Do truckers still use CB Radios?

[slowmover]

Use of AM-9 by any citizen of any country is worse than discourteous. Language only makes it worse.

Common language is the basis for all else.
The honor of custom is a minimal courtesy.

And, saying that, CB is a free-for-all, says that no one should feel obligated to behave responsibly.

Y’all are apparently happy to believe in lies.

.

 

[mmckenna]

Command of the English language was not the US dude's strong point either.

As is usually the case.

 

[kc2asb]

Use of AM-9 by any citizen of any country is worse than discourteous. Language only makes it worse.

Common language is the basis for all else.

And, saying that, CB is a free-for-all, says that no one has to behave responsibly.

We should not forget that the 26.965 - 27.405MHz band is used in other countries, legally or not. Channel 9 may not be designated as an emergency channel in countries which set aside that band for citizens band use. We all know that 27MHz was not the best location considering the FCC's vision that CB would be for short distance (under 150 miles or so) communications.

While there are many good operators on CB, it's not inaccurate to say it's a free-for-all. Even the convention that AM operators would leave Chs. 36-40 for SSB operation is not respected. No reason to expect them to respect Ch 9 either.

 

[niceguy71]

Doesn’t matter if AM-9 is today “monitored” or not, it’s that the custom is violated. That’s what matters as the situation surrounding its status can be changed overnight. It’s never changed so far as several million Americans are concerned.

Foreign language use on CB is distinctly and unequivocally un-American as it’s rejection of the most basic common bond of citizenship.

.

I don't mind another country setting up a "Super Bowl" channel and speaking on it in their native language.... just too bad that country couldn't use a different set of 40 channel frequencies than America uses..... I know the UK and other countries use their own frequencies.... makes me wonder if it's Puorto Rico as they are part of America so they would sell US channeled radio's there.
so I get that.... I'm sure our Channel 6 and channel 11 are useless to them ( where ever they are) because of the high power.

but how on earth did they pick channel 9 for their "Super Bowl" channel... if they have American radio's... as I'm sure they do.... it say's right on the radio "Emergency Channel 9".... so it must have been done on purpose... was it done to say screw you America?... I think it must have been

I like to leave a radio turned on in my house... when I got back into the hobby I was going to leave channel 9 on all the time... I learned that's not possible pretty quickly do to the foreigners
so now I leave Channel 19 turned on in my house, garage, and Pick-up truck... but I also sadly found moron's use mega watt radio's to advertise or just keep broadcasting or play music on it... so I have to keep the squelch up so high I doubt I could ever hear anyone that actually needed help.

so people suck... no matter what country they live in

 

[nd5y]

but how on earth did they pick channel 9 for their "Super Bowl" channel... if they have American radio's... as I'm sure they do.... it say's right on the radio "Emergency Channel 9".... so it must have been done on purpose... was it done to say screw you America?... I think it must have been

It's been like that since the 1970's. Maybe longer.

 

[mmckenna]

but how on earth did they pick channel 9 for their "Super Bowl" channel... if they have American radio's... as I'm sure they do.... it say's right on the radio "Emergency Channel 9".... so it must have been done on purpose... was it done to say screw you America?... I think it must have been

America isn't the center of the universe. Different countries have different rules, and the FCC or hobbyists in another country don't get to dictate to them what they can and cannot do. The only international coordinating body that can really fit that role is the ITU, and they are not really going to care about what is happening on Channel 9, just like they aren't going to care about what happens on 6 or 38, or any other channel.

It would be rare to find any real public safety agency that was actively monitoring CB channel 9. Them expecting the channel to stay quiet and the ionosphere to honor that request would be silly.

I'd guess they went looking for a quite channel to get away from all the noise the 'megawatt' users are making, and found one. Happened to be a channel used in another country for emergency use.

Makes me think of old Abe Simpson raising his fist yelling at the ionosphere. "Damn you lousy skip!!!!"

