CB Radio

TNGW1500SE wrote:
Older CB's were 23 channel. Then it was increased by FCC to 40 due to over-crowding. Same 4 watts either way unless illegally modified or modified and used by licensed HAM operator.

Close. The old ones had a limit of 5 W input to the final amplifier. When they went to 40 channels, they changed that to 4 W output (AM).

Bumpyroad wrote:

TNGW1500SE wrote:
Craigslist. Search 40 channel cb radio.

actually would a 40 channel one be best? I thought that they went from 19 to 40 because of channel crowding, which is not currently an issue.
I "thought" that when the switch was made they lowered the power of the CB. My CBs haven't been "tuned" to any channel over 19 for ages, so I am wondering if wa8yxm would have a thought on this?
bumpy

Older CB's were 23 channel. Then it was increased by FCC to 40 due to over-crowding. Same 4 watts either way unless illegally modified or modified and used by licensed HAM operator. NOTE: Some walkie talkies legally transmitted up to 5 watts due to smaller antennas being installed. Many users added external amplifiers but that just "stepped all over" everyone else and caused issues for legal users. There just wasn't enough channels and power for the radios to be much use. It was a party line with to many people on the lines. To day with far less users, it could be a short range option.

CB antenna's are the most important factor. Antennas need tuned and should be tuned to the lowest SWR on channel 19 because that's in the middle of the band. It's a compromise on other channels.

If "power" is really of any importance, a stock CB is not the way to go anyway.

I'm no expert but I played with CB's as a kid.

Before buying a CB, listen to this: CB Stream


Today, if I wanted a emergency radio. I'd look at a Baofeng UV-5R. About 30 bucks on ebay. You really should get a ham license to use it to transmit but you can listen all day without a license. It's a dual band radio that broadcast on 145-155/400-480 MHz but be careful, it can broadcast on illegal frequencies that police and fire use.

If you really want to know what radio to buy, find a neighbor with 50 guns and a basement full of dried beans, he'll know.

TNGW1500SE wrote:
Craigslist. Search 40 channel cb radio.

actually would a 40 channel one be best? I thought that they went from 19 to 40 because of channel crowding, which is not currently an issue.
I "thought" that when the switch was made they lowered the power of the CB. My CBs haven't been "tuned" to any channel over 19 for ages, so I am wondering if wa8yxm would have a thought on this?
bumpy

Craigslist. Search 40 channel cb radio.

KO wrote:
Go into a FlyingJ, Pilot or TA and look at the CB radio's for sale.

I was thinking the same thing. as I recall, shelves full of them. of course big rig drivers aren't as astute in this area as RVers. :S
bumpy

Go into a FlyingJ, Pilot or TA and look at the CB radio's for sale.

I did a quick check of Amazon too. All the radios on the 1st page (Search term CB RADIO) were in fact CB's. no ham rigs. Some new Some used. Prices for same radio varied greatly.

The radios are still very useful for some tasks. but where the band used to be hopping nearly all the time.. Today it's often near silent.

Still.. Communications obeys the law of Requisite Variety.
The law: You live only so long as TOTAL CHOICES is greater than FATAL CHOICES.

I have Cell Phone,, CB's and Multi band Ham radio (160 meter through 70 CM)

If I need to call for help.. GOOD CHANCE one of those will work.

Delete a choice.. it may be the one that would have worked.

The quarry near my house and most of the trucks going to and from it use CB channel 15. They have a one-way driveway plus the front end loader has one. You don’t leave the driver’s seat to fill up.

Gdetrailer wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:

wa8yxm wrote:
IN my bi-annual Migration I hear very little from Truckers any more.

Correct!

My BIL for nearly 20 yrs was a truck driver, NONE, ZERO, ZIP of the trucking outfits he worked for had or used CBs in their trucks.

My Neighbor across the street from my house drives triaxle dump trucks, no CB antennas on it..

MANY of the trucking companies now days rely on BUSINESS BAND RADIOS AND CELLPHONES for communications.

