Not a lot of local traffic here. Occasionally hear someone on I-10 passing the time on 19, or asking for a radio check around the neighborhoods, but that's about it. Apart from the yell-fests on 6 and sometimes 21, and of course the skip traffic, it's really quiet.
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How bad is it in your area?
- Thread starter badfish
- Start date
Last time I tried the cb here in the front range, it was pretty quiet. I know theres chatter up in the mile high city, but south of there by an hour, you dont hear alot, even on ssb. When I drove truck, I heard every manner of behavior, some decent folks, especially in the western states(excluding socal), and plenty of retards. I dont drive truck these days, and got my tech license, so I dont hear the monkey business any longer. As a general rule, there are alot less idiots on the ham bands, but I am sure there are some, but I havent heard one stupid thing on any of the linked repeaters out here yet.
Here in west central MO. there's really no one on the CB anymore....there's one fella (454) 10 miles west of me that does 36-38 lsb, to the east of me 20 miles are a few guys that hang out on channel 35. Otherwise with the exception of a truck driver or two on 19 occasionally, there's nothing. Which is what prompted me to get my ham ticket.
Cryin about no CBers in your area to talk to?
Don't you guys have any friends that have a single hobbyist bone in their body in your area?!? Do you have a spare radio -or six for that matter- that you can lend to any of them with the option to buy at a fair price and help them get started? If any of you can do this; then why not try? Easier to do than complain. You get to be their 'Elmer'; or Yoda if you prefer. You get to train them and help them get on the air.
Or maybe you aren't up to that simple and easy challenge?
I helped a guy get on the radio this week. Sold him a nice radio and am going to see him build a dipole and perhaps a beam in time. He's digging on all of it, and his wife thinks it is a fine hobby for him. Not everybody can do it; but many more can . . .
Don't you guys have any friends that have a single hobbyist bone in their body in your area?!? Do you have a spare radio -or six for that matter- that you can lend to any of them with the option to buy at a fair price and help them get started? If any of you can do this; then why not try? Easier to do than complain. You get to be their 'Elmer'; or Yoda if you prefer. You get to train them and help them get on the air.
Or maybe you aren't up to that simple and easy challenge?
I helped a guy get on the radio this week. Sold him a nice radio and am going to see him build a dipole and perhaps a beam in time. He's digging on all of it, and his wife thinks it is a fine hobby for him. Not everybody can do it; but many more can . . .
CB is still active here in Southeast Ohio.
We have 2 weekly SSB nets that average 15-20 guys that will check in. They start at 9 pm eastern on Tuesday's and Thursday's, 27.815 lsb and 27.405 lsb respectively.
When the band is open, we get DX'ers that stumble in. The 405 net has been in continuous operation since the 70's. Both are trader style nets that guys will buy and sell, anything goes except porn and guns, lol.
During the summer it slows down one night a month, but in winter it's back to twice weekly.
Other than the local nets... There are still plenty of young and old dudes with bases, so there's always someone to shoot the shit with. Many are older hams that like to freeband locally. Occasionally, we'll get together and have breakfast.
There are a few welfare bums that get drunk and start shit, but usually pass out quickly or sell there rigs to buy more beer. All in all, I think its more demographic as to why we still have a lot of dudes that are active.
We have 2 weekly SSB nets that average 15-20 guys that will check in. They start at 9 pm eastern on Tuesday's and Thursday's, 27.815 lsb and 27.405 lsb respectively.
When the band is open, we get DX'ers that stumble in. The 405 net has been in continuous operation since the 70's. Both are trader style nets that guys will buy and sell, anything goes except porn and guns, lol.
During the summer it slows down one night a month, but in winter it's back to twice weekly.
Other than the local nets... There are still plenty of young and old dudes with bases, so there's always someone to shoot the shit with. Many are older hams that like to freeband locally. Occasionally, we'll get together and have breakfast.
There are a few welfare bums that get drunk and start shit, but usually pass out quickly or sell there rigs to buy more beer. All in all, I think its more demographic as to why we still have a lot of dudes that are active.
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Having started in CB during the middle 70's I can say that it has declined significantly.
When Silicon Valley infrastructure was being developed everybody was on the air in the Big Rigs that supplied all the materials for the building of the Valley.
While running "over the hill" to pickup sand and cement everybody used the radios for traffic and smokey reports. Back then the Hwy. 17 from San Jose to the seaside town of Santa Cruz was one of the 10 most dangerous roads in the US. Winding with no center divider. Lots of accidents especially when it was wet. The radio saved a lot of mishaps back then due to fellow operators warning of danger around the next tight turn. We developed a name for every turn on that 15 mile ( quick guess) of roadway.
Even information about the 5 or so different quarries was passed out. The guys that had some xtra juice could be heard most of the trip even if going the other direction.
While I have never operated a Base there were plenty of them also. Some would be on early in the morning helping the drivers, from out of town with directions. Miss Joane, Q-ball, Little RED were just some of the long timers offering help and conversation.
NOW.....
Very little Driver use over the Hwy. 17. Economy has stalled and the area is built up.
