no Internet to find stuff out.

 

[TractorGuy]

I use to have a 23 channel. Might still be out in my shed but pretty sure the antenna is long gone. We used them mostly when hunting with dogs. Haven't hunted in 30 years though.

 

[Alien]

I still have a 18 ch 27mhz base station in pristine order. It would suit a collector sometime. I also have 3 Icom Uhfs and some Taits and Phillips Uhfs. I can program them to whatever frequency I need. I still use one in my car for road reports to find out where the cameras are, but the others are unused now. One day I may get an offer for them but I will always keep a couple. I threw some Icom handhelds in the bin recently as they were just gathering dust.