Going on a long trip soon and on a whim I hooked up my old CB which I last used 20 years ago. And I couldn't get any strong signals or clear conversations even though for a test I drove 5 miles on a busy NJ interstate with lots of truck traffic.

Sometimes I could hear faint conversation, even with the volume turned all the way up. Same when I plugged in an external speaker.

Is it that CBs aren't used much anymore ? Or is it more likely my radio or antenna isn't working ?

 

I'm not sure if CBs are still used. When I bought my 71 98 it had a CB hook up under the dash and an antenna in the trunk. I've thought about getting a radio.

 

I think truckers are using CB radios as much as they ever did. Not sure why you didn't pick up much on your test run. Yes, we have cell phones now, too, which we didn't have back when the country went through that CB craze in the mid-70s, but cell phones are only person to person, not broadcast to everyone in the area, and you have to know the other guy's number.

One possibility is that we're just assuming something that really isn't and probably never was true. The CB heyday of 30 and 40 years ago gave everyone the impression that truckers are constantly talking on their CBs. But they're not. They just get on to warn one another about cops they've spotted or bad weather or a traffic tie-up, but otherwise they're off the air and just listening. I think there's a good possibility that what you heard when you were out on the turnpike was just a normal level of conversation.

I also recall that, back in the "Convoy" days of the '70s, the truckers HATED all the "four-wheelers" who suddenly had CB radios and were going around calling everybody "good buddy" and saying "breaker one-nine" every chance they got. I think truckers more than anyone else were thrilled when the CB craze died out and they got the airwaves back to themselves again.

 

Love that Convoy song...anyhow...I do recall more chatter back then and strong, loud signals in the 80s when I last used it....maybe "I shouldn't have said "breaker 1-9 how about a radio check"...was that a tip off ?

or maybe the radio just doesn't work anymore...the communications I heard were very, very faint...like very far away...not one strong signal.

 

If I had to guess, I would say that this is the more likely problem than a lack of chatter on the airwaves. Turning on an electronic device that has sat unused for 20 years is probably a lot like trying to start a car that has sat for 20 years. It may cough and sputter, it may stall a few times, it may run rough, and it may not have much power, but the car will probably move. It wouldn't be surprising to discover that some of the electrical components (capacitors, etc.) aren't in the condition they were in the last time the unit was powered up.

 

CBs are definitely still being used. I had a real sharp aftermarket AM/FM/CB unit (made by "Roberts", circa mid 70s) in my car a couple years back before removing it in leiu of a radio delete plate. You should use an antenna made for use with CBs, and you may need to set the "trim" properly in order to get the best range out of the transmitter. Its tru that there was not a lot of chatter, but when I first installed it, I called for a radio check, the first one I had made since the mid 80s, and within seconds, I got a brief initial reply ("it works"). It was indeed a trucker, as he subsequently confirmed.

By the way, that Roberts unit was NOS, sat unused for 3 decades...I also have an old Tandy Short-Wave unit I built with my Dad back in the 70s, which works great to this day, old video games, an old Atari 800 computer, etc etc. which all work perfectly (and sit unused mostly). Just my personal experience, though I can see how a paper/electrolytic capacitor for example could go bad with age, just sitting on the shelf.

 

OK...so either the unit or the antenna is bad...since I can't get any strong signal, I guess the speaker isn't the problem. Probably won't spend on new equipment since I only wanted it for this trip.

 

CB radios are alive and well amonst truck drivers. I've used a CB every day of my work life for the last 25 years.CB's are a way of life for most truckers.
On channel 19 where most truckers run there is a lot of trash talk.
When a bunch of guys from the same company or job decide to use a "company channel"(a pre-determined choice of channel that everyone uses all the time)...there is even more trash talk and general poking fun at one another.It makes the day go by quicker.

When you were trying out your CB and you say you were in an area with lots of truck traffic...that may have been the problem.When a large number of CB talkers gather in an area and all or a bunch are talking at the same time it sounds like garble that cannot be understood.

I love my CB...in fact,I have a high powered radio.Box stock units are usually just 3 or 4 watts output.Mine has been peaked and tuned and puts out 35 watts.
On a good day most box stock CB's are good for a mile or three at the most.With my CB,I've had conversations with other "big radios" as far as 15 miles away on the standard AM frequency.
Yes,my radio is in FCC violation,but so are millions of others.

 

I still have a Radio Shack unit in the wagon, but about the only time I use it is on Interstates. It's saved my hiney numerous times from fuzz and road conditions. I never did ratchet-jaw on it much though. Usually just listened.

