Is a CB radio still a viable tool for the road?

[rweis]

I'm going to take a 1000 mile trip from FL to IN towing our 5er. I have been thinking about adding a CB radio to the cab. Is a CB radio still a good tool to have on the road? What channel's are generally monitored on the road now? Channel 19? Mostly interstate, but not all the way.



If so what brand / model do you recommend and why?



What brand / model / kind of antenna to you recommend and why?



Thanks,



I need input within the next week so I can make the decision to add or not to add the CB and still have time to find the brand recommended and install it.



Bob Weis

 

[BadDNA]

I just installed a CB in my truck a couple months ago and I've found it useful already. I bought a refurbished Uniden PC78-LTX and a Firestik-II antenna. Channel 19 is used mostly by truckers and seems to be the most active channel.

 

[bmoeller]

I've run mostly Cobra 25s and 29's. Do have a Midland 77-255 ESP2 in one of the trucks.



I like the Night Watch on the Cobras, too. Have Barjan antennas on most of the trucks (aren't real expensive, but seem to work well, and have K40 on the Ram. It works great. I hear Wilson antennas work great.



Yep, mainly 19 for the OTR guys. I use a couple of others sometimes, but deoends on what I'm doing.

 

[tURBOdIEZEl]

IMHO they are..... in feb on my way back up to PA from visiting tx i heard about a very deadly head on tractor-trailer accident on the other side of little rock (keep in mind i was in dallas. ) that section of 40 was still closed when i arrived in the little rock area... .

even if you dont do a whole lots of talking there still useful to listen to... .

 

[Buffalo]

There are times when the CB can be very useful. I would much rather have one than not have one.

I've made a number of cross country trips, in the past couple of years, and found the CB to be quite helpful. Especially, if you are going to be travelling through a large city during rush hour. You can find the best route through or around town. Also, construction projects you may want to avoid. Accidents ahead. And, where the nearest truck stop is and the prices of fuel. A decent restaurant.



I have older Cobra 25 LTD's, in both my trucks, with Wilson 1000 antenna's. The radios have been "tweaked" (bombed). It doesn't cost much to do this and it makes the radio work better. If you buy the radio from a CB shop, quite often, they will tweak it when you buy it. The radios, generally, cost a little more from the CB shops but, when you figure how much you will pay to have a "bargain priced" radio tweaked, you will probably spend close to the same amount at the CB shop.



I'm no expert in radios but, I have always heard that the antenna makes a huge difference in how well the radio will "get-out". I have also heard that the Wilson 1000's are pretty close to the "standard of the industry". I noticed that the same radio "got-out" further when I installed the Wilson 1000. It was a noticeable difference. I would also use the roof mount, to get the good ground plane effect. Doing everything correctly, I believe, makes a difference in how things work.



Back to the Cobra 25 LTD. There are probably better radios, out there. But, the "25" seems to work pretty well and is simple. It has all the adjustments that you "really" need. And it's cheap. This opinion seems to be shared by many CB shops and users. There are probably better radios, like the Galaxy but, they may be more designed for professional drivers.



The bottom line, for me anyway, is that I find the CB to be useful. It is true that there is a lot of nonsense on it. Especially, around truck stops. The drivers seem to have a lot of time on their hands and get into arguments, quite easily. Sometimes, their "performances" are incredible! Sometimes, entertaining. Sometimes, disgusting.



Hope this helps.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[SSage]

You can buy the "reman" Uniden Grant types on line from Uniden. Thats what I did. I like the SSB to play with. You don't need to run an illegal radio. A stock "tuned" radio will get out fine and not cause problems for other people who don't care to listen in.

A good fire stick or wilson silver tip is all you need. A willson 1000 or higher is over kill unless you run the "export" amps. If you have a place to put one, a 102" stainless whip is the old stand by. I ran one for many years on the pick up truck. You can beat a stainless whip on tree limbs all day without a problem...

 

[Diesel&Donuts]

I have the Cobra 29 LTD Classic. Others have covered the usefullness of using the CB for traffic conditions etc. I caravan a lot with others and we use the CB all the time for communication with each other. Real handy to let others know when you need a fuel stop, stop to eat, pit stop or whatever. All with out having to stop and talk about it along side of the road.

Harold

 

[JoshPeters]

I've got 2 Cobra 29's. One with the NightWatch. In my truck I run 2 firesticks, my car I just run a cheep mag mount. My truck with the Firesticks... . is infinately more clear and sends better.



