cb radio,yes like truckers

[jason longboard]

who knows what about them.I never had one but wanted one on my old 4x4 and still want one.What all can you do with them,does it act as a police scanner too,you just talk to whoever you can pick up or what.How much and are they still leagal with the new cell laws?I just thought it would be fun and if you loose cell signal on long drives or in the woods and such do they still work.Any info my friends,lol.Smokey and the Bandit,lol.

 

[pcfriedrich]

Breaker! Breaker! come in longboard. What's your 20, over!

they work on shorter length F.M. radio (I'm pretty sure, maybe its A.M.) anyway, they have much more range than cell phones and towers. they will work as long as someone is in range with another CB radio. cell phone laws and regulations shouldn't affect CBs at all.

this is all speculation based on limited experience with a friend's CB years ago, so someone else should have better info.

Edit: here's some good info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens%27_band_radio

 

[Spankbelly]

It will not act as a police scanner, in stock form. Police/fire/emergency operate on specific channels/band of the radio frequency spectrum.
CB-citizens band radio= public use only. But you can usually (check your model) change the receiver crystal to pick up any channel you want, including police. And air traffic etc.
But be careful. You have a receiver/transmitter not just a scanner. They don't know you are scanning unless they actually see you with the radio and test it. But if you start broadcasting on secure channels,well they take that very seriously. It is possible to track your repeated transmissions and bust you hard. Do not do anything like a joke mayday as that is big fines and likely jail. And if there are real consequences, like they roll out air rescue for your joke, you will go down for a few years. The FAA does not give friendly warnings.
Check local laws. Some places do not like you to have even a scanner.
And for sure your transmitter chipped for secure channels will be illegal.
But the degree of illegality and punishment varies from place to place.
I'm sure you can buy fancy digital radios that can scan the full spectrum, so you never have to rechip.
Sometimes just having police crystals is illegal.
I know you were not even thinking of making illegal broadcasts, I'm just saying. Because the police have no sense of humor on this.

 

[jason longboard]

but if your on the freeway can you listen in nd but in to regular trucker and other ppls conversations?Also do you get the regular am radio talk shows and such?

 

[pcfriedrich]

yeah, you can eaves drop on truckers, or ask them where the best showers, cheapest cigarettes, cheapest gas, and best buffets are. I don't think it picks up A.M.

they are in the F.M. band, down in the 20mhz range. the F.M. Radio you listen to is 88-108mhz range.

 

[jason longboard]

showers

 

[Spankbelly]

They are handy and can be entertaining. As long as you are in range of others using it.
And basic models are cheap.
Just be aware that radio use has its own set of laws. Because it is not a privet conversation. That's why just saying the word "mayday" can land you in jail. And just swearing is technically worth a sizable fine. Although if you listen to truckers, that is rarely enforced.
A CB might be worth having. But it is def worth checking your laws to find out what you can and can't do. Because the punishments can be severe and it's easy to step out of line if you don't know what is proper etiquette.
And any research you do will help you decide what equipment you want to buy.
Fore example, you don't want to buy a used radio that is chipped for a business channel and you can't talk to anyone on.

 

[Alan Russell]

They are only entertaining these days if you like to hear people talk trash. can't even get help or even information anymore. when you do it's wrong alot of the time because someone thinks it's funny. Too many of what truckers call "CB Rambos" or "Radio Rambos" out there. I have a $1000 mobile set up been in the closet the past 5 years.

 

[Mystus Redtail]

CB's are great, a bunch of friends and I all had them a few years back. Channel 19 is generally the over-the-road trucker channel. Hence the saying "break 1-9". You can use the radio 10 codes too. Like 10-4 means affirmative. and 10-20 is "what's your location?".

I have found that there is a whole etiquette for them that must be learned over time. For instance generally longer conversations are switched over to other channels so that channel 19 can be left clear for others to use as needed. I'd say get a cheap or used model and a magnetic antenna and give it a whirl. You'll learn fast.

 

[Alan Russell]

I have found that there is a whole etiquette for them that must be learned over time. For instance generally longer conversations are switched over to other channels so that channel 19 can be left clear for others to use as needed. I'd say get a cheap or used model and a magnetic antenna and give it a whirl. You'll learn fast.

That etiquette you speak of has all but been forgotten. That's why i put my CB away years ago. i still have an el-cheapo Cobra in my truck, but it almost never gets turned on unless i need trafic info.
CB Radio stands for Citizen Band Radio. You can say anything you want. cuss, talk trash, racial slurs whatever and that's what most people do on there now.
They are pretty cool if, like you said, a few of your buddies have them and use a certain channel to chatter on. Or if you get a good radio use the side bands for more distance and privacy.
And the 10 codes are BS. That was picked up from police chatter decades ago and people used it as slang on the CB. They were cool back in the Smoky and the Bandit days and they lasted over the years, but very few use them anymore. You will still hear 10-4 and whats your 20, but that's it.