Basically to answer your question, having a CB or HAM allows you to communicate with someone where cell service doesn't cover. Here in Colorado I have had many a time where the cell didn't work in the mountains but someone is always at the other end of the microphone, on both CB and HAM, and a lot of the ham repeaters have a phone patch capability to get help and most that have that also have a "911" macro where you can get emergency service on the phone.

For this reason I have been driving around for the last 10 years with with a radio like this, and I do also carry a scanner. Now scanners are great and I drive everywhere with mine, but you can't talk to anyone on a scanner. If you get stuck on a back road (happened to me) and nobody comes by for a few days a radio that you can transmit on is a good thing to have.

 

For me I have it for weather radio and when I'm out storm chasing I can hollar out something bad is coming. Then on trips it's nice to know what's going on down the road. Back in 99 there was a bad blizzard that hit around Oklahoma city and I was traveling home through there. They closed the interstate and pushed us on to Route 66, where shortly later it closed down. Only thing that kept us sane was talking to the other truckers who relayed back that a truck jack knifed across the road. That was one trip for the record books cause that's only a tiny bit of the adventure that weekend.

here's a photo of my setup:

 

Here's mine:

 

What kind of CB should a newbie like me buy? I want to have a PA option and use it for the radio. Sorry for the dumb question, but does brand matter or just get the cheap one from wal-mart? what else should i consider when deciding what brand/model to buy?

 

Gotta love ham radio, mines n3jvt dont have my rig in yet. Used to talk cb but dont anymore, had a powerful radio talked to Australia once in a band opening.

 

Hi N3JVT, I'm KC2QQR, Chuck...

Yeah, I've never really messed around with CB only because of some of the frail lunatics that are usually on it.

But I mainly stay on the 6m/2m/1.25cm/70cm bands... I'm working on my G class license as we speak... I might go in for my update next week, time depending.

73's...

 

omg yea there are a lot of idiots on the CB. Normally loud *** drunk sounding rednecks who run high power linear amps and mics with so much reverb it's unintelligible. They probably aren't even drunk they just act that way. Just another reason to move to ham.

 

Hey Chuck, glad to see some hams on this site,would of never guessed. I stay mostly on 2 meters. But like to chase dx I'm sometimes on 10 meters with my dad and our friends(my dads w3mlk) check out 29.600 fm you might here us with a band opening.

n3jvt 73's
p.s ya'll have hamfest and field days where you live or a club?

p.s.s um the guy that wanted to know a good begginer cb skipp the begginer stuff and get a galaxy 88,95 or 99 preferably the 95 if you can afford it that way you'll be set for the 10 meter band of ham radio and have the best sounding cb around. 10-4!

 

i have no idea wat u guys are talking about? i want to get one but all this talk makes me think other wise.. can some explain in simple form?

 

And here lies one of the reasons I now use Ham Radio...

 

Ham radio is one step up from cb in so to speak. You can talk on more frequencies and farther. You need a call sigh given to you by the FCC when you take a test, Dont let that discourage you its not that hard just some basics but at first it can seem overloading but with time it becomes second nature. And the radios ate cooler. Oh and if you talk to someone like ur talking to your exwife(not saying you have one) you can get in trouble cuz its clean talk and fun apprpriate for all ages. You cn meet a lot of friends too.

 

ohh haha ok i get it. i think id just go with a cb radio.. are the walmart brands good?? i dont want to have to take a test to use a radio.. thats kinda..

 

I always thought the Galaxy and Cobra was a decent radio. Ranger 2970 can be modded for CB but I think that is technically not kosher per the FCC since it is a 10 meter ham rig.

I had a radio shack CB for years that worked flawlessly, just keep the SWR down below 3, below 2:1 is even better. I had a 1.3:1 once....that was nice.

 

props to people who use these for what their meant for...

but sick of seeing people getting these for pa feature just to annoy others... BOO TO YOU!

 

I ordered the general test material. My job is USAF aircraft communications and navigation systems so theory will be cake. Just the protocols is where I need the education. They do offer the occasional class here on base but they want like $100 and so many people to sign up. Should be fun to yap at everyone in a adult environment. Thanks for the links guys!