The friendly Base stations have all but disappeared being replaced with ego driven wanna bees demanding air time, usually with really nothing to say except fowl derogatory comments about anything and everything. I understand the CB channels are sort of a free for all. which is fine. But the channel hogging going on now for now constructive communication is more than rude it is bullying. Still some good guys out there but not like it was in the past.
On another note the Monterrey Area, which had Fort Ord Army Base as a resident, used to be a hub of CB power on 18. Lots of retired military talking locally and when the skip was in talking all day. One could always count on some good communications when working in the Monterrey Bay Area. There was one prince of a operatopr that went by the handle Bo Bo or 427. This guy could charm the rattles of a snake. He had awesome modulation that would pick up a ticking clock in the background. Never talked trash other than fun with those he new. His voice and manner I will never forget. Sweet and smooth with a even and good nature rhythm.
Even back in the hay day when I would travel to the Sacramento Valley, running down the interior of California the Base Stations could be and usually were mean spirited. Something about the rural area and RF radio communications.
One reason I never set up a base was I had two growing children in the home and the talk could get a bit to colorful and mean spirited.
It was a fun time on the air during the last quarter of the 1900's. All the different trucking companies would run their own channel and even the different commodity carries would get together on a channel. You always knew where to find another driver buy his company channel of by what he was hauling.
Now with so few Base set ups the guys have a need to trash the Drivers, what few that are on the air while driving locally. I know most just turn their radio off die to all the Base bull. On the open road it is a different story with the drivers looking for communication.
I know I ran long but I hope maybe some of the younger RF enthusiast can appreciate my ramblings.
When Silicon Valley infrastructure was being developed everybody was on the air in the Big Rigs that supplied all the materials for the building of the Valley.
While running "over the hill" to pickup sand and cement everybody used the radios for traffic and smokey reports. Back then the Hwy. 17 from San Jose to the seaside town of Santa Cruz was one of the 10 most dangerous roads in the US. Winding with no center divider. Lots of accidents especially when it was wet. The radio saved a lot of mishaps back then due to fellow operators warning of danger around the next tight turn. We developed a name for every turn on that 15 mile ( quick guess) of roadway.
Even information about the 5 or so different quarries was passed out. The guys that had some xtra juice could be heard most of the trip even if going the other direction.
While I have never operated a Base there were plenty of them also. Some would be on early in the morning helping the drivers, from out of town with directions. Miss Joane, Q-ball, Little RED were just some of the long timers offering help and conversation.
NOW.....
Very little Driver use over the Hwy. 17. Economy has stalled and the area is built up.
The friendly Base stations have all but disappeared being replaced with ego driven wanna bees demanding air time, usually with really nothing to say except fowl derogatory comments about anything and everything. I understand the CB channels are sort of a free for all. which is fine. But the channel hogging going on now for now constructive communication is more than rude it is bullying. Still some good guys out there but not like it was in the past.
On another note the Monterrey Area, which had Fort Ord Army Base as a resident, used to be a hub of CB power on 18. Lots of retired military talking locally and when the skip was in talking all day. One could always count on some good communications when working in the Monterrey Bay Area. There was one prince of a operatopr that went by the handle Bo Bo or 427. This guy could charm the rattles of a snake. He had awesome modulation that would pick up a ticking clock in the background. Never talked trash other than fun with those he new. His voice and manner I will never forget. Sweet and smooth with a even and good nature rhythm.
Even back in the hay day when I would travel to the Sacramento Valley, running down the interior of California the Base Stations could be and usually were mean spirited. Something about the rural area and RF radio communications.
One reason I never set up a base was I had two growing children in the home and the talk could get a bit to colorful and mean spirited.
It was a fun time on the air during the last quarter of the 1900's. All the different trucking companies would run their own channel and even the different commodity carries would get together on a channel. You always knew where to find another driver buy his company channel of by what he was hauling.
Now with so few Base set ups the guys have a need to trash the Drivers, what few that are on the air while driving locally. I know most just turn their radio off die to all the Base bull. On the open road it is a different story with the drivers looking for communication.
I know I ran long but I hope maybe some of the younger RF enthusiast can appreciate my ramblings.
the only talkin i get to do is the skip for a couple of hours a day. cb is dead here too. just the odd driver passing thru on 19
would get my ham ticket but theres only 2 of them here i know of and they are not interested in helping anyone get started in it....persnickity %*&#
the internet has killed everybody off im afraid!
would get my ham ticket but theres only 2 of them here i know of and they are not interested in helping anyone get started in it....persnickity %*&#
the internet has killed everybody off im afraid!
Look at the positives. You have less to compete with locally. Less interference. Probably less ambient/static noise too. What is your location? If you live outside of town, then you can run an awesome station with little to interfere with. Since I live in the suburbs, I really can't run power w/o interfering with someone ('proximity effect'). So, you can look at your circumstances as having some advantages.
