CB Radio

CB etiquette 101

1- This is not a trucker movie. Just talk normally. Leave the"10/4 Good Buddy" & " Smokey Bear" lingo back in the 70's where it belongs.

2- Be kind and respectful. The anonymity of a mic causes some people to turn into immature children. Don't be that person.

3- Nobody cares if it's your favorite song or Bible verse. Don't play it on the radio, we don't want to hear it.

4- If you are riding along with another truck and want to have a long conversation, take it to another channel. Leave 19 open for short, informative communications. The guy riding a mile behind you may want to continue monitoring the channel without listening to you two babble on.

5- If someone warns you and other drivers of a hazard / road delay, give them a quick thank you.

6- Warn others in kind.

7- Trust no one's story. The guy didn't really leave his wallet at home, the gold necklace he's selling for gas money isn't real, and the radio Rambo isn't really going to meet you in the parking lot to kick your ass. They're all trolling you.

That all seems like common sense, to me. But, that's my perspective. Great to have an itemized list of things to consider. For myself, I decided to get the radio for weather information and road conditions, so I won't be spending much time in conversation.

That all seems like common sense, to me. But, that's my perspective. Great to have an itemized list of things to consider. For myself, I decided to get the radio for weather information and road conditions, so I won't be spending much time in conversation.

It really is common sense. There are still days you'll run into people having a conversation but most days it's quiet. You'll find that although there's alot of immature idiots on the CB at times if you ignore them for a couple minutes they'll shut up. Although there was one day in a backup he couldn't have been too far from me and every 30 seconds kept whispering he ain't wearin any panties. I've also heard stories of people getting on the radio and telling mega drivers that they're reporting them to their company for texting/driving, not maintaining lane or any other unsafe behavior, unless that driver pulls over and gives them money (usually $100) regardless if it's true or not. Had some knucklehead driver going off on a racist rant one early morning. After he was done I just happened to pass him and he said he has dashcam video of said incident (him running mouth) that he was submitting to my company so they can see the kind of people they're hiring. He also said to pull over at the next exit and $300 can make it go away. I laughed at him and kept trucking.

Let people run their mouth if they choose. Getting involved in an argument on the CB is pointless and won't solve anything.

I got on with another driver this morning from Cadiz, KY all the way to Cartersville, GA. That long a conversation happens about once a year for me.

Company shop hooked up my radio for me, but I am not able to pick up any of the weather channels. I press the "weather" button which brings up those channels (7 of them) and then select "scan." Nothing. Even while driving near Cleveland on 271 to 90, nothing on weather channels. This was the main purpose for me to get the radio, so if these are not working for me, I feel like I have a piece of hardware just sitting there.

Suggestions?

Company shop hooked up my radio for me, but I am not able to pick up any of the weather channels. I press the "weather" button which brings up those channels (7 of them) and then select "scan." Nothing. Even while driving near Cleveland on 271 to 90, nothing on weather channels. This was the main purpose for me to get the radio, so if these are not working for me, I feel like I have a piece of hardware just sitting there.

Suggestions?

Maybe they didn’t connect the antenna cable. A quick way to check, besides checking the back of the cb, is to quickly press and release the mic. Button. If the SWR meter goes above two, it’s probably not connected. Don’t hold the mic button for too long if the meter is above two, or you might fry your transmitter. If the antenna is not connected, it’s a quick fix. Many of the trucks factory radios have weather channels.

Company shop hooked up my radio for me, but I am not able to pick up any of the weather channels. I press the "weather" button which brings up those channels (7 of them) and then select "scan." Nothing. Even while driving near Cleveland on 271 to 90, nothing on weather channels. This was the main purpose for me to get the radio, so if these are not working for me, I feel like I have a piece of hardware just sitting there.

Suggestions?

Ran that by Tom, Ryan . . . TCB is right. Personally (well, Tom's words...) if possible, get the company to look at it when you swing by, or stop into that Bob's place off the '80. You'll be so glad you did.

Yep, don't over key the mic until you get this looked at, or figure it out . . . with help from Bob's, haha!

TCB, not getting what you mean by antenna not hooked up/connected??? The 'other' channels work; wouldn't that be indicative of an antenna supporting the SWR? Fuse, perhaps? All above, not my words . . . but, I'd have it looked at, for sure.

Best y'all!

~ Anne & (sleepy) Tom~

Company shop hooked up my radio for me, but I am not able to pick up any of the weather channels. I press the "weather" button which brings up those channels (7 of them) and then select "scan." Nothing. Even while driving near Cleveland on 271 to 90, nothing on weather channels. This was the main purpose for me to get the radio, so if these are not working for me, I feel like I have a piece of hardware just sitting there.

Suggestions?

Maybe they didn’t connect the antenna cable. A quick way to check, besides checking the back of the cb, is to quickly press and release the mic. Button. If the SWR meter goes above two, it’s probably not connected. Don’t hold the mic button for too long if the meter is above two, or you might fry your transmitter. If the antenna is not connected, it’s a quick fix. Many of the trucks factory radios have weather channels.

Winter weather will be coming before too long, so I took advantage of a $20 discount on Uniden CBs at Pilot/Flying J, on top of having $28 in points saved to get a CB radio with weather bands. My statements on CBs are well known here. I am sharing this to show good faith that I am not completely refusing to acknowledge the validity of opinions expressed by other drivers. I asked company shop to connect it and they got right on it.

Good for you, Ryan!!

The gang shall be proud of ya ~ Tom says kudos ... decent unit, especially if you've gotten it peaked and tuned!

Not sure if the company shop does all that, but there are MANY great stops & shops in the vicinity that'll do that for a decent price. I'm sure those in the know on TT will chime in; but if you run the I'80 in PA, Bob's is one of the best, per the Tomster.

Best to ya, good sir.

~ Anne ~

Yeah, getting your CB “peaked and tuned.” I wonder if that’s exactly the same as getting the undercoating put on your car. As Puddy (car salesman) said on Seinfeld, ‘we don’t know what that is.’

Company shop hooked up my radio for me, but I am not able to pick up any of the weather channels. I press the "weather" button which brings up those channels (7 of them) and then select "scan." Nothing. Even while driving near Cleveland on 271 to 90, nothing on weather channels. This was the main purpose for me to get the radio, so if these are not working for me, I feel like I have a piece of hardware just sitting there.

Suggestions?

Maybe they didn’t connect the antenna cable. A quick way to check, besides checking the back of the cb, is to quickly press and release the mic. Button. If the SWR meter goes above two