CB Tips

Hello, I just got a CB, Pilot was kind enough to give me a free Uniden Bearcat 880 (used my points) it was $74.99 after a $75 digital rebate. What should I know about which channels to use/not use, etiquette during use, legalities of use and questionable lingo I need to learn the meaning of? Any tips will be appreciated. I am down today so I'm installing it now. Also any good or bad about the radio I got? I know there are a ton of previous posts, I have read a few and will read more so thanks for any help given.

Channel 19 is where driver's are by default. Sometimes if im behind an oversized truck with pilot cars and I don't hear them talking on 19, I'll put my CB on scan and find their channel to listen. The lead pilot car gives it a lot of useful information.

Turning your squelch down will allow you to hear driver's much further away, but you will be listening to constant background noise. Turn your squelch up to get rid of that background noise, and you'll only be able to hear driver's that are in very close proximity to you.

The term "Good Buddy" nowadays has become a very derogatory term. Do not use it.

You have a very good radio. I have the 980 which is the same radio but with Single Side Band functionality. SSB is very very rarely used.

Channel 19 is where driver's are by default. Sometimes if im behind an oversized truck with pilot cars and I don't hear them talking on 19, I'll put my CB on scan and find their channel to listen. The lead pilot car gives it a lot of useful information.

Turning your squelch down will allow you to hear driver's much further away, but you will be listening to constant background noise. Turn your squelch up to get rid of that background noise, and you'll only be able to hear driver's that are in very close proximity to you.

The term "Good Buddy" nowadays has become a very derogatory term. Do not use it.

You have a very good radio. I have the 980 which is the same radio but with Single Side Band functionality. SSB is very very rarely used.

Thanks. I did know about "good buddy" it could either get you into a serious fight or unwanted company at the truck stop...lol but that's the only term I know not to use. I will probably not talk on it much but I hear it's useful for many reasons, besides, I've been saving points for a large purchase so it worked out great since I already have a cooler.

I have the same CB and it serves me well. Its really easy to use and set up and is pretty clear on the stock Freightliner antenna.

Try to keep the volume where you can hear it incase someone is trying to contact you or warn about something.

Channel 9 is for emergencies it is generally monitored by state police so if you have no cell coverage you can try that.

Also ignore the silliness you will hear

If at some point you do decide to talk much, invest in a better mic, a noise cancelling one to be specific. Mine has proven useful a few times so far.

If at some point you do decide to talk much, invest in a better mic, a noise cancelling one to be specific. Mine has proven useful a few times so far.

It came with a noise cancelling mic, I dont know how good it is but hopefully it's not too bad. I'll probably just listen in until I get a feel for it unless someone's talking to me for or about something I need to respond to.

I have the same CB and it serves me well. Its really easy to use and set up and is pretty clear on the stock Freightliner antenna.

Try to keep the volume where you can hear it incase someone is trying to contact you or warn about something.

Channel 9 is for emergencies it is generally monitored by state police so if you have no cell coverage you can try that.

Also ignore the silliness you will hear

I had it hooked up in about 20 minutes, I've had it on scan and just listened a little bit. I have heard stories about some of the "silliness" on them. It's actually one reason why I've held off so long on getting one. Big Booty Judy being a funny one I've heard or read someone mention.

It came with screws and a mic holder, what are some better ways of mounting the mic that doesn't require me putting holes in the trim? Maybe something easier to move the mic like those bungee type lanyards. I would hate to put screws in the trim of a company truck.

I bought the Gear keeper cb keeper it works well and prevents you from putting holes in dash and makes it accessible

Make sure that your SWR reading is not going over 2.0 during transmission. It could fry your transistor finals. The Cascadia antenna is probably already tuned to keep SWR low.

For the most part it's pretty quiet on the CB except for people blasting music which usually stops when nobody gives them the reaction they want. With winter coming you'll hear alot more activity on it.

I have heard stories about some of the "silliness" on them. It's actually one reason why I've held off so long on getting one. Big Booty Judy being a funny one I've heard or read someone mention.

I forgot about that! For those curious, Andhe78 had said this in regards to some of the silliness being entertaining

They’re not- just this morning spent 45 minutes in Chicago traffic listening to a guy say “big booty Judy” over and over.

I used the search function on this website for big booty Judy. Surely had I used Google I'd have MUCH different results

I used the search function on this website for big booty Judy. Surely had I used Google I'd have MUCH different results

Kinda like when I was using Google to find British Broadcasting Channel but I searched their acronym BBC..........guess I should have searched for the actual article I wanted to see....who new.