CB channels...

[mowermech]

In another thread about looking for a CB antenna coax, CB channel usage was brought up. Rather than keep that thread going off-topic, I decided to start a new one.

While it is true that the FCC only officially designates ONE channel, Channel 9, for emergency use only, there have been "Gentlemen's Agreements" in effect over the years for several other channels.
Channel 19 was originally, IIRC, by popular agreement, the National Calling Channel. Then it became the channel for mobile stations to use.
At one time, Channel 19 was for North-south traffic, and Channel 17 was for East-West traffic. Or was it the other way around??

Back in the 23 channel days, Channels 15 and 16 were reserved by popular agreement for Single Side Band (SSB) users. Channel 16 was the SSB Calling Channel. Then, when 40 channel radios became available, there was an effort on the part of several CB magazines to set Channels 35 thru 40 for SSB use, with Channel 16 still as a SSB Calling Channel. This agreement was advantageous to both AM and SSB users, because regardless of what some advertisements say, an AM/SSB radio does not have 120 channels. AM and SSB can not be used on the same frequency at the same time. It is even difficult to use USB and LSB on the same frequency (Upper SideBand and Lower SideBand)

Recently, there has been a movement for RV drivers to use Channel 13 for communication with other RVs. This would allow Rvers to have a channel away from the garbage on 17 and 19. So far, acceptance has been very slow.

Channel 14 is shared, by FCC rules, by remote control toys and toy walkie talkies.
Channel 4 is often used by those caravaning, and those on trail runs (such as 4X4 clubs).

NONE of these channel uses have ever been sanctioned by the FCC. They have been purely "Gentlemen's Agreements".

[mtrumpet]

This is what came installed when we bought our DP. It is a piece of JUNK!


I had the model below in my gasser, and it worked much, much better. I'm going to get another one of these to replace that above hand held junk.

[yankee_camper]

Francesca Knowles wrote:
What do all you folks-in-the-know think about itty bitty CB's like this portable?
link to description
I'm liking that I might be able use it in the house, the car, and even in camp with my portable backup battery...



This is starting to sound not just useful but also fun- and I'm always looking for fun things I can actually do from the comfort of my lawn chair!:B

I bought that exact CB last year and love it. I used a Lil'Will antennea and it works vey well. Just be warned that there isn't a heck of a lot of chatter on it,but the weather channels are worth the price of it alone.

[Daveinet]

msmith1199 wrote:

Sully2 wrote:
If its against the law ( many places) to drive down the road with a cell phone to your head....why is it "supposed to be" OK to do the same with a CB ?

CB's were exempted from many cell phone laws thanks to the trucker lobby.

More than that, CBs have a legitimate use on the road, often communicating about disabled vehicles or other localized potential hazards. Cell phones do not have this function. Yes, they can call the police for an emergency, but that is specifically exempted from any cell phone laws. (at least in IL).

[msmith1199]

If you guys think debates get heated on here, get a CB and listen to the stuff that goes on there.

[stugpanzer]

Francesca Knowles wrote:
What do all you folks-in-the-know think about itty bitty CB's like this portable?
link to description
I'm liking that I might be able use it in the house, the car, and even in camp with my portable backup battery...



This is starting to sound not just useful but also fun- and I'm always looking for fun things I can actually do from the comfort of my lawn chair!:B

I own this one too! I use it in my car and I really like using it as a stand-alone weather radio. Very nice radio!

[msmith1199]

Sully2 wrote:
If its against the law ( many places) to drive down the road with a cell phone to your head....why is it "supposed to be" OK to do the same with a CB ?

CB's were exempted from many cell phone laws thanks to the trucker lobby.

[luggnutts]

I also have one in my m/h. I don't use it often but I like knowing it's there,if and when I might need it.

[global2]

Midland used to be the best in CB technology. I haven't kept up with latest reviews. I had a mini-23 for years and also enjoyed the portability. CBing is fun and handy. I'm looking forward to being back on the road with one.

[Francesca_Knowl]

What do all you folks-in-the-know think about itty bitty CB's like this portable?
link to description
I'm liking that I might be able use it in the house, the car, and even in camp with my portable backup battery...



This is starting to sound not just useful but also fun- and I'm always looking for fun things I can actually do from the comfort of my lawn chair!:B

[bigred1cav]

How does a cell phone get weather reports from oncoming traffic about where you are headed? I like to know road conditions and if it is snowing back to where I am going from those whom have just been there?

[W4RLR]

mowermech wrote:
Francesca, to go along with your CB, find out when there will be a testing session in your area, and get your Amateur Radio Technician Class license (if you don't already have it).
what the heck, go for the General Class license. You can take both tests on the same day without paying anything more!
Go to the ARRL website to find study guides, and a list of when testing sessions will be held in your area.
2 Meter FM is a great system.

I second that! And if you think you need to know Morse code to get a ham license, that requirement was dropped a few years ago, but Morse is still used. My wife (or XYL in ham-speak) thinks I have turned my truck into the space shuttle with three amateur radios installed. But that is just me and my choice. It is after all my truck.

I use 2 meter FM while traveling. On the back of my fiver there is a sign which lists my call sign and the national 2 meter calling frequency, which I monitor while traveling. That frequency is 146.52 mhz.

[W4RLR]

Francesca Knowles wrote:
I wonder how long it'll be before even the CB "airwaves" get stolen from us by the same greedheads that already took over-the-air analog TV....unless...use of our airwaves for this purpose IS still free, isn't it?

If I'm revealing my technoignorance here- please be merciful!

Not to worry. The CB frequencies are more or less useless for the technologies that seek radio spectrum for things like broadband internet. It's the higher frequencies that are coveted.

Over the air television has moved to digital transmission. In the same airwave space that a single TV channel used to occupy, a broadcaster can transmit multiple video channels and data services. It is simply better use of bandwidth.

[stugpanzer]

We have a CB in our RV. We have camping buddies that we caravan with and calling on the cell phones is actually not as advantageous as picking up the mic and keying to talk. We started out with the personal '2 mile' radios but the range within vehicles and vehicle to vehicle is very short. I bought a CB and installed it with a NGP (No Ground Plane) antenna then I bought a CB as a gift for our camping buddies.

We stick to channel 12 as it has proven to be fairly quiet on most of the trips we go to. Also, channel 19 is great for when there is a traffic jam. It is very useful to know what is coming and/or to know what lane to be in, etc.

The radio we have is a Cobra 29LXE with a weather alert radio built in.

I find having a CB while RVing to be very useful!

[koda55]

I have a CB in our RV and it has come in handy many times. I also had one in my car when I was in the military going from Norfolk, VA or Lexington Park, Md to Jacksonville, Fl every other week end for 7 years. It has saved me many times when there were accidents or other problems down the road. I didn't have a cell phone at the time and I was able to report accidents that I saw or people needing help as I passed a police officer.