10 4 roger,roger

Should i Fit a CB Radio

  • Yes

    Votes: 9 40.9%
  • No

    Votes: 13 59.1%

  • Total voters
    22
  • Poll closed .
Hmmm, I’ve been wondering whether to put my Cobra 148gtl dx in my van........ ? I used to use the cb about 20 years ago as my mates and I all had them in our cars !! We used to have such a laugh on them !!!
 
Something we have been considering for a few years now. I had one fitted to my car many years ago, before mobile phones. Perhaps a mobile unit and a fitted unit in the van.
 
I had one many years ago in my old van but took it out, I put it on eBay last year no interest so binned it, just a midland and mike, no twig.

Yellow jacket.
 
This is an interesting thread as it's a question myself and Mrs GMJ have asked ourselves when out and about: are CB Radios still in common use?

I know that they were very big back in the day but with the advent of mobile phones, are they still used to the same extent?

I recall back in the '70's trying to persuade my father to get me one when they were all the rage...

Graham
smile.gif

So can someone in the know, answer my questions?

Genuinely interested...

ta

Graham
smile.gif
 
So can someone in the know, answer my questions?

Genuinely interested...

ta

Graham
smile.gif
I don't think you will find many people using them now. I had one in the day and still have it, not fitted. Not so bad if you are in a group of like minded local people, then you can use it, convoy or such. Neighbour of mine refitted his and has to drive to the top of a hill to try to find people, he has now gone down all the different amateur radio lines and drives around with 3 massive aerials on his car, got all the licences, spent a fortune on kit. Problem has been that reception has never been very good here, lot of interference, the housing wont let him put up any aerial mast. He has got something that connects through the internet via radio mast repeaters, with that he can talk to people he doesn't know all over the place.

I was thinking of getting a couple of hand held walkie talkies or CB's. I keep losing Shorty when out walking or shopping, I know the logical thing would be to ring her on her mobile phone, but when she is with me she leaves that at home. She would do the same with a radio, so not much point really. :censored::censored::censored:
 
Ah memories memories and more memories.. I had a Superstar 360 A.M. / F.M. set with an Astatic Teardrop mike [the latter I still have somewhere]. With the right aerial in the right conditions 100 mile range was possible to get out to and hearing genuine American truckers coming through 'on the skip' was magic. As A.M. sets were not 'approved' they were banned due to interference with emergency services radio communications. Those were happy days indeed with some really amusing people out there.

'Approved' and therefore legal F.M. sets appeared, [Licence fee please]...by comparison they were as much use as two tin cans connected with a piece of string...very short range. I don't know how much use they'd be now and no doubt you'd be nicked using one on the move as there's no difference in holding a mobile phone to a microphone..

Now what was the name of that CB shop on Leytonstone High Road?...... jeees, that was nearly if not 40 years ago when I was young and happy... :-/
 
This is an interesting thread as it's a question myself and Mrs GMJ have asked ourselves when out and about: are CB Radios still in common use?

I know that they were very big back in the day but with the advent of mobile phones, are they still used to the same extent?

I recall back in the '70's trying to persuade my father to get me one when they were all the rage...

Graham
smile.gif
Yes they are still in common use buy one that covers Europe and U.K. channels though , no better traffic reports than you get from hgv drivers ! Worth having just for that !
 
I've got one and I'd suggest getting one purely for the reason (why not) you never know when it might come in handy.
1 9 for a copy, cum back
 
Ah memories memories and more memories.. I had a Superstar 360 A.M. / F.M. set with an Astatic Teardrop mike [the latter I still have somewhere]. With the right aerial in the right conditions 100 mile range was possible to get out to and hearing genuine American truckers coming through 'on the skip' was magic. As A.M. sets were not 'approved' they were banned due to interference with emergency services radio communications. Those were happy days indeed with some really amusing people out there.

