CB Radio Range in the Seneca

[Bassdogs]

Asking again, why are you wanting a CB in the MH and what are your expectations for range? I use a $30 mag mount on the roof and plug it into a handheld/portable radio that plugs into a cig outlet. Range is up to 2 miles for meaningful receiving and transmitting. I use it to get info on traffic issues ahead from oncoming truck rigs. To use it for members in your group you need to find an unused channel or you will be smeared with misc abuse from boored truckers. I also use a headphone as the wife can't stand the traffic chatter that ranges from scratchy to crude or both. 95% of what you hear is garbage.

What are your expectations?

[Rick-in-Houston]

Bass dogs, the same reasons you stated.
Expectations? I just want optimal performance.

[RoyBraddy]

I too have a 40 channel CB under my truck front seat. I have it setup on CH 19 for the most part just to listen to trucker traffic for road hazards and/or police radar reports etc.. My CB radio squelch is turned all the way which for the most only allows me to hear things in my immediate vicinity...

In all the years of having I have only heard maybe one or two other RV'ers using the CB band.

We use FRS radios around the camp site as well as regular cell phone service... Some towns like Gatlingburg TN have a FRS repeater setup which gives a hugh contact zone up and down the streets of Gatlinburg... haven't done this is awhile in Gatlinburg so I don't know if they still have their FRS repeater up or not...

I also have 2m/440 antennas on both my trailer and my truck for Ham Radio... I additionally have a ham Radio ICOM IC-706MKII setup for use in my truck and/or my Trailer on ham radio frequencies... I use my 2m/440 radios for local comms and the IC-706 MKII unit for 75M/80M/40M comms using either my TARHEEL LIL TARHEEL screwdriver antenna or a long wire setup from the trailer when setup on-site for a few days. This wire antenna is off-center antenna which gives me full bands but I really only use for 75M and 40M operations.. The center of this wire antenna is up around 25-feet and the ends are thrown up into the tree limbs around the camp site...

You can see my two 2m/440 mobile antennas on the rear of the trailer is this photo...

Roy's image

Love camping in the Smoky Mtns Natl Park as they have a Ham Radio Repeater up on the mtn there - this allows me to run around the camp site with my 2M Ham radio unit...

CB radios are not anything like they used be back in the 60s... Made many of trips up and down the I40 type interstates using them to stay in contact with many others going the same direction... In those days the FCC assigned the user actual FCC call signs... I was KBX5218 or something like that as I can recall... Today all I hear is truckers and alot of garbage mouth conversations... Even the local town conversations on the CB channels in a thing of the past... Pretty much worthless to have a CB in these days...

Roy Ken

[Bassdogs]

Originally Posted by Rick-in-Houston

Bass dogs, the same reasons you stated.
Expectations? I just want optimal performance.

Then forget using the oem radio antanee. Get a basic mag mount or clip on CB specific ant. Some are better than others, but for what you are wanting to do, any of them will work. Check on Amazon and read the reviews.

Don't forget the ear buds. Trust me, your wife will put up with the meaningless chatter for maybe 30 minutes before telling you to turn it off. Like I said, almost all the traffic is from truckers and unless you talk and sound like a trucker yourself, they very likely won't answer your transmission.

[Dustdevil]

We had a CB in our old class c years ago, when the kids were youngsters. They used to get a kick out of listening to and talking with the truckers. Some of those conversations had them rolling on the floor laughing. It really was a lot of fun at times. Not so much a useful tool unless there is a traffic jam, radar trap, or road hazard ahead that they might warn you about.