Most popular type of radio on the road

[doolidoo]

Hello I am in canada and I would like to know if the cb is still the most common type of radio on the road thanks for your answer.

 

[mmckenna]

Hello I am in canada and I would like to know if the cb is still the most common type of radio on the road thanks for your answer.

Here in the US, I've had CB, ham and GMRS radios in my truck in the past.

By FAR, the most traffic I've heard were on the FRS frequencies.

CB is popular in some areas for some applications by some people. In my experience driving through the Western USA And Western provinces, CB is very quiet and no where near what it was like in the 1970's/1980's.

Ham radio can have some traffic, but it's rare, and will entirely depend on where you are.

I've heard a LOT of people on the highway using FRS. Yes, short range, but there's often enough traffic that you'll hear something frequently on the busier interstates. I was driving across California and Nevada earlier this year. I took a break on the side of the road. I had several radios running. By far there was more traffic on FRS than anything else.

Your experience will vary depending on exactly where you are. There is no right or wrong answer. It's about finding what works for you in your area.

 

[KK4JUG]

Your experience will vary depending on exactly where you are. There is no right or wrong answer. It's about finding what works for you in your area.

They all seem to be very sketchy, if they exist at all. When I travel, I have ham repeaters along the route programmed into my radio. In a thousand miles, if I talk to 4 people, I've done a lot. While most of the repeaters are active, there's few people monitoring them. I keep a Cobra "everything's in the mic" CB in the car but it's been several years since I used it. The last time I had it hooked up and available, I talked with one person (in Tulsa) during a thousand mile trip.

 

[slowmover]

1.5-million truck drivers and almost as many trucks. It’s not really a contest.

 

[rescuecomm]

It's definitely not what it used to be as far as the general public goes. On returning from Myrtle Beach last May, I made a point to observe the number of vehicles with two way antennas on I-20.

A few older 4x4 pickups, some older jeeps, and about half of the over the road heavy trucks sported antennas. I saw no cars with anything other than the highway patrol and a couple of deputy Sheriff's.

 

[robertmac]

Hello I am in canada and I would like to know if the cb is still the most common type of radio on the road thanks for your answer.

Canada is a very big country. Where in Canada are you talking about. CB is probably not the common in most trucks today because they only work about 500 metres or 500 kms. with skip. VHF is probably more common with truckers with multiple frequencies. DATABASE here will show what is common in your area of Canada with businesses. Or can search TAFL for your specific area. Amateur radio is also common depending, again, on what area you are talking about.

 

[slowmover]

It's definitely not what it used to be as far as the general public goes. On returning from Myrtle Beach last May, I made a point to observe the number of vehicles with two way antennas on I-20.

A few older 4x4 pickups, some older jeeps, and about half of the over the road heavy trucks sported antennas. I saw no cars with anything other than the highway patrol and a couple of deputy Sheriff's.

The Freightliner — about 1/3 of all road tractors — arrives equipped with a hidden antenna.

 

[Moto_user]

It's definitely not what it used to be as far as the general public goes. On returning from Myrtle Beach last May, I made a point to observe the number of vehicles with two way antennas on I-20.

A few older 4x4 pickups, some older jeeps, and about half of the over the road heavy trucks sported antennas. I saw no cars with anything other than the highway patrol and a couple of deputy Sheriff's.

One thing I've noticed lately is the newer over the road trucks having the CB antennas mounted on the back of the cab and they are not visible when hooked to a trailer. Not sure how common this is but I've noticed several recently.

 

[rescuecomm]

The Freightliner — about 1/3 of all road tractors — arrives equipped with a hidden antenna.

I've read your posts about fitting co-phased antennas on OTR trucks. Do people use those OEM antennas? Still shows that regular people have abandoned CB for the most part.

 

[522]

In the last month, I've driven from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas and back twice. I can honestly say I was quite surprised that I heard next to nothing each time. One scanner was monitoring GMRS/FRS/MURS/CB and my Ham HT was monitoring Intertie Repeaters, and Local Repeaters along the way that I preprogrammed in. Heard some repeater action, but was not able to hit any of them.
Maybe a fluke, but I am still surprised how little I heard on the road.

Once I got into Las Vegas, obviously there was no shortage of things to listen to.

 

[slowmover]

I've read your posts about fitting co-phased antennas on OTR trucks. Do people use those OEM antennas? Still shows that regular people have abandoned CB for the most part.

“Cars” (personal vehicles) CB is fairly rare. More an instance of has something at home, but it’s on a shelf (or a relatives experience as a sort of guide). CB in limbo.

So far as trucks are concerned it’s a matter of ignoring or resisting good advice. One travels the roads there’s simply no substitute. And no end of illustrative examples.

 

[slowmover]

As to the built-in truck antennas. RX is okay (limited range if other doesn’t have fire in the wire), and only so-so in TX. About like a Wilson Little Wil. Barely worth having.

 

[slowmover]

Do truckers still use CB Radios?

I never hear any trucker chit-chat on Ch19, even with two different types of scanners monitoring. As a kid in the 70's, CB radios were cool!

forums.radioreference.com

Covers whos where and when.

 

[Trucker700]

So far as trucks are concerned it’s a matter of ignoring or resisting good advice. One travels the roads there’s simply no substitute. And no end of illustrative examples.

100% agree. Many times I have avoided hours long backups from major accidents because I had my CB on and having another driver going the other way give a warning several miles before the accident.
Sad thing, on more than one occasion, I hear drivers start asking what was going on once they were forced to stop. I have told them had they had they had their radios on, they would know what was going on. And could have been able to bypass the problem.
Some have come back saying they don't like listening to the radio. I tell them, "then don't complain about having to sit and waste time if you're too lazy to keep your radio on".
Even at low volume I could hear when someone was calling out a warning about traffic problems. Sad times.
James

 

[slowmover]

100% agree. Many times I have avoided hours long backups from major accidents because I had my CB on and having another driver going the other way give a warning several miles before the accident.
Sad thing, on more than one occasion, I hear drivers start asking what was going on once they were forced to stop. I have told them had they had they had their radios on, they would know what was going on. And could have been able to bypass the problem.
Some have come back saying they don't like listening to the radio. I tell them, "then don't complain about having to sit and waste time if you're too lazy to keep your radio on".
Even at low volume I could hear when someone was calling out a warning about traffic problems. Sad times.
James

Why you’ll want the AT5555-N2 + DRX-9010 speaker. Retired, don’t matter. It’s a new world of pleasurable listening for “a truck driver” trying to stay ahead of a schedule. Or just pass the time with a glass of tea out on the porch.

In other words, your “low volume” listening is 3X easier than before. A CD music remaster versus a 33-1/3 record album bought at Goodwill.

I just came to a premature halt on the day. Wanted to make another 100+, . . but the crowd & construction & metro ahead means I’ll lose too much time against HOS.

Have to get up extra early to get hard miles in tomorrow, . . but I’ll do them at a time when traffic volume is lowest.

The radio confirmed my suspicions about what’s ahead (experience), per lowering my average rate of speed. The GPS is too slow to react coming up on a city.

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