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.
