Is it the end of the CB Radio? | TWRS-186 

I'd love to see a resurgence of CB. Many weather related auto accidents could be avoided if cars were so equipped so that drivers can get a warning from over the horizon.

On my channel I review President Electronics CB radios. There is a huge resurgence in the hobby. Not just truckers. I am Also a licensed GMRS and Ham Operator. We use CB locally between friends and family. I have been listening to your podcast for years. Glad I found you guys on RU-vid as well. My friends and family US CB FM with testing it is working out well. FM CB started in the UK . I am glad we in the US have this mode now. Thanks for this video. 73

Ch 19 is dead for OTR truckers and I blame Mark Sherman. He’s clearly heard all the way up here in NY. Even with the squelch turned way up he still gets through. No one wants to hear his ego so they just turn CB off. That being said, I love my President Ronald, she blasts through and easy to operate.

i still have my CB in my car/home and office here in midtown Manhattan NYC. 73s

here in the buckeye state CB has never died out been running strong since the 1970s

CB radio isn’t dead,. It’s still fairly active here in Southwest & Southeastern OH. I hear truckers on 19 everyday driving on the interstate to work.

I graduated high school in 2017 and most of us had cb’s in our pickups and cars.

CB is not dead in Appalachia. It's what most used for radio comms. To me, it's a shame there are not any HTs that are SSB.

I'm an old CB operator back just before they stopped giving out CB license I bought my first citizen band license for $4.95 then they was free the next 4 years then they throw them in the garbage but now I'm an amateur operator with an extra class license and I also have my gmrs license which I hear a lot of truck drivers are going to gmrs

Cb is just fun.. the radios the amps it’s just good old fashioned fun. I’m in Southern California I’ll hear consistent chatter on multiple channels

The new President George FCC with a Digimike microphone is perhaps the most advanced CB radio built to date. Todays CB radios are definitely not our grandfathers' CB radios of the 1970's.

CB radio is not dead its just different than what it use to be. As a radio hobbyist, I have discovered there are a lot of people enjoying multiple services depending on the day. I am a Ham extra but I also have an active GMRS and cb group of fellow radio hobbyist I communicate with. There are also times I rely on FRS.

Hi here in good old ENGLAND we used to have AM back in the dark days, then the government brought out FM , just so we had to spend more money for them. But like you say you have the FM now and we are all in the same boat, and I love that. And I've got back into CB and love it still. Have great days sometimes on the ssb when the skip comes rolling in and wow it's amazing how far we can get out. Not only on ssb even on FM OR AM when that SKIP is there it's a great day to say that I've just got out to wherever but on 4 watts and that just makes me feel great, so thanks for your show love it. Sorry for being a bit late to answering your questions , but thanks again Alan from ENGLAND 73s CT48/70.🇺🇲🇬🇧💯👍

I still use my CB when we travel and it has saved me from getting into some really bad traffic because of an accident ahead of us by many miles.

Good morning I just bought the President George from you and I love it. And now I’m looking at that cobra unit, you were talking about for my truck .I’m an old CB er from the late 60s and early 70s and I’m just getting back into it . And no CB not dead around here. Thank you and have a blessed day.

We rely on our cell phones too much. The tower or service goes down you have nothing. CB is always reliable and works. For GMRS yeah you need a license but I don’t see people using it on the road. I see it more for the destination ski resort, theme parks etc.

As a licensed ham in the UK I still have two CB's set up and ready to use when conditions are good. What's not to like ?

CB isn’t dead! On 38 LSB we work Europe in the mornings and Australia/New Zealand in the late evenings from the east coast. 73! 497.

It's still very much alive. You, Wolcott, and others still sell the snot out of them.

Ordered the Wouxun AM/FM CB during the wee hours of Monday morning and it arrived 2 hours ago (Wednesday)! What I was looking for in an updated CB was a USB-C charging port, AM/PM and an SMA antenna connection. This radio doesn't disappoint! Been using CBs since the 70s until the 90s... I sent an email to the shop. Thank you for your review of this radio. After monitoring for a couple of hours since receiving the radio, I've noticed that CB isn't dead in central NJ, although what I'm hearing is a high-powered transmitter, probably out of NY.

