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Libra8 · 03-07-2023, 01:28 PM

The used RV I bought has an old Radio Shack TRD 530 not hooked up. Would it be worth it to wire it up?

BillJinOR · 03-07-2023, 01:37 PM

Unless you’re in a caravan or club that travels together and uses cb’s to communicate, probably not. Even the truckers aren’t using them much last time I turned mine on.

Mark_K5LXP · 03-07-2023, 02:51 PM

There have been instances while I've been travelling an interstate, traffic comes to a standstill, and listening to channel 19 answered the question why and when things might shake loose. I can count those instances on one hand with fingers left over in 4 decades of having that capability. So while not "useless", for that purpose I would say the benefit is "limited". I think if I travelled with a group, or to places that CB was used as a marshalling or caravan medium it would be worth it to install, otherwise I'd say not. Last year I took a 3000 mile RV trip and for giggles, had a CB on channel 19 just to see what might be on. The only activity I heard was a handful of truck to truck chatter while underway, and a few times at truck terminals and truck stops. I keep the CB in the RV with a temporary antenna I can deploy if I "need" to but I wouldn't bother to permanently install one. The radio I would entertain installing would be GMRS. Anymore, GMRS is becoming popular enough that even in the hinterlands I can often pick up activity and being a licensed service has none of the nonsense you would pick up on CB.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

GypsyR · 03-07-2023, 03:51 PM

Up to you. There's a couple of threads right under this one where people are batting around the pros and cons of CB's these days. I fixed mine mainly because it was there and it bugged me that it didn't work and secondly because I thought it might be handy in interstate slowdowns to talk to truckers ahead who might could see what was going on.

dustyone · 03-07-2023, 09:29 PM

I have nothing against anyone who uses any ham gear for any reason but I hear a lot of negative talk about cb radios. I don't get it. A cb radio is inexpensive, easy to use. Useful for local Communications. No license required. Works well, what makes it even nicer is you can hear about road problems from other drivers and in places where other communications fail. No relay towers or phone service. My cb has served me well newer cb radios have weather scanning built in. I have cb radios in my tow vehicle, my trailer. I also have hand held cb's as well. They do come in hand. Channel 13 is the unofficial rv Channel. While I will admit that they are not as popular as they were they are still used.

I posted this on another thread however it still holds true here. I have used a cb radio for years. While it is true that it is as popular as it was. It still gets used.

dustyone · 03-07-2023, 09:34 PM

I tried and cannot find your radio? Are you sure it's a cb set?

Libra8 · 03-08-2023, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustyone

I tried and cannot find your radio? Are you sure it's a cb set?

My bad, it's a TRC 520.

Libra8 · 03-08-2023, 12:43 AM

Thanks for the replies.

mickeybitsko · 03-08-2023, 07:04 AM

A quick search, there are currently 750k ham licenses in the US.
There are 5.9 million cb radios being used in the US..just saying

Alpine36 · 03-08-2023, 09:17 AM

Well, if it’s already there why not spend a dollar ninety nothing and hook it up to see how it works for you? We have one in our motorhome and use it frequently with traveling companions. Much simpler to use than the phone, and completely legal to operate while driving. And it has a marine WX feature that has saved our bacon more than once.

TXiceman · 03-08-2023, 02:56 PM

Are you sure it is 530 and not a 503?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPBr_VtpGgQ

It will take a 12 VDC power supply and an antenna.

Ken

TandW · 03-08-2023, 03:58 PM

Audio.
Then there's the skipper somewhere in the Southwest who likes to talk down to all the window-lickers.
CB and Ham will carry the load if the grid fails.

Libra8 · 03-09-2023, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Are you sure it is 530 and not a 503?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPBr_VtpGgQ

It will take a 12 VDC power supply and an antenna.

Ken

It's a TRC 520.🌿 My bad.

dustyone · 03-09-2023, 12:01 PM

I looked up that Radio Shack 520 and it does have weather alert on it so it would be a good radio if or me I would put it back in and get it working probably would not cost much. As you have the radio you only need coax antenna and the connection. It's not a lot of radio. And cannot do much with it but for a basic radio that you already have sounds like a good deal