Walkie talkie is very popular as a communication tool in all walks of life. Especially when it shows up in some hit films. But as a type of two-way radio, CB radios are less seen on the market or in movies and TV shows. One may wonder if CB radios are out of date. Do truckers still use CB radios?
The answer is yes. Truckers still use CB radios off the road. That’s saying CB is not dead. CB radio has much knowledge worth learning.
CB radios play an important part in helping truck drivers connect with partners. They can use CB radios to communicate about traffic situations or to call for help in an emergency. In addition to truckers, more amateurs also prefer CB radios. CB radio operators also have their lingo to communicate.
What are CB radios?
CB(Citizen Band) radio is a land mobile wireless system. CB radios operate on the 11 Meter Band between 26.965 MHz and 27.405 MHz. I won’t go into detail about CB radios here. You can learn from this if you want to learn about the differences between CB radios and other radios.
Why are CB radios so popular among truckers and hams?
- Require no license: CB radios don’t need a license to operate. It’s convenient and economical. While other licenses, such as amateur licenses, need investing money and time to pass exams.
- More channels: Normal walkie-talkies (typical analog radios) only have 16 or 22 channels, including PMR446 and FRS radios. At the same time, CB radios have 40 or 80 CB channels, which can greatly meet truckers’ needs.
- Wider coverage: Compared with walkie-talkies with the same output power, CB radios have a wider coverage. CB radios can transmit signals over several miles to keep truckers connected off the road.
- More features: Walkie-talkies usually are capable of VOX hands-free function, flashlight, NOAA weather channel. CB radios may have additional features like adjustable power, an external antenna to set up, and SQL.
How to Choose CB Radios?
First of all, CB radios are categorized into handheld radios and car/mobile radios. You need to be clear about where and how you are going to use it. If you are driving a large truck or a big sizeable SUV, then go for mobile CB radio. Mobile CB radios are mostly compact in design and can be mounted next to the seat, or on the center console. You can get the information from the big LCD colorful screen.
If you drive a small sedan/wagon, mainly to maintain communication with other vehicles while traveling, then you can opt for a handheld CB radio. Don’t worry about the operation of PTT. you can turn on the VOX feature for hands-free.
Conclusion
There are many CB radio manufacturers in the market, such as Cobra and Midland. You can consult these professionals before investing in CB radios. Chierda is also a professional CB radio manufacturer. We have handheld CB radio CB27, SSB CB radio S890, and compact CB radio M110 for you to enjoy CB radio fun. You can contact us if you have any questions.