Popularity of CB radio?

I have installed my new CB a few days ago, having had one about 19 years ago in my "Yoof". Back then they were popular, and in my home town back then loads of people were using them.

Anyway, I got one for trips out with my 4x4 club (Surrey and Hants Off Road Club). I was out tonight driving down to the south coast and thought I would stick it on scan to see what I could pick up on the way. Nothing. So a 100 mile round trip, and not a bean. Either my rig is rubbish or nobody is using them anymore. Not even the truckers and I saw plenty of them.

So I guess other than die hards and the needs must, smart phones, texting, Facebook and Twitter have really taken over :dry:

Wishes we had that peace and quiet here in Oz. :blink:

GuardianAngel wrote: I have installed my new CB a few days ago, having had one about 19 years ago in my "Yoof". Back then they were popular, and in my home town back then loads of people were using them.

Anyway, I got one for trips out with my 4x4 club (Surrey and Hants Off Road Club). I was out tonight driving down to the south coast and thought I would stick it on scan to see what I could pick up on the way. Nothing. So a 100 mile round trip, and not a bean. Either my rig is rubbish or nobody is using them anymore. Not even the truckers and I saw plenty of them.

So I guess other than die hards and the needs must, smart phones, texting, Facebook and Twitter have really taken over :dry:

I found exactly the same, I was amazed how few people were on air!

In the 80s and 90s there were loads of people on, but I've driven for hours on motorways and had next to nothing even with a good aerial all setup correctly via swr. I don't even bother trying now.

I also thought maybe I had a crap rig, or my aerial was shit, but after buying a bigger more powerful and better quality aerial, buying the swr meter and tuning the aerial perfectly it was the same. It's just there are so few people on air in my opinion.

Do you folks use specific channels for special interests like we do in Oz?

Here is the Oz Channels and you'll note very few restrictions.

uhfcb.com.au/80-Channel-UHF-Information.php

Of course, if you have the CB set to scan you should pick up more conversations but don't be afraid to initiate calls yourself.

I caravan a lot so I mostly use Ch 18.

Our 4wd group uses Ch 10, as do most CB'ers.

Lots of truckers on Ch 21

The trouble with CB radio in the UK is that it got ruined by the youths in the 80s/90s, all the serious people that wanted to continue using radio moved over to ameature radio as you need a licence to operate.

I live near Felixstowe, very large port so plenty of lorries and i rarely hear any chatter on CB, whereas our local ameature radio repeater sees alot of use!!!

Farms still use it. In the tractor, whatever channel I'm on, whatever corner of Norfolk or Suffolk I'm in, I nearly always pick up conversations but they are mostly in other languages!?