CB Radio - needed?

[C-Bears]

I have went back and forth with this for over a year. Do I really need a CB in my tow vehicle or not?

This year there has been two or three times where we were stopped in traffic out in the middle of no where and wondered what could be happening up ahead and/or how much longer would traffic be stopped. It would have been nice to have a CB then.

I finally broke down and got a HH Cobra unit. Haven't tried it out yet on the road.

How many full timers, or folks that travel a lot have CB's in their vehicle? Do you have regular hard wired CB units, or HH (hand held)?

[2gypsies1]

In our 16 years of full-timing we've used it in only a few instances to see what the traffic hold-up was. Otherwise it gets tiresome listening to mindless chatter.

On one occasion, however, we were traveling in Los Angles on one of their multi, multi-lane highways which was packed. We need to get off but didn't know which lane to get into. Hubby got on the CB and asked for help. No answer. He asked again. No answer. I took it over and stated "Pink Bunny here. What lane should we be in to exit onto such and such". I immediately got a very nice detailed reply. 🙂

[xctraveler]

For traffic information we use Waze (smart phone app) many commuters and through travelers use and it monitors the speed of everyone who has it "on" and reports in broad increments like "over 40 MP". You can see accidents and road work well ahead with time to exit and take the recommended alternate route. It carries reports of vehicles stopped on the shoulder and location of police both visible and hidden.

The Nav system in the coach also has traffic reporting, just not as timely as waze. For contact with a driver near me not so much, but then when I had a CB in the coach that was true also. Next big generalized talk to everyone at once app is "firechat" it is direct wifi to wifi and bypasses the internet and doesn't need phone service as long as there is another active wifi user nearby.

[Bumpyroad]

Roy&Lynne wrote:
We had one and broke down out in the middle of nowhere. No help and was more frustrating than if we just did't have it, but saying that, I think if your traveling with another rig, that might be ideal.

contrary to popular belief, a CB can't make help materialize out of the fog. with one you have a chance of catching a trucker's ear. without it, SOl.
bumpy

[Roy_Lynne]

We had one and broke down out in the middle of nowhere. No help and was more frustrating than if we just did't have it, but saying that, I think if your traveling with another rig, that might be ideal.

[down_home]

Get one of the Generals. Not cheap but with SWTR settings and power settings and so on the radio. Get ten meter but use it only on CB bands. You go to Mexico and South America you can turn it full power. I would get a stainless full wave antenna. It will have to be ground plan or maybe they can make it work with a small piece of metal. It doesn't have to stand straight up but it helps. It can be clipped down on the long end closer to the body.
You have to watch CB shops at Truck stops. Most of those kids know how to blot one on and tune it on a truck but are pretty much clueless about Mhs. Use the net and ask around for one that can get it performing well.
There's been a great many times we/ve needed the CB approaching cities or traffic off in the distance. The new problem is Truckers don't keep them on as much as before so not as much active reporting on the road ahead. A good whip antenna up high like that with full five watts or 10 watts or 100 watts will reach way out there and amplify signals coming in so you can hear most of them.
Five watts out is the limit legally though and all I run on my 35 year old Teaberry.

[skdmark1]

I keep a CB mounted and on when traveling in order to monitor traffic conditions. Also I use it if I want to learn of POI's in the area I'm traveling through when I'm too lazy to look things up before passing through the area. I suppose they aren't really that important to have but they do come in handy occasionaly. I prefer to have a CB on hand myself. But, it's your choice.

[Bumpyroad]

Ohiojude wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
you know I would bet that if they had a CB app for smart phones, every body here would have one. 🙂
bumpy

There is an ap for that! 😉

so how does the "antenna" work?
bumpy

[Ohiojude]

Bumpyroad wrote:
you know I would bet that if they had a CB app for smart phones, every body here would have one. 🙂
bumpy

There is an ap for that! 😉

[KA4EBU]

I use a CB for traffic and which lane. Very seldom talk, just listen to the drivers getting paid by the mile. They are not near as foul mouthed as they used to be.
I use ham vhf/uhf for local info and HF for rag chewing.

[C-Bears]

lfcjasp wrote:
When we suspect something fishy going on up ahead, I use my map and GPS on my smartphone and that's saved us a lot of headaches. We both used to have CB's, but used them less and less til we stopped putting them in newer vehicles. Haven't missed them. Yet.

I agree, sort of. I run a new Rand RV GPS, a regular GPS, I-phone, plus we always have our Verizon MiFi in the truck for internet connection.

However, when traffic stops out in the middle of nowhere for no obvious reason, none of those things will tell you what exactly is going on up front or suggest how long the delay will be.

The last couple of times that has happened to us we were thinking of a re-route, which when pulling 40' of 5th wheel you have to know what roads to detour on, but we didn't want to detour if the obstruction up ahead was going to clear quickly. The only possible way to get up to date information was from the truckers around us. Of course they were getting their information via their CB.

[lfcjasp]

When we suspect something fishy going on up ahead, I use my map and GPS on my smartphone and that's saved us a lot of headaches. We both used to have CB's, but used them less and less til we stopped putting them in newer vehicles. Haven't missed them. Yet.

[ford_truck_guy]

TMcArthur wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

TMcArthur wrote:

For emergency use you can pickup a handheld HAM radio (although license is require to broadcast, I doubt you would get in trouble if it were an emergency)

I'll have to get one so the next time I want to ask a trucker if I should take the North bypass, the South bypass, or straight thru town I can contact one in China or South America.bumpyI can contact one in China or South America.bumpy

I think you missed the important words, "For emergency" of which asking traffic directions is not.

Yes.... But you have to admit , it was funny !

[Bumpyroad]

TMcArthur wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

TMcArthur wrote:

For emergency use you can pickup a handheld HAM radio (although license is require to broadcast, I doubt you would get in trouble if it were an emergency)

I'll have to get one so the next time I want to ask a trucker if I should take the North bypass, the South bypass, or straight thru town I can contact one in China or South America.
bumpy

I think you missed the important words, "For emergency" of which asking traffic directions is not.

OK, in case of emergency I want to talk to who in china or south america?
If somebody is serious about keeping in touch anyplace, anytime, etc. they will have a satellite phone.
bumpy

[TMcArthur]

Bumpyroad wrote:

TMcArthur wrote:

For emergency use you can pickup a handheld HAM radio (although license is require to broadcast, I doubt you would get in trouble if it were an emergency)

I'll have to get one so the next time I want to ask a trucker if I should take the North bypass, the South bypass, or straight thru town I can contact one in China or South America.
bumpy

I think you missed the important words, "For emergency" of which asking traffic directions is not.