Are CB Radios still used to day?

actually those hand held radios are junk...and thats why ya didnt hear anything..believe me on channel 19 truckers are jackin their jaws..cant get em to shhhh

 

Wow, is there anytime the CB actually comes in handy? I mean not as in getting solicited by hookers, being yelled at or solicited drugs?

 

Like several have said in posts, they work good for traffic reports and accident reports. also I have used them for directions in the past, somebody always knows the best way in to a dock. I used to talk alot at night on them, just set the radio, listen to Art Bell, and keep up with everything ahead of me.

 

I only used mine occasionally, like when there was a slowdown or when the weather was bad, I didn't like to keep it on because of all the trash talk, but there were a few occasions when I was bored or lonely driving at night when I had some pretty good conversations.

One of the times my hubby had it on at a truck stop, and I heard someone calling looking for "commercial company" I couldn't resist myself. I got on and said, "Well, driver, I've got good news and bad news for you. The bad news is, I'm not the sort of commercial company you're looking for, but the good news is you can save a bunch of money by switching your car insurance to Geico."
Got a few laughs with that one.

 

When drivers went from the highway heros to the highway zeros you could start to tell simply from the CB. When I was a kid we (my mom brothers and myself) would always listen to the CB in travel and join on in. Now women are being abused and violated on the thing and it is worthless unless you have an emergency or a security guard that wants you on a certain channel to dock. Welcome to the new age of drivers

 

CB's are pretty good for finding out if your coming up on a dot or cop.I found that out during my time of schooling.

 

Thats way u don't hear many woman on the CB,it don't matter what the f/m says or ask, the nasty mouth will start. It's a cryin shame to listen to it! But there are some nasty mouth woman that would make a sailer say holy s###!

 

Sami-retired, you are right about how women are talked at on the CB. I am a female driver and rarely talk on the CB anymore because of that. The last time I was talking with another driver about a freeway closure some jack A#& had to join in and say crude things to me. I was going to ignore him, but the driver I was talking with got into a big arguement with him over it! It was just stupid. I miss the days when my mom and I were running all over hauling my horse to shows and talking on the CB along the way, everyone was nice and respectful to each other. It was so fun that as a teenager I just had to have a CB in my car, several of my friends did as well, we had great fun with them. God, I must be getting old!!

 

I don't have one and haven't had one in many years. I do however have a Ham Radio. (Radio that has Many Bands and Channels) That I can talk all over the World Legally. It become very useful in bad weather. Specially in the spring in tornado weather. Us Drivers become tornado spotters. Or weather watchers.

But not only that but you don't hear lot-lizards Or Radio rambo's, and if you just want to shoot the Bull you don't hear Hey why don't you get off the channel, this is my channel!

 

Just about every vehicle I've ever owned (even a couple motorcycles) have had CB's equipped, and I use them frequently. Been talking on the radio since the late 70's when I was still just a little snapper...

And I concur with what a lot of these drivers are saying... it's gone down the tubes. I don't reckon my mother would have permit me listen to the CB in the 70's if they talk then like they do now...

Nonetheless, I'm still carrying the radio at all times, though most times it's turned off anymore except in traffic and bad weather and on a road trip.

As for what to listen to, I'm typically pleased as punch just to hear the horses workin' under the hood. Music to my ears... but yeah, that gets a little boring now and then, nice to have some interaction, and satellite radio doesn't do that unless you tune to howard stern and yell back at his ignorant comments...

Edit: Add in some info here too- like others said, maybe you had a handheld? Handhelds are very well known for their low TX power and lack of RF gain. (I.E. you not likely to hear anyone else and they sure won't hear you). A lot of handhelds have 1/4 watt or 1/2 watt, that's about enough to get you out a 0.5-1.0 miles, if you're lucky... But like someone else said w/ their turbo connex... you WILL hear them, blastin' 50+ watts PEP... but they might be 60 miles away, they'd never hear you if you're on a stock radio. Another thought- if you had a standard radio w/ external antenna, either your ant was crap, you didn't have it grounded right (or at all, and weren't running a groundless antenna) or your SWR was so far out you blew the finals when you keyed up the first time.