Ohio State Highway Patrol cruisers still equipped with CB radios

[FPR1981]

Yesterday morning I was on my way into work and I got behind a State Patrol cruiser. As I was scoping out their antennas, I took note of what was very clearly an HF-sized antenna on the driver's side trunk lid. The other antennas were very clearly VHF/UHF emergency two-way.

I moonlight as a personal trainer, and one of our other trainers just went through the Patrol academy about 8 months ago. I texted him and asked if they had CB radios, and to my surprise, he replied that yes, they do - and that they scrapped their radios that will talk to local PD and sheriff's offices but kept the CB's. He said they're a valuable resource on the interstate.

The humorous twist, this young man, about age 22 said, "I didn't even know what a CB was until I went through the academy." LOL

Think of that for a moment, an entire generation has no idea what the CB even is. My sons said they only knew because of me, and my stepsons had no clue either. I train strength and conditioning for high school athletes and most of them have never heard of it either.

I am not certain, but the antenna on the trunk lid looked like a Larsen, which makes me want a Larsen to compare it to my Trams and Wilsons. But that's a topic for another day.

 

[WB9YBM]

Glad to hear CB is getting some use! I wish more people would catch on.

 

[KB4MSZ]

That's right boy, ya darn toot'n I still got mine

 

[W9WSS]

When I was a police officer (1971-2006), there was a short period of time when we had Motorola 40 channel AM CB radios in our squads. We used them sort of how you would text message, someone today. A certain supervisor scolded us at roll call, wanting to know who Cisco and Pancho were? We didn't have the heart to tell him that he was imagining those "handles" used by fellow police officers and objected to the hijinks going on the CB radio during his shift. Because this was mostly in the early '80s, there were quite a few "locals" who talked to us on the CB radio. We changed channels every day, never staying on the same one day to day. There was a formula one of the guys put together, with the date, the shift, and other data that we knew where to find each other on the respective active channel for the shift. There were no cell phones, except in the early '90s when the supervisor had a mobile cell in his/her car. That was it.

When the new cars were returned from the radio contractor, after a few years, no more CB radios. When we had them, they worked quite well, and we got a pretty decent local range on them. The antenna was attached and well-grounded to the overhead emergency light bar. Those were the days!

 

[slowmover]

When I was a police officer (1971-2006), there was a short period of time when we had Motorola 40 channel AM CB radios in our squads. We used them sort of how you would text message, someone today. A certain supervisor scolded us at roll call, wanting to know who Cisco and Pancho were? We didn't have the heart to tell him that he was imagining those "handles" used by fellow police officers and objected to the hijinks going on the CB radio during his shift. Because this was mostly in the early '80s, there were quite a few "locals" who talked to us on the CB radio. We changed channels every day, never staying on the same one day to day. There was a formula one of the guys put together, with the date, the shift, and other data that we knew where to find each other on the respective active channel for the shift. There were no cell phones, except in the early '90s when the supervisor had a mobile cell in his/her car. That was it.

When the new cars were returned from the radio contractor, after a few years, no more CB radios. When we had them, they worked quite well, and we got a pretty decent local range on them. The antenna was attached and well-grounded to the overhead emergency light bar. Those were the days!

I long ago quit trying to speak with highway patrol. CB made some info-relay a low key affair (household junk in the middle of the road, etc).

Not being able to monitor 19 makes little sense as accidents get immediate attention from drivers making reports. There’s a noticeable uptick in TX plus heightened emotions such that one turns up the radio to learn more.

.

 

[quarterwave]

Saw one today, it is large diameter coil probably 2" or better maybe 8" tall and then a spring, then like a 25-30" rod. Odd looking, but I suppose its a heavily loaded coil and maximum distance isn't the goal.

BTW I have also heard that they ditched VHF LEERN / INTERCITY Radios, but that is mostly because all 88 County Sheriffs have a Marcs base with the interops talk group in it, and many cities.

 

[FPR1981]

Saw one today, it is large diameter coil probably 2" or better maybe 8" tall and then a spring, then like a 25-30" rod. Odd looking, but I suppose its a heavily loaded coil and maximum distance isn't the goal.

BTW I have also heard that they ditched VHF LEERN / INTERCITY Radios, but that is mostly because all 88 County Sheriffs have a Marcs base with the interops talk group in it, and many cities.

I believe this to be truth. Our department is on MARCS and we have the talk groups.

 

[FLA727]

I'll be scanning and listening for any fun traffic on CH 9 as I drive up to N.E. Ohio tomorrow.

 

[FLA727]

Well this trip has led me to want a new feature for CB Radios; the ability to skip scanning channel 6. Sheesh, I tried scanning the entire drive up to Ohio and ended up just leaving it on CH 19! Super bowl traffic is/was a lot of nonstop annoying nonsense and kept the scanning all tied up for other channels.

 

[KB4MSZ]

Well this trip has led me to want a new feature for CB Radios; the ability to skip scanning channel 6. Sheesh, I tried scanning the entire drive up to Ohio and ended up just leaving it on CH 19! Super bowl traffic is/was a lot of nonstop annoying nonsense and kept the scanning all tied up for other channels.

I agree. This is also an issue on a couple of local channels here as I am sure you are aware of. In the case of the McKiinley radio, it could be "cured" by adding a timed scan option in addition to the carrier based option the radio already has. At least this would only require listening to a few seconds of over-blown traffic. I'm sure this could be programmed into the menu somehow if the factory wanted to.

 

[slowmover]

Stryker 955 may be able to do that. If so, Anytone 6666 also.

 

[redbeard]

Saw one today, it is large diameter coil probably 2" or better maybe 8" tall and then a spring, then like a 25-30" rod. Odd looking, but I suppose its a heavily loaded coil and maximum distance isn't the goal.

BTW I have also heard that they ditched VHF LEERN / INTERCITY Radios, but that is mostly because all 88 County Sheriffs have a Marcs base with the interops talk group in it, and many cities.

They still do morning radio checks from the Posts on LEERN, District 7 @ 7AM etc. Haven't heard a mobile unit in a long time though. And on the Eastern border there is an interfering channel from the new PA statewide VHF Phase 2 occasionally. They had it as a control channel for awhile but maybe OH complained so now it's only a traffic channel. But with LEERN usage being carrier squelch it's very annoying to monitor on this side of the state.