Since the 1970s I have been using CB off and on. When I go on road trips up goes the antenna, around town rarely if ever use the CB. Sometimes with the car in the driveway I will turn on the CB. Used to have SSB Cobra turned into a base station, it was an amazing device. Recall in the late 70s there was much skip occurring. At the time living in North GA I was pulling in signals from across the USA, South America, and much further in the Pacific. Of course, it was rare I could speak to the person on the skip, mostly listen to others as the skip fell on them as it moved across the US. When I was able to connect it was at best brief. As the skip moved, we could hear the person and the others jumping in to talk to the skip, we clearly heard both sides, then it was gone. Fun time. Now at 80 I am again thinking of putting in a base station, but I do not want to get on the roof. If I fall, I do not bounce as well as I used to.

I am and will continue to be very disappointed that Wouxun chose to make a CB walkie-talkie that only puts out 2 watts on AM. They completely ruined what could've been a really cool radio. 😕

C.B. are so so important because of no need to get a License especially for EMERGENCIES !!! I only buy from TWO WAY RADIO !!! GREAT products.... THANK YOU

I just ordered a ranger CB radio, it's getting big with the right😉

I have used CB and GMRS back and forth between CT and NC and found there is still a lot of activity on CB compared to dead air on GMRS. Just an observation.

Great Video! The Cobra 75 All Road looks like great radio for the Car Truck or Boat. I'm sure as a base station, if would do just as well. Anyone would be able to hook that radio up to an Antron 99 and solar power pack, for MIC/Controls and talk on the radio from the front porch or deck. Man, I hope Cobra comes out with a GMRS version, because it's compact and easy to store away when not in use.

When I drove truck, I always called it "See B". If I could talk to anyone I could see. I was happy. I have always had one on in the car. But finally the channel 6 super bowl has moved to channel 19. Afternoons bullies on channel 19 skip has finally caused me to turn it off in the afternoons. CB, GMRS, MURS// you bring your friends into the hobby with you. Murs don't get enough love. The new Murs walkie talkies Walmart is supplying their stores sound good and I am hearing 5 miles away from the store. For a town talk around that is all I need. Least VHF bends over the hill a little.

CB radio quite useful on Highway, such as accident ahead, direction for detour only local knows, which lane are closed ahead, how long the wait will be, CB should be mandatory for Commercial truck for safety reason. AG6JU

...by the time we got to Tulsa Town, we had eighty-five smokin' trucks in all... But now that cloverleaf's gotta road-block, & them bears was-a wall-to-wall.... Convoy forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

President was first out the gate to market for fm cb radio.. Cobra was last to the market. But just Herd Cobra might have a Cobra 25. Am fm rig coming out. 😊😊

Here's another sign CB isn't dead. The FCC would be reclaiming the frequencies if it was.

The George FCC is the best All Mode CB radio on the market.

From my experience, a lot of people in my city; are hams and other radios, they have cb also, and they listen but don't pick up the mic and say hi when a fellow puts out his call. Pretty Sad in my book!🇨🇦

CB Radio's are not dead. In my area I hear a lot of AM and SSB signals on my President McKinley II AM/FM SSB Radio. In my area at this time, I do not hear a lot of FM signals. That may change in the future.

Can you do an in depth tutorial on how to fully utilize the PL Tones (CTCSS/DCS) on the President George FCC radio? Nobody seems to want to talk about this particular topic on the other channels.

I have a handheld cobra it don’t transmit or receive far but it’s enjoyable to put on scan with the right squelch you’ll pick up who’s really close to you

The question is: will CB radio ever get quiet again ? Before the 1970s you could squelch out most of the noise and talk county wide. At night you could open the squelch and talk county to county.

Nice explaination 👍😊

This show has earned my subscription

I use a CB when I travel from OH to FL twice a year. I had a gap of several years when my vacation plans were different and I got away from using a CB. That gap was late 90's early 2000's. When I started using the CB again I was and still am shocked by how little chatter is on channel 19. Radar traps, broken down vehicles, road hazards such as tire chunks are very often ignored and not reported.over the air. I can't say that I miss some of the trash that was heard all to often. I bought Bluetooth earbuds to save some of the more sensitive ears in my vehicle. I suggested a new CB as my Christmas present in 2022, The President Andy by description seemed to fit my wants. It makes the trips to FL twice a year or more with me. I would like to hear more chatter on the CB. There certainly are fewer cars using CB these days but there are more trucks on the road than ever before. Or so it seems. I have dabbled on and off with CB since the mid 1960's. and still enjoy my limited use. Thanks for the report.

