Who Uses CB Radios?

[DK35vince]

Oh, I think they all have them installed, but the apparent usage is down because of the lack of skywave propagation. Ground wave still works fine for shorter distances though. The end result is if you just casually flip through the channels you won't hear as much usage as in years past.

The average stock truck CB radio's I've ever had, or been around (unless turned up or modified) are good for 1 or 2 miles.
Same as they've been the past 40 years.

 

[k0ua]

The average stock truck CB radio's I've ever had, or been around (unless turned up or modified) are good for 1 or 2 miles.
Same as they've been the past 40 years.

UH, no. When the solar flux is high you can talk coast to coast on a 5 watt CB radio.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I just got back from Toronto. Four or so hour drive, Didn't hear booo on 16. A couple of words so I know it was working. As soon as I wrote that, I checked and sure as sheit, I see trucker channel is 19, not 16, and did check radio which was tuned to 16. I believe that is, or was the SSB call Channel. If the radio is off long enough it reverts back to 9.

 

[DK35vince]

UH, no. When the solar flux is high you can talk coast to coast on a 5 watt CB radio.

I must never have been in a high solar flux. (not sure what that is)
Been using CB radio's since the early 80's, best I ever get is a couple miles.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Sporatic E skip. At that frequency the waves bounce off the Ionisphere enabling communications of many hundreds of miles usually. The problem is that there is always such a high noise level on that band. When I first turned the radio on months ago, I heard a very clear signal, I thought was local, only to find it in Alabama or some such place.

 

[Jstpssng]

I just got back from Toronto. Four or so hour drive, Didn't hear booo on 16. A couple of words so I know it was working. As soon as I wrote that, I checked and sure as sheit, I see trucker channel is 19, not 16, and did check radio which was tuned to 16. I believe that is, or was the SSB call Channel. If the radio is off long enough it reverts back to 9.

Does anybody actually moniter 9? I tried it once years ago (pre cell phone) when I came across a woman broke down on the interstate. I may as well have hollered out the window. I ended up going up to the next exit, turning around and going back... she said that she'd been sitting there for a couple of hours.

 

[deserteagle71]

Does anybody actually moniter 9? I tried it once years ago (pre cell phone) when I came across a woman broke down on the interstate. I may as well have hollered out the window. I ended up going up to the next exit, turning around and going back... she said that she'd been sitting there for a couple of hours.

I understand there are a few communities around the country that still have people monitoring 9. But most of the country - no. Cell phones have done away with the need for using Channel 9 to report emergencies. I used CB when commuting just for road reports but since I've retired, all my radios (I must have at least 5) are removed from my vehicles and stored in my garage.

 

[k0ua]

I must never have been in a high solar flux. (not sure what that is)
Been using CB radio's since the early 80's, best I ever get is a couple miles.

I am not sure where to even begin. But I will assure you a CB radio is capable of communicating over thousands of miles at the peak of a sunspot cycle (11 year cycle). At the minimum of a sunspot cycle (where we are now) and with poor (inefficient) antennas, then that "couple of mile" is about right.

 

[RalphVa]

Had 2. Took them to an outfit that recycles such a couple weeks ago.

Range is very low on them, maybe 2-5 miles.

Ralph

 

[Industrial Toys]

You need a voice changer box from Male to Female if you want to get help on CB 9.