Is CB Radio dead?

#GMRS #overlanding #cbradio #vanlife #radio
In this video we take our Radioddity CB Radio to the top of the mountain to see if we can talk to anyone.
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[@SevenFortyOne]

There are pockets of activity on CB in Southern New England. I've heard a group in south central MA (south of Worcester) on channel 28 and a similar group that seem to be in the far eastern CT/north west RI area on channel 30. There is also a pretty active group on 39 lower sideband in north central CT. You'll hear these groups most active in the evenings anywhere between 5pm and maybe 10pm give or take. I've also heard trucker activity on channel 19 along the Masspike and Route 128 out to Boston but its mostly very quick traffic reports. There may be other active groups out there on other channels too but this is what I've run into over the last few months.

[@paulethier3416]

Thank you for the comment and for sharing this information. I was down in Springfield area last week and I did not hear much in that area.

[@clydeosterhout1221]

Not dead, just different. Chasing the skip from Europe is on SSB is fun and challenging, and if the skip is right I can make contacts thousands miles away on just my legal 12 watt Realistic 465. The lack of people on CB is actually a good thing for actual communications. I have a bunch of the so-called "emergency CBs". When I am traveling with a group of cars I hand them out. We can usually find a quiet channel where we can chat, make plans, and organize stops without all of the hassle that calling each other on our phones would entail. Plus a lot of the best places we visit have no cell service, which makes the CBs even more valuable. I can usually pick these radios up at yard dales for $5 or $10, which is a real steal! CB is no longer a tool for socializing with strangers. For planned communication with friends though it is better than ever!

[@paulethier3416]

Thank you for commenting and sharing your experience. Between Ham, GMRS, CB, FRS, MURS and others I feel like each system is unique. That's good for us to have so many choices.

[@clydeosterhout1221]

Agreed. I have them all!

[@Bootyhunter1971]

​@@paulethier3416 That in itself is an explanation for less cb traffic. Look at what is readily availble these days, murs, frs, gmrs. Dillutes the pool of potential folks to talk to.

[@BADHABIT571]

SUBBED #1000 Came for the Diesel Heater . . . Staying for all the SH!T talking on the Two Way Have a Brand New Sweet Sixteen Been in the bedroom closet since 1994

[@paulethier3416]

Sweet thanks for subscribing #1000 🎊🎉

[@FrenkMI]

In my experience, the mag mount (and the cable) unfortunately “change” the rule of the game making very difficult to have an efficient aerial. I had the best with whips of at least 1,7 meters and above: the best with a 1,9 like the Sirio 5000 (yes, I’m Italian and here Sirio is a well placed brand). But I live also very closed to a city, the qrm is an issue in some aerea, the cars/trucks when on the traffic too, so to make a contact covering 10 miles, 4w are not sufficient. The legal limitations are intended for local contacts and I would say, indeed they are: the cb band is not really “easy” when trying to make an efficient mobile radio station.

[@delmarbish3926]

I feel every over the road truck should be required to have one even if you don’t want to talk , in an emergency you can hear others talking about what is happening on the road.

[@paulethier3416]

Agree!

[@mikeingeorgia1]

I just picked up a NOS CB two weeks ago. I’ve only been out driving around with it two days so far, but, both times I was out there was constant chatter

[@paulethier3416]

Thanks for commenting. I’m just getting back into CB radio as well. Having a blast doing it.

[@christophersmith1155]

im on my cb in my office here in midtown manhattan and my home almost daily. alot of locals and skip from europe in the morning and west coast in the afternoons.

[@paulethier3416]

That is fantastic. I wish it was used more around here. Thanks for commenting and sharing.

[@christophersmith1155]

YOU MAY WANT TO TRY A SMALL LINEAR. RM ITALY 203. ITS ABOUT $125.

[@paulethier3416]

Thank you for the suggestion. I'm not familiar with linears but I will check into it.

[@tropical41able]

The CB days are going forever.RIP.

[@497SC]

Hell no CB isn't dead! We talk into Europe in the mornings and Australia at night up on 38 LSB. 73, 497 in SC

[@paulethier3416]

That is fantastic. Some day I hope to have a radio with sideband and an antenna that can talk skip. Thanks for commenting and sharing you experience.

[@greggould4275]

Very cool! I am setting up a Slarcon A99 anenna and a rebuilt President Washington CB Station in Cali this weekend. Totally new to it, and will add HAM once I get my tech license. I just like he idea of having both, and bth can utilize the Solarcon a99.

[@radiohobbyist13]

If I had a base station CB I'd use FM, CTCSS tones and the squelch. Just use it like a business band radio.

[@paulethier3416]

That sounds like it would be interesting.

[@hatchetjackphillips]

I think it depends where in the country you live. It’s still fairly active in Ohio and down through the south.

[@paulethier3416]

I agree! Thanks for commenting and sharing.

[@RealfishingNL]

Turn on your adsense so u get ads and start earning money

[@paulethier3416]

Thank you!

[@doctoru555]

Just buy a more serious radio like CRT SS 9900 and distance a bit the antenna from the roof rail and you will get a reply in no time

[@paulethier3416]

Thanks for commenting. Some day I will get a better radio. I'm just getting back into CB. I'm thinking a base radio might be better for me.

[@thomasjarvis7984]

Stupid question. Did you calibrate your antenna before you radio tested? That might be why you are not transmitting.

[@paulethier3416]

Yes. My swr is below 1 on channel 40 and channel 1.

[@pmr446]

You are more likely to get contacts with a set that is capable of SSB.

[@paulethier3416]

Thanks for commenting. Is that because of the 12 watts on SSB?

[@pmr446]

Yes, you have more power and SSB is a more efficient transmission mode than AM/FM, SSB has a lower bandwidth compared to AM/FM, so in conjunction with the increased power, the power is more concentrated into the narrower emission. @@paulethier3416

[@paulethier3416]

Ok good to know. I’ve never messed with SSB so it’s all new to me. Thanks for the advice

[@ke4asc]

Band conditions play a role in it. The 27mhz band is H.F. and you can do a lot with four watts and a good antenna. If you really want to play radio, I'd recommend getting your amateur radio license. That opens up an entirely new world. 73

[@paulethier3416]

Thanks for commenting and sharing your thoughts. I've often thought about Ham but never had the time to commit to it.@@ke4asc

[@chadrides914]

Kinda a follow up to your gmrs video! Hoping cb does better than gmrs over the road.

[@paulethier3416]

We will find out tomorrow. Hopefully have a video out next week. Thanks for commenting.

[@chadrides914]

@@paulethier3416 ok great! Have fun on the radio! Channel 19 is still very very busy here in Ohio, if you want to listen to funny high power stations channel 6 is a good time, just don’t expect anyone on 6 to talk back to you. Too many high power stations to compete with.

[@Mike-ci6md]

It's dead here in Pensacola Florida All you hear is skip

[@paulethier3416]

Pretty dead here to. Thanks for commenting.

[@Jeff-sp7bg]

I can hear skip coming from Pensacola on 38 lsb so someone is local to you

[@nativetexan9776]

It is dead and the only thing you will receive is the racket from the rejects. That does not mean it is alive. Anybody can make noise but as far as communication, it is dead.

[@paulethier3416]

Thank you for commenting.

[@grega5059]

@@paulethier3416 not dead

[@Jeff-sp7bg]

That's not true I hear folks from all over the world. It sounds like you need a better antenna. ?