CB Radio Question

tld · 12-15-2018, 11:37 AM

Many years ago I had a CB Radio in my vehicle and found it fairly useful when travelling for getting immediate road conditions, traffic backup info, accident info, detour info, etc. So, I've recently been wondering if I should consider getting one again. Do any of you use one while your travelling, and if so, do you find it to be a worthwhile tool?

RoyBraddy · 12-15-2018, 01:03 PM

I have a CB under the seat of my truck and the squelch is turned up all the way. This makes the CB only usable for just a few hundred feet near the truck.

I can't remember hearing another RV unit the several years I have had mine installed. No one uses the CB freqs anymore it appears... The CB was great back in the 60s but I guess the CELL PHONEs have replaced it now...

I only have mine running to get close proximity Police reports along the road and any road hazards from the truckers. The language is very bad on the CB freqs… Hard to listen to for sure...

We use the FRS radios and cell phones around the camp sites...

Maybe others find the CB bands still useful but not the case for us anymore...

Roy Ken

**norty1** · 12-15-2018, 02:20 PM

Agree completely, Truckers talk is mostly profanity laced and not fit for my ears or my family. I used to have them but cell phones give me all I want.

Trumex · 12-15-2018, 03:15 PM

I agree totaly

DNelson · 12-16-2018, 05:49 PM

I put one in the truck for a trip to Alaska in 2016. Like some others have said I found there wasn't much use of CB anymore but figured if I was in an area without cell coverage it might still come in useful. I don't leave it on because of all the language others have noted.

I wonder what percentage of the the US population would be speechless if the word 'like' and profanity were banned?

Goflight2 · 12-16-2018, 05:51 PM

My rig came with one when I bought it used. Ended up having the group we camp with get them also. Handy when you are caravanning to remote spots and on fwy.
Was using FRS radios before.

oldmanAZ · 12-16-2018, 07:42 PM

I have one installed for trips, but it is usually off unless we see unusual congestion on the highway. I bought it primarily for emergency situations where there is no cell coverage.

tld · 12-16-2018, 07:47 PM

That's what I was thinking about - emergency situations. Have you used it for any situations where you were really glad you had it and found it worth while to have along? Just trying to decide whether or not to purchase one. Not very expensive, but don't want to waste money and time if there is really no value to having one.

oldmanAZ · 12-16-2018, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tld

snip...
Have you used it for any situations where you were really glad you had it and found it worth while to have along? Just trying to decide whether or not to purchase one. Not very expensive, but don't want to waste money and time if there is really no value to having one.

No, thankfully. We haven't needed our bear spray either, but ....

RAurand · 12-17-2018, 09:06 AM

My GPS tells me if there are traffic problems ahead. (No, it don't tell me about speed traps but with trailer tires being what they are, we shouldn't be going that fast to worry about speeding)
If an emergency, I have my cell phone.

Still have my CB from my 18 wheeler days. Never used it since.

Camper_bob · 12-17-2018, 09:51 AM

I'm super glad this question was asked as I've been considering installing a CB as well. I have a Jeep that I would like to take off road, and I think many of those guys use CBs to communicate on the trail, so I was thinking of a dual purpose.

But based on the responses in this thread, I think I'll just skip it...

chas111 · 12-17-2018, 09:56 PM

I've used one in my previous truck that I did use occasionally to let me know which lane to be in when there was a lot of congestion on the interstate. I bought a small unit to put in new truck and it's still in the box.

namusmc65 · 12-18-2018, 06:55 AM

I used them a lot many years ago. Same with ham radio. I have a ham radio base station but no longer mobile. The cb's I used to use regularly are out on a shelf in my barn. Have not used them for years as stated above for the various reasons. The cell phone has replaced all of those any more. Try to make sure vehicles are in great condition so that we don't have any emergency situations. The couple of times we have had tires fail, we always had cell coverage. That's a plus for Verizon. I have had others, but lots of areas with no coverage.

RichR · 12-18-2018, 08:51 AM

If you use Google Map or Waze apps on your phone you can probably skip the CB radio and get better info.

rhouthoofd · 12-22-2018, 01:20 PM

If you use Waze on the cellphone it has all the info you need on traffic conditions, police reports, restaurants, gas stations etc.

berwin · 12-22-2018, 02:47 PM

We use FRS for most short range stuff like close maneuvering or campsite commo. I was at a truck stop last year and saw that they had CB walkie talkies on sale so I picked one up just in case we ever needed it. It does give the DW something to play with when we are traveling down the Interstate so it's already been worth the cost.

1SGPETE · 12-22-2018, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

No, thankfully. We haven't needed our bear spray either, but ....

Cute...

Witt74 · 12-22-2018, 05:41 PM

I have a CB stashed in the coat closet somewhere. Thought about installing it in my F350, but honestly don't know where I would put the thing.

Harley2fst4u · 12-22-2018, 11:25 PM

I belong to a jeep club, we have recently switched over to uhf radios from cbs. cBs have had their day, in the bush or trails their distance is very limited. The ability to have a uhf that you can manually program has been the way to go. Look into the Baofeng 5vr, at $40.00 ish Canadian it is well worth it. If you get an external antenna you can up your range considerably.
As well if you get two they work great for spotting when backing the trailer up.

Jmac000 · 12-23-2018, 02:45 PM

if you get anything, get a VFH radio or a single side band radio. The range is much further than CB.

I think if the state governments get the idea it would be good to tax texting, radios may make a little bit of a come back.

I use to have a CB and only used it for listening. No need to interact with idiots. but getting information when just sitting in traffic will at least give you an idea of whats happening

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