Why doesn't anyone talk on the radio anymore?

Wow, very long thread with one basic message (as near as I can tell). CB's are still "needed" in the trucking industry, but are usually not wanted.

I started my searches this morning trying to decide on a good CB to buy, but am now feeling that it won't be worth the money to get a good one. Am I really better off getting some $20 special for those situations where a CB is required, rather than going for some enjoyable package of bells and whistles?

 

MOST CB radios work just fine even the $50 ones

 

I use to have a base station...and so many drivers wanted to beat me up...but I havn't been on in a while...and my regular cb radio broke also...i just havent bothered replacing it yet...

 

When it comes to CB Radio..."You get what you pay for"...One of the nicest CB Radios "Out of the Box" right now is the New Cobra 29 LXLE that just came out on the market in the last couple of weeks.

This is Cobra's 50th year Anniversary Edition 29 and prices are running between $99 and as high as $149. (Google Cobra 29 LX LE and check who has the best deal!)

It is also going to be a limited built radio, I think to only 2000 units. So they won't be around for long.

But whether it's a $39 CB or a $200 CB, the radio itself is only as good as the Antenna connected to it...So once you decide on the radio...Don't skimp on the antenna and do some research on mobile antenna's and ask questions on which antenna would be the right choice for your particular situation...

One more word on Antenna's...When it comes to CB Antenna's..."Taller the Better!"...Short Loaded antenna's will not perform as well as a tall antenna, but you don't have to have something as tall as a 102" Whip either. Loaded (or coiled) antenna's 4 to 6' tall will perform just fine. I would avoid any CB Antenna shorter than 4'....

 

AGREE nothing makes a radio better faster than a good antenna

 

I have one of the "big radio's", BUT, I usually keep it turned way down unless there is a big traffic jam, need directions or whatever. I ALWAYS turn the juice down when I'm in a congested area, ALWAYS keep it down when running in a "pack".
However, the main reason I don't keep mine on/turned up...I'm sick and tired of NUMBER 1 ---all the base stations that do nothing more then plan their day around irritating truckers within a 30-40 radius!!!! I hate that more then anything!!! Really, why???? Is ones life so pointless and boring that they have to spend there day annoying others? And they call themselves "grown" men...LOL. Base station babies are flat out, bored, jerky idiots!
Number 2 --- There is ALWAYS that one guy in the pack that says, "Shut up stupid". It doesn't matter what you say, their response is ALWAYS the same... "Shut up stupid". Ask about the weather north of you..."Shut up stupid". Ask what exit you need to take..."Shut up stupid". It doesnt matter, to them...everyone is "stupid" and everyone needs to "shut up". OMG...I CANT STAND THOSE GUYS!!
Number 3 --- The guys that does nothing but interupt a decent conversation by keying up the song that he is listening to!!!!! And that guy usually has a big enough radio to interupt everything! Why? Seriously, if I wanted to listen to a song...I'd turn my own CD on! I don't care how much "he" likes that song...I don't want to hear it, and if I did, I'd plug in my iPod and listen to it myself!!!

I have MANY MANY other reason but this has been a long enough rant...for now.

 

You are definatly a trucker...you past the test...for if you weren't a trucker...you would not of been able to so accuratly describe typical cb chatter...

However...the base station thing...let me say this...as of recent years...those guys have really died down, even the legendary ones...

'Old man in a rocking chair'...North Florida...on I-75...

And then there was one base station dude out of the Orlando area...he would always say 'It's a new world order'....some prophetic dude...don't hear him no more either...

Yes, many of the legendary base heads have vanished...but the ones on I-95...near the Vero Beach, Fort Pierce area...are still around...I think...havent' been down that way in a while...

And boy do they have some power...

 

I remember when I first started driving...there wasn't a square mile of space in these United States that you could go or travel, that put you out of radio range of either a trucker, auto, or base station...wherever you were, someone else had their radio on and would respond...

 

SADLY ..... ...... true

In 1977 I drove from St' Petersburg to New Orleans and was only on 146.520 FM running 150 watts ..... NEVER was I out of range of someone to talk to .... Today there is still plenty of people on 52 but not that many.

 

A few weeks ago my boys found my old cb and wanted to know what it was, so i bought a new antanna and hooked it up. I found some locals talking and asked for a break. a few moments later they let me in with my raido test and wanted to know my handle and 20...they welcomed me to the air, gave some good advice and went on with there stories and jokes.

None of them knew the kids were arround but in a crude way they were polite...(later that night they got drunk and mouthey),,,but by morning the corgial traffic was going again