No one is stopping you from getting your Ham ticket either. I've had no help locally to get mine. Just this forum and reading a bunch. You can do it. Then the Hams will pay you some mind. If you run CB around Hams, be aware that running a clean station is in your best interest. Be wary of running a spattering radio into a an amp. Bad idea. Run a clean radio and keep the modulation down and go with it!
RatsoW8
Supporting Member, W9WDX ARC Member - WD8T
You have to have help to get started in Ham Radio? I did it myself until it was time to take the test. Then I went to the Heathkit store and asked where to go for that.
Like Bigbird used to say on Sesame Street "If you don't know what to do..FIGURE IT OUT!"
In Philly every other body thinks he's a big strapper. In recent times there was only one really profane guy who everybody kept the maul on until he moved his residence where there are no other stations nearby. Now he plugs nobody's ears and the band rolls on. Guys would knock on his door and he refused to step outside. He would talk about people's YL's and XYL's and their kids too but he was a punk whose heart pumped cool aid.
3's
3's
Since I got my moonraker up my ground wave range has increased dramatically.....I been talking across the state border into Ohio and Indiana.....always someone to talk too.....talked to 2 h
Hammy/CBers last night all evening...they were down by the Ohio border.....they wore me out.....real chatter boxes....but we had some good cross talk about old military radios and all kinds of stuff.....I signed off at midnight and they were still going strong.
Hammy/CBers last night all evening...they were down by the Ohio border.....they wore me out.....real chatter boxes....but we had some good cross talk about old military radios and all kinds of stuff.....I signed off at midnight and they were still going strong.
CB'ing then and now
op:I got into the CB scene back in the early Eighties right after the rules changed and you didn't need a license.I got my brothers into CB'ing and we started our own CB club so to speak. Out here in Southern Mecklinburg County(Charlotte,Nc)there were plenty of CB'ers. Out in rural areas we had country folk that would get on the air in the evenings and chat with their country folk friends. You could even join in on their conversation when you got a proper break in(respect). I used to love sitting back and listening to them at night. I worked in Charlotte at the time at a service station in which my boss had gotten into CB'ing as well but he loved to talk up around 27.500(international bucket mouth club). I got out of CB'ing twenty-five years ago as I got born again and started learning all the ways of God. In the past few months I started getting back into CB'ing for nostalgic reasons. Even bought me a Galaxy DX-959 for the same reasons and because I had a Galaxy 2100 at one time. I still consider CB-ing as a hobby in that I have to stick with God's will for my life. God is doing a new thing in Mountain City,Tn. He's starting a move of The Spirit in that region. There people that have eyes to see but are blind. Ears to hear but are deaf. Meaning that there is a people who are hungry for God but don't know how to find Him just yet. The church has been turned into a social click in many areas of our country and God wants to turn that around. I would say more but... So you see where my passion is. By the way,Robb is right in that you can start a cb club in your area. What is that saying? If you build it they will come(Field of Dreams). Back to the story. Now a days,there a smaller group of CB'ers out in my neck of the woods but it's still the same with the exception of profane language being used. We have rock and sand quarries in my area so you hear those drivers chat with one another. There's a law out now that makes it illegal to talk on a cell phone device while operating a commercial vehicle. Violations of this law starts with a $270.00 fine and I think can extend to a license forfeiture. So,that will change that aspect of CB'ing as far as Trucking is concerned.
op:I got into the CB scene back in the early Eighties right after the rules changed and you didn't need a license.I got my brothers into CB'ing and we started our own CB club so to speak. Out here in Southern Mecklinburg County(Charlotte,Nc)there were plenty of CB'ers. Out in rural areas we had country folk that would get on the air in the evenings and chat with their country folk friends. You could even join in on their conversation when you got a proper break in(respect). I used to love sitting back and listening to them at night. I worked in Charlotte at the time at a service station in which my boss had gotten into CB'ing as well but he loved to talk up around 27.500(international bucket mouth club). I got out of CB'ing twenty-five years ago as I got born again and started learning all the ways of God. In the past few months I started getting back into CB'ing for nostalgic reasons. Even bought me a Galaxy DX-959 for the same reasons and because I had a Galaxy 2100 at one time. I still consider CB-ing as a hobby in that I have to stick with God's will for my life. God is doing a new thing in Mountain City,Tn. He's starting a move of The Spirit in that region. There people that have eyes to see but are blind. Ears to hear but are deaf. Meaning that there is a people who are hungry for God but don't know how to find Him just yet. The church has been turned into a social click in many areas of our country and God wants to turn that around. I would say more but... So you see where my passion is. By the way,Robb is right in that you can start a cb club in your area. What is that saying? If you build it they will come(Field of Dreams). Back to the story. Now a days,there a smaller group of CB'ers out in my neck of the woods but it's still the same with the exception of profane language being used. We have rock and sand quarries in my area so you hear those drivers chat with one another. There's a law out now that makes it illegal to talk on a cell phone device while operating a commercial vehicle. Violations of this law starts with a $270.00 fine and I think can extend to a license forfeiture. So,that will change that aspect of CB'ing as far as Trucking is concerned.- No one is chatting at the moment.
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