Modern Uses for CB Radios?

[bassntrout]

Anyone have thoughts on modern uses for CB radios? I am talking beyond use by truck drivers . . . how could a CB radio aid the average joe?

[12vman]

Great form of communications if things get tough. I use mine all of the time.. ;)

[johnjmw]

I just recently took my radio out of moth balls and started using it. Since it is not popular any more it is surprising how far it goes once you leave the city limits. That and the truckers still are great to get directions from or help when you are in a pinch. Now I have to find out which side band channels are still active. I use to spend way to many hours listening and talking.
For local communication I think they are great. Though GMRS is a close second since they are getting more powerful with some being rated for 25miles. Esp if I read correctly that there are some out now in the low or mid price range that have the scramble feature.
John

[Buck]

If you spend most of your time close to your home CB's
make a heck of a replacement for cell phones! Many people
have cell phones for close to home talk and don't need them
at all when you consider any cell phone HAS to be able to call
911.

[cinok]

I drove OTR for 7 years and still have my radio in my pickup use it all time in traffic backups and to find them bears. Word of warning if you ar with your families and going by a truck stop you might want to turn it down

[TNDadx4]

This is some good conversation. :) I am in the market to get one and have always been fascinated with them. I remember my friends having them a lone time ago. Any recommendations for a decent one. Will be using it initially for general use...converse with others on the road. I'd eventually like to get a base station and establish communications between the vehicles and home.

[Buck]

"I am in the market to get one and have always been fascinated with them."

Depending on your needs it's possible to shop for an older 23 channel CB
rather than a new 40 channel. The truckers still run channel 19 and channel
9 is still the emergency channel so unless you need more than 23 Ch
save some money to see if it'll all work out for you.

[johnjmw]

I like the Cobra 148 SSB (single side band) Side band is 3X the power as regular and not as busy either. I also like the Uniden 640e which is also a sideband. You can use them on regular CB or sideband. They are both reasonably durable and talk really good. There are tons of radio that are ok. Most Midlands, Cobras and Unidens are good.
John

[cinok]

I ran a Galaxy that was peaked and tuned in OK city it had long reach. You can make any radio a base with a 120v to 12v regulator

[TNDadx4]

Sounds good. Thanks for the recommendations! I appreciate them.
I'll look around and see what I can find.

[johnjmw]

Ohhh I am jealous now,,, I wanted a Galaxy 88 sooo bad I could taste it when I was a bit younger. Still think it would be a good radio to have on hand for emergencies.
John

[12vman]

I have a modified Cobra 200 GTL DX *that I use for a base. Sweet radio but they don't sell them anymore.. * :-[

I have a Galaxy 77 in the mobile with a 102" whip on the trunklid.. Ball mount and all! I drive a Suzuki X-90.. LOL Looks like a remote control toy goin' down the road.. * ;D

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/9291/20080320image0053ew5.th.jpg (http://img518.imageshack.us/my.php?image=20080320image0053ew5.jpg)

[dkemple1]

I recently started using them again. We live about 4 miles from where my girlfriend works and they use them everyday and I enjoy listening to them. I have Galaxy base station and I recently put a cobra in our pick-up. I enjot listening to them, Don't really talk much, but every now and then I will. I recently received my HAM license and I will be talking on that shortly, but I will still use the CB

[johnjmw]

12V Yea,, I believe that would look like a RC toy :)
John

[Dawgus]

Digs out the controller from the old r/c car racing days and watches for 12v to come up 77........this could be fun!!

[TheUnboundOne]

Dear Bassntrout,

I have a 16-year-old 40 channel CB Walkie-Talkie with an magnetic external antenna that attaches to the roof of your car. It takes either 8 AA Batteries or a 12 V automobile adaptor as its power source. I keep it in my vehicle at all times and check out its functioning every few months.

I would have to have it in front of me to tell you the Wattage, but one night about 10 years ago, I used it and spoke with a trucker who said he was at the Carolina's Medical Center in Charlotte, NC...and I was in Lowell, NC, over 20 miles away, so it transmits and recieves great!

I've given some thought to joining the nearest local chapter of REACT, so that I can relay emergency information to motorists and also network with people who may be of a self-sufficient, Survivalist viewpoint. Here's their Web Site for other CBers who may be interested:

REACT International Home Page
http://www.reactintl.org/

[ShadowWolf]

I was given an old Cobra 2000 GTL, 40 Ch, Side Band, had it peaked and tuned. Bought an Antron 99 Antena and am back on the air again. There are maybe a dozen or so people in the area to talk to. There aren't near as many people on the air as there was back in the day, which is a good thing.