If you go to the 10-meter band and listened when the DX is open you'll notice it's very quiet. But if you go to 11 em no matter where you go it is jumping up and down with DX

ssb, digimodes, sstv, pirate freqs and 10,000 mile contacts.. Europe to US even in fm... it got a kick in Covid... and now with the cycle at its 11 year peak... its still going well..

CB radio is very popular in the United Kingdom with many RU-vid videos being posted quite frequently.

Ham radio is great if you want to know all about the radio the other guy is using to talk to you with. Everyone is on a repeater. It does nothing for you on the road because no one uses or scans the simplex channel. GMRS is useful but still not so much on the road unless you're just talking to another car you're travelling with. CB is still needed and will probably be needed even more as the gov shuts down more and more avenues of speech and information because of it's ability to skip.

What has killed CB is that they fall into the distracted driver category. Same as your cellphone.

As much as some people would love for CB to be dead, it’s still very much alive! Especially with the current solar cycle bringing in some killer DX!

It’s alive. The secret weapon of Comms. Thanks

I believe it depends on where you are. I live in the northeast and it goes in waves. I believe in the Midwest CB is huge.

You have an untapped market for RVers. That was my primary reason for jumping back in. No better way to learn about road hazards ahead like an entire truck tire in the middle of the road; ask me how I know. And if someone notices some issue with my RV, they can let me know quickly. Finally, we now know that cell service can go down for extended periods from bad software deployments and hacking. This mode of communication can't be hacked.

CB was really only popular for a few years back in the '70s. I know, I was there. At least half the cars on the road had CB radios in them. It was not a niche thing. The channels were so crowded the FCC went from 23 channels to 40. You had no problem finding someone to talk to. That is no longer the case. Unless you are on the highway, there is nobody out there to talk to. Truckers are it as far as AM goes, and they have no desire to talk to the idiots using '70s CB slang. And while most truckers still use CB (11 meters) frequencies, very few are actually using CB radios, at least stock CB radios. The one big problem with CB, both AM and SSB, is the super low 4 watt legal power output. Truckers are using either 10 meter export radios converted to 11 meters, or they are using a regular CB with an RF amplifier. I use converted 10 meter radios in my car and truck, AM only, at around 30-40 watts. That gives me enough range and a strong enough signal to reliably communicate several miles line of sight. At home I have a 100 watt amateur HF radio, modified to use the 11 meter CB frequencies, on SSB, and a very large antenna. That allows me to make contacts thousands of miles away. And it's much easier to make contacts than on the 10 meter amateur band (yes, I have a general class ham license) But I have found 11 meters can just plain be more fun than ham radio, with its FCC call signs and long list of rules. I have a closet full of older AM and some SSB CBs from days gone by. Same with scanners. I must have at least 10 of them, both mobile/base and handheld. There was a time when you could listen to the police and even analog cell phones on scanners. But those days are long gone. Everything is encrypted. They are just as silent as those old CBs. I have not yet tried FM on 11 meters. FM is mostly used on VHF/UHF, which seems like it would be much better suited for FM than HF frequencies. I'll have to check it out sometime. But meanwhile, AM and SSB work just fine, with just a bit more RF output.

Well, lets look at the company's points of view. Cobra lobbied very hard to get the government to allow FM on 11 meter band. Thist is because CB sales were in the tank. Now that FM is an option, the company's that make radios hope you're outdated AM only radio will be replaced with a new FM capable radio.

CB Radios are not Dead I think in the Coming years is gonna me more than alive when the 11 years Solar Cycle will end and a New Era for us will begin with the Propagation turning into our Favor. I still talk all over the country on 11 meters just as conditions are now they are bad. But soon that will change I will never never leave CB Radios. that have been my Hobby since I was 14 years old.

