CB (Citizen's Band) Radios, anyone?/Good book

[Cudedog]

As I have stated before, one of my main thrusts of getting into the RV lifestyle (and onto wRV!) is my life-long interest in volcanoes. Always wanted to visit them, NEVER expected that I would be able to. Now, finally, I am doing it!

There are a great many volcanoes (both active, inactive, dormant and extinct) - more than most people might guess - scattered around the United States; particularly on the West Coast (location of the currently active volcanoes of the continental United States, excluding - of course! - the mighty Yellowstone volcano). Helpful that I live in Northern California, just a couple hours drive from the southern Cascade volcanoes!

Traveling (mostly solo) to see them up close and personal (my first-ever solo RV trip - to Medicine Lake volcano - happened the weekend of October 19, and was pretty awesome) will entail many miles of travel on Forest Service back roads (some paved, but mostly dirt and gravel roads) far from cell service.

I decided to go with a CB Radio for emergencies, and have added one to my travel arsenal (the acquisition story of which will be an entry in my upcoming Volcano Blog).

Anyway:

I haven't seen much said on wRV regarding CB-radios. Do any of you have them? Do you use them? If yes, what kind (mine is a Cobra)? Have you found them to be useful? Or not? Problems? Or not?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Aside: A really cool book, easily understood by a layperson - like me - and fascinating reading to boot: Fire Mountains of the West - The Cascade and Mono Lake Volcanoes (Third Edition) by Stephen L. Harris:

http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Mountains-West-Cascade-Volcanoes/dp/087842511X

This book is my absolute bible - I have read it front-to-back multiple times (and am still reading it!), and it goes with me on my travels. I originally found this book while browsing something else on the internet (funny how that happens!). I looked it up, and then ordered it.

This book made me realize that I could make my dream come true!

Each chapter is devoted to a western volcano: composition, likelyhood of future eruptions (yes, for most of them!) their location, and the best way to get there and visit them! Somehow, before reading this book, I just didn't quite realize that it was possible - and even relatively easy - to do this.

This is the book that lit my spark.

Anne

[judi]

I'd like to know if others are using CB radios as well. It's something that never even crossed my mind. Or maybe it did cross my mind and just flew out the other side...

[VickieP]

We have a CB in the truck, multiple base units at home and a TON of mobile CB's at home. We also have multiple HAM radios, we both have HAM licenses. Anyone who has ever seen Ronnie's "hobby room" can understand. Not to mention the ones that were lost in the flood! He tends to go through phases of tinkering with them, repairs or hopping them up for more power, etc. The main reason for having it in the truck now, is for traffic delays, rerouting around problems, etc.

[avalen]

I'd like to know if others are using CB radios as well. It's something that never even crossed my mind. Or maybe it did cross my mind and just flew out the other side...

what? you mean it didn't stop in the middle

[Yakn1]

So...Vickie and Ronnie - what is a good (or decent) cb for us to use. At least for me, it would only be to keep up with traffic problems and possible emergency communications.

[MelissaD]

From my 18 years of truck driving this is what I have learned. Cobra is a respected band name. Uniden is also a good brand. I have owned 4 Cobra radio's over the years. My favorite is the Cobra Classic 29 which runs around $100. Some have weather radio built in. You can get decent radio for $40. How it's installed make a world of difference in how well it works. The placement and turning of the antenna(s) is critical to it performance. With the advent of the cell phone the CB radio has fallen out of use some. Way to many drivers trash mouthing on the radio and I really don't wish to listen to it these days. It is handy to have if there are traffic issues like accidents and lane closures but that's about it. Since I don't drive the same truck everyday I don't have one in my truck anymore. Out of the 40 drivers we have at our location I think there are only 2 or 3 trucks with a CB in them.

Hope that helps.

[VickieP]

So...Vickie and Ronnie - what is a good (or decent) cb for us to use. At least for me, it would only be to keep up with traffic problems and possible emergency communications.

Vicki, Ronnie said the Cobra Classic 25 is a good one or the Uniden PC68LTW is also good. It has the weather channels & weather alert. He recommended the Wilson 1000 magnet mount antenna for you, he has the 5000. that way you can remove it when you wanted & not be permanent mounted on your truck. Like Melissa said, whether you install it yourself or have someone else do it, make sure to get your SWR's as low as possible.

[chalet05]

I have a Cobra, seldom use it, but like knowing it is there - particularly as mentioned for traffic messes. My late husband drove semis for UPS and installed it - otherwise I don't know if I would have one. Mine is at least 13 years old. It quit working a few years ago and I finally had it repaired this past winter. When I had a new stereo installed, they ran a screw threw the CB wires!

[Acadianmom]

I use to have a CB in all my RV's until this one. Never did get around to having one installed so got a portable one. With all the other 12 volt things that need to be plugged in I seldom get it out to use. The portable one doesn't have the range an installed one does. I like to have one for traffic reports and weather but I get tired of some of the language the truckers use. Vickie, what is an SWR?

Living in South Louisiana we don't have any volcanos, that I know of. On my 2 trips out West I was worried when I would camp near an extinct volcano. Guess it's what you are use to, we don't think much about hurricanes. We just try to get out of the way if one is headed our way.

Martha

[Bethers]

Drove me nuts with the trash talking and garbage on them, so I got rid of the one I had. When I'm out of range of cell service, I don't worry about it.... the roads aren't "not travelled" even going to Alaska any more. Someone will stop and help if needed ...

I know many love them ... and respect that. Drove me insane - and I'm already crazy enough.

[VickieP]

Vickie, what is an SWR?
Martha

SWR is Standing Wave Ratio. This explanation is the simplest I can find ... When an antenna and feedline do not have matching impedances, some of the electrical energy cannot be transferred from the feedline to the antenna. Energy not transferred to the antenna is reflected back towards the transmitter. It is the interaction of these reflected waves with forward waves which causes standing wave patterns. Reflected power has three main implications in radio transmitters: Radio Frequency (RF) energy losses increase, distortion on transmitter due to reflected power from load and damage to the transmitter can occur.

I know I've spent way too much time on top of Ronnie's truck cutting snippits of wire from different antenna stingers, till it was right.

[WickedLady]

I still have all my CB gear from the 70s. Have thought about installing it but have not gotten around to it. Used CB when I was trucking in the 80s but not since.

[Yakn1]

I was always afraid of the "chatter", probably won't get one then.
I hate unnecessary noise, it hits a nerve I can not explain!

[mitch5252]

...I hate unnecessary noise, it hits a nerve I can not explain!

..
Me, too. Big time.
..

[VickieP]

...I hate unnecessary noise, it hits a nerve I can not explain!

..
Me, too. Big time.
..

The cb doesn't bother me, since I usually can't hear it over his loud music!