Community Forums

Pawjam3 · 07-25-2012, 08:45 AM

Does it anyone think I should buy a CB radio? If so, why? Thanks!

Jim
St. Louis

TXiceman · 07-25-2012, 10:30 AM

I keep one under the seat of the truck and a magnetic mount antenna. I have not used in in about 5 years. It may still work.

Too much trash talk from foul-mouthed truckers.

If you do decide to get one, get a basic under dash unit (with weather channels if possible) and spend all of your mioney on a good antenna. I do not like the ones with all-in-the mic controls. You get a big bulky mic, a poor speaker and a poor quality mic. The basic under dash unit will serve you much better with a good antenna.

Ken

Ramblin · 07-25-2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman

I keep one under the seat of the truck and a magnetic mount antenna. I have not used in in about 5 years. It may still work.

Too much trash talk from foul-mouthed truckers.

If you do decide to get one, get a basic under dash unit (with weather channels if possible) and spend all of your mioney on a good antenna. I do not like the ones with all-in-the mic controls. You get a big bulky mic, a poor speaker and a poor quality mic. The basic under dash unit will serve you much better with a good antenna.

Ken

+1, and the under dash models are cheaper. I bought a little Cobra DX19 (I think) for my pickup truck new for $25.

I don't use mine regularly, but I find them most useful for making lane choices during traffic backups (truckers ahead will know what lane is blocked for instance) and for local information (where is the nearest fuel, truckstop, etc.)

I can imagine a situation where it might be useful if there were no cell phone coverage and you needed help.

Tugboat · 08-19-2012, 09:03 PM

I use mine all the time. Mad a skip shot last week from Front Royal VA to Wilmington DE to talk to my friends back home. Just this morning there was a tie up on 81 in VA and the CB put me and outher truckers out of a 10 mile back up.

cb1000rider · 08-19-2012, 09:17 PM

Useful on the road. Great for traffic conditions and staying up with what's going on in front of you.

TXUSGUY · 08-19-2012, 11:03 PM

Another way of possibly getting help in an emergency or needing directions. Especially good in detour help from truckers.

Pawjam3 · 08-20-2012, 09:51 AM

Thanks to all who responded. I'm thinking that buying a CB here rather than a Canada-only cellphone when we get there might be the best long-term solution.

wa8yxm · 08-20-2012, 11:42 AM

I have been a Ham radio operator for.. Well, lots of years (Since the 1960's) and worked as a Police Dispatcher (Communications clerk was one of the job titles that job bore) for over a quarter century. One could say I BELIEVE IN COMMUNICATIONS.

Now to get a ham license you have to study and pass a test.

But to get a CB you have to lay money on the counter (or plastic)

And doing so gives you more options for communicating.

Options are good, you never know when the one you count on won'r work and you will be foreced to use a back up plan.

Or as John said on "Person of interest" Bring me the bag. (What bag) The one marked Plan B.

Bowser · 09-11-2012, 05:31 PM

ABSOLUTELY should have one. There are areas where cell phones will not work and in an emergency a CB will. The emergency channels will give you a chance of reaching someone such as AAA or the police when you can get the jerks and skip off.

I've also had the thought that if I were parked along a remote highway and someone with evil intent started hassling me I could get on a CB set and have a couple of truckers at least witness the events and probably scare them away. Chances are they'd be closer than the cops.

If you are traveling in the Western US and want the closest to a guarantee of communications a CB set is it.