Driving with a CB (citizen band radio) in the US
I'm thinking about buying a CB to put in my car so I can use it for a long road trip. I'm debating it though because I'm not sure if the benefits will outweigh the trouble of installing the unit as well as the antenna. Basically I think it would be useful if truckers actually share road and weather information while they drive.
My questions are:
Does anybody have any experience getting useful information using a CB or is usually just useless chatter?
Is channel 19 the channel truckers generally use nationwide or is that just a regional thing?
Best Answer
I used to have a portable CB that plugged into the cigarette lighter and had a magnetic antenna to put on the roof of the car. It was my grandmother's, for use in case of emergency, and when she gave me her car, I got the CB, too. During the time that I had this CB, I was driving around 30,000 miles a year.
It was definitely useful for long trips, for
- information about traffic road conditions
- warnings about speed enforcement, accidents, and other police activity
- entertainment
- emergencies
I only spoke on the radio once, when my car was stuck in the snow during a blizzard. But listening to the truckers definitely helped pass the time during long drives. It was very entertaining -- there are lots of interesting characters. In fact, it was not unlike the internet in that regard.
I particularly remember one young-sounding trucker who was gleefully warning everyone about a speed trap that he had passed 200 miles back. Everyone else was pointing out to him that by the time anyone hearing his announcement got to that point, it would be 6 hours after he had been there, and the cops would likely have moved on.
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Can you use a CB radio while driving?
The short answer is yes \u2013 you may legally use a two way radio while driving, as long as this does not cause your driving to suffer in any way. The detail behind this simplified answer, and which every two way radio user should be aware of, requires a slightly fuller explanation.Do truckers still use citizen band radios?
For the most part, CB radios remain in use because they are the norm for truckers who have been working in the industry for the last 10 or 20+ years. While some truckers have resorted to using trucking apps on smartphones to communicate, more advanced radio systems offer a more ideal route.Can I use a CB radio without a license?
A CB radio does not require a license to operate. CB service operates on 40 shared channels in an AM mode or Single SideBand (SSB) mode. SSB offers less noise and greater range than AM mode and is usually found on higher end CB radios.Why are some CB radios illegal?
The Communications Act of 1934 (the \u201cAct\u201d) prohibits anyone from transmitting \u201cenergy or communications or signals by radio within the United States except under and in accordance with the Act and with a license.\u201d CB operators are not required to have a license because the FCC's rules authorize their operation, but ...I TRIED CB RADIO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS AND THIS HAPPENED!!!
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