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Old 08-01-2022, 02:08 PM   #1
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CB Radio

Is it worthwhile to have a CB anymore?
Back in the 90s, the motorhome had a CB in it. The only time we turned it on was when we got stuck in an unexpected traffic jam. In those cases, we found it useful to listen to the truckers who communicated among themselves the reason for the jam.
Things that just happened don't show up on a traffic report right away.
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Old 08-01-2022, 02:15 PM   #2
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I think it's completely useless but that may be geographic. Ran a good scanner maybe 2 miles from two major Interstates for weeks heard practically nothing. That said I do have a portable CB in my truck on the road but rarely bother turning it on. I hear more on FRS but that's just kids and car clubs traveling together.

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Old 08-01-2022, 02:32 PM   #3
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I find it regularly useful on the highway.
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Old 08-01-2022, 02:42 PM   #4
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I have one, but it is pretty useless at least in Ohio. WAZE provides better traffic information, and at almost real time.
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Old 08-01-2022, 02:56 PM   #5
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X2 on the WAZE
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Old 08-02-2022, 02:04 AM   #6
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The CB is pretty quite these days. Waze is good as long as you aren’t out in the boonies. Some people use GMRS radios on channel 16 for highways.
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Old 08-02-2022, 04:03 AM   #7
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A CB is probably as good as a VCR nowadays. Truckers use it, that's about all who i know that do.
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Old 08-02-2022, 10:24 AM   #8
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I used to love the CB conversations and culture!! Growing up I helped my Dad deliver farm equipment all over the western USA for Massey Ferguson and Hesston. We used the CB constantly for traffic/weather info and just general conversation with mainly truckers.
Many years later it devolved into something a lot less useful and definitely not anything you would want your family to hear. I still have a CB but I no longer use it at all. It is currently a paper weight with sentimental value in my garage.
Cell phones and apps have replaced it.
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Old 08-02-2022, 10:34 AM   #9
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Even many truckers no longer use them with the advent of computer logs and GPS fleet monitoring, the need for knowing where Smoky Bear isn't as necessary. Same with whether the scales are open or not because some companies have agreements with state and can bypass them via on board permission. Many now just keep in contact by using cell phones. This isn't your father's trucking industry anymore.

But that said, CB's can still sometimes come in handy in finding info out such as if there is a problem like an accident that has highway shut down. With enough notice, you get an opportunity to exit and route around it. But even this doesn't happen as much as it used to because of the reduced use of CB radios.
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Old 08-02-2022, 10:42 AM   #10
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As a former CB’er, I now think that the CB market is almost done. The only use I can think of would be when folks travel together as a caravan and a CB would be an easy way for everyone to communicate. Much easier than a cell phone.
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Old 08-02-2022, 10:43 AM   #11
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I've found that Cell Phones have replaced CB's for "Emergency Calls";

Satellite Radio for entertainment;

and WAZE for current traffic information.

No need to have an large antenna outside and no need to listen to the trash-talk (heavy on the trash) that took over CB conversations.

Used to have on in both business and personal vehicles but got rid of back in the 90's and haven't missed them at all.
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Old 08-02-2022, 11:47 AM   #12
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CB has been pretty much replaced with FRS and GMRS radios. The problem with these systems is that you have to have someone willing to talk to you. There are numerous HAM operators throughout AK that still monitor CB Channel 9 (REACT). We started out with FRS and graduated to GMRS for more range. Both sets came equipped with the NOAA channel. Great for weather updates as well as approaching wildfire notifications. Cell service is very poor or non-existent in most of our Parks.
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Old 08-02-2022, 03:20 PM   #13
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The camping association I belong to organizes groups that travel across Canada and the US. Groups traveling together use only CB to communicate while on the road. It’s cheap, can be always on, and reliable. Everyone in the group can hear what the leader and trailer vehicle say, and stay up to date with stops, road conditions, etc.
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Old 08-02-2022, 06:51 PM   #14
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Touring motorcycles mostly all have a CB radio. I traveled a lot on my Goldwings and other large touring bikes, almost always with one or two other riders. The CB was invaluable.
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Old 08-09-2022, 07:11 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by camper_Lucy View Post
I have one, but it is pretty useless at least in Ohio. WAZE provides better traffic information, and at almost real time.
What is WAZE?
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Old 08-09-2022, 07:55 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5er_tom View Post
Touring motorcycles mostly all have a CB radio. I traveled a lot on my Goldwings and other large touring bikes, almost always with one or two other riders. The CB was invaluable.
I don’t remember how many of my motorcycles had a CB, however, I did adopt one tip very quickly.

DO NOT key the microphone when you’re about to sneeze inside a full face helmet!!!!!

It’s messy and VERY NOISY to others in the group.
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Old 08-09-2022, 08:18 AM   #17
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What is WAZE?
It's an app for a smartphone (available on Google Play). WAZE gives you 'real time' traffic info as gathered automatically from other WAZE users and gives you trip info.
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Old 08-09-2022, 09:15 AM   #18
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Quote:
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What is WAZE?
If you type your exact same question into a search engine like Google or Bing, you will have many immediate, detailed answers
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Old 08-09-2022, 09:34 AM   #19
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It's an app for a smartphone (available on Google Play). WAZE gives you 'real time' traffic info as gathered automatically from other WAZE users and gives you trip info.
And google bought waze back in 2013 for $996 million. They incorporate that data and technology into google maps as well. There are some specific bits you get in waze and it's also presented differently but it is factored in for google maps traffic and for many of the warnings about incidents ahead as well.

Unfortunately neither app accounts for the size, weight, propane restrictions of an RV. For that I'd recommend copilot or sygic, both of which have an RV (caravan) mode and have offline maps and routing so no cell signal needed.
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Old 08-09-2022, 09:50 AM   #20
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...
But that said, CB's can still sometimes come in handy in finding info out such as if there is a problem like an accident that has highway shut down. With enough notice, you get an opportunity to exit and route around it. But even this doesn't happen as much as it used to because of the reduced use of CB radios.
That's what Google maps and Waze do for me. I often enter a route, not so much to guide me as to watch traffic flow and for it to be aware of where I want to go. That way it may prompt me to vary my route. The suggestions aren't always worthwhile (save 2 minutes out of 2 hours) but sometimes it's enough warning to get off at an exit to avoid a problem.
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