Thinking of getting a CB

Watched smokey and the bandit last night with the gf. Now I'm debating a cb since I run the highway so much. My question is, why? What is the point of having a CB in a pick up?

Right now I have a nice marine band radio in my tacoma. I had it for bear hunting and running hounds, when you could still do that in the state I just moved from. problem is, I got no one to talk to. Sure I use it up by my uncles place since there's no cell service and EVERYONE on the mountain has a marine band in their truck or home.

 

Sort of like having a back-up fire-arm. I am an Amateur Radio Operator yet still carry a CB. HAM radio license takes a little study to get your technician class license but well worth the effort no longer need to know the morse code. There's always someone to talk to on the HAM frequencies. There are probably Ham repeaters that you could easily each regardless of your location. HAMs are nice people too.

 

Not sure there's a point anymore unless you're going on expeditions with other people to talk to. Or for emergencies. I was all stoked to get into the cb world. Was gifted a nice cobra 29lx. Paid to have it peaked and tuned with a Wilson super flex. Have had it for like a year now, and I still haven't talked to anyone. Ha. Sometimes I'll flick her on just to listen to the base station guys go at it. But other than that, I'm finding it useless. The range just isn't enough to do anything with as far as transmit goes. Especially in isolated areas, small towns. Idk. I'm still a noob with it. I enjoy having it. Just wished I had someone to talk to. Ha. Not the type of guy to start calling out and having random conversations with strangers. Even then it mostly comes down to "hey. Who are you. Whatcha do. What's your location. How well are you receiving me. What setup do you have. Where you headed. Drive safe." And thats about it. If you're lucky enough to retain transmit range in that time too.

 

for the PA system

 

Very handy if you offroad with small groups.

Also nice to have just to eavesdrop on truckers on the freeway. They seem to know whats causing traffic issues, and how to get around them. Their conversations are, occasionally, very entertaining.

 

+1, very handy to be able to communicate with those guys. Most of them know road conditions up to 100 miles ahead from communicating with other drivers in the area, so if you're going somewhere in questionable weather it's good to have an idea what to expect. I don't have a CB yet, but a buddy of mine has one in his GMC and it's really handy all the times I've traveled with him for those reasons.

 

Pretty much sums it up. This is exactly why I have my CB. When I drive home to Colorado it is nice to listen and talk to truckers on the way, helps keep me alert.
Scanner function helps engage in conversations with others, if not your just on one channel hoping to get in range of someone on same channel.

 

Good to know because I just installed a Bearcat 880 in my Taco. The wife laughs at me as we listen to all the truckers and weirdo base station guys. I too have no one to talk to, and I have gotten no replies when I hear people. Makes me wonder if I am transmitting well. I have a long drive to Moab in October so I'm excited to see what happens...

Although I went with the full size for the weather alerts which have helped me twice already here in Dallas. We had those tornadoes a few months ago and I was driving home from the TX/OK border in what can only be described as Niagara Falls in a wind tunnel. It helps keep you informed of dangerous areas to avoid.

EDIT: Oh man do I want a PA....

 

thats one thing about my marine band. i have weather info on demand

 

Grab a Cobra ultra III from wally world, $30. Hook up a PA speaker and a 3-4' firestik to it. Tune it. (this is important).

I rarely, rarely ever use mine. But it's good on trails if the other wheelers have CBs as well, especially if you get split up and you're not in an OHV park. The PA is great too, for communicating with your spotter, or informing dipshits that their headlights are off and it's dark out.

 

That's basically it.

 

Buddy of mine just joined a jeep club in Az and they insisted on a CB install. I havent had 1 for 15 years and dont remember hearing anyone on it anymore. The truckers up north were talking on VHF FM instead. I could dig out my hand held marine radio and see if anyone is home.