Ohio State Patrol CB usage?

[Trainguy1997]

Recently got into trucking and I noticed coming in from Indiana on a blue information sign that the state patrol still monitors channel 9. How true is this? I did notice a car getting up to an accident the other day that looked to have a CB antenna on it. Funny thing is I only have seen these sign on I-70.

 

[Chris155]

I’ve seen the same signs in Ohio. Also noticed recently an Antron 99 or something similar on the roof of our local emergency communications center here in Maryland. I’m guessing both are remnants from years ago.

 

[Trainguy1997]

I’ve seen the same signs in Ohio. Also noticed recently an Antron 99 or something similar on the roof of our local emergency communications center here in Maryland. I’m guessing both are remnants from years ago.

Regardless, if Ohio State Patrol is still monitoring channel 9, mad props to them and glad to see someone still actively monitoring 9. You can't rely on cellular for everything(28 and I'd rather have a landline over a cell phone for many reasons, some you can probably guess why and ive been on the road for just over a month).

Why the signs exist on 70 and not on the Ohio Turnpike is beyond me though.

 

[slowmover]

Someone forgot to take them down. And then when they did remember it was that the paperwork burden would extend across three agencies and the matter was dropped.

Seriously, I never bothered to key up and ask, but I’d have been surprised to get a reply.

 

[KD8DVR]

The OSP Posts sold all their base stations. Whether or not the cruisers still have them I don't know.

 

[slowmover]

The OSP Posts sold all their base stations. Whether or not the cruisers still have them I don't know.

In the past it’s been noted that individual patrol units may have an operator-installed CB (different states).

On its own Ohio would have a high chance (among highest) for a response on 9/19 needing aid.

The closer to Chicago in these states, that same high response rate applies:

1). Truck traffic volume
2). Ordinary citizen
3). To be specific, from IH70 north & IH90 south



.

 

[slowmover]

Citizen Band Channel Nine

For the 48, in general, enlarge this for the region in question to ally Interstate & Commuter overlap (its county-by-county which becomes somewhat misleading west of US-83; “best” is east of IH35):



The overlap isn’t linear to get a response due to propensity, it merely increases the likelihood due to #1 & 2 in post above.

The single trump card is Best Radio System

Best Mobile 2025

A general: what should I recommend to friends who want high performance in Citizen Band? Let’s ballpark it at $500 entry. Will last longer than the time they own the automobile. Seatbelts, Concealed Carry, and CITIZEN BAND. This thread aimed at YOU, not the guy who knows even less. However...

forums.radioreference.com

A non-NRC radio + 4W + poor install + short mag mount antenna, is the recipe for believing, “CB is dead”, trope.

Simply being broke down at the wrong spot on the highway (geographically) with a poor radio rig may mean, “no one can hear me”. And if maybe they do, . . I can’t hear them.

QT80 from that thread on LIDO L-ML mount (@billdean in F350 done in this thread):

Dang Ford..Could use some help on my antenna....

I have a 2024 F350 SD Platinum. I would like to put a CB radio in it for traveling with my 36ft 5th wheel. I installed a President Bill 3 radio with a 3 foot hood mounted Firefly antenna. I bought a Ford hood mount antenna kit from Right Channel Radio that was suppose to work good, I thought. I...

forums.radioreference.com

With not many exceptions this level of mobile radio rig will, Hear, and Get Heard, for road travel.

Channel Nine response means folks need to be able to hear you . . . and you, them.

.

 

[slowmover]

Recently got into trucking and I noticed coming in from Indiana on a blue information sign that the state patrol still monitors channel 9. How true is this? I did notice a car getting up to an accident the other day that looked to have a CB antenna on it. Funny thing is I only have seen these sign on I-70.

What year tractor brand/model?
Company hand or lease operator?
Trailer type?

.

 

[niceguy71]

Police still monitor emergency cb's?????
Not a possibility... never going to happen... not going to happen .... never in a million years.

Channel 9 was taken over by a foreign country years and years ago.... it is a Spanish super bowl with guys using thousands of watts.... no matter how high you adjust your squelch... they will still break the squelch.... so anyone monitoring channel 9 will hear Spanish non stop.... an officer in a cruiser needs to be able to hear his radio no matter what .. with non stop Spanish he could not hear his police radio...
Nope channel 9 is nothing but a loud constant drone of Spanish noise. And no one needing help with a 4 watt radio is ever going to be heard over all that noise

I tried monitoring channel 9 when I first got my base station set up.... I learned it was non stop Spanish noise.... no one in America is ever going to be heard on that channel.

I pretty much say the same for channel 19.... it is so many high watt clowns.... that an officer or a dispatch operator would not be able to do anything but keep their ear glued to that radio trying to discern between foolishness and a person in need.....

If the police could set up a radio on channel 9 and have it be quiet sitting in the station someplace and maybe someone looking for help would break the squelch plane.... then they might.... but it's non stop Spanish superbowl and a normal person with a cb is only going to transmit 4 miles away.... so they can't have a base station every 4 or 5 miles up and down the highway.... and again an officer in a cruiser needs to have his watts about him and pay attention to his police radio... not be blasted out by non stop Spanish superbowl on 09 or the 1000 watt clowns on channel 19

 

[kk9h]

I’ve seen that sign on I-70 just inside Ohio from the Indiana line on my way to the Dayton Hamvention for many years. Since the hey day of CB radio I have just assumed that Ohio simply forgot about that sign so there it sits for all to see.

73, Don KK9H

 

[ind224]

I confirmed OHP does not monitor CB any longer in car or via posts during a 2023 airshow visit.

 

[Coffeemug]

It's sort of funny to think of CB Radios in the 21st. Century State Police Agency Vehicle. Most of State Troopers on the job now probably only seen CB radios being used in movies or heard about for retired officers. I'm not too sure if the PSP still have CB radios in their vehicles, Although I assume, they don't since the Commonwealth want to band all mobile communication devices. I know Pennsylvania is trying to limit to Cell Phone and not 2-way radios. However, I could be wrong about the Ban on Mobile Communication Devices. I know PA ARRL SM wants to get Amateur Radio Exempt, but that would be an ongoing battle, especially for CB Radio GMRS and LMR users. There's too many LMR besides Public Safety who rely on their radios for their lively hood.

 

[niceguy71]

I’ve seen that sign on I-70 just inside Ohio from the Indiana line on my way to the Dayton Hamvention for many years. Since the hey day of CB radio I have just assumed that Ohio simply forgot about that sign so there it sits for all to see.

73, Don KK9H

we have a lot of old towns in New England.... we have a building with a HUGE worn Coca-cola billboard up on the side of the third floor it must be 15 feet wide and 10 feet tall.... I think it says 5 Cents... or maybe 10 Cents on the billboard I forget now.... its getting harder and harder to see... but no one ever takes it down or paints over it.... it has to be from the 1910's or the 1920's.... to get to it they would have to block the main street and bring in a lift to get up there... so the just leave it.... it's not hurting anyone.

I love seeing the old signs

 

[kc2asb]

I confirmed OHP does not monitor CB any longer in car or via posts during a 2023 airshow visit.

Not a surprise. Ch 9 has been rendered mostly useless for emergency / traveler assistance purposes. Still, it was nice to dream for a couple of minutes that it was still a thing.

 

[K9KLC]

I cannot speak to Ohio but I know both the departments I worked for from 79-88 no longer use or even have CB's at their bases or in the squad cars. Appears it's been confirmed Ohio doesn't any longer either. They should take the signs down if that's no longer the case.

 

[Coffeemug]

I wanted to add more to my previous comment, about the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania mobile communication ban. Of course, if the ARRL fails to get an exemption for 2-way radio use while in motion, that's gone to be hard to enforce.

First of all, a LEO will have to have reason other than a motorist using their two-way radio while driving. In my opinion, if a motorist gets pulled over just for using a radio. They should be able request citations, one for them and one for the Officer that made traffic stop. After all, they shouldn't be exempt any more simply for being First Responders.

That might sound stupid, but they're Law Enforcement Officer that will do everything that states do not want civilians to do while driving. How can you enforce laws with breaking them yourself?

 

[mmckenna]

That might sound stupid, but they're Law Enforcement Officer that will do everything that states do not want civilians to do while driving. How can you enforce laws with breaking them yourself?

There's rules in my state for cell phone use that are similar to most others. No allowed unless hands free. Step up to a CDL, and the rules are even more strict. For a while I had a CDL with passenger endorsement, and I wasn't supposed to use the cell phone at all, even hands free, if I recall correctly.
There were waivers for medical emergencies….

First responders and distracted driving is a reality. A bit more so with law enforcement and terminals in the cars. Easy to take ones eyes off the road to check the return on a license plate. There have been accidents attributed to this.

Do remember that those driving public safety vehicles go through a lot more drivers training that most motorists. While that doesn't remove the risk entirely, they are supposed to be more aware of the risk and have enough skill to be able to drive and talk on the radio at the same time.

Not to verge off into the encryption discussion, but one of the arguments against encryption is that officers can use their phone or terminal to run license plates, and not use the radio, with the idea that radio traffic can be in the clear. This is another one of those places where it's not that easy a decision. Using the radio to pass personal information like license info or vehicle ownership, wants, warrants, etc. is much easier -and- SAFER over the radio than having the officers take their eyes off the road to be looking at a screen.