[johnjmw]

Ohh Nice radio. Wont trade my 148GTL for it but still nice. I took my radio out of moth balls and was shocked how empty the channels are. Even 19 seems dead most of the time. I have not set up a base radio again yet. We'll see. I cannot even find any of the old sideband clubs that use to be around here. That and my wife cannot stand the sound when there is any static on it..
John

[dkemple1]

I actually think they are kind of fun. I usually turn the base station on every day after work, and when I am in the truck, I always listen to that one. I think the one in the truck needs to be tuned up. It is hard to find any CB shops now. The one we have is very small, and keeps odd hours. He is only open from 7pm till 10pm and closed on Saturdays. I would like to go ask a buch of questions, but I feel a little uneasy going there because a bunch of locals use the shop as a hang out..

[TheUnboundOne]

Dear Forum Members,

I just recently looked at my mobile CB Walkie-Talkie. It is a Realistic TRC-460. It has 5 Watts input and 2.5 Watts output. I forgot to mention that it can recieve up to three NOAA Weather Radio channels! Definitely a plus for Survivalism and preparedness! Here are the other Specifications and Features on it:

TRC-460 (210-1559) Specifications
http://support.radioshack.com/support_electronics/doc8/8769.htm

TRC-460 (210-1559) Features
http://support.radioshack.com/support_electronics/doc8/8768.htm

[Tuckahoe]

I ran a RCI 2950 for many years that is a nice rig but takes time to learn. It gave up about a year ago I tried to get it fixed by a master CB fixer but after over an hour it still had the same problem the modulation would come and go. It was replaced with one of the new Cobra 29's with weather. The Cobra is neat if NOAH gives out a weather alert the radio will come on even if its turned off. The first time it did this it almost scared me to death. :o I would like to have an RCI base station to tinker with again.

[johnjmw]

I also have an SBE Land Command Base with a Silver Eagle mic. Side band of course. Why have aside band mobile and not a base to talk to. I heard that SBE quit making these because they used the same parts from their ham systems and could not make the profit margin on them. The one I bought was a left over that the shop had not sold yet and was really discounted nicely at the time.

I know there is a place for most types of radios in a SHTF. Depending on whether you want long range, short range or mid range distances. The ease of making or buying antenna's for CB and the reasonable range 5-20 miles commonly depending on how it is installed make them great for chatting and meeting people.

I use to love being on the radio daily for hours at time and I met many interesting people on there and have started to listen and talk again. One problem many kids I grew up on the radio never figured out. Any one can be out there listening to everything you say. It is reasonably easy to make a directional mobile antenna to help track down stations. Any way, the only problem I have lately is many cars now a days don't have the room to install them. No leg room, no space between the seats for a mount.

Tuck, I guess the RCI was never really turned off then. That would really startle me the first time or two it turned on like that but it would be a nice feature esp in areas with sever weather.

I also thought i heard recently that the NOAA weather stations have been extended to 11 channels. Any one else know anything about the extension? The radios I have only have 7 channels.

John

[JasonTX1]

NOAA still lists 7 stations on their website. Haven't heard anything about expanding their lineup.

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrbro.htm

Also, I used to have a Cobra 29LTD with a footwarmer but sold it years ago. Now I miss it :(

I'm wanting to get back on the air, but my main impetus is having some sort of reliable comms that can stay off-grid, so I'm leaning towards CB + SSB.

I would like a ham license as mobile hams are invaluable tools in disaster relief, but post-collapse or prolonged electrical interruption, and a ham w/o a repeater is no better than a SSB CB, and may even be worse since there are fewer hams.

Any thoughts?

[johnjmw]

I still have two of my foot warmers but have not had any of them hooked up for, uh, 15 or more years. Wow how the time flies

A former neighbor of mine is a ham. He said depending on the frequency your using power is not an issue and you can talk world wide. All with an antenna that is only a long wire stretched between his house and a tree in the back yard. He used both voice and morse code. In fact for a while he was using a pc to send the morse code. for ham 50W and 100W transmissions are average with many being more. That would really give you a distance CBs will never reach consistently.
I just don't like the required licensing requirements.

John