Try getting the antenna standing wave set. It makes a lot of difference, same as trimming the antenna on an AM radio.

The redneck boys and 4WD crowd here still use them a lot to raise each other. They can catch any of their crowd who's listening and don't have to fool with a damn cell phone.

 

I remember as a kid, I had a CB in my car (23 Channel). After dropping the girlfriend off I drove home and parked in front of the house and turned on the CB. Started talking to a trucker. After a while I realized the guy was not in Montreal (I was in a suburb). It was 2 am and it turns out the guy was in Richmond, VA. Someone later told me that it's called "skip" and it can happen a lot. That was the only time for me.

The picture below shows the CB antenna on my 442's left fender(rather than the hugh white whips). It's been there since the 70's. We used CB communication in the centennial caravan to the 100th Anniversary. It was pretty cool.

 

speaking of cb radios, have you guys found any of the short antenna's that work well? My brother had a small one that worked very well on a truck he had before it was totalled. Never been able to find another one like it, not about to drill a hole in my 72 cutlass. Looking for choices. Thought some of you guys might have opinions or suggestions.

 

If by short you mean like the one on my car, I bought that at Radio Shack (many, many moons ago).

 

It happens in the nighttime, mostly. The radio wave bounces off the bottom on the ionosphere, then the ground, then the ionosphere, then the ground again, and on and on for great distances. It's the same phenomenon that allows you to pick up AM stations, especially powerful ones like WABC and WLS, thousands of miles from their transmitter. Sunlight disturbs the ionosphere's ability to reflect the radio waves, so this works much better at night.

 

Isn't that the way HAM radio works? My grandfather used to do HAM radio.

 

Yup. Exact same phenomenon. A guy three doors down from me is a ham. He's got about a half-dozen antennas on his roof.

Side story: There was a "Hamfest" at park not far from us once. My wife and I were driving by and stopped because we thought, honest to god truth on this, that we could get some barbecued spareribs for lunch. Turns out it was swap meet for ham radio enthusiasts. Wrong ham. At least we realized that before we asked someone where the barbecue pits were.

 

Seems like I remember one year [or several years] a large activity of Sun spots caused CB radios to not function very well.

You guys are giving me a headache trying to remember stuff.

 

I used to use it all the time when I lived in the Portland, Oregon area. Now that I live on the coast it just sits there...

I removed the non-functional CB from the Toro a couple days ago. The only CB I use now is in my Jeep, and that's only on trail rides.....

 

I use mine every day,Nothing quicker to get road reports,bearlocations and traffic backups.........Iam betting you have a ground issue with your old model cb......Iam running a cobra chrome right now,tuned peaked i get about 8-10 miles out of it,sure has saved me a couple of times,I have found that the younger truckers nowadays are not as friendly as the old days but it still will help in your travels.............Hammer down!.............Jerr

 

I find the CB will always interrupt the audio book that I am enjoying. Mine is always off unless the delivery calls you over the radio to go get the paperwork.

There is 99% useless garbage on the CB and the rest is questionable.

 

On radio wave skip- back in the late 80s, I had a Radio Shack AM-FM-cassette in the Toronado. On an overcast day, late afternoon, its analog FM was picking up a weather forecast about severe storm and tornado activity near Emporia which freaked me out. After a few minutes listening, the station mentioned a tornado touchdown between Wichita and Emporia along I-35. It was a station in Wichita KS, and it was Emporia KS, not Emporia VA. I'm used to listening to clear channel AM frequencies at night but very unusual to pick up an FM station 1500 miles away. That was the only time I ever remember that happening.

I think that's just a general reflection of today's society. Lotta people now are just plain unfriendly and rude no matter where they are or what they're doing. Plus many people have never been taught or had to use basic social skills; they're too absorbed in their damn electronic masturbation devices. The electronic gadget gives them pleasure, so they stick with that and don't learn to interact with other people.

Then they collide with the real world.

 

[HTMLThere is 99% useless garbage on the CB and the rest is questionable. ][/HTML]

Gotcha, Kinda like Facebook

 

At the risk of sounding argumentative, personally, I prefer to go through my day without having to hear from idiots. Since, the majority of people on the CB are, idiots, I prefer listening to my iPod that is loaded up with audiobooks.

The odd traffic jam that I end up in is worth not having to hear "I ain't got no panties on" over and over again.