CBs are so 1950's technology and the peak was late 1970s when it comes to manufacturing and sales..

Now days you have no real manufacturer choice, pretty much all the manufacturers of CB have gone belly up or exited the business, that SHOULD SPEAK VOLUMES.

You might find some Unidens and some Chinese no name imports but the heydays of CB is long gone and never coming back.

I have a real nice 1980s Radioshack 40 channel mobile CB that I could not even give away for $10, it was a $179 radio back in the 1980s..

If you WANT weather, you can buy a WEATHER RADIO WITH WEATHER ALERTS..

Gee, amazon has 25 CBs on page one of 85 pages.
bumpy

MANY of those CBs on Amazon are USED, not NEW.

Also, not ALL the radios are CBs when you search for CBs.. Quite a few listed are HAM radios. I DID look at Amazon.

HERE is a list of potential CB manufacturers in the world.. Although a few on that list indicate VHF or just two way communications so not ALL on that list manufacture/sell CBs. That brings it down to what, a hand full that might be making and selling. Compared to the 1970s when there was more than 50 manufacturers and that was just in the US.

For whatever reason, some folks just can't get over the fact that times HAVE changed and industry (truckers and two way radio manufacturers) and most CBrs have "put to rest" the CB band buried it forever (RIP).

There ARE far better more reliable communications out there.

If you WANT "Weather band" just buy a WEATHER RADIO, today's modern weather radios tend to have a much better "front end" than any "CB" I have ever had (had quite a few including a 1960's all tube Hallicrafters CB-3A that I repaired and brought back from the dead in the 1970s).. Looked like this..

gee, I did a quick check on the amazon page and unless they are misrepresenting used goods as new, you are certainly wrong. if they are in fact misrepresenting used goods as new, I would suggest notifying FTC or whoever enforces this. and I would say that the use of "children's" band pretty much shoots down your credibility. when you are losing, insult.
but some folks just can't get over the fact that their magic phone is not the only way to go for all uses.
bumpy

Bumpyroad wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:

wa8yxm wrote:
IN my bi-annual Migration I hear very little from Truckers any more.

Correct!

My BIL for nearly 20 yrs was a truck driver, NONE, ZERO, ZIP of the trucking outfits he worked for had or used CBs in their trucks.

My Neighbor across the street from my house drives triaxle dump trucks, no CB antennas on it..

MANY of the trucking companies now days rely on BUSINESS BAND RADIOS AND CELLPHONES for communications.

CBs are so 1950's technology and the peak was late 1970s when it comes to manufacturing and sales..

Now days you have no real manufacturer choice, pretty much all the manufacturers of CB have gone belly up or exited the business, that SHOULD SPEAK VOLUMES.

You might find some Unidens and some Chinese no name imports but the heydays of CB is long gone and never coming back.

I have a real nice 1980s Radioshack 40 channel mobile CB that I could not even give away for $10, it was a $179 radio back in the 1980s..

If you WANT weather, you can buy a WEATHER RADIO WITH WEATHER ALERTS..

Gee, amazon has 25 CBs on page one of 85 pages.
bumpy

MANY of those CBs on Amazon are USED, not NEW.

Also, not ALL the radios are CBs when you search for CBs.. Quite a few listed are HAM radios. I DID look at Amazon.

HERE is a list of potential CB manufacturers in the world.. Although a few on that list indicate VHF or just two way communications so not ALL on that list manufacture/sell CBs. That brings it down to what, a hand full that might be making and selling. Compared to the 1970s when there was more than 50 manufacturers and that was just in the US.

For whatever reason, some folks just can't get over the fact that times HAVE changed and industry (truckers and two way radio manufacturers) and most CBrs have "put to rest" the CB band buried it forever (RIP).

There ARE far better more reliable communications out there.

If you WANT "Weather band" just buy a WEATHER RADIO, today's modern weather radios tend to have a much better "front end" than any "CB" I have ever had (had quite a few including a 1960's all tube Hallicrafters CB-3A that I repaired and brought back from the dead in the 1970s).. Looked like this..