Anybody use 'em? Might come in handy in a caravan to an event. Also a good excuse to use the cool C.B. lingo...
I have a 1970's Lafayete in my suburban that I tow the show cars with, Truckers still use 'em alot, no one uses the 10-4 10-36 code anymore and the lingo has changed sine the convoy, ruber ducky, good bubby, days also def would be a good idea to chat while on the way to a show, but thats just me FRITZ
My buddies & I been using the little hand-held walkie-talkies. Seem to work OK up to about a mile to a mile & a half apart. Don't need a big f'n antenna, either.
The little walkie-talkies that most folks use these days do not use the CB frequencies. There certainly are CB HTs (handie-talkies, almost nobody in the radio hobbies call them walkie-talkies anymore). The little Cobra, Radio Shack etc radios use much higher frequencies, way higher than the CB frequencies. They are FRS (family radio service) or GMRS (general mobile radio service) radios. GMRS radios are allowed a bit more power by the FCC but are still limited in range compared to CBs. FRS radios don't require a license, GMRS do require an FCC license. Most of these little radios have both frequency bands built-in. Their downfall is the very limited range. They are cheap, compact but don't talk far. Don't worry about the CB antenna. If you really do care, you can get an antenna that you can stow away at the shows. If you go with CB, get the antenna tuned after installation or you risk blowing the radio. Transmitting antennas must be tuned. Any decent CB shop can tune it for you for a few bucks. I prefer Ham radio but thats not for everyone and on the highway, I use the CB. Rande N4ZYV
I use a CB when driving across country by my self. No one uses any fancy CB talk anymore. Use cell phones when caravaning with the car club.
The problem with cell phones is that you can only talk to one person at a time. With a CB, everyone in the group hears the conversation. If you're talking about where to stop for gas, food, etc, its better for everyone to hear this.
The group of guys i caravan with to events all have CB's. We use them because: 1) FRS radios are unreliable if you get spread out. 2) CB's will tell you where the cops are and how to get around an accident if the highway is closed. 3) You get to hear the colorful Trucker talk
C.B.'s - OH Yeah! Hillbilly cell phones on a party line. The cool thing in a caravan is it's a PARTY line in that everyone on your channel can hear and talk over you . It adds up to fun or frustration depending. I have one in my Plow truck with a NOAA weather radio in it. Is it true that CB'ers never leave their good buddys' behind? Powerband
even though cbs seem to be old tech, they pretty much work everywhere. cell phones on the other hand dont always get a signal in some parts of the country.cb radios have been the mainstay of interstate travelers for many years,if you get into trouble on the road ,the state police usually always monitor the emergency frequencys and they can usually be of assistance in a matter of minutes.my old man drove trucks for a long time and allways had a radio with him , even on vacation we had to listen to the jibberjabber.but like every thing else, i guess its all about what you get comfortable with. my 2 cents!
they are really popular with the off road crowd when trail ridin, everyone has a blast with em. With the crowd here I can guarantee it would be amusing if a convoy of hambers had CB's. I have one in my 4x4 and its a blast on the freeway.. the things you hear. That an they are just plain fun! Every person who hops in my toyota sees the mic, grabs it an starts spurtin out 10-4's and 9'ers etc...
motorolla makes them bob..they suck fat turds...5 miles my ass..we cant talk from one farm to the next and its 2 miles tops!!maybe theres others but the motos blow!!!imho!
I keep a cb in my truck for emergencies. I dont have a cell phone. If I'm bored I'll turn it on an listen.
I was hoping that was not the ones he was talking about. I agree, I bought a pair and tried them out on I 80 on the way to B'ville last year. We couldn't even get a mile out of them in super flat Nebraska. I took em back and got my money back. I was kinda hoping that there was something new and better out there. BB
Always watched that show. On long trips I'll have one along, with friends or not. Alot easier to get group ideals than cell phones, no charges. Junkyard
Ha Ha...313-434-0629 (I think?), for all the good it'll do ya!! I bought it as a curious experiment a year or so ago and maybe used it a handfull of times at best. It kills the battery in about five hours if you leave it turned on (so people can actually call you!), and if you dare to TALK on it, the battery poops in about a half hour. (Not that you'd be able to use it for a half hour, though...after about two minutes it gets so hot you can barely touch it!) It's been laying in the backseat of my car...out of minutes with a stone dead battery for about four months now...unless some crackhead lifted it in a parking lot somewhere! The only time it ever served me any good purpose at all was to call 4T64RD and/or DIRTYT at Autorama this past March and order cold beers while I waited in line to meet Cooter!! Aside from that, the thing was completely worthless!! I'll stick with CBs, thank you!
Magnetic mount CB antennas solve the problem of where to mount a hideous 5' whip antenna. FRS radios are useless, IMHO. When convoying, a CB really is the way to go and you don't have to pay cellular charges.
FRS will also only work if your near the other cars... That little mili-watt powered thing with the crappy antenna isnt going to get out far in side a steal car body. CB will get you miles up and down the road with well tuned antenna. Unlicense FRS is limited to half a watt CB's legal limit is 4watts (12 on ssb) and alot of the truckers run a little more. On long trips I always have it on. Get stuck in traffic just listen and you will know why,where and whats the best lane to be in. If anyone was thinking about upgrading from the cheapy radioshack and cobra radios I would take a look at the Ranger made radios... I have this one in my truck and love it http://www.rangerusa.com/tr-396fc.html
I have one in my pu for a back up when my worthless cell phone is out of range again. Plus, truck drivers come on and let you know if an accident is ahead or where a good place to eat?
I think the CB has its place. For group road trips they would be great, can joke around as a group.. make everyone know about gas stops and the minutes do not go against your cell phone bell. if more folks had one, I would get one and make it easy to swap in and out...
CBs would be nice to have at Bonniville as the announcers use them for communications at the meet and all push cars are required to have one according to the SCTA site. .....Bob
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