On a whim due to a special price on Amazon, I grabbed a Radioddity CB-27 Pro CB Radio 40-Channel Mini Mobile with AM FM. A very small radio. I’ve never tried CB and this one was new but reasonably priced enough to experiment with. I’ve got a compromise mobile antenna on the way: a TRAM 703-HC Center Load. I wasn’t going to invest in a Wilson 1000 for a $30 radio, especially since CB in my area is supposed to be dead. We’ll see.
I’ll report how it works after I get it set up. If anyone already has this radio, please share your experiences. I’ve had both ham/general and GMRS licenses for a few years and I’ve played with MURS with decent results. Might as well try CB.
Absolutely. Been debating adding a CB to my shack as well since I have and HF rig, a UHF/VHF rig (am a ham general) and a GMRS base station (also licensed). Only thing missing is a CB, would be curious to hear if anyone uses in my area which is very rural so I don’t expect I’d hear much. But, you never know!
CB radios are still in use for various things around the US. It all depends on where you are and your interests. In my local area, it’s mainly dump truck drivers and the landfill. Once I head out to the Everglades, there’s a few off roaders still using it.
I western NC, I’ve heard some school kids chatting about their homework. You just never know. I like to keep my Midland 75-822 all in one tucked in the car. I also have a Midland MX=275 GMRS for the same reason. There’s a lot of people out there that don’t want to bother with getting a ham ticket. I mainly keep the UHF/VHF and HF equipment at home. It’s good to have all the options.
I finally got around to an actual first mobile use of the Radioddity CB with the antenna on the roof of the SUV. The results were pretty much as expected: very little activity on all but a couple of channels. Now it may have seemed this way because this particular antenna is somewhat limited in range. The closer I got to a major highway, the more I heard. Truckers, mainly…with enough power to reach Saturn and a constant banter that got really old really quick…but that’s their main mode of comms after cell phones. Some users sounded like an echo chamber. Not sure if that’s related to power output or what.
This little CB-27 pro is a keeper if for no other reason than the small size and ease of use. I thought switching over to FM might pick up some additional traffic, but not really. Again, the limiting factor is the TRAM 703-HC - adequate for short range, but for the time being I cannot justify buying a $160 Wilson antenna for a $29 radio…even though that would be the smart thing to do.
For the non-commercial trucking crowd, GMRS has likely replaced CB in my immediate area. I need to get the Midland 275 off the shelf and back into the car. That radio with my CompaqTenna Scan III is a great combination. In another car I used a switch to go between the Midland GMRS and the Yaesu 2m/70cm dual band. This area is largely Yaesu System Fusion territory, with a great repeater network set up and maintained by the dedicated local radio club.
So the CB will likely move to the garage, with the mag mount antenna on top of a large tool box - at least until I get motivated to get out with it again.
With that toolbox for a ground plane, you’ll be lucky to “Make the Trip” out of the 4 wheeler barn! Try the aluminum gutter up topside, and you might DX all the way across the prairie.
And, If you hear a sales pitch from an arrogant “Radio Rambo” infamously known as Mud Duck, defiling the ether-world with his abusive, defaming monologue, don’t fall for his con game!