Question: CBs

Aug 02, 2009 01:19

Anyone know anything about CBs? We bought one and it seems to be broadcasting fine but all we're hearing is static.

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tangerinpenguin August 2 2009, 17:45:23 UTC
Historically, the "chatroom lobby" was channel 19, so that would be your best bet for other traffic. Also, this is low power (assuming legal kit); reception's going to be very fragile as a function of range and any imaginable source of interference.

Like desert_sparrow, it's been a few years, although we were still using ours for a while after the popular craze moved on. My impression is that they've become less popular, even with the pros, now that cellphones (and "push to talk" mobiles) have become common.

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singingnettle August 2 2009, 18:19:01 UTC
Thank you. It's for emergency purposes, with the idea that we'll be crossing some areas where we might not have cell reception and the possibility of a car breakdown in 100+ degree heat is not to be trifled with. Do you think that makes sense?

Yeah, we overprepare. :-)

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tangerinpenguin August 2 2009, 18:21:33 UTC
Certainly couldn't hurt. Channel 9 is traditional for emergencies; many 911-style services will be listening there.

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singingnettle August 2 2009, 18:32:26 UTC
Yes, that was our thought. Hopefully a) it corresponds somewhat to reality and b) it'll be a moot point.

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litch August 3 2009, 02:36:13 UTC
I really wouldn't want to depend on a CB radio if I was in the back of beyond and needed assistance. They have notoriously short range and can be effected by all kinds of wierd weather issues (including solar weather issues but we're going through an extraordinarily quiet period as far as that is concerned) and hardly anyone listens for them anymore.

If you're really worried, get a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) like this, it not only gets you help anywhere you can see the sky is sends your GPS loc so no one has to guess.

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singingnettle August 3 2009, 02:38:54 UTC
Interesting. Thanks.

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