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".

[wny_pat1]

deejay41 wrote:
Breaker Breaker 19, Looks like we got ourselves a "Convoy" !!

It was channel 10 back then. The truckers moved to channel 19 because they got to much flack about interfering with channel 9.

[deejay41]

Breaker Breaker 19, Looks like we got ourselves a "Convoy" !!

[down_home]

.....

[pkunk]

I have several old CBs, one actually mounted with an antenna. I also have a 40 watt bi-linear amp which I used to use (to reach out) when in the boonies. They are illegal so I no longer have it hooked up.

[hanko]

wa8yxm wrote:
I have 3 CB radios in this RV
One: Cobra, top end, capable of SSB or AM, Decent NGP antenna which I plan to improve the mount on one of these days.. Chan 19, this one has paid for itself a few times by letting me know of issues ahead.. Thus I took ye-old exit, found a Wal*mart and a good night's sleep and let others sweat out the traffic jam.

I have a vintage Realistic, good radio when it was purchased (middle of the line as I recall) with a cheap (Term deleted) mag mount little 18" thing in the basement on an ammo case (not much ground plane) on 13.. IF YOU CAN SEE ME, Ill hear you.

I have a hand held.. No batteries, On Channel Zero (OFF).

(Well there was a time I could use such a thing).(And may be again)

I also have a Ham Radio (Motorola HT) on 146.52 and a Kenwood TM-731 on whatever repeater is popular where I'm at.. That is in the cockpit.

I mostly ignore them, save for the Kenwood when I'm parked and typing on the computer.

Car has a Wilson WE-800 (2 meter ham rig I just restored to service).

There is a lot of electronics around here 🙂

10-4 good buddy

[Mike_Taverniti]

My 20 year old CB saved me some big bucks a couple weeks ago. I neglected to lock my bedroom window and it was flopping in the breeze driving on I-20 in GA. A trucker notified me on the CB. Glad I keep one in the truck.

[J-Rooster]

Daveinet wrote:
While it might seem a noble idea, I really wonder how many RVers have a CB, let alone ever turn it on. I've got an old CB in my basement, but have not ever given it a thought to install it in the RV. Not sure I would ever run into the need to use it.

One competing and more logical choice would be instant chat on some RV forum. With so many smart phones, that setup would seem more likely to generate traffic.

X-2, I drove over the road for over 44 years using a CB Radio! I've been retired 4 years today and haven't touched one (CB) since. My cell phone will be fine for me!

[pa_traveler]

Just went to west Virginia to get a torklift superhitch last week. CB came in handy, found out about a car fire ahead was able to avoid it. Have had it for three years now and it has helped out quite a bit,also turn on the severe weather alert if skys look bad.

[wa8yxm]

I have 3 CB radios in this RV
One: Cobra, top end, capable of SSB or AM, Decent NGP antenna which I plan to improve the mount on one of these days.. Chan 19, this one has paid for itself a few times by letting me know of issues ahead.. Thus I took ye-old exit, found a Wal*mart and a good night's sleep and let others sweat out the traffic jam.

I have a vintage Realistic, good radio when it was purchased (middle of the line as I recall) with a cheap (Term deleted) mag mount little 18" thing in the basement on an ammo case (not much ground plane) on 13.. IF YOU CAN SEE ME, Ill hear you.

I have a hand held.. No batteries, On Channel Zero (OFF).

(Well there was a time I could use such a thing).(And may be again)

I also have a Ham Radio (Motorola HT) on 146.52 and a Kenwood TM-731 on whatever repeater is popular where I'm at.. That is in the cockpit.

I mostly ignore them, save for the Kenwood when I'm parked and typing on the computer.

Car has a Wilson WE-800 (2 meter ham rig I just restored to service).

There is a lot of electronics around here 🙂

[RoyB]

I have one under my truck seat with the squelch turned up all the way. This way the truckers have to be very close to me before tripping my squelch threshold. The CB world remains a very nasty mouthed airways... Would even make a Sailor blush... It is especially nasty around the major truck stops... Roanoke comes to mind...

The truckers know the road the best and just knowing what is going on directly in front or behind you has alot of merit. My CB radio sits on CH19 all the time. Even the SMOKEY BEAR REPORTS are most helpful...

We use the FRS radios around the camp site or walking through the towns shopping etc... Gatlinburg is a very busy FRS radio town...

Roy Ken

[gbopp]

I have a CB in our Southwind. I don't use it very often but, it is nice to know it's available if needed.

Sometimes the old, relatively simple, technology is best.

[Francesca_Knowl]

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!

[mowermech]

DutchmenSport wrote:
We use to have 2 portable hand held CB's with the magnet antenna mount back in the early 1980's. Two things changed all of that. 1). They quit using steel for the roof and fenders of automobiles, went to aluminum, and finally went to fiberglass, and now ... who know what they are using, but it sure isn't steel. 2) the invention of the cell phone. By 1990, our CB days were over. The first cell phone we had was a big old clunky thing about the size of a military 2 way radio, that came with it's own carrying case, and plugged into your cigarette lighter. We thought that was fantastic technology back then! And the CB ended up in the attic, ended up rusting, ended up in the trash.

I haven't thought about CB usage in ... what ... 24 years at least?

To each his own...
There are many places in Montana where cell coverage is spotty to non-existent. The same is true in Idaho and Nevada, where I am most likely to travel.
Even the amateur radio bands can be very lonely in some areas.
With CB, there is a fair chance I can get help, even if the contactee is on the East Coast! Yes, talking skip is illegal, but in an emergency who cares about the rules!
If you ever want to do a trail run with a 4X4 club, you are quite likely to find that a CB is REQUIRED, your cell phone will not be accepted.
There is still a place for CB. I just completed the installation of a Maxon 40 channel AM set, with 10 weather channels, in my truck. I have a Cobra that I will be installing in the motorhome this spring.
I also have an all band all mode amateur radio in the truck, and a 2 meter radio in the coach.
I also have my cell phone. Sometimes I can even use it, depending on where I happen to be at the time!
My son has my old Motorola bag phone in his collection. I wish it was still usable, but it is analog only. In some ways it was much better than my current flip-phone!

[Daveinet]

While it might seem a noble idea, I really wonder how many RVers have a CB, let alone ever turn it on. I've got an old CB in my basement, but have not ever given it a thought to install it in the RV. Not sure I would ever run into the need to use it.

One competing and more logical choice would be instant chat on some RV forum. With so many smart phones, that setup would seem more likely to generate traffic.

[DutchmenSport]

We use to have 2 portable hand held CB's with the magnet antenna mount back in the early 1980's. Two things changed all of that. 1). They quit using steel for the roof and fenders of automobiles, went to aluminum, and finally went to fiberglass, and now ... who know what they are using, but it sure isn't steel. 2) the invention of the cell phone. By 1990, our CB days were over. The first cell phone we had was a big old clunky thing about the size of a military 2 way radio, that came with it's own carrying case, and plugged into your cigarette lighter. We thought that was fantastic technology back then! And the CB ended up in the attic, ended up rusting, ended up in the trash.

I haven't thought about CB usage in ... what ... 24 years at least?