Are CB radios still used?

[moparcanuck]

Recently bought my new motorhome (1994 Newmar). It has a factory CB radio in it. Was rather surprised, as CBs had long since faded away. However, in looking, I see that CBs are still options in even brand new motorhomes.

Are people still using these? I haven't used one in years.

[Bumpyroad]

liquidspaceman wrote:
I don't like CB or FRS radios as they tend to attract weirdos to my vehicle. On more than one occasion, calling to talk to somebody resulted in somebody stalking our vehicle and just being creepy with us. I would worry that calling out for distress out in the Mojave Desert would result in some weirdo coming out to get us. Maybe I'm just paranoid because of our two experiences. I don't like CB's. I feel that they make me a mark.

"Hey this person is stranded and helpless out in the desert."

I wish I had more faith in people.

I'd rather be helpless and stranded out in the desert with a CB or FRS radio than without. and unless you are talking to somebody beside you, nobody knows who is doing the talking.
bumpy

[liquidspaceman]

I don't like CB or FRS radios as they tend to attract weirdos to my vehicle. On more than one occasion, calling to talk to somebody resulted in somebody stalking our vehicle and just being creepy with us. I would worry that calling out for distress out in the Mojave Desert would result in some weirdo coming out to get us. Maybe I'm just paranoid because of our two experiences. I don't like CB's. I feel that they make me a mark.

"Hey this person is stranded and helpless out in the desert."

I wish I had more faith in people.

[Bumpyroad]

camperpaul wrote:

Jarlaxle wrote:
No ideas...but I have had the GPS working perfectly with no cell reception many times.

That is because the GPS system doesn't use the cell towers.

It uses "Low Earth Orbit" (LEO) satellites.

As long as your GPS receiver can "see" three or more of these satellites, it can calculate your position to within a few feet. There are very few places on the planet where it won't work as long as it has a clear view of the sky.

and this helps you avoid traffic jams, delays, wrecks, tells you which lane is getting through, etc. exactly how???
bumpy

[camperpaul]

Jarlaxle wrote:
No ideas...but I have had the GPS working perfectly with no cell reception many times.

That is because the GPS system doesn't use the cell towers.

It uses "Low Earth Orbit" (LEO) satellites.

As long as your GPS receiver can "see" three or more of these satellites, it can calculate your position to within a few feet. There are very few places on the planet where it won't work as long as it has a clear view of the sky.

[john_bet]

mowermech wrote:

Jarlaxle wrote:

D & M wrote:

2500 Grunt wrote:
For all of you old timers (I'm 43)lol, if using a cell phone then Google maps has traffic on it and it is real time and a free download! Not sure how fast things get reported though. Also, my Android phone or operating platform has many free apps like Google maps with traffic, scanner radio (used to scan local fire, police traffic etc and many more) and weather updates using phone gps. The only downside is reception. I use my CB for most of the above comments too along with my cell phone. My answer to the OP'S question is: Yes!

Tell me there young pup (:)), Does your cell phone tell you where radar setups are? Does Google let you know where a rainstorm is starting to slow traffic? Or does it let you know instantly if the lines at the Pilot fuel pumps are shorter at the Flying J? Sometimes things in life need the "old fashioned" human touch. :W

Actually, yes, it can...I don't have the app, but yes, there IS a speed-trap warning available for Smartphones! It gives me real-time traffic & weather reports.

I wonder, how well is your Smartphone going to work on...oh, let's say U.S. Highway 2 between East Glacier and West Glacier?
Or, Montana State Highway 200 over Roger's pass?
Or along the Little Blackfoot River between Lincoln and Clearwater Junction?
CB radios work great in all those areas, and much more.
A cell phone is useless over a lot of territory out here.

Right on Mowermech, We travel out that way quit often. We were there this past Christmas, been there in Oct.,and again Come next May. No traffic problems out you way, which is great. I fill up in Billings and am good to Great Falls plus. Yes cell phone reception can be spotty.

[Monaco_Montclai]

All u got to do is ,turn it on to get any info, and just listen. And now it's all. Happy-camping

[Jarlaxle]

No ideas...but I have had the GPS working perfectly with no cell reception many times.

[Bumpyroad]

Jarlaxle wrote:
My traffic updates are from satellites...I don't need cell reception for them.

I hope your required satellites are more reliable in position than those I use for XM Sirius.
bumpy

[Jarlaxle]

My traffic updates are from satellites...I don't need cell reception for them.

[mowermech]

Jarlaxle wrote:

D & M wrote:

2500 Grunt wrote:
For all of you old timers (I'm 43)lol, if using a cell phone then Google maps has traffic on it and it is real time and a free download! Not sure how fast things get reported though. Also, my Android phone or operating platform has many free apps like Google maps with traffic, scanner radio (used to scan local fire, police traffic etc and many more) and weather updates using phone gps. The only downside is reception. I use my CB for most of the above comments too along with my cell phone. My answer to the OP'S question is: Yes!

