On long trips I will keep the CB radio on to communicate with truckers and other RV'ers or friends travelling with us.

However, in the past couple of years the consolidation of modern car radios, navigation systems, satellite radio, computers, aircards, cellphones I've begun using the traffic watch features on these devices instead.

I keep the CB for emergency use in case the cellphone or aircard can't get a signal or some foreign government/terrorist group knocks out the communications networks and internet.

For parking and communications between each other we have FRS walkie talkies or most often just use our cellphones. We pay for a large minute plan, just so we don't have to worry about per minute cost when using the cellphones.

I even use the cellphones to align the satellite TV dish. I put one in front of the TV with the satellite boxed tuned to the "point dish" page and then take the other cellphone outside and listen to the signal strength tone as I move the dish. I just have to remember there is a little delay in hearing the actual tone, so I move the dish in 1/4 inch increments and pause for a 10 count before moving it again. I do this so the RVers next to us won't have to listen to the tone while I try to find the satellite.

we use the CB's to talk between our vehicles and we have the small handheld personal radios for backing up but don't use them too often. Rudee usually just uses hand signals to guide me in.

Phil and Rudee

Hi Terry,

We have never had a CB. Thought about it before going out, but never got around to getting one.

The lifestyle being as relaxed as it is, finds us mostly on secondary highways and traveling in the middle of the day. We hardly ever exceed 60MPH, so are in the right lane with nobody in front of us most of the time. We also avoid traveling on the weekends. Once in a blue moon we will run into a traffic jam, usually an accident, and if it doesn't clear quickly we exit the highway and the GPS will find us another route.

BTW, a good GPS is about the most important device to have in my opinion. Not only does it route you on long trips, but is invaluable in finding shopping venues in strange towns, and most importantly gets you back to your new campground without having to leave a trail of breadcrumbs after you've decided to go out shopping or to dinner at night.

We have have small handheld personal radios which we used for guidance in backing up in the beginning, but haven't used them in years. My advice would be to go out naked and see how it goes. You can always buy these devices easily if you find you want them. My guess is you won't.

We do  have a CB that we use for monitoring the trucker channel.  For communication between ourselves, we either use our cell phones or we have a set of Motorola walkie-talkies similar to these.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3680204

Their range is supposed to be 20 miles, I'm not sure that they really go that far but we have successfully used them when we were several miles apart.

We haven't been full-timing long so we don't have lots of tavel experiences. We do have a CB radio in our coach (came with the coach). We turned it on one time on our trip from Texas because there was a really bad wreck and backup on the highway. We wanted to "hear" what lane to move toward. We did hear that information but just as ahoweth said we heard some very rough language as well.

I think Fred said it best!!!!

Both the better half and I are ham radio operators so the CB in the rig is basically dead weight.

For those who want a bit more reliable range out of their hand held type radio, it might be worth considering the GMRS type. Here are two websites that provide information on them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mobile_Radio_Service

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_home&id=general_mobile

We recently installed a CB, but don't keep it on while traveling unless we get caught in a traffic jam, which is rare. Walkie Talkies however, we tend to use quite a bit. We were recently in a remote area with no cell phone service. DH wanted to go on a hike but I did not. Normally, we would use our cells. He took the walkie talkie instead, and we could keep in touch and he could hike a beautiful canyon alone.

jagco wrote: Wish I could get my better half interested in ham radio. She's a brain, so she could learn the material quite easily.

---

Most anyone can learn the material needed to pass an entry level FCC licensing exam. It's only 35 questions. If memory serves, the youngest ham operator is a 6 year old girl.

Communicating with a ham band hand-held radio is superior to the CB or FRS walkie talkie. Fowl language is prohibited by the FCC and no one will interrupt your conversation by trying to use the same channel or frequency while you are. Use of two way repeaters (similar to cell towers) increases range substantially.

Keep working on her. Useful info can be found at http://www.arrl.org

 

-- Edited by TXRVr on Wednesday 4th of November 2009 12:56:30 PM