What's the best CB channel to use?

[Born2RV]

After MANY years of not owning or using a CB, we just installed one in our motorhome and in our daughter and son-in-law's motorhome so we can easily communicate on the way to Florida from Michigan, as well as stay abreast of road closures, accidents, etc.

What is the best channel to listen to updates for closures, weather and accidents? What channel should we use if we're just conversing and don't want to interfere with anyone else? What types of protocall should we use?

Thank you! Just want to "mind our manners" on the road.

[wa8yxm]

CB is not nearly as active as it was say in the 70's but Channel 19 is still frequented by the truckers,, This is one of two I monitor when on the road... (13, the "Good Sam" channel is the other one)

But I'm most likely to hear about freeway "Issues" on 19.

[Chuck 1935]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm CB is not nearly as active as it was say in the 70's but Channel 19 is still frequented by the truckers,, This is one of two I monitor when on the road... (13, the "Good Sam" channel is the other one) But I'm most likely to hear about freeway "Issues" on 19.

I agree with the not nearly as active as it used to be, although I have never heard anyone on 13.

[Jack R]

Whatever channel your convoy wants to use, use it. Don't use channel 9, emer channel. channel 19 is used by alot of truckers. Switch to it if traffic backs up to find out what is going on. I would also have a back up channel to switch to should the channel you have selected becomes unusable.

jack

[W4RLR]

I don't use CB. For major metropolitan traffic reports I rely on my Sirius radio. Elsewhere, a quick call to 511 on the cell phone will give me updated traffic in most places I travel to.

[wa8yxm]

The problem with digital radio and 5-1-1 is that the incident has to be reported to the reporting service (often the police) then verified.

With Chan 19 you get instant updates

And yes,, Do avoid 9 less you have an incident.. NOTE the defination of "Emergency" I used when I was an "Emergency dispatcher" is this:

Emergency vehicles are authorised to use flashing, rotating or osculating lights (Overhead) like police, fire, ems and tow trucks.

If you (or someone near you) needs the services of someone who drives such a vehicle (Police, Fire, EMS, Tow Truck) it is, at the minimum, a priority.

Legal definations (Federal type) Emergency.. Immed threat to LIFE
Priority: Possible threat to life, Immed to property

Examples... Emergency heart attack, Priority non-occupied vehicle fire.

NOT that though we say 9-1-1 and CB chan 9 are for Emergencies.. Nobody will object if the call is of a Priority nature.. In fact.. Use them for Priorities as well.

[Born2RV]

Thank you!

[Ray,IN]

I turn the squelch up when on ch 19 so I only hear other radios within about 1/2 mile, to reduce the noise in my ear (I use an earbud so DW doesn't endure rough talk). We use ch 13 (RV channel) when traveling with other rigs, and I have a hand-held CB on ch 19 those times to monitor for road hazards ahead. Some CB radios have a ch19 monitor while on other channels, weather channels too.

[Mekanic]

Just a note off-roaders like Jeepers use CH 4 most of the time if you need to talk to one.

[Wayne M]

I have a CB Call sign - I guess it's still good.

Way back in the days, CB radio was a great thing to have. Channel 11 was the monitor channel for contact. Once contact was made a clear channel could be found and communications went on there. Channel 9 was the "distress" channel. I was one of the original founders of the TEAM (Tidewater Emergency Assistance Monitors). DW wrote the by-laws for state incorporation. Channel 13, 19, and 21 were sometime truckers. Then the gas crunch of '74 came along and speed limits dropped to 55 on the interstates. No one wanted to get a ticket so everyone got a CB and be darned about licenses. The most you could ever communicate was 1 mile down the road. Truckers all started using Channel 19, and all the other channels were taken by the rest of the world.

My CB Call sign back then was KDQ-8400. I gave it up in '74 for WB4FVA, General Class Amateur Call Sign. Also in 74-75 I got my Advanced Class license. When in Japan, in '79, they assigned me KD5KJD. Back in the states I applied for a 2 x 2 and I have been since '84, KE5QG.

So, I'd venture to say the Channel 19 is still the trucker channel, with 13 the GS channel, and all else is open, so to speak.

[dons2346]

It depends on where you are and whether you are going north/south or east/west. I have found truckers use 19, 18, and in some areas 17. If you can't find them on one channel, look somewhere else. 13 is useless and I never listen there. More good info on the trucker channels.

As far as bad language, the most you will hear is around the terminals when some hot rod wants to be macho. Most of the truckers ignore him and the potty mouth goes away.