CB Radios...anybody still use these?

[Wifshowfur]

What did he say? Lol

[Kirk S]

I had a thru-the-glass antenna on my car in the '80's and it worked very well. I haven't noticed one for sale in ages.
As mentioned, Firestik makes a no-ground-plane antenna that works well. I've seen 2, 3, or 4 foot ones advertised. Only downside I can see is drilling a hole in the side of your RV to mount it.

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by Kirk S

I had a thru-the-glass antenna on my car in the '80's and it worked very well. I haven't noticed on for sale in ages.
As mentioned, Firestik makes a no-ground-plane antenna that works well. I've seen 2, 3, or 4 foot ones advertised. Only downside I can see is drilling a hole in the side of your RV to mount it.

Drilling through the side to mount it is the easy part. The hard part is getting it to not leak when it rains.

I have the glass mount on my offroad Suzuki Samurai but I'm always talking to people within 100 yards. I also have one on the Yukon and it seems to work well. I dont think it will hit 10 miles but closer to 1 or 2 in hill country which is enough for me since I only turn it on for traffic & such. Never tried it for distance around home. But they do still make them.

[AbdRahim]

Finding someone to work on them, that knows what they are doing. That is difficult.

[JohnD10]

I have a magnetic mount antenna that seems to work well for highway use.

The only thing I don't like about it is that it scratches the paint, although I used one of those round rubber jar opener thingies under it to protect the truck!

I was up on Mount Evans (one of Colorado's 14'ners) years ago using the mag mount antenna and a cheapie $40 CB radio and had a conversation with someone way out in the middle of Kansas.

I'm gonna dig that stuff out in the shed and hook it back up again soon.

[Chuck_S]

Consumer electronics are normally discarded rather than repaired although some can be easily repaired DIY using good olde Youtube.

CB works well for inter-vehicle communication such as road trips or car cruises precisely because there's no other traffic on it. I've been on a few car cruises where we all used "blister pack" FRS radios that can be taken off the rack at Walmart or the more powerful Baofeng (PRC -made) radios running on the FRS band. Some of these come with headsets with mics which are very handy in open top roadsters. FRS Channel 4 was used on all of them for reasons unknown to me. Range of the blister pack radios ain't great but the Baofengs have more range as they have more transmit power.

The FCC, though, issued an Enforcement Advisory in September 2018 that appears to exclude radios like the (quite nice) Baofengs from importation because they can be set for higher powers and outside of permitted frequencies, yet they're still widely available at on-line retailers.

My lack of hearing anything on CB may be the result of the use of SSB radios by other drivers which my lil Midland doesn't receive. I'll let the radio wizards comment on this, I just push-to-talk.

-- Chuck

[AbdRahim]

Precisely, why repairs may be needed. Also some are way too expensive to throw away.

[babock]

Originally Posted by bareftn

the coast guard can be called with the marine band and I would say its a safety issue not sure if all highway patrol listel to cbs anymore

Marine band on a CB radio? Never heard of that. VHF radio is the only radio you want to use for marine emergency.

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by babock

Marine band on a CB radio? Never heard of that. VHF radio is the only radio you want to use for marine emergency.

You'd have to read the prior post to fully understand but someone mentioned they used a CB on a boat then the posts pursued.

[babock]

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

You'd have to read the prior post to fully understand but someone mentioned they used a CB on a boat then the posts pursued.

Yes...for fishing. Not calling the coast guard.

[GERSHAR]

My 2008 Berkshire 36QS has a factory installed CB antenna on the roof over drivers side. The CB radio was not left by original owner. I cannot for the life of me locate a cable coming down to the dash area. Any insight?
Thanks Doc

[007matman]

You sure it's a CB radio and not for a stereo/FM?

Mine looks like a CB antenna but it's definitely for my radio.

CB was a thing back before cellphones. Not so much anymore unless the previous owner was the off the grid sort.

[Daycruiser]

Cell phones and social media has pretty much killed CB radio except on Jeep trails and other off road uses. FRS doesn't have much traction these days either. With WAZE for road conditions and other social media sites for chit chat not much use for CB anymore. Back in the 70's we sure had fun with it though.

[007matman]

Mine looks like this.. it's an FM antenna.

https://images.app.goo.gl/J25V3PYUw3Vt2gR17

[upflying]

geez, I still have my FCC CB licesne..KARO6502..back in the day, everyone had to have a license.

[twohand]

For time out of mind, my "rural" MIL and FIL still use a mobile and a base unit CB to talk. He drives a dump truck and they use it like a phone. Battery doesn't die, never needs to be updated, and keeps the leash on him. 40 channels, baby!