There is still a fair bit of CB activity here in Southern New England

I'd like to upgrade to a Uniden 520XL with FM included, or a similar sized President. I like the compact size for my desktop in my "shack" as a base. I like that I can also use it in my car. I find it does all I need in a nice compact size and does it with great quality sound. It'd be great if someone made a mobile version of the Wouxun Q-10G that can also talk on CB and MURS and GMRS out of the box and be the size of the Uniden 520XL. If it also came with a solar power battery that can power this in a small backpack too, it would be the ultimate radio for bugging out.

Here in Colorado there is plenty of CB chat but mostly if your on the highway and some or most people keep store hours and dont to tend to talk at night but mostly during the day especially the cb hobbiest at home...u can also buy a handheld walkie talkie and get plenty of chat on those too...some serious chat and some funny chatting

Not dead at all, I have 2 and yes I drive a truck for a living.

With these prices, just get a qt-60. 60 watts. Noise cancellation. Real easy to convert

The numbers we’d really need would be a comparison of sales GRMS versus CB. And also what is it that younger truckers install. I am from France and over there some 40-50 years ago CB was very much all about trucks. I installed one on my small Renault and although it worked fine, I did not feel in my element. Guys being rowdy and gross on the air 😂 occasionally some ‘useful’ stuff like the position of a radar trap. Remember that there were no cell phones and no internet! CB was the only way of com inside your vehicle.

Many hobbyists are still using cb, I been an operator since 1988 with a small break between 2000-2014 thinking it was dead, then came across cb facebook groups and realized it was still active, so I bought some new equipment and got back up running and been on the last ten years and looking to buy more equipment lol.

So cbs theses days have fm with higher power out put but is a ham license required to use fm? I’m a cb fan but no longer drive trucks so been out of the radios for quite awhile

If SHTF CB will be the only person to person communication.

The FCC could have opened up CB like the features of FRS and GMRS. CB now has FM transmission. But limiting the service to 4 Watts [12 SSB] and no repeaters, dooms the band. I'd buy a CB/ GMRS radio, but the FCC doesn't allow the two services on a single radio. I'm switching over to GMRS with a cheap CB for laughs and giggles.

The cell phone killed CBs for the general public. Truck drivers is one niche where it is useful.

CB isn't dead, its just not as popular as it once was. (To me that's a good thing) Widespread use of the Internet and Smart Phones has negatively impacted all forms of Hobby Communications. I'm not a Doom's Day Prepper, but it is a good idea to have a widely used form of back up communications (like CB) in case of natural disasters that can and do occasionally hit our communities. Those communications infrastructures we depended upon usually fail when Mother Nature sends us her worst. Having a CB radio in your car is a good idea, as it doesn't rely upon our power grid to work. As long as you have gas to charge the car's battery you can stay in touch with others. Having a simple wire antenna (like a T2LT Coax Dipole antenna) that you can throw up into a tree will extend your range considerably, is another good idea. It doesn't cost much to build and is compact for storage in your vehicle, just in case... A radio in your car can also be brought into your home. Just add a simple antenna with means to erect it, and a power source like a battery from a boats trolling motor, another car... that can be charged from your car, and your ready to stay in touch. It just takes the foresight to be prepared. - mike

From what I see , CB is getting more popular. With all the new radios coming to market and a lot of people making RU-vid videos about CB's and video gates. 5 years ago I could turn on Channel 19 and I just might if lucky I would hear someone now I hear people all day.

CB radio is booming again!

I love the 11meter band on ssb

Didn’t they already have FM in other countries? I don’t think manufacturers are making anything new. It’s just a new mode here in the USA.

Its still a lot of fun.

Far from being dead. It’s on the rise and has been for the last few years. Truckers may be at an all time low, but other mobiles and base stations are growing at a rapid pace.

I wish the fcc will give cbers 12watts on am, and fm and ssb it would solve alot And would give incentive to do away with all the crazy ilegal amperfire stuff going On and would make a more viable band.

I bought a house in the Mountains in Southern California, and we get all sorts of crazy weather etc.and I wanted to set up a home base station to be able to reach out and get info depending on fires or whatever may come up. Being that there are A LOT of HAMs up here (my neighbor included), I also wanted to get my Ham tech license and add that as part of my home base station as well. Many say CB is dead, etc., but, I'd primarily like to end up having both as a multi-functional shack to be able to communicate if needed. I got a President Washington (was HIGHLY recommended) I was looking at a Solarcon a99 antenna (which can apparently handle both HAM OR CB, though you have to adjst for one or the other), but, I may just kept that as CB, and add all HAM stuff soon.. Just was curious ultimately to get your take, though, do you think if once I hook up the CB, I'd pretty much find dead air? Or get SOME chatter?