Tell me there young pup (:)), Does your cell phone tell you where radar setups are? Does Google let you know where a rainstorm is starting to slow traffic? Or does it let you know instantly if the lines at the Pilot fuel pumps are shorter at the Flying J? Sometimes things in life need the "old fashioned" human touch. :W

Actually, yes, it can...I don't have the app, but yes, there IS a speed-trap warning available for Smartphones! It gives me real-time traffic & weather reports.

I wonder, how well is your Smartphone going to work on...oh, let's say U.S. Highway 2 between East Glacier and West Glacier?
Or, Montana State Highway 200 over Roger's pass?
Or along the Little Blackfoot River between Lincoln and Clearwater Junction?
CB radios work great in all those areas, and much more.
A cell phone is useless over a lot of territory out here.

[resmas]

For those of you wanting to improve the performance of your CB, there are shops around that can "tune" it for you, and get you set up with the right antennas to improve reception. Get on 19 and ask a trucker. Sometimes truckstops will have a small shop near them, or on the property. DH gets all our CB's "fixed" that way. We have one in every vehicle, and they are STILL more usefull than cell phones for certain things.

CB's have literally saved our lives before when we were involved in a road rage incident for ~40 miles. Two guys high on drugs were trying to car-jack us on I-40. Because we had a CB, we were able to communicate with nearby truckers, who literally saved us by blocking the road rage guys. The truckers even pinned the carjackers onto a concrete bridge so the HP could drag them out of the car and arrest them. Try doing that with your Smartphone. And yes, I was on my cell phone with 911 the whole time. 911 kept telling me to pull over and talk to the guys. Ha!

We will ALWAYS have CB's.

[D___M]

Jarlaxle wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

D & M wrote:

2500 Grunt wrote:
For all of you old timers (I'm 43)lol, if using a cell phone then Google maps has traffic on it and it is real time and a free download! Not sure how fast things get reported though. Also, my Android phone or operating platform has many free apps like Google maps with traffic, scanner radio (used to scan local fire, police traffic etc and many more) and weather updates using phone gps. The only downside is reception. I use my CB for most of the above comments too along with my cell phone. My answer to the OP'S question is: Yes!

Tell me there young pup (:)), Does your cell phone tell you where radar setups are? Does Google let you know where a rainstorm is starting to slow traffic? Or does it let you know instantly if the lines at the Pilot fuel pumps are shorter at the Flying J? Sometimes things in life need the "old fashioned" human touch. :W

hey, when they dump $500 into a gadget and pay $75 a month for service, they have to try to justify the purchase somehow to the wife. no dear, a $34 CB radio just won't work. :s
bumpy

$45/month for service (unlimited everything), the phone cost $140. I'm not an Apple cultist.

You win. You have the coolest toys.

[snowdance]

I am 75 and do love my cell phone. What I like most about mine is it gets service about 70% of the places we go. I have service from US Cellular. My phone is voice only and the military style water proof and rubber case so can be dropped. Most of my friends are big on their phones and they do every thing. They also have service from the big companys. Theirs work about 15% of the places we go. So I get to hand them my phone so they can call some one often. Makes me feel good that my old work horse phone does so well.

The rest of the time its the CB for us..

[Jarlaxle]

Bumpyroad wrote:

D & M wrote:

2500 Grunt wrote:
For all of you old timers (I'm 43)lol, if using a cell phone then Google maps has traffic on it and it is real time and a free download! Not sure how fast things get reported though. Also, my Android phone or operating platform has many free apps like Google maps with traffic, scanner radio (used to scan local fire, police traffic etc and many more) and weather updates using phone gps. The only downside is reception. I use my CB for most of the above comments too along with my cell phone. My answer to the OP'S question is: Yes!

Tell me there young pup (:)), Does your cell phone tell you where radar setups are? Does Google let you know where a rainstorm is starting to slow traffic? Or does it let you know instantly if the lines at the Pilot fuel pumps are shorter at the Flying J? Sometimes things in life need the "old fashioned" human touch. :W

hey, when they dump $500 into a gadget and pay $75 a month for service, they have to try to justify the purchase somehow to the wife. no dear, a $34 CB radio just won't work. :s
bumpy

$45/month for service (unlimited everything), the phone cost $140. I'm not an Apple cultist.

[Jarlaxle]

D & M wrote:

2500 Grunt wrote:
For all of you old timers (I'm 43)lol, if using a cell phone then Google maps has traffic on it and it is real time and a free download! Not sure how fast things get reported though. Also, my Android phone or operating platform has many free apps like Google maps with traffic, scanner radio (used to scan local fire, police traffic etc and many more) and weather updates using phone gps. The only downside is reception. I use my CB for most of the above comments too along with my cell phone. My answer to the OP'S question is: Yes!

Tell me there young pup (:)), Does your cell phone tell you where radar setups are? Does Google let you know where a rainstorm is starting to slow traffic? Or does it let you know instantly if the lines at the Pilot fuel pumps are shorter at the Flying J? Sometimes things in life need the "old fashioned" human touch. :W

Actually, yes, it can...I don't have the app, but yes, there IS a speed-trap warning available for Smartphones! It gives me real-time traffic & weather reports.