'Approved' and therefore legal F.M. sets appeared, [Licence fee please]...by comparison they were as much use as two tin cans connected with a piece of string...very short range. I don't know how much use they'd be now and no doubt you'd be nicked using one on the move as there's no difference in holding a mobile phone to a microphone..

Now what was the name of that CB shop on Leytonstone High Road?...... jeees, that was nearly if not 40 years ago when I was young and happy... :-/
Ref "no doubt you'd be nicked using one on the move as there's no difference in holding a mobile phone to a microphone..". There IS actually a difference - because if there was no difference, a hell of a lot of emergency service drivers, for example, would HAVE to be prosecuted under the legislation of using a phone when driving.
This is a better explaination of the legalities and potential for prosecution - https://www.askthe.police.uk/Content/Q659.htm
and a comment within there:
"...Ofcom states that you should be transmitting CB in the 27MHz range, if you are, you come within the exception and are OK. The exception was created because so many government and private organisations (e.g. taxis) use 2 way radios. ..."

 
Still sitting on the fence, but it's not a massive cost so still considering scratching the itch.
 
Ref "no doubt you'd be nicked using one on the move as there's no difference in holding a mobile phone to a microphone..". There IS actually a difference - because if there was no difference, a hell of a lot of emergency service drivers, for example, would HAVE to be prosecuted under the legislation of using a phone when driving.
This is a better explaination of the legalities and potential for prosecution - https://www.askthe.police.uk/Content/Q659.htm
and a comment within there:
"...Ofcom states that you should be transmitting CB in the 27MHz range, if you are, you come within the exception and are OK. The exception was created because so many government and private organisations (e.g. taxis) use 2 way radios. ..."
Oh well happy days then... shall I turn the clock back.....
 
Will be fitting one in the bus when it's done. They're fairly cheap now so wouldn't need to use it much to justify the price. Used them a lot at work over the years in trucks & diggers. Lot of tipper drivers had them so the machine operator could communicate without the drivers having to be in the "danger zone" Now everyone has SatNav I don't think you'd need directions over the cb, but back in the day I'd have been lost without mine! (Literally)....
I had a copy of "Big Hal's cb handbook" too Street Sleeper! Happy Days.....
 
Will be fitting one in the bus when it's done. They're fairly cheap now so wouldn't need to use it much to justify the price. Used them a lot at work over the years in trucks & diggers. Lot of tipper drivers had them so the machine operator could communicate without the drivers having to be in the "danger zone" Now everyone has SatNav I don't think you'd need directions over the cb, but back in the day I'd have been lost without mine! (Literally)....
I had a copy of "Big Hal's cb handbook" too Street Sleeper! Happy Days.....
I have never managed to get anyone on a CB Channel with my rig, but only about 3.5 live within 10 miles anyway. now if the sheep got CBs......

Maybe should have got a CB when I was a Service Engineer? Used to have around the big London A-Z plus 50 assorted streetmaps in the boot depending on where I was going.
 
I have never managed to get anyone on a CB Channel with my rig, but only about 3.5 live within 10 miles anyway. now if the sheep got CBs......

The Samaritans will always be there for you on 0800 10-4 10-4....
 
CB radio still has its place. Like the OP said, mobile signal can be pretty poor in some places. That’s true for the locals as well, so some have CB radios. In the wider community, CB seems to be a lot thinner on the ground. I had one in my Land Rover for off-road excursions and it rarely opened the squelch. Plus, the days of long distance conversations on 9M are long gone with the current very quiet sun.

Of course, they are limited; and fitting in a fibreglass body is tricky.
Personally, I am a licensed ‘ham, so I have access to much broader technology. I have an FT9600 tri-band radio running 50W on 2M, 70cm and 10m FM. I’ve never not been able to contact somebody.
 
I use it for offroading in the jeeps both in the UK and abroad, most hgvs still have them and is useful for finding out what the hold ups are.

Plus as already said its still legal to use them whilst driving. Dont have one fitted in the motorhome but do have a handheld midland radio which I take away with us.
 

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