Is CB radio dead/dying?

[PACNWDude]

Anytime I have taken road trips to other states, I have had a CB radio available. Every time I made contact with someone on at least one channel. Two days ago, on CB Radio Day, 10/4, there were many people chatting on the CB.

I would have thought it had died out a bit, had I not used it myself all of these years. What has changed is the quality of some of the low end radios. The low end has become garbage, and the high end is excellent.

Even my old tube Courier 23 still works though, and people are using the channels.

 

[TheSpaceMann]

Anytime I have taken road trips to other states, I have had a CB radio available. Every time I made contact with someone on at least one channel. Two days ago, on CB Radio Day, 10/4, there were many people chatting on the CB.

I would have thought it had died out a bit, had I not used it myself all of these years. What has changed is the quality of some of the low end radios. The low end has become garbage, and the high end is excellent.

Even my old tube Courier 23 still works though, and people are using the channels.

There definitely seems to be a resurgence of CB use. I travel all over the country on business, and I've definitely noticed an increase in activity over the last few years.

 

[p1879]

Even though the mere mention of CB brings forth condemnation from some, it must be useful in Puerto Rico right now, and maybe a lot of other places that have had massive communication failures.

I bet a few readers here have a old rig and antenna out in the garage.....it may yet be useful in some future scenario.

 

[TheSpaceMann]

Even though the mere mention of CB brings forth condemnation from some, it must be useful in Puerto Rico right now, and maybe a lot of other places that have had massive communication failures.

I bet a few readers here have a old rig and antenna out in the garage.....it may yet be useful in some future scenario.

During hurricane Sandy, it was about the only means of communications still open to the average citizen in many locations.

 

[SnowWalker]

We are still out there!

I am not sure who to believe and who not to believe on this discussion. I live just on the Canadian side of the border on Hwy 22 (North of Spokane W.) and I get frequent CB traffic and calls. I get to listen in on several good old boys on Ch. six & one almost every day. (I can't understand their drawl half the time, but....) My home town is near the top of a mountain where I get an unobstructed pathway to the east and if I drive up to the summit that's about a ten minute drive, more often than not, I pick up traffic from Idaho, Oregon & all the way down to California.

I use a Galaxy DX 959 SSB mobile as my home base and in my pickup. My house roof antenna is a 22' Wilson with a Ringo ring, and a simple mag mount for my pickup. Because of the mountains, our cell phones are not really all that dependable to call on out if in trouble.

No the CB traffic isn't the free for all that it used to be; however, the Ham has lost a lot of traffic as well.

If anyone is in my area, call for old -Snow Walker- on Ch. 19 and you'll be invited in for cup java or a nice cold Canadian beer. (Rossland BC.)

 

[stevesmess1]

Cb is a little quite here in littleton ma

Live 300 yards from 495 I could here them if they yelled out there car window. Still I bought a uniden 98ssb and mounted 102 whip in the attic.I let it scan in the background while I have my scanners running. Once in awhile truckers start talking about traffic, or there many doctors appointments.
Not giving up.plus I figure I might need it when SHTF.SCAN THE HAM BANDS AND SEEMS LIKE THEY JUST TALK ABOUT THERE EQUIPMENT.

 

[TheSpaceMann]

Live 300 yards from 495 I could here them if they yelled out there car window. Still I bought a uniden 98ssb and mounted 102 whip in the attic.I let it scan in the background while I have my scanners running. Once in awhile truckers start talking about traffic, or there many doctors appointments.
Not giving up.plus I figure I might need it when SHTF.SCAN THE HAM BANDS AND SEEMS LIKE THEY JUST TALK ABOUT THERE EQUIPMENT.

As I travel across the country along the interstates on business, I find that there are many areas where you'll hear little local CB traffic, except for occasional truckers. Then again, there are other areas where there is a lot of local CB activity! This is why during a band opening the entire band becomes loaded with signals, and you may often hear people sometimes many States away just chatting with their friends down the street!

 

[spongella]

When the band has a good opening you'll hear Europe coming into the East Coast, that's why it is so much fun to have a radio in the car or at home.

One time the band opened after midnight, was coming home from work, it was open to the mid-West. Have even heard it opening during one winter snow storm late at night.

 

[Ravenkeeper]

"Impersonating a 'Bear'"

So, I drive a black 2015 Silverado, with a lot of chrome on it. I was driving to work and turned from the "country road" onto SR-58. I was running a little late, so I punched it. There were 4 semi-trucks rolling in my direction, and one of them pipes up, "Smokey the Bear."

Me - "What's the 20 on that bear?"

radio - "He's eastbound, dragging his antennas."

Me - "Since when did the bears start using their turn signals and having chrome on their vehicles?"

radio, a different voice - "HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!"

 

[SnowWalker]

Really stupid question here guys, but: is an "open band" the same as a signal skip?

 

[edweirdFL]

Yes. A band opening means conditions are allowing signals from areas outside of what you normally hear to come in. It usually works in reverse meaning you can talk to stations beyond the distance you normally can contact.

This can be good for making long distance contacts, but at the same time it can make talking to local stations difficult due to all of the other signals and typically a higher amount of background noise.

 

[SnowWalker]

Will try broadcasting out tonight!

Yes. A band opening means conditions are allowing signals from areas outside of what you normally hear to come in. It usually works in reverse meaning you can talk to stations beyond the distance you normally can contact.

Thank-you.

I am sitting here wondering how many CBers just sit by their radio hoping they will hear someone rather making an attempt to broadcast their own signal? There used to be a time when at a certain day of the week or time of day, CBers would do a CQ call out. I never hear that anymore.

