What CB channel do Airstreamers use?

[waynemorgan]

any body use GMRS my wife and me use them at wal-mart and the swap meet ( so i can hide from her) ...they work great at hunting camp and rv camp grounds

[Airhog1]

Breaker...Breaker...or is it Braker...Braker...I vote for 13!

G

[ibgl6]

I have a couple of them GMRS (family channel) radios they work great in close areas also have the nextel walkie talkie phones they work great I have talked from florida to hawaii of course they come with a monthly bill but I also use them at work daily....

[myboyburt]

Originally Posted by Airstream25

I did get the Wilson 500 mag. mount at about $53.
It gives me one more bar of signal strength compared to the telescoping antenna that was packaged with the CD radio.

If you see me on the highway, I will be on Ch 14.

We use 19 for general, non caravan travel. We change to 14 when we see another Airstream and we give them a yell. We always use 14 when we travel with an NEU caravan. It's a great caravan communications tool.

[waynemorgan]

channels 8-14 are low power FRS all others are full power upto 5 wt.
ch 20 is the calling channel.

[FreshAir]

Our hand held Cobras work good for us. We have used them when we are not in cell phone areas on the road. Now for just chatter with rigs headed in other directions we would need stronger units. But for, "Turn right at the next intersection," Or stop at the next Starbucks," the Cobras have not failed us. Oh, change to another channel when receiving/giving back up directions to your spouse. You could cause accidents for evesdropping travelers! 10-99.

Neil and Lynn

[Silvertwinkie]

Originally Posted by Artstream

10-17, 10-100, 10-6, 10-34, 10-20 on the floor, 10-26, 10-99.

Michael

Shot you some karma on that one...Fred too!

[SLVRSRFR]

Citizens band 10 Codes (NOT APCO)

10-1 Receiving poorly
10-2 Receiving well
10-3 Stop transmitting
10-4 OK, message received
10-5 Relay message
10-6 Busy, stand by
10-7 Out of service, leaving the air
10-8 In service, subject to call
10-9 Repeat message
10-10 Transmission completed, standing by

[GetOutDoors]

Originally Posted by waynemorgan

any body use GMRS my wife and me use them at wal-mart and the swap meet ( so i can hide from her) ...they work great at hunting camp and rv camp grounds

Exclusively.

If they have a designated CB channel, then maybe a FRS/GMRS designated channel is in order!

FRS/GMRS units are a lot cheaper, and I would think, owned by more members.

[wanderer1]

Originally Posted by tjstew

Jerry,
Any channel is fine with me. I was thinking about getting a the RadioShack handheld model... any recommendations or other suggestions on hardware?

Yes you guys,they still make cb radios.Mr.TJ,do not get a hand held unless you also buy a external antenna.Steel roofs on t/v will reduce the range.I'am a trucker and my suggestion for best/least cost is to buy a "Cobra 25",buy a 'Wilson" magnet mount antenna (magnet makes your roof a ground plane)And a good co-ax cable.Get 'em on sale at larger truck stops.All you need to talk will run 'bout $100. for radio,$65. antenna,& $10. co-ax.That'll get ya going!Also to extend range and get "swr" set,find a cb shop (near truck stop) and have radio peaked/tuned if you want.You can go upwards of $700. on a strong radio w/channels you'll never use + ham license.I myself run a "Galaxy 48 t" ($550) w/Wilson t2000 antenna's.Need more info,give me a shout....Brian

[Fyrzowt]

Brian,
I have always had a question about that ground plane concept. I can see why it would improve reception with a drilled hole mount with metal to metal contact, but the magnet not making direct contact through the paint layer makes me wonder.
This from someone who knows almost nothing about it, just wondering why/how it works.
Dave

[wanderer1]

Hello Fyrzowt,Just what I've learned around radio shops,something to do with placeing the antenna in the center of the roof makes the roof raydeate (spelling) the signal much better.And the magnet being a larger stronger contact area than a clamp-on type.Radio shop guys told me a mag mount will make the whole roof act like a much larger antenna.If ya really want get out,they say a full size van w/magnet in the center can not be beat!

[Poprivet]

Originally Posted by 85EXCELLA32

"13" is good it's kind of a first number for the teen years anyhow and we all remember 13.

Not me, I remember 15 as that when thing really started happening!!

[waynemorgan]

Originally Posted by Spiffy Gem

Exclusively.

If they have a designated CB channel, then maybe a FRS/GMRS designated channel is in order!

FRS/GMRS units are a lot cheaper, and I would think, owned by more members.

so we can just use ch # 20 for calling and go from there ?

[Airstream25]

Based on the info below, it would seem the best channel to monitor would be 14. Once you make contact, then if you wish, you can move your conversation to any other channel.

Originally Posted by Airstream25

The the 49th International Rally in Salem, Oregon
has posted the following information.
If folks are used to using Ch 14 at International then perhaps it makes sense to just use that channel everywhere. If a common channel is adopted, it would be possible to "give a call" to those we pass on the highways.

11. C B “CITIZEN BAND RADIO”

This can be very important. Its use at the International Rally
keeps you informed daily of changing rally news and weather. The

“CB” Rally Base Station is known as “Wally Byam Control”

(Channel 14) and is open for your inquiries or emergency calls.
They, as well as the Amateur Radio Club, assist caravans and
others approaching the rally grounds. For suggestions in purchasing
and installing a CB, ask a unit member. Many have one,
sometimes two, one in the car and one in the RV. When traveling
with others a CB becomes invaluable.

12. AMATEUR RADIO

This is another valuable group who assists in numerous ways

at the rally. If you are a “Ham Operator”, let this group know of your

interest.

[Airstream25]

DC current does need direct contact of conductors for the electricity to flow however at radio frequencies, the electrical energy can move through the thin air from the transmitter to the receiver. This distance can be miles. By comparison, 5 or 10 thousands of an inch of paint is no problem.

Originally Posted by Fyrzowt

Brian,
I have always had a question about that ground plane concept. I can see why it would improve reception with a drilled hole mount with metal to metal contact, but the magnet not making direct contact through the paint layer makes me wonder.
This from someone who knows almost nothing about it, just wondering why/how it works.
Dave

[gaylejoe]

Purchased a Radio Shack handheld CB a couple of days ago. Looking for a Wilson antenna now. For me, the handheld unit is more flexable than a unit mounted in the vehicle.

[3 Dog Nite]

When traveling alone, I'll have the mobile CB installed set to channel 19 as I drive 18 wheelers. I'll have my hand held plugged into the lighter outlet & monitor channel 14 for other RV'ers who might call out.

[bci]

I have a handheld CB wired to an antenna in my roof. I normally have the system scan channels: 9, 14, 19. It stops if a signal gets past the squelch setting. I normally will move the call off to Single Side Band (SSB) in the 30-40 channel range if possible.

Originally Posted by wanderer1

Hello Fyrzowt,Just what I've learned around radio shops,something to do with placeing the antenna in the center of the roof makes the roof raydeate (spelling) the signal much better.

The best reason for the center of the roof install is to shield the passengers from RF energy the antenna is putting out. Warning, believe it or not, some people run more then 5-10 watts out their CB radios...

If you are a ham, I also monitor the Wins System repeaters and simplex on 147.54. Call: N6ROQ

[SARGE/AF]

For those that do not understand; radio waves do not travel in a straight line as most would think, radio waves bounce like a ball, thus they need something to bounce off from the ground, and the atmospheric cealing, anything in the way thus stops the signal or bounces it in another direction. This is why you hear about line of site because things in the way of a radio signal has a tendacy to stop or redirect the signal, this is also why it is hard to talk to someone over a distance that you can not see them, not that it can not be done, but it is restricted. The centering of an antenna in the roof creates an area for which the signal to bounce off from commonly called a ground plane.
Why a mounted antenna is better than the magnet; everything that puts out/receives electricity (radio waves are basically electricity) needs a ground. The mounting of an antenna grounds this to the system, the same ground that your battery and all electrical stuff in your vehicle is grounded to.
On Channels, Ch 1 is commonly known as the Harley channel and used by Harley riders, 21 is known as the Honda channel used by honda riders, 32-40 is commenly used by people shooting skip (long distance transmissions), 9 emergency channel monitored by some police, 19 is the truckers channel and comunication on this channel do not expect more than 1/4 to 1/2 because of the amount of people on this channel.
Ham Radio & SSB- you should not use these unless you are licensed to do so, fines can be quite high, cost to get a license is very little but offers you a much longer range of comunications through repeaters, and much clearer.