 

[niceguy71]

It's been like that since the 1970's. Maybe longer.

since the 70's???? really???
wow I'm shocked

I never turned on channel 9 in the 80's...... I didn't turn it on until a couple years ago.... just to monitor and learned of the .....
"Spanish Inquisition" ( Monty Python reference)

I also learned of it because of the new cool "Scan" feature... and sadly learned they never stop talking.

really not a big deal I don't think any travelers buying a new CB and going on a road trip would ever try to use a CB for help...... for traffic yes.... but help nothing beats the cellphone.

so really not a big deal any way... just sad to see the old ways go bye bye

 

[kc2asb]

since the 70's???? really???
wow I'm shocked

I never turned on channel 9 in the 80's...... I didn't turn it on until a couple years ago.... just to monitor and learned of the .....
"Spanish Inquisition" ( Monty Python reference)

I got into CB in the late 80's in my early high school days - I would listen to Ch 9 occasionally, but not for long periods. I was a toddler during the heyday of CB in the mid/late 70's, so I can't comment on how Ch 9 was in those days.

There did not seem to be many stations operating on Ch 9 around here if memory serves, so perhaps the Ch 9 custom was more respected here in the NY/NJ metro area. I never heard any emergency or assistance calls.

I also learned of it because of the new cool "Scan" feature... and sadly learned they never stop talking.

really not a big deal I don't think any travelers buying a new CB and going on a road trip would ever try to use a CB for help...... for traffic yes.... but help nothing beats the cellphone.

so really not a big deal any way... just sad to see the old ways go bye bye

I agree, it is sad to see the old ways go. There is a lot that seemed better about the hobby 35+ years ago compared to now, but that is a topic for another time

 

[mmckenna]

I got into CB in the late 80's in my early high school days - I would listen to Ch 9 occasionally, but not for long periods. I was a toddler during the heyday of CB in the mid/late 70's, so I can't comment on how Ch 9 was in those days.

REACT was big back in the 70's and a bit into the early 80's. You could often get help by calling on Channel 9. Random people would often listen also. Not uncommon to get chased off the channel if you ended up there.

REACT used to staff some of the highway rest areas up on Interstate 5 and they'd sell coffee and doughnuts as a fundraiser. I remember seeing them when on roadtrips as a kid. Very common to see them up in Oregon and Washington state.

Then it slowly faded away. There are still REACT teams out there and they are on GMRS, often 462.675/141.3Hz in some areas.
Unfortunately some of the REACT groups turned into whacker clubs and things got pretty weird.

 

[nokones]

If I recall correctly, Orange County (CA) REACT had a GMRS Station on Santiago Peak (Old Saddleback) for relaying information amongst all the monitors throughout the County back in the mid 70s. That station is still on the air today.

 

[BrhatWeed]

Unfortunately some of the REACT groups turned into whacker clubs and things got pretty weird.

Guess that happens when we get old...

 

[freqseeker]

REACT used to staff some of the highway rest areas up on Interstate 5 and they'd sell coffee and doughnuts as a fundraiser. I remember seeing them when on roadtrips as a kid. Very common to see them up in Oregon and Washington state.

I remember that well. The chapter was called Rainier React in the Seattle area. I volunteered at those rest stops with my friend and his dad in the late 70's. The coffee was free to help drivers stay awake. We did have a donation jar which paid for most of the refreshments.
There was a CB club called the Mighty 12 at that same time, obviously on channel 12. We did meetings at pizza joints. They sponsored fox hunts as well. That was fun. We had as many as 20 participants. The winner from the previous hunt got to be the rabbit for the next hunt.
By the time I was in high school in the early eighties it was fading away fast. I had a couple of friends that I did fox hunts with but it was the same.

 

[mmckenna]

I remember that well. The chapter was called Rainier React in the Seattle area. I volunteered at those rest stops with my friend and his dad in the late 70's. The coffee was free to help drivers stay awake. We did have a donation jar which paid for most of the refreshments.

