Using a CB radio

[darlingtontrio]

Growing up, my grandparents always had a CB radio in the truck. I have one from my old truck, but I have not hooked it up in my new truck, 13 F150. I am curious if anyone still uses them? Also, if you do, where do you have it mounted. I am thinking about installing mine for when we are traveling since it will mostly be the 3 of us as a family and not with a group of other campers.

[koda55]

When on long trips I always have my CB on. It has saved me many times from have to sit in traffic. Truckers know how to get around many traffic problems and with it I would know ahead of time to follow them.

[echobot]

I know there has been a lot of post about using channel 13 for RV's, so I put those 3" letters on the back of my fifth wheel that say CB13. This way I don't have to listen to the foul language and people will know what channel I am on.

[Only_True_Mosno]

I am never without my CB. It has saved me numerous times in terms of routing and avoiding accident sites. I leave it on Channel 19 to monitor traffic conditions and if their is a problem I know it well ahead of my fellow travelers. It is a great tool available to everyone and yes there are those that don't belong on them but overall they are very useful when towing.

[Dustytuu]

We use a CB when on long trips. If we encounter foul language we change channels or turn it off.
Usually the foul language is around populated areas, but not always.
A CB can be valuable in case your stalled on side of highway and your cell phone doesn't work there. Or to search road conditions ahead. Especially in case of road closures for various reasons like accidents. Truckers are good about telling you of a detour.

A trucker told us one time our TV antenna was up. Also have been told about a low tire before we had the tire monitors.

[CT_WANDERER]

double post

[CT_WANDERER]

I was surprised on my way from wintering in the RGV, after passing a 18 wheeler to hear someone come on the radio to tell me it was ok to pull back into the other lane. As I was climbing a hill and other were coming up fast on my back. Thanked him and pulled over. Other than that not much useful information on the radio during that run.

[416Rigby]

Redsky wrote:

wcjeep wrote:
I have one in the truck and the offroad Jeep. The CB only sees occasional use. The range of a CB has significant more range in the mountains than FRS. I do keep it off while on the highway. After leaving the military I no longer need to listen to foul mouthed people.

All hand held radios have limited power output by law and as a result a very limited range as they are used with the antenna right against your head. Any fixed mount whether it is VHF, GMRS, or CB is going to have more power and greater range.

The only time I have ever used a CB radio was to monitor truckers on the logging roads coming out of the hills (at high speed) with their loads. On the highway listening to truckers would be of zero value.

The GMRS/FRS hand held radios are .5 - 2watts max power. Most VHF/UHF hand helds are 5watts+. And you can change the antenna on most VHF/UHF hand helds and double the output power.

[Redsky]

wcjeep wrote:
I have one in the truck and the offroad Jeep. The CB only sees occasional use. The range of a CB has significant more range in the mountains than FRS. I do keep it off while on the highway. After leaving the military I no longer need to listen to foul mouthed people.

All hand held radios have limited power output by law and as a result a very limited range as they are used with the antenna right against your head. Any fixed mount whether it is VHF, GMRS, or CB is going to have more power and greater range.

The only time I have ever used a CB radio was to monitor truckers on the logging roads coming out of the hills (at high speed) with their loads. On the highway listening to truckers would be of zero value.

[Redsky]

wcjeep wrote:
I have one in the truck and the offroad Jeep. The CB only sees occasional use. The range of a CB has significant more range in the mountains than FRS. I do keep it off while on the highway. After leaving the military I no longer need to listen to foul mouthed people.

All hand held radios have limited power output by law and as a result a very limited range as they are used with the antenna right against your head. Any fixed mount whether it is VHF, GMRS, or CB is going to have more power and greater range.

The only time I have ever used a CB radio was to monitor truckers on the logging roads coming out of the hills (at high speed) with their loads. On the highway listening to truckers would be of zero value.

[rollingslow]

the problem with them is not the truckers its the other dummys tulsa ok is the worst city in the country

[Tachdriver]

416Rigby wrote:
Ditch the CB radio and look at getting your amateur (HAM) radio license. I have 2 hand held radios set up with 3 different truck to trailer freqs set on them. CB radios were fun when we were kids.
The license is FREE from the FCC and there should only be a very small $5 to $20 fee for who ever administers the test.

+1

I had early notice that there was a bad wreck on I-75 through local hams who happen to be talking, I was able to take an alternate route and save myself from sitting in traffic.

There are databases you can download the repeaters for whatever city you plan to visit. It's also fun to talk with locals as well.

[416Rigby]

Ditch the CB radio and look at getting your amateur (HAM) radio license. I have 2 hand held radios set up with 3 different truck to trailer freqs set on them. CB radios were fun when we were kids.
The license is FREE from the FCC and there should only be a very small $5 to $20 fee for who ever administers the test.

[ol__grouch]

I work on a loading dock. Older, American drivers still use the CB. We have them on the lift trucks so we can give them directions. A lot of drivers, mostly immigrants, don't have them and rely on cell phones. I've even had a couple who said cell phones were too expensive, so we couldn't call them at all when it was their turn to get loaded.

I still run a CB in my own vehicles. My class B had one from the factory and still has the mount for a 1/4 wave antenna. I'm thinking of using my main radio in it the next time I hit the road.

On a side note, a LOT of people don't mount their radios properly so they don't get good range. Excess cable needs to be looped back and forth, not coiled. I got a Mustang in the shop once that would shut down when the driver keyed the mike. The extra antenna cable was coiled on top of the computer under the front passenger seat. Electromagnets and computers don't play well together.

[1775]

Depending on where you are driving in the country you will hear truckers or you will hear no one. I have a portable CB from the days when all of my cars had a CB under the dash. Where I am in NY, there is no one to be heard on it. I took it down into NJ on the turnpike and heard no one. After several shout outs one trucker replied and said he could hear me loud and clear. I could hear him loud and clear - so I knew the old portable rig was working but no one else could be heard that night on the busy NJ Tpk. I carry it in a storage cabinet in the RV just in case, but I would not rely on it as I once did many years ago.