CB radio usage

I don't use one anymore but I sure wish I had one today. We were in an hour traffic jam, only moving 15-20MPH for over an hour, on I10 West bound, just East of Tallahassee. The suspense of what was going on up ahead was killing me. I was heavily contemplating shifting over to Hwy 90. If I had a CB I Could have asked some of the East bound truckers whether I should go over to 90 or wait out the I10 delay. It would have come in really handy today for me. By the way, they were pulling new power lines across the interstate and had traffic stopped while doing so. I stayed on I10 and suffered through it.

I had a CB in my car years ago, I'm thinking about putting one in my truck. The wife wonders why, as being an amateur radio operator I already have TWO amateur rigs that can handle UHF, VHF, and HF amateur bands. She says the cab of the truck looks less like a truck and more like an airplane. (Used to fly until the health went south). One more rig wouldn't hurt. I had a sign made for the back of the fiver that gives my amateur call sign as well as the frequency I monitor, which is the VHF calling frequency of 146.520 megahertz. I also carry the ARRL Repeater Directory, which is a book of frequencies for transmit/receive machines that hear your transmission and repeat it, giving you extended range. You can get an amateur license now without learning the Morse Code, and the entry license exam is multiple choice and 35 questions.

Having a CB with an echo or reverb on slightly and talkin with a slight southern drawl will usually get ya some "Good" information.Otherwise they kinda like to mess with the 4 wheelers so beware of info you get.After 30 years the CB is actually startin to get quieter in some areas because of cell phones bein so much better now!!!

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

djgarcia wrote:
Just wondering if people still use them? If so what channel do rver's use?

I use both a CB and a Valentine Radar. CB gives me info on road conditions and location of near by "Bears". Driving without radar is an invitation to get a ticket to the "policemen's Ball". Or you can drive like about 10% of RVers and drive the speed limit:(
The primary purpose the 55 MPH speed limit was passed was to conserve fuel not necessarliy for safety reasons. In a theoritical, ideal world where all RV drivers drove 55 MPH, this would make total sense:)

One-hundred percent pure hogwash!!..:S

You also have your percentages reversed..:R

The poster indicates he is from Northern CA.
In CA the towing speed limit is 55 mph - although the "accepted" (unofficial) limit is usually 62 mph.
(CHP should be considered very serious about compliance - so if you're going say 70, you're 15mph over the limit = expensive!).

Been towing boats and trailers since 1965.

Driven (towing) all over CA, have never found the need to speed - nor have I EVER been cited or invited to the "policeman's ball" (real or imagined - disappeared about 30-40 years ago!).

Ditto towing all over the USA.
Started one of those 'all over the USA' trips in 1985 monitoring CB.
Shut it off before I hit the AZ border, never turned it on -or bothered with it - again.

Unfortunately, CB has LOTS of rude & crude folks on the airways as well as gee-whiz kids and others - some with linear amps and incredible range.

It used to be good for groups "caravaning" to some destination, but cell phones have supplanted even that use.

Radar detectors are throwing your money away - like a guy driving a Porsche one of the cops busted for speeding along Pacific Coast Highway.
The driver pitched his radar as far as he could throw it out onto the sand. When the cop asked him why he did that, he said it was worthless.
He got *his* "Valentine" greetings - you will also.

A cop doesn't need (radar) clocked speed to cite you, DJ - and you *may* beat the cite in court on your time (best hope the judge is your kinfolk). The cop will be on overtime $$..:S

See ya on the side of the road at the blue light special, ROTFL..:W


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lets see, my radar detector works just fine, can't use it in VA however. it certainly is not "worthless".

and re "Unfortunately, CB has LOTS of rude & crude folks on the airways as well as gee-whiz kids and others - some with linear amps and incredible range." if you haven't been using yours since 1985 How exactly are you aware of what the situation is now days?

last weekend I was driving up I-85 and saw a highway patrolman in the median pointing his radar down at where I had come from and I announced his presence on my CB. shortly thereafter I was passed by a car who evidently didn't have a CB on as the patrolman soon came zooming by with his lights on and nailed the guy.