Yeah, that's right, forgot about the free coffee. Great idea and there was always a lot of people there. Was a really good idea.

Washington State always had the nice rest areas.

 

[BrhatWeed]

All the REACT members I've met over the years be it on the the radio or in person have been really friendly, nothing bad to say about them at all.

 

[niceguy71]

this guy will get to the bottom of this Channel 9 stuff!!!
hope he straightens those guys out.

can this guy really be that dumb? he thinks these guys are local?

 

[kc2asb]

this guy will get to the bottom of this Channel 9 stuff!!!
hope he straightens those guys out.

can this guy really be that dumb? he thinks these guys are local?

Assuming the video was taken during daytime hours, it's very possible there was a band opening going on. The signals were quite strong and there did not seem to be much, if any, fading. Could have been skip, or even mobiles passing through his area. Not enough of a sample to say for sure. But yes, rest easy knowing he is on the case!

 

[niceguy71]

Assuming the video was taken during daytime hours, it's very possible there was a band opening going on. The signals were quite strong and there did not seem to be much, if any, fading. Could have been skip, or even mobiles passing through his area. Not enough of a sample to say for sure. But yes, rest easy knowing he is on the case!

All the Spanish talk on channel 9 is high powered radios and skip

I'm still laughing at this guy, thinking he could actually talk to them on a Cobra mini!!

 

[kc2asb]

All the Spanish talk on channel 9 is high powered radios and skip

I'm still laughing at this guy, thinking he could actually talk to them on a Cobra mini!!

Most likely, but was considering other possible explanations, as Spanish is widely spoken in the US. High-powered Spanish-speaking stations also appear regularly on channels above and below the legal CB band. There are a number of taxi companies, largely from Mexico, operating there also.

The chances of these stations hearing this guy was pretty slim, and then there is the language barrier. However, when the band is open, you don't need a lot of power to make distant contacts of hundreds or even thousands of miles

 

[EAFrizzle]

In Houston, Mexican dump truck drivers can be found on any channel below 35 on AM, and several above 40 on USB. They use 9 as a calling channel, because of the convenient ch 9 switch on most CBs.

Having 9 still designated for emergency use only is outdated and a bit ridiculous given conditions (atmospheric  and the state of the band), especially when better alternatives exist.


From what I can find, there's apparently an active REACT group here in DFW, at least according to their website; I haven't tried monitoring any of their frequencies, but it's nice to know that someone out there is still doing something in this arena that outside of the amateur service. RACES and ARES are good for what they are, but they're not geared towards travelers (and can be a bit clique-ish at times.)


Too bad MURS doesn't have a 20W limit; it would be a great place for something like REACT/traveler's/emergency comms.

 

[kc2asb]

In Houston, Mexican dump truck drivers can be found on any channel below 35 on AM, and several above 40 on USB. They use 9 as a calling channel, because of the convenient ch 9 switch on most CBs.

Having 9 still designated for emergency use only is outdated and a bit ridiculous given conditions (atmospheric  and the state of the band), especially when better alternatives exist.

No doubt. I guess there is just no urgency, or any real reason, to change the designation. The issues with skip and chaos are nothing new, but certainly more public safety agencies were monitoring CB 35+ years ago compared to now

From what I can find, there's apparently an active REACT group here in DFW, at least according to their website; I haven't tried monitoring any of their frequencies, but it's nice to know that someone out there is still doing something in this arena that outside of the amateur service. RACES and ARES are good for what they are, but they're not geared towards travelers (and can be a bit clique-ish at times.)


Too bad MURS doesn't have a 20W limit; it would be a great place for something like REACT/traveler's/emergency comms.

Does that REACT group state that they monitor Ch 9 or is it just GMRS? MURS is an interesting thought. With higher power, REACT members on mobiles/bases would have greater range while motorists could keep an emergency type radio kit in their vehicles, complete with a mag mount antenna. A number of companies made CB radios in this style and they could be stashed in the trunk or glove box.