Radio is dead or dying at all. I am seeing more and more new people coming in to day then i have in a long time. And a bunch of people who got off the radio getting back on. Most of it do to preppers and dooms day people. But none the less they are coming in. We have a good size group around here on ch 22 every night.And many times is hard to get a word in its moving so fast.

CB radio is dead in Sebring Florida been monitoring for over a year no local chatter at all. The only contacts I’ve gotten are on skip propagation.

FM still doesn't solve the problem of skip from jackwagons like Sherman running multi-kilowatt amps. Tune to channel 19 in FM mode and all you're going to get is static when he's running his mouth. At night you may be able to find a quiet channel and actually have a conversation. The only reason CB is still used by truckers right now is because it's needed for scales at places like truck stops and quarries. Until the current solar cycle dies down, it's nearly useless regardless of mode.

It would be great here in the UK, but the amount of swearing is just crazy. I don't mind the odd time, but every other word for no reason at all. It's a shame because I think it would be far more popular if people could actually have a radio switch on in the house. But the state it is in the UK, a lot of us just can't have that on.

Comstat 23, I need that model

It's not dead. But it's not fun anymore.... early late 80s when everyone wad on an actually had conversations was fun...

Why do CB users always sound like tweeking carnival barking sideshow workers, just constant yapping about absolutely nothing, just frickin' obnoxious noise.

you know that when the band is not open its dead on the air except for truckers on 19 .in the 70s it was different you had a hard time getting a break on any channel. thats why the fcc increase it from 23 to 40 channels back then. that was the cell phone of the day.

CB still has awful Channel 6 with them folks using illegal amplifiers & over modulated dirty sounding radios causing splash up & down the dial. FM has been used on CB as I remember since the late 1980's when the export radios were available like the Super Star 360 FM, Cobra 148 GTL DX , Galaxy 2100, President Grant & Layfette 2400 to name a few. Copper Electronics was the biggest place to get radios back then & is still there today but very limited stock now. I recommend the President George II which is sold in UK & EU but can be purchased in the US & Canada as well by mail. You can mod the radio for high power + pick up the free band 27.415 to 27.995 including the A channels on CB. 10 & 12 meter bands also with split & CTSS as well. -73's

Ch 21 roll call 8 pm central 9 eastern time

CB is not Dead 👋🏻👀 from the 1122 wingnut radio 📡🎙️🎧👀 listening ch 38 freq 27.385 lsb

would not buy a CB without side band. other than that. the only people in my area are on channel 20. maybe 8 to 10. I live 3 miles from the expressway and hear no truckers. sometimes I hear Spanish speaking people on channel 9. other than skip when it rolls in.

Is this the end of the world?

Base stations running +kw power on 19 killed the last remaining use for CB. Nobody can run a radio on the highway anymore, so yeah, it's pretty much dead now.

Many people crazy with digital radio because it's a new thing but don't forgot the analog because sometimes in the future internet system will malfunction by political and economic war.

Everyone around here moved to GMRS.

CB radio from what it was yes is dead but I consider the CB Radio Service now to be the poor man's ham radio. And the FCC doesn't consider CB radio to be dead They just added FM to it here recently.

that's great and all but with only 4 watts your not getting on very far.you need an export radio nothing less than 100 watts. galaxy 98 vhp is your best.

CB radio is basic communication that can't be killed at the flip of a switch, as cell phones can, at the individual, local,regional, or national levels. Be self responsible get a cb

CB died years ago when the FCC dropped the license requirement and the shrieking monkeys took over and like locusts have infested the entire 11 meter band.

So the manufacturer makes a fortune

Truckers moved to Gmrs.

Where’s galaxy today?

you better hope it doesn't die, you will have to switch your business to cell phones

CB is not dead, but the most crude people use it. The other bands are not full of over powered morons.

XM radio

Citizen band radio is dead and nobody buys those mass-produce garbage radios, but DX skip with 10 11 and 12 m is wide open on anytone quad 5 Second Edition😎💯

Mud duck