I have found that... as stated above... it's a great tool. Cops, Accidents, construction, fuel, and directions can easily be had on the ole CB.



Most of the lingo is pretty easy to figure out. if you want we can run down a "list" of what you may want to know before you go.



Josh

 

[CTD 600]

Like said above I would rather have one than not. They are very useful for smokey's and accidents, const. ect... And as a added bonus they make the trip you are making more enjoyable (faster) if you are conversing on the CB with truckers. Most are very nice and want to make small talk.

 

[skillsaw]

Good post... . I've had the same questions for a while now.



Could we possibly start a CB lingo post?



Thanks,

Erik

 

[PatrickCampbell]

No offense but 1400 watts? And you're telling people not to ruin the forum... .



Why don't you get yourself a HAM license and do things right.



I would get a decent CB, a good mic and a great antenna (Drill mount Wilson 1000). A CB is a very useful tool for traveling. Truckers will give you the information about road closures, accidents, police, etc. if you don't act like an idiot.

 

[EricBu12]

I used to use a CB in the truck (big rig) but not anymore. I have a portable I can hook up in a few seconds. The one where the CB is in the hand mic... .



I do not listen or tune in to CB at all because of the above reasons of people keying up or making noise just to hear themselves talk (talkback box) or others mouthing off to one or another... . Most of the time it was off so one day I left it at home.....



I listen to a new, 2 Letter Radio... . XM Radio..... Boy what a difference! Even the over the road channel, the comedy channel, music sports, and such... . Much more enjoyable to be a trucker nowadays..... OK, Maybe someone is calling me on the CB, So what? If it is not an emergency, All they get is silence, A CB is not required to operate a truck so I don't... . If it is an emergency, (tire blown or lights out) They can guesture to me... .



Now, I DO have a cobra 29 NWST in the Dodge and hook my antennea up when I go on vacations but I mostly don't listen to it either, except to give clearance to truckers or such otherwise, 90% of the time it is off..... Listening to XM... . XM has weather, traffic, City traffic reports, 911 traffic alerts, and such so on rare occasions, I listen but not much...

 

[rweis]

Thanks for the replys.



Looks like it will be a Cobra 29 Wx Nw St with a Wilson 1000 magnet mount.



Bob Weis

 

[LesStallings]

1400 watts allows him to talk to people he can't hear.



In fact, 1400 watts allows him to ruin important conversations of safety significance, many miles away.

 

[SSage]

What gives? 1400 watts is not legal for one thing and it only causes you to stomp over stations that could be using the bandwith. There are other people that would like to use 10 meters while your on 11 meters. There are other countries that use CB bands for other things too. You use the least amount of power possible not the most. I personally hope FCC enforcement gets all the CB amps off the air waves. I've talked to the South Pacific on less than 5 watts! I had a large long wire antenna though.



My CB radio puts out 7 watts, thats at the radio, not the antenna. I could talk farther than my usual few hundred if it wasn't for all the high powered pros out there with their bigger is better amps that sound like crap. A big amp with a CB is like the idiots with the rap music over 130 db. or more that want to share with every one in a 3 mile area.

 

[outdoors]

If you are looking for something less expensive..

For me I travel logging roads a lot when I am out camping.

So a CB is for me is mandatory, here in the Pacific N. W.

It's always nice to know a fully loaded logging truck is heading

down the road you are heading up.

Alot of people and some loggers around here use the economically priced Uniden 510XL or 520XL models. The chassis on these hold up actually quite well for the price. Also I carry portable frs radio's as well so we can communicate when we are apart too. I hope this helps.

 

[JoshPeters]

Racin... . Get a Ham Radio book... . and read up. Your doing more damage to other frequencies than you understand by that statement.



Josh

 

[JoshPeters]

Well that's good to know! I do know a couple of people that do exactly what you were just saying..... and being as you said you had talked to people from quite a distance... I made an ASSumtion (of me) that you were doing the same thing.



Josh

 

[BStoecker]

I run a 29 LTD Classic in the Ram with a Wilson 1000 magnet mount. The radio is peaked and tweaked to about 36 watts live mic and maybe 20 dead key. I drive to a lot of out of the way places to trail ride, so I want to make sure I have a decent range. I use the exact same set-up off-road in the Jeeps. More output is just another safety precaution in my eyes. I don't believe in running the huge linear amps though on the highway. If you need that much power, nobody wants to hear what you have to say... There is an idiot out in the Battle Creek area that is going to get his base station antennae hooked up to a tow strap if I ever figure out where he lives.