CB’s: Blast from the past or something needed today?
by Ron “Gunner”
Breaker Breaker one nine, anybody got their ears on? Oh how many times in the 70’s while we were on family vacations did I hear that blasting through that scratchy little speaker incased by wires, fuses, diodes and circuitry! Crammed into one of our station wagons equipped with the latest 23 channel CB on the market...!
Dad was always one to have the latest electronic “toys” men could load their vehicles up with at that time and I was right there with him dying for my chance to speak on the CB… Then when I got the chance it was usually something really stupid, but boy did I remember our call sign and I made sure I said it when we signed off. Fear of the FCC knocking at the door at midnight to take my dad away because I forgot to say our call letters, was something I was going to make sure did not happen.
We had under the dash mounts, then the fear of it getting stolen (even though I grew up in a little bit more modern “Mayberry” back then, crime was not high on the list of police reports in the paper) he went and bought the “Slide” tray that half mounted in the car and half on the cb, all you had to do was unscrew the antenna and put the radio out and take it with you. Then he moved to an am/fm 8 Track / CB combo then one that had 40 channels and it was all built into the mic… Yes we were crusin’ in style in the 70’s with our 104 inch whip antenna hooked on the side of the wagon!
The 80’s hit and the cb craze died off for most other then the truckers. 90’s with cell phones and then 2000’s with GPS, cb’s seem to have been forgotten unless you have 18 wheels under you feet. Well I am here to tell you that if the truckers are STILL using them along with cell phones and GPS then they STILL must be worth the money to buy one.
Cobra being our sponsor I have a few and I use them everywhere I drive for vacation, fishing trips, etc… It is nice to hear of traffic jams BEFORE you get stuck in one! Matter of fact I know a few people that are die hard fisherman that have a CB AND a marine radio in the truck. They can get a hold of their buddies on the water to see what hitting and where. Also if you live near water that had barge traffic, it can be interesting to listen in to see what is going on that night.
The ONLY downside to cb’s now is some of the fowl language you hear now that was NEVER on the airways before. I guess the FCC let up a bunch on monitoring what is said and how often you hear it. So if you are going to get one for your car, truck, SUV… spend the extra 4 dollars and get the single ear piece to plug into so you are the only person hearing this, to keep it from your children’s ears. They grow up fast enough anyhow so why put that trash talk into their vocabulary, sadly they will hear it soon enough without your help.
Today’s cb’s are much better then the off the shelf one of the past, Cobra has the “Night Watch” system that the entire faceplate lights up and you can dim it to your liking and be able to see all the knobs and controls with easy in the darkest of nights. They also have the Sound Tracker witch cuts out static noise and boost send and receive signals!
Not to mention at cb shops (Yes they are still around) and on e-bay you can buy custom faceplates and cases to “Trick” your system out to fit the rest of your interior. Flames, flags, lightning, storms, crosses, wood grain, and money to name just a FEW of the products that are out there. You can buy all chrome cases, anodized cases, etched cases, you name it… The possibilities are almost endless! You can get custom color led’s to light numbers, signal strength meters, just about anything you want to do can be done.
The new antenna systems have advanced just as much, so you don’t have to have the big 104 inch whip flying around, but yes it is still available if you want it! One thing you need to know is when your cell phone has no signal and you are broke down, your cb will still work! There is still R.E.A.C.T (Radio Emergency Associated Citizens Teams at: http://www.reactintl.org/teaminfo/usa_teams/teams-usoh.htm ) teams throughout the USA that monitor channel 9 for emergencies to offer help by either calling the police, ambulance or even offering their own help showing up and giving you a hand.
All in all I would not travel anywhere today without my CB, portable GPS and cell phone in the car with me. You never know what is going to happen and when. This equipment along with a good first-aid kit and you will be set to take on the roads of America!
I hope to see you out there, if I see you I will honk and wave!
Godspeed to all
Ron