 

Were you driving at to have that many Dbags ? LOL I turn mine off or down when I go by a truck stop,Thats were most of the pantyless truck drivers hang out ! lol ...........If you want to make good time and avoid Bears,Wrecks,idiot drivers and back ups you got use the CB son!..........If you got a 64MPH truck then audio book away...........who you drive for Swift,JB or Schneider??

 

Ontario, Canada.

 

A short CB antenna and work well don't belong in the same sentence. With a CB antenna,it's all about length.The higher in the air the better.Even the cable needs to be at least 12 foot long,they say to coil the excess cable and leave it on your dashboard for best performance.
Another tid bit...a steel whip antenna will perform better than a fiberglass antenna.

 

Geez...that guy that rides around saying "I ain't got no panties on" really gets around. I hear him all the time in the NW Indiana area.
We also have a guy that rides around saying"bubba-louie,bubba-louie".
And yet another that just "quacks" like a duck.

 

A few years ago there was a guy running up and down I80 in iowa telling car haulers there were kids in his last car and he better pull over and check it out..........This would go on for miles whenever he saw a car hauler ......as I remember the State Patrol got him finaly and they were not to happy as the drivers would call 911 and have the troopers meet them when they pulled over...........Jerr

PS Iam running dual Wilson 2000's and the afore mentioned Cobra Black Chrome

 

At work we use them, in a big factory like I work in. Its the easiest form of communicating back and forth.

 

They are saying Baba Booey. It's a reference to that show that idiots like, Howard Stern. Most fans of that show think it is still the early 90's and that Stern has some sort of popularity.

I dumped my XM after Sirius ruined my favorite channels. I get internet radio on my BlackBerry and have every song I ever owned on my iPod.

 

Hi: Red Delta! I missed seeing you at the Olds Canadian Nationals in Bracebridge, ON this past weekend.
I was looking for you! Did you have to work?

Jaybird

 

Yup. I never planned on going anyways. Bracebridge is on the outside fringe of distance i'm willing to drive on my day off from driving.

 

That's too bad that there is "spam" traffic on CB frequencies.

FWIW, I don't think I would pay for XM or Sirius. I've used it twice in a rental car while on business trips. I can't count how many times I heard MC Hammer "You Can't Touch This" in those 3 weeks.

 

Like someone already said a long antenna will work better. I think the correct 1/4 wave vertical length for the antenna is about 60 to 70 inches. As I recall the frequency band CB is in is about 27 MHZ. Your best bet would be to find a truck stop on the interstate and ask the counter clerk if they know of a tech that can install a good antenna correctly. I am thinking you might like a bumper mount as it would be the least intrusive to your car. They used to make some that clamped on the bumper, no holes to drill. The coax from the radio to the antenna is important to and if you buy/have installed a new one it will probably come with a new coax. The tech may be able to give your radio a check-up for a reasonable price that would include verifying the output power and sensitivity of the radio and matching the antenna/coax to the radio for minimum SWR. Anyway, good luck.

 

You can get CBs installed at Best Buy. I think they only have one or two on their shelves though.

 

I have subscribed to Sirius since 2004, have it in two cars plus home and office docking stations, and wouldn't be without it when traveling. I agree that their playlists aren't as long as one would like on the main music channels, but there is a LOT of other programming (sports-including every NFL game from BOTH sides-which means the local coverage of the game from both teams' home town radio stations, plus news, old-time radio, niche music stations, international stations) that we listen to that really helps pass the time while driving. Yes, you can make your own CDs for music, but no radio stations you can receive as you travel around town or around the country will have the wide variety of other programming that you can get all the time no matter where you are in the U.S. or Canada.

One of my radios is built-in in an aftermarket head unit and stays in that vehicle all the time. The other one is portable and is the one I use in the other car, at home, or at the office, so I have two subscriptions and pay about $18 per month. When I travel and get a rental car, as we did in late June when we went out west for a week, I take the portable unit with me and use it in the rental car. So I can get a lot of use out of my subscription when traveling even if I'm not in my own car.

 

Thanks for clarifing what this guy is saying...I had no idea what it meant,I don't listen to Howard.

 

I had never heard of the black chrome cobra,did a google search cause I dig black chrome items. Limited edition cobra 29 with black chrome case and mic. Looks great!

My first radio was a cobra 25,used it for about 10 years until it finially could not be repaired.
Then I stepped up to this radio I have now,
single Wilson 2000,
Galaxy DX44V peaked and tuned to about 35 watts.

Get this...If I use the cheap coaxil cable I can get my SWR's down to under 1 on channels 1-20,just over 1 channels 20-40.
If I use the expensive Belden cable,my SWR's jump up to an unacceptable high 3's to 4.