Until this past summer, I used head to the summit of the mountain to the south of my home and call out a CQ on Monday evenings around 7:30PM Pacific time (California). I have had chats with other CBers in Oregon, Seattle, and San Francisco. Some of the chats would be on the AM and others on SSB - USB & LSB. Sometimes the skip really does give us lots of range.

I am going to head up there tonight at 7:30 PM Pacific time and give it a go on AM, Ch 19. I may even try the SSB on Ch. 38 & 6. Snow Walker is my handle. Maybe I will hit some skip, or possibly get it started, be content so just sit on the side and listen in. The weather could be a bit heavy in the mountains tonight (snow forecast) so the skip may not be working.

 

[TheSpaceMann]

So, I drive a black 2015 Silverado, with a lot of chrome on it. I was driving to work and turned from the "country road" onto SR-58. I was running a little late, so I punched it. There were 4 semi-trucks rolling in my direction, and one of them pipes up, "Smokey the Bear."

Me - "What's the 20 on that bear?"

radio - "He's eastbound, dragging his antennas."

Me - "Since when did the bears start using their turn signals and having chrome on their vehicles?"

radio, a different voice - "HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!"

Today, bears come in all flavors! Seen a lot of them driving SUVs!!

 

[TheSpaceMann]

Thank-you.

I am sitting here wondering how many CBers just sit by their radio hoping they will hear someone rather making an attempt to broadcast their own signal? There used to be a time when at a certain day of the week or time of day, CBers would do a CQ call out. I never hear that anymore.

Until this past summer, I used head to the summit of the mountain to the south of my home and call out a CQ on Monday evenings around 7:30PM Pacific time (California). I have had chats with other CBers in Oregon, Seattle, and San Francisco. Some of the chats would be on the AM and others on SSB - USB & LSB. Sometimes the skip really does give us lots of range.

I am going to head up there tonight at 7:30 PM Pacific time and give it a go on AM, Ch 19. I may even try the SSB on Ch. 38 & 6. Snow Walker is my handle. Maybe I will hit some skip, or possibly get it started, be content so just sit on the side and listen in. The weather could be a bit heavy in the mountains tonight (snow forecast) so the skip may not be working.

The best times for 11 meter skip is during the daylight hours. I usually check DX maps for 10 meters, to see if there is a lot of DX activity on 10. It an be a very good indicator of 11 meter skip activity! QSO/SWL real time maps and lists

 

[SnowWalker]

Today, bears come in all flavors! Seen a lot of them driving SUVs!!

We have a RCMP ghost highway patrol vehicle that's a 1998 Datson pick-up. It looks like the wheels are about to fall off the damn thing. What they do is drive along the hwy about 7km/5mph below the speed limit tempting people to pass. The thing is, there is a marked squad car about 500 feet in front of the Datson PU. The squad car speeds up to the exact speed limit, so whomever passes the Datson is also tempted to pass the car in front (the squad car). They earn a good buck with that dirty trick.

 

[Ravenkeeper]

Today, bears come in all flavors! Seen a lot of them driving SUVs!!

I remember when they were running "plain" color "wrappers." CHP had grey, blue, & green cruisers, for about a year. But their pickup trucks, even today, are black, with white front doors and a white low-profile shell. I have never seen CHP run a "plain black wrapper," even a pickup truck, with a lot of chrome on them. Eventho they are still running with their Crown Vic's, they have started running (a few) Dodge Chargers, with a billion antennas, as well as their Ford Explorers. There are a few officers, around here, that tend to patrol my route home, and use my truck as "a human shield." A friend of mine had another one do this to him, up north, and filed a complaint about the officer tailgating him. When he told me about it at work, a few weeks ago, I laughed and started calling him "human shield."


I work in aircraft maintenance. Tonight, we simultaneously towed a couple aircraft out to BFE, and were sitting talking about "making calls in the 'blind'," crossing the runway(s) while the airfield is closed. Whenever you cross the runway(s), or transition through a Control Movement Area (CMA), you have to call the tower for clearance. When the airfield is closed, you have to make your calls "in the blind." My co-workers know that I'm running a CB in my truck, so we were sitting out there screwing around, talking about using management's callsigns and making the completely/totally wrong calls on the tower net. So I piped up, "________ Ground, this is Snowman, we have ourselves a convoy crossing Big Road 22 at Country Road Charlie. In the blind."

 

[SnowWalker]

Well, I was up to the summit last night and did 45 minute CQ DX time on my pick up mobile with a mag antenna. . On Ch19 AM I had someone responding with sound effects of sirens, dogs barking and cows calling, Not good radio etiquette.

I then switched to SSB and started on Ch38, LSB, 27.384. I had two replies but the signals were too weak to understand. Finally on SSB, Ch. 6 LSB I had a chat with WillowBoy101 from somewhere in Idaho. The contact was fairly brief because the signal was fading in and out. It was a start however.

There was nothing else on the other channels, AM or SSB.

 

[KJ6UFY]

CB is Just Static

I live in Reno near the base of Donnar Pass, or I-80. Especially during inclement weather one would assume I'd hear lots of chatter. Dead Quiet. Have they gone to FMRS or GMRS or something near that?
Dave

 

[TheSpaceMann]

I live in Reno near the base of Donnar Pass, or I-80. Especially during inclement weather one would assume I'd hear lots of chatter. Dead Quiet. Have they gone to FMRS or GMRS or something near that?
Dave

It usually comes in bursts. Keep your radio monitoring on channel 19, and you should be hearing activity soon enough!

 

[SnowWalker]

I live in Reno near the base of Donnar Pass, or I-80. Especially during inclement weather one would assume I'd hear lots of chatter. Dead Quiet. Have they gone to FMRS or GMRS or something near that?
Dave

Are you surrounded by hills, or do you have a clear flat plain in one or two directions?