Are CB's Relevant Anymore

I have a Prerunner, and an old Jeep. Thinking about a CB just for fun. If I turn it on will anybody be on it. Back in 1976 everybody had one. Even my mother.

 

Radio compatibility is dependent upon the group you are currently traveling with... I have not heard much on cb the last 10 years when I have sporadically turned it on other than being on a trail ride with others... Ham has some barriers to entry but is more reliable for contacting someone in my experience... FMRS is a good medium between CB and ham.... Again only if the other people you want to talk to have FMRS....

 

@Canoehead tell us about 4 channel..

 

I had a CB until recently in my Jeep. I didn't go wheeling with a group so I didn't get to use it for that. At most it served as a curiosity. There was very little CB use on the highway. Mostly just a few folks that seem to ramble and silence.
I am looking into getting a ham radio now. I've read that they are getting more use.

 

I like the idea... Much more privacy than a cell phone and not dependent on towers. But are there people using them? No clue. A big enough group/usage might get people interested again.

"Break 1-9, this is the Rubber Duck, con-vooooy, bear in the air, 10-4 good buddy..."

 

4 CHAN for porn..

 

How does broadcasting unencrypted translate into privacy? Literally anyone can listen in and record, and some people are weird enough to do so.


CB got to be a mess a long time ago and I think it really lost popularity. I went the ham route, it’s got a lot more options and versatility. Lots of repeaters out there that enable great coverage.

 

I doubt there are AIs listening in and gathering your info/what you are buying.

The unit you are using isn't tied to your personal information.

 

Fair enough. Not what I had in mind for private, but anonymous yes.

 

Had to have a CB for the winter 4x4 jamboree. Clubs still use them. Another radio. Glade I did have one though.

 

Some truckers still use them….
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/what-happened-to-cb-radios

 

Think the Canadian truckers organized using iPhones?

 

I think Facebook is the platform of choice for the Looney tunes brigade these days. I guess you can access that on an iPhone

 

Well I know mine wasn’t tuned right and it had interference but I was able to pick up stuff either if someone was close or they had a really powerful radio. My entertainment was guy in Staten Island that used to come on when I was close to NJ and talk about murders and politics. He was in range for about 15 min of my commute but I was looking forward everyday to his rant. Otherwise it was silence but than again I didn’t know what I was doing at the time.

 

I had both a CB and a dual band vhf in my 2nd gen for 8 years, only ever heard talk on the cb a few times, I didn't bother putting it into the new truck - the vhf came along though..