I have no problem with people not using either a CB or a radar detector but do have a problem with people making up nonsense based on 30 year old data.
bumpy

djgarcia wrote:
Just wondering if people still use them? If so what channel do rver's use?

I use both a CB and a Valentine Radar. CB gives me info on road conditions and location of near by "Bears". Driving without radar is an invitation to get a ticket to the "policemen's Ball". Or you can drive like about 10% of RVers and drive the speed limit:(
The primary purpose the 55 MPH speed limit was passed was to conserve fuel not necessarliy for safety reasons. In a theoritical, ideal world where all RV drivers drove 55 MPH, this would make total sense:)

One-hundred percent pure hogwash!!..:S

You also have your percentages reversed..:R

The poster indicates he is from Northern CA.
In CA the towing speed limit is 55 mph - although the "accepted" (unofficial) limit is usually 62 mph.
(CHP should be considered very serious about compliance - so if you're going say 70, you're 15mph over the limit = expensive!).

Been towing boats and trailers since 1965.

Driven (towing) all over CA, have never found the need to speed - nor have I EVER been cited or invited to the "policeman's ball" (real or imagined - disappeared about 30-40 years ago!).

Ditto towing all over the USA.
Started one of those 'all over the USA' trips in 1985 monitoring CB.
Shut it off before I hit the AZ border, never turned it on -or bothered with it - again.

Unfortunately, CB has LOTS of rude & crude folks on the airways as well as gee-whiz kids and others - some with linear amps and incredible range.

It used to be good for groups "caravaning" to some destination, but cell phones have supplanted even that use.

Radar detectors are throwing your money away - like a guy driving a Porsche one of the cops busted for speeding along Pacific Coast Highway.
The driver pitched his radar as far as he could throw it out onto the sand. When the cop asked him why he did that, he said it was worthless.
He got *his* "Valentine" greetings - you will also.

A cop doesn't need (radar) clocked speed to cite you, DJ - and you *may* beat the cite in court on your time (best hope the judge is your kinfolk). The cop will be on overtime $$..:S

See ya on the side of the road at the blue light special, ROTFL..:W


.

Bumpyroad wrote:

Robert6401 wrote:
I have one, only really use it if I'm traveling with someone else who has one so we can communicate. Every now and then I'll check 19 if the traffic is iffy. I like the idea of channel 13 for RVers. I'll try to monitor it more often and help promote it. I would affix a sign or something to the ladder if something like that was available.

since there is very little traffic now on 19, and having 13 on would be a waste of time, I would suggest monitoring/calling on 19 and then moving to 13 if 19 is a bit crowded.
bumpy

X2 plus the reason I run a radio is to listen for problems up ahead. Most big trucks run on 19 so that's where I run.

I just posted on the Good Sam forum about CB usage in RVs see what happens.

ADKSnowbird wrote:
I just sent a note to Chuck at RV Travel to see if he would include a note about CB13 in the weekly newsletter. Can't hurt.

Did anything ever come of this contact?

Robert6401 wrote:
I have one, only really use it if I'm traveling with someone else who has one so we can communicate. Every now and then I'll check 19 if the traffic is iffy. I like the idea of channel 13 for RVers. I'll try to monitor it more often and help promote it. I would affix a sign or something to the ladder if something like that was available.

since there is very little traffic now on 19, and having 13 on would be a waste of time, I would suggest monitoring/calling on 19 and then moving to 13 if 19 is a bit crowded.
bumpy

I have one, only really use it if I'm traveling with someone else who has one so we can communicate. Every now and then I'll check 19 if the traffic is iffy. I like the idea of channel 13 for RVers. I'll try to monitor it more often and help promote it. I would affix a sign or something to the ladder if something like that was available.