Stinger4me
Member
I am wondering if truckers still use CB radios and if channel 19 remains to be the dominant channel. Thanks for the help.
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CB radio?
- Thread starter Stinger4me
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Seems to be around here. It's about the only channel I hear anything on. I've got one in my pickup still and turn it on once in a great while.
I travel about 70,000 miles a year listening to the CB much of the time. Channel 19 is the place to listen to the truckers but best not have your kids in the car since they would get an education you might not want them to have.
CB has changed over the years. Almost everyone has a "kicker" on the back of their now but many years ago they were so illegal nobody wanted to be caught with one.
No license is required now so there is no call signs.
A CB is great to call for help in the places where cell phone service is not good.
CB has changed over the years. Almost everyone has a "kicker" on the back of their now but many years ago they were so illegal nobody wanted to be caught with one.
No license is required now so there is no call signs.
A CB is great to call for help in the places where cell phone service is not good.
Channel 19 is supposed to be used for highway and road information. 16 is for directions and 9 is for emergencies. There are quite a few truckers around here that use 22, so they don't have to listen to the expletives. There is still a group of people that use base stations in the evenings on channel 23.
I too use one when going to areas where there are no cell towers, but usually don't hear anyone on the radio either in those areas.
Truckers still use them and there are now CBs that are Bluetooth enabled. Truckers are also using 10 meter ham radios, but without a license this is illegal.
I too use one when going to areas where there are no cell towers, but usually don't hear anyone on the radio either in those areas.
Truckers still use them and there are now CBs that are Bluetooth enabled. Truckers are also using 10 meter ham radios, but without a license this is illegal.
JcMack
Member
In the 70's when CB was the most popular, I belonged to a sideband club. The club president had a 1000 watt kicker in his van. Saw him key the mike and set fire to both antennas. I still have a handheld in my truck, I rarely use. The language is unbelievable compared to what it used to be. Still got a GTL148 somewhere.
Grog
Member
I've never been an alcoholic, so I have not talked on a CB but I have made several drives between NC and TX. I had a scanner set to scan all 40 channels and heard something on 19 three times, seems to be regional as to what channels are used. One area in AL had a lot of traffic on ch22 and 29.
I've known several truckers who are hams. Their wives are as well and it makes it easy to keep in touch without yapping on the phone.
I've known several truckers who are hams. Their wives are as well and it makes it easy to keep in touch without yapping on the phone.
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cb is still VERY active in this area...and yes 19 is and has been the offical trucker channel...ch19 has helped me out many times on trips
TheHobbyist
SWCA Member
...I says Pig Pen this here's Rubber Duck, we just aint'a' gonna' pay no toll...
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Alpo
Member
Was listening to one, back in '03, on a road trip. Noticed there weren't no "good buddy" anymore. They all called each other "driver".
Some TV show, a few years back, this guy was going undercover as a trucker. Trucks were being hijacked and they were tryin' to catch 'em. Drove out an picked up the mike. "Break 19, this the Old Skidmark, goin' out on the superslab...yada yada... shiny side up greasy side down... yada yada... come back on the old flip flop, how 'bout it?" Dead air, and then somebody says, "I don't know who you are pretending to be, but we haven't talked like that since Smokey and Bandit came out."
Some TV show, a few years back, this guy was going undercover as a trucker. Trucks were being hijacked and they were tryin' to catch 'em. Drove out an picked up the mike. "Break 19, this the Old Skidmark, goin' out on the superslab...yada yada... shiny side up greasy side down... yada yada... come back on the old flip flop, how 'bout it?" Dead air, and then somebody says, "I don't know who you are pretending to be, but we haven't talked like that since Smokey and Bandit came out."
The Highlander
Member
I have one in the truck, only turn it on when we are pulling the trailer. But it easily warned me about a wreck two weeks ago, and let me take an alternate route with literally about two minutes to spare. Saved me from getting stuck in a major snafu.
Used it Monday to figure out why we were stuck in traffic. Drunk hit a motorcycle.
Mine also has Weather Band on it, and we do listen to it as well when traveling, and in the winter.
Used it Monday to figure out why we were stuck in traffic. Drunk hit a motorcycle.
Mine also has Weather Band on it, and we do listen to it as well when traveling, and in the winter.
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Faulkner
Member
I use mine on my Harley Davidson Ultra Classic all the time talking to other motorcyclist. Bikes generally use channel 1, and they're great for communicating bike to bike during group trips.
truckemup97
Member
Yes, and yes, and that's straight from the horse's mouth. 
As to the "changes" since the '70s, there have been a few. "Good Buddy" is now a derogatory term questioning one's sexuality. The language is atrocious. The only "regional" channels I know of are 15/17, used on I-5, one north of LA and one south of LA. I can't ever remember which. Some local companies use an alternate channel on the CB so that they don't have to buy business band radios. No, we don't all have "kickers" behind our radios. Technology has improved in the last 30 years. You can take your average Cobra or Uniden radio to the local CB shop and get 40+ watts out of it easily. Add a properly tuned antenna and a power mike to that and you can get across the Jersey barrier. And yes, I have a 10 meter radio, but have converted it to CB. Galaxy makes a much better radio, and I get 90+ watts out of mine without a kicker.
Now to the real truth: Mine is usually on, but I turn the RF gain down to the point I can't hear any static. This lets me keep my mind intact, and lets me hear most other CBs broadcasting within a mile or so of me. Once I get within a mile or two of a truckstop, I turn it off. Too much crap to listen to....
Sideband skipping is still going on. I don't do it often, as I now have a laptop and the internet to entertain me. The farthest I've ever talked was from Rouses Point, NY to a fellow in San Angelo, TX. That was with a barefoot Galaxy 33 and a 4' Firestick antenna.
As to the "changes" since the '70s, there have been a few. "Good Buddy" is now a derogatory term questioning one's sexuality. The language is atrocious. The only "regional" channels I know of are 15/17, used on I-5, one north of LA and one south of LA. I can't ever remember which. Some local companies use an alternate channel on the CB so that they don't have to buy business band radios. No, we don't all have "kickers" behind our radios. Technology has improved in the last 30 years. You can take your average Cobra or Uniden radio to the local CB shop and get 40+ watts out of it easily. Add a properly tuned antenna and a power mike to that and you can get across the Jersey barrier. And yes, I have a 10 meter radio, but have converted it to CB. Galaxy makes a much better radio, and I get 90+ watts out of mine without a kicker.
Now to the real truth: Mine is usually on, but I turn the RF gain down to the point I can't hear any static. This lets me keep my mind intact, and lets me hear most other CBs broadcasting within a mile or so of me. Once I get within a mile or two of a truckstop, I turn it off. Too much crap to listen to....
Sideband skipping is still going on. I don't do it often, as I now have a laptop and the internet to entertain me.
The farthest I've ever talked was from Rouses Point, NY to a fellow in San Angelo, TX. That was with a barefoot Galaxy 33 and a 4' Firestick antenna.Thunderhawk88
Member
Yeah Truckers still use the CB. Problem is after "Smokey and the Bandit" came out every butthead in the country had to get on the CB. Now, when you get near population centers it's not worth listening to.
I have a 2meter Ham radio in my truck, with a book of all the repeaters nation-wide for when I travel.
I have a 2meter Ham radio in my truck, with a book of all the repeaters nation-wide for when I travel.
Grog
Member
For those who are not aware, you'll be breaking FCC regs by modifying a CB to run over 4 watts AM ("kickers", "pills", "peaked & tuned", running a ten meter radio out of the hamband, etc).
You probably won't be caught, but those who are never forget it
You probably won't be caught, but those who are never forget it
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11 meter (cb frequency) was popular long before the 1977 movie smokey and the bandit...it dates to the late 40's
truckemup97
Member
Grog, if you run at 4 watts, you'll never be heard. I've never heard a first hand account of anyone getting their hand slapped by the FCC. There are second hand accounts of a guy in OKC who had a 1kw kicker on a 100' tower that got a hefty fine, but I can't even confirm that. Likely the only reason they messed w/ him is that he was screwing up his neighbors' TV signals.
Another problem with CBs that I forgot to mention is the CB Rambo. Like internet forums, CB use is somewhat anonymous, which leads to "CB fights", cursing, name calling, etc. just like you see on forums other than this one.
Another problem with CBs that I forgot to mention is the CB Rambo. Like internet forums, CB use is somewhat anonymous, which leads to "CB fights", cursing, name calling, etc. just like you see on forums other than this one.
Grog
Member
If people want to break the law, that is up to them. As far as not being heard, does anyone on CB ever listen?
Here's a quickie showing that the FCC does pay attention to things.
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-295824A1.html
Lots more here.
EB - Field Issued Citations, Notices of Apparent Liability (NAL) and Notices of Violation (NOV)
$4000 for using ham frequencies instead of getting a business band license. Ouch
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-293824A1.html
sparkgap
Absent Comrade
truckemup97,
If your near Farmington, MO give hotshot a shout on 14.
Bob
If your near Farmington, MO give hotshot a shout on 14.
Bob
Grog, if you run at 4 watts, you'll never be heard. I've never heard a first hand account of anyone getting their hand slapped by the FCC. There are second hand accounts of a guy in OKC who had a 1kw kicker on a 100' tower that got a hefty fine, but I can't even confirm that. Likely the only reason they messed w/ him is that he was screwing up his neighbors' TV signals.
Another problem with CBs that I forgot to mention is the CB Rambo. Like internet forums, CB use is somewhat anonymous, which leads to "CB fights", cursing, name calling, etc. just like you see on forums other than this one.
The ladies of the evening work from channel 19 along I-20 in north Louisiana. They openly solicit any person listening and not just truck drivers. The State closed the rest stops to keep the activity down so now they are using exit ramps for meetings. A few get arrested. They are mostly college students making a few dollars with a miminal investment.
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