How to Use a CB Radio

In this day of high tech cell phones and instant messaging, one might think the use of CB (Citizen's Band) radios has gone away. However, most professional truck drivers still have one mounted in the cab of their truck, and many hobby owners are also using them. Here are some ideas and tips for how you can make use of a CB radio.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Use your CB radio to get weather and traffic information while on a road trip. You can avoid traffic snarls and bad road conditions by talking to other drivers in the vicinity who also have radios.

2. Check on your neighbors or set up a neighborhood crime watch network over these short-distance radio wave frequencies.

3. Get directions to get back on track if you get lost on a road trip.

4. Report emergencies. Channel nine is continually monitored by police, but remember to only use channel nine for this purpose.

5. Make friends and have someone to chat with while on a solo trip. Talking helps you stay awake and makes the miles pass without boredom.

6. Guide your co-pilot into a parking space when driving a big recreational vehicle that is hard to see behind or back a truck up to a dock with the help of a CB radio and a friend.

Tips & Warnings

• Channel nine is the channel used most frequently by truck drivers. Truckers can usually inform you of traffic and road conditions.
• The Federal Communications Commission regulates the use of CB radios. Visit their website for rules and legal uses.

[Doodlebugs]

on 2/8/2009 Good article but one thing...Channel nine is not the truckers channel. It is for emergency communications only. 19 is the truckers channel.