Community Forums

Engineer Guy · 05-18-2011, 08:32 AM

This former Ham recently bought a handheld CB for ~$70 at Amazon. It's mainly for Boondocking backup. I've got several Antennas to use with it. I generally gave up on CB years ago due to all the room temperature IQ trash talk going on, and illegal Amplifiers swamping useful Channels more often than not.

These days on the Road, I use a free Cellphone Voice Portal that's been acquired by Microsoft: 'Tell Me'. It links into automated Traffic conditions and Weather, as well as Business/Driving directions. Dial the number below to set it up [at least as of the last time I did so...].

1 800 555 TELL

Airstreamer6 · 05-23-2011, 07:31 AM

The CB is the only way, other than hand signals or horns, to let others know they have equipment problems. In turn, with the CB they can let you know about yours. But only if both parties have a CB on the same channel. Most truckers use 19, and thus do I.

I got a CB after I saw an 18 wheeler lose one of his rear wheels, which went off into an adjacent field, and a few seconds later he lost the other one, which went into the opposing lane of traffic and hit a car. With a CB, I could have notified the trucker of his problems before the second wheel came off, if things are optimum as described in my first paragraph.

There have been other times I've hand-signaled others about their flat tires, but without international hand-signals, this can get funny.

I now have a CB and used it to communicate with traveling companions to keep the group informed of the need for gas stops, etc. For this purpose, the phone can be used since we know the numbers of the group, but the CB is still very useful to notify everyone at the same time.

Best of all, the CB can be great for getting information about up-ahead traffic stoppages and other such local situations which can be invaluable for the traveler.

And my CB has emergency weather channels for the area we're passing through, another valuable feature.

For me, the CB is well worth the cost.

Izzyblueye · 05-24-2011, 05:41 AM

I certainly agree with your consensus on having a CB on board. For the small price they cost, not having one is a no-brainer. However, I have found that 50% of the highway information passed back down the line of backed up traffic is erroneous. So think twice before changing lanes or making detours based on CB information. Often it is incorrect whether by design of mean individuals or just gets mangled from one CB report to the next.

Airstreamer6 · 05-24-2011, 01:43 PM

Izzy, thanks for the warning. It's too bad that some individuals are anti-social, sadly including some folks with us on the road. Kind of like the scammers and hackers we share bandwidth with on the Internet. It's hard to fathom such petty evil-mindedness.

For those who pass on bad info because of their honest mistake, well, I've probably been guilty of that too. At least they try to help with good intentions, although their help can be disappointing. Kind of like some of the directions I've gotten (and probably given) over the years before GPS (although GPS has its issues too).

ga traveler · 05-24-2011, 02:07 PM

This is my 10th camper. I have had a C.B. in all of them. I hate the foul language on them, so i just turn them on when i need traffic info or price of fuel.

camperme2 · 06-02-2011, 08:26 PM

Finally, I have my Cb and antenna installed.I bought a Cobra 29 Ltd chrome and Firestik NGP antenna. It was not difficult to install and the hardest part was just the mind set of making those cuts in the interior panelling and drilling holes to the outside. I have a set of Motorola walkie talkies which are rated for 25 miles but in reality are more like 100 yards. Talk about false advertising.... They are good for backing into camp sites with your co-pilot guiding. Otherwise, basically useless. Several of us travelled to PEI using them last year and decided we need CB's to do the job. This year 4 MHs are travelling to Newfoundland and Labrador and these will be cost effective and certainly better than cell phones to keep in touch.

dons2346 · 07-11-2011, 07:24 AM

I guess I travel with the kinder, gentler truckers on the road. Hear very little bad language on the open road. In fact most truckers won't respond to a potty mouth.

Most of the language comes into play around the truck stops.

hardy1000 · 07-12-2011, 06:10 AM

I am traveling with 3 RV's and we all have been using the 25 mile Motorola hand helds and after 2 days we are all now using our CB's because they have better range. We all purchased the top of the line Motorola's and they work well when the line of sight is clear but we find the CB's have better range, especially in the mountains on winding roads.