Do Normal People Still Use CB

[Arizona_Scanner]

Obviously there are a very few (who probably come here), but is there any significant number of people in your area using CB for legitimate purposes? I wonder because around here there are just dozens of people (24/7/365 - day & night) on the radio yelling, cussing, and often times rambling like a completely INSANE person would, without anyone even talking to them. Is it this way in your area or is Phoenix just really bad for CB? Many sound like they should be under supervised psychological care, in a facility. Some seem to be running super high power levels too, and can be heard for great distances. Do you get skip on your CB? Some of the stuff coming in seems very distant, not local.

Thanks.

 

[davedaver1]

It's not your area, it's like that everywhere. CB has never really been useful for much, due to the low frequency and mode (AM, and later, SSB). It's been a "hobby" (and not used by much business) as long as I've been playing in radio - which dates to the mid-'60s. The nut cases are probably related to the nut cases from way back when - it's always been that way in my experience. I live in a very rural area but sure enough, there is one of those ramblers who is pretty much talking to nobody here too. Running too much power, overdriven signal, roger beeps - all the usual stuff for a CB nut who talks and talks and talks - to nobody..

And yes, skip (or "skywave") is becoming common as we are on the upswing in solar sunspot activity (which runs in an 11 year cycle) which is what causes skip to occur.

 

[w2xq]

Do normal people still use CB? Heh, define "normal"...
-- ex-2Q3671 and ex-KOG2427 (yes, I still have the original FCC paper licenses... in excellent condition).

 

[freqs]

I think I am normal somewhat ...lol .I still use CB at work in my Solid Waste Hauler's for road reports DOT Officer location's and ops at the land fill .I use it on trips to Kentucky as well .
I have not used it much at home infact not even hooked up at the house it has gone down hill so bad .
Its a shame I used to enjoy it late at night talking to people .Now it just seem's to be a tool I use for work .no longer fun

 

[reedeb]

I think I am normal

See he THINKS he's normal which mean he's not [just kidding] . YES, some normal folks STILL use CB.. Unfortunatly my last one died a while back and I never got a new one [being on disabilty and many meds,
I don't have the money to get another.]

 

[RobKB1FJR]

I do... People think my work HT is CB.. People think All my scanners are CBs also.

 

[freqs]

See he THINKS he's normal which mean he's not [just kidding] . YES, some normal folks STILL use CB.. Unfortunatly my last one died a while back and I never got a new one [being on disabilty and many meds,
I don't have the money to get another.]

Well they say my first name is Abe
I know bad joke from Young Frankenstein

 

[gewecke]

Normal people on cb's?
Sort of like the definition of bipolar....dual sides of an ice cube right?
N-aaaaaah! :lol:

73,
n9zas

 

[Phantom1989]

In my area there isn't much activity on the CB frequencies. 10 years ago I used to hear lots of stuff on channel 19 and 25. I still hear the DX people yelling and screaming on channel 6 but that's about it.

 

[RodStrong]

I monitor ch 19 every day in my vehicle while working, and have done so for 10 years.

CBs are used moderately in my area by truckers and gas/oil industry types. There will likely always be a place for them. Not much personal use from what I can tell (although I largely stay on 19). I hear the skip jockeys often when conditions are right.

 

[N8IAA]

Back in the mid to late 70's, it was a reliable way for my wife and I to talk when mobile and from the house. It was also a good tool when on the highway. Smokey reports, somebody to talk to while on a long trip. But, when the FCC couldn't keep up with the amount of cb's being sold and licensing went down the drain, that's when it became a septic tank Once in a while I hook up my mobile in the shack, and unhook it just as quick:wink:
Larry

 

[JayMojave]

Hello AS and all:

Why certainly there are normal people out there on the CB. I am sure at least a few could pass for normal. But life is like going into a Bar, there are those who you want to socialize with and those who you don’t.

During the hay day of CB Breaks and such we always had a few trouble makers who were gonna punch so and so out for what ever reason. But while the people turned into a crowd the word was out that we had bouncers and a bunch of guys who would escort you out to the parking lot if you wanted to cause trouble, everyone seemed to melt into the good times. But we never needed to do any of that.

Now we have localized BBQ’s and get to gathers at the local coffee shop or at the local airport. This thins out the trouble makers, goof balls, rule reciting goofs, X-wives, recent parolees, and of course the big starappers that walk all over everyone.

The BBQ’s are sometimes advertised to all but because the Mojave Desert is so vast covering several States not everyone can attend. And the undesirables at times don’t want to be left out of the fun, and many times have ask permission to come to the BBQ, but have been asked to be cool. And they show up and new friends are made. That’s a good thing right.

However the BBQ’s do get involved at times over who talked to who, antenna theory, electronics theory, local on the spot mobile installations showing off, repair, praise, and laughing at. Equipment trading, selling, and on the spot testing. Motorcycle ridding, dune buggie ridding and towing back, and on and on, a good time is had by all. Tall stories at the camp fire are always a neat thing to listen to.

The local BBQ’s are also a social function that is used for Mob Strength as is needed in antenna and tower installation. The Hosts rules are no Beer until the tower and antenna are up and tuned. This has a way to motivate everyone to a centralized goal. As experience has shown us that free Beer before the tower and antenna installation will lead to NO tower and antenna installation. Sometimes one of the guys will have his mobile radio connected to a dummy load and ID himself over the radio as some far distance station, again a good time is had by all.

Normal people probably not, but we do have a blast at times.

Jay in the Mojave

 

[freqs]

Normal people on cb's?
Sort of like the definition of bipolar....dual sides of an ice cube right?
N-aaaaaah! :lol:

73,
n9zas

Well I am not Bipolar bud .I dont talk like the a-holes on it I use mine for work I dont like the fools on CB so I only use it for work.
If yor just joking with me fine I can take a joke to

 

[gewecke]

Well I am not Bipolar bud .I dont talk like the a-holes on it I use mine for work I dont like the fools on CB so I only use it for work.
If yor just joking with me fine I can take a joke to

I used mine for a resting place for the hammer....... :twisted:


73,
n9zas

 

[zerg901]

Arizona Scanner - I have wondered about those people also. Maybe there is a state hospital somewhere that uses CB as a "recreation tool".

 

[Ensnared]

Normal Versus Abnormal

Obviously there are a very few (who probably come here), but is there any significant number of people in your area using CB for legitimate purposes? I wonder because around here there are just dozens of people (24/7/365 - day & night) on the radio yelling, cussing, and often times rambling like a completely INSANE person would, without anyone even talking to them. Is it this way in your area or is Phoenix just really bad for CB? Many sound like they should be under supervised psychological care, in a facility. Some seem to be running super high power levels too, and can be heard for great distances. Do you get skip on your CB? Some of the stuff coming in seems very distant, not local.

Thanks.

I started talking on the CB when they were in vogue, during the 1970's oil embargo era. When I think of the many odd transmissions I've heard over the years, I can say, without any reservation, the radio operators are anything but normal. Ha.

At present, I employ a three-pronged approach to road travel: a) GRE PSR 500; b) Beltronics Vector 995 radar detector; & c) Cobra 25 coupled with K40 antenna & K40 microphone.

Most of the time, I travel safely and stay within 5 mph of the posted speed limit. But, sometimes, I have slips.

The CB has helped me a great deal. Since many "four-wheelers" don't use CB's anymore, I believe the accuracy of information has improved. In my opinion, truckers do a much better job of describing the location and direction of traffic cops.

On many occasions, I have found myself heading into a long back-up or road blockage. Most of the time, the truck drivers have advised listeners of alternate routes.

When you spoke of hearing trash talk on the CB from those who might benefit from court commitments, I laughed out loud.

Generally speaking, I encounter trash talk when I am traveling near large cities, but not so much on the open highway. Truck stops can be hubs of CB-related vulgarity, pervasive stupidity, & advertisement for lot lizards.

With all of these headaches present, I still swear by my CB.

 

[DX-300]

I used CB and I can attest to its usefulness on the highway as for example, once I got warning of a fresh accident scene ahead which involved a bus and 2 other vehicles which was almost impossible to see as the scene was in darkness but I heard what lane was clear etc. However I said "used" there at the beginning as now as of September this year Alberta's government has put in place distracted driver legislation against cellphones but has also included CB's and no recreational use of CB in vehicles is allowed anymore :'-(

 

[zz0468]

Do Normal People Still Use CB

What do you mean "still"!?

Normal people NEVER used CB.

 

[N_ALSCAN]

I monitor cb when traveling interstates on long road trips. It is the only way to find out what is actually happening when you're stopped on the interstate. Forget about ever hearing ANYTHING worthwhile on 146.52.

I have a mobile HF ham radio setup on my suburban, and I will regularly just leave the HF radio listening on CB channel 19.

My mobile traveling setup is usually as follows:
Kenwood TM-D710 VHF/UHF ham radio, running APRS with an AVmap G6 GPS on one side of the radio and monitoring 146.52 on the other side.

I have a Kenwood TS-780 HF mobile to work DX and monitor CB.

I now have a Uniden HomePatrol to monitor local Law enforcement.

I run Trapster on my iPhone to help alert me to instant-on radar traps and known hiding points.

Finally, I run a remote mount Passport radar detector with front and rear laser sensors.

I combined all this together to create the ultimate interstate cruiser. Plus, all these toys help keep me sane on our yearly trek from north AL to Southern Louisiana, with 3 kids and 3 dogs.



Rob
Huntsville, AL
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Ensnared]

Someone With Similar Ideas

I monitor cb when traveling interstates on long road trips. It is the only way to find out what is actually happening when you're stopped on the interstate. Forget about ever hearing ANYTHING worthwhile on 146.52.

I have a mobile HF ham radio setup on my suburban, and I will regularly just leave the HF radio listening on CB channel 19.

My mobile traveling setup is usually as follows:
Kenwood TM-D710 VHF/UHF ham radio, running APRS with an AVmap G6 GPS on one side of the radio and monitoring 146.52 on the other side.

I have a Kenwood TS-780 HF mobile to work DX and monitor CB.

I now have a Uniden HomePatrol to monitor local Law enforcement.

I run Trapster on my iPhone to help alert me to instant-on radar traps and known hiding points.

Finally, I run a remote mount Passport radar detector with front and rear laser sensors.

I combined all this together to create the ultimate interstate cruiser. Plus, all these toys help keep me sane on our yearly trek from north AL to Southern Louisiana, with 3 kids and 3 dogs.



Rob
Huntsville, AL
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

So, you are better equipped than I with your front and rear Passport. Impressive set-up.