Rest In Peace CB Radio

While a good deal of this is mostly true, CB's are still good for contacting the other driver about his brake light being out....that is if he is listening or even has a radio in his truck. Also I believe most docks still use CB's. No way of getting a hold of you unless you have a rolling billboard sign on your truck with your phone number. CB's are also still good for the 4X4 club. But yes you're right, CB is really a dying breed, CB repairmen are dwindling, don't hear much on unless skip rolls and then it's a lot of higher powered stations with adults acting as kids (or it could even be kids). Guess it comes as no surprise I had a gentleman "give" me 6 mobile radios and 1 base this past weekend.....and so far they all power up. No one on anymore for him to chat with.

 

They are still quite relevant if for other reasons. Most scale houses where we pick up frack sand require them. Also sand pusher/lead drivers call you onto site to blow off with them. Some weigh stations as well. I keep my squelch way up to tune out the blabber mouths and base stations 1500 miles away. If someone is close they can get me.. Sat radio is on all the time.

 

True.

Pretty much the way I run also. Getting close to retirement and have acquired a tower, radio, and antenna to put up a base station in the shop. I'm not sure why though???????

 

The last few years the cb banter has gotten pretty rough. Not that I'm a moral crusader or anything, the furthest thing from it actually, but a lot of ignorant ranting, sexism, racism, and just plain bullying had gone on. Why listen to it? My radio stays on at night, mainly for the light it generates, and in the winter with it squelched, in case of emergencies. It had gotten embarrassing to be honest to even listen to.

 

I can only wonder what CB would have been like had we not had the 1973 fuel crisis or the 1974 nationwide 55 mph speed limit implemented. I believe this is where CB took off....when truckers began using it to warn other truckers where the cops were sitting running radar, and what stations had fuel....then before you know it, the rest of America caught on too and began using the radio for the same purposes....and then eventually also buying one for the home for idle #### chat.

 

it is truly sad that on one hand, a few idiots have made other drivers turn off their radio, and even sadder that drivers "as a whole" do not value the importance of a cb, (from road conditions, conversation at night, smokey reports, scales, and even networking to better come together as professionals in this industry)

there is so much potential in being able to communicate with your fellow drivers that is being overlooked by everyone

 

It wont happen anytime soon, radio manufacturers are dumping millions into new models that sell for $400 plus and that's just AM. I believe there will always be a place for CB radio, if nothing else a stepping stone into Amateur communications. Radios are popular again in my area with 15-20 friday/sat night operators and countless trucks/cars I see in town. I clearly see why some would like to see it die as sadly 19 has became the "to avoid" channel and 6 "the bowl" is not far off. 22 is out local channel and 28 for skip without the over modulated yelling into the mic adolescents.

 

This thread prompted me to search for a DVD copy of an old movie, "Citizens Band". Found a seller on fleabay with 3 DVD's left. I also have the original title on VHS but my player quit and they are getting hard to locate. CB the way it was when life was good and people cared. The movie came out on VHS in the 80's under this original title. Later a highly edited version was released titled "Handle With Care". No idea why a name change and footage cut was needed the longer original was gold. Believe it or not, it was a very well made quite entertaining movie, one well worth watching if you long for the good old days. I suppose if all you can find is the chopped later re-release it's better than nothing. As for me I remember the original, no way could I watch it with missing scenes.

Odd fact for an old cult classic: almost every single actor in the movie is a well known actor/actress with many TV and movie performances to this very day. Just look up "Handle With Care (1977 movie)" on Wiki. Then look to see Wiki articles on all but 4 of the 15 main characters, each one with large lists of titles to their credits. Grandma Breaker is one of the 4 but her age in 77 is why I think she has no Wiki article. Probably wasn't around all that long after 1977. In any case I think the cast is one reason the movie was so well made. Almost all were to become well known professionals.

 

In the past year I have seen 2 wrecks that could have been avoided if the driver had been listening to the CB, and were avoided by me and numerous other drivers that were on the radio. Dead black angus in the road in the wee hours of the night in Oregon, and a traffic backup from another wreck on the Indy Pike. Mine will stay on, except when I'm sitting parked in the truckstop.