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.

[h2guy]

Jarlaxle wrote:
Yes...call up the traffic on my phone's navigation, it will show EXACTLY where the backup is.

Only where those cameras are avail. Not in every city. Probably OK if you are always in the same area.

[Jarlaxle]

Yes...call up the traffic on my phone's navigation, it will show EXACTLY where the backup is.

[lfcjasp]

We used our CB's a lot back in the late 70's. They were wonderful. When I was driving alone late at night, the truckers were my guardian angels on the highway. I'm forever indebted to those folks looking out for me and my faithful old Galaxie:) As time went on and we got newer vehicles, we just never installed the radios. Now I'm thinking we might want to go that route again with the MH. You just can't have too much good communication when you're out God-knows-where!

[Bumpyroad]

my CB saved my bacon again this PM. got into a bit of backup on the IS. was debating getting off and detouring, but talked to a trucker and the problem was a vehicle with highway patrol behind it on the shoulder a short distance ahead. stayed on IS and quickly got past it. and a cell phone would have known this?
bumpy

[Jarlaxle]

camperpaul wrote:

Pauljdav wrote:
The traffic app lets me know what lane is blocked and has access to the cameras on the freeway to SW can see what is happening.
Paul

What do you do when you are out of range of the cell sites?

Mine will give traffic reports as long as I have a GPS signal. I do not NEED a cell signal.

[Jarlaxle]

Bumpyroad wrote:

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

My phone gives real-time traffic updates...if there is a problem, it will tell me and route me around it.

[Bumpyroad]

camperpaul wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:
Now we use walkie talkies when backing into the driveway or campsites - seems that someone is always yelling at me to get off "their" frequency.

If the walkie-talkies you are using are the FRS/GMRS radios, you may be using a GMRS frequency. Some of those frequencies are the input frequencies for repeaters for which you are not licensed (by the FCC) to use.

When programming your FRS/GMRS radio, make sure you are not using a GMRS frequency. The penalties for unlicensed use can be rather severe.

or just fill out the forms to be able to use all of those frequencies. of course figuring out how to fill out those forms is a challenge.
bumpy

[camperpaul]

2012Coleman wrote:
Now we use walkie talkies when backing into the driveway or campsites - seems that someone is always yelling at me to get off "their" frequency.

If the walkie-talkies you are using are the FRS/GMRS radios, you may be using a GMRS frequency. Some of those frequencies are the input frequencies for repeaters for which you are not licensed (by the FCC) to use.

When programming your FRS/GMRS radio, make sure you are not using a GMRS frequency. The penalties for unlicensed use can be rather severe.

[2012Coleman]

We used CB radios as kids. We had a base station. It used to mess up the television reception and dad would yell at us. My handle was Creeking Cricket! Now we use walkie talkies when backing into the driveway or campsites - seems that someone is always yelling at me to get off "their" frequency.

[Bumpyroad]

D & M wrote:

WOW! So you're telling us that, at three in the morning, if there is something lying in the left lane a mile ahead of you, your cell phone would tell you to stay over to the right hand side so you won't run over it without having to look at the tiny little screen.

What a marvelous creation. Please do give us the name of this application.

sums the TRUTH up quite well. unless the driver has a "junk in the road ap" on his cell phone. :s
bumpy

[D___M]

Pauljdav wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

moparcanuck wrote:
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.

CB radios have not faded away. I use mine when approaching a city to chat with oncoming truckers to see if I should take N or S bypass or continue straight thru town. also at Richmond to see if I should take 295 or stay on I-95 to go through.
and IMHO a cell phone is worthless for this task, who you gonna call, ghost busters?
from my experience the "bad language" is not what it is blown up to be and if it occurs it is only transient in nature.
bumpy

I use my smart phone and check the traffic app. Has not let me down yet.

Paul

WOW! So you're telling us that, at three in the morning, if there is something lying in the left lane a mile ahead of you, your cell phone would tell you to stay over to the right hand side so you won't run over it without having to look at the tiny little screen.

What a marvelous creation. Please do give us the name of this application.

[camperpaul]

Pauljdav wrote:
The traffic app lets me know what lane is blocked and has access to the cameras on the freeway to SW can see what is happening.
Paul

What do you do when you are out of range of the cell sites?

[Pauljdav]

camperpaul wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

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

I doesn't.

The traffic app lets me know what lane is blocked and has access to the cameras on the freeway to SW can see what is happening.

Paul

[Pauljdav]

Bumpyroad wrote:

moparcanuck wrote:
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.

CB radios have not faded away. I use mine when approaching a city to chat with oncoming truckers to see if I should take N or S bypass or continue straight thru town. also at Richmond to see if I should take 295 or stay on I-95 to go through.
and IMHO a cell phone is worthless for this task, who you gonna call, ghost busters?
from my experience the "bad language" is not what it is blown up to be and if it occurs it is only transient in nature.
bumpy

I use my smart phone and check the traffic app. Has not let me down yet.

Paul

[camperpaul]

Bumpyroad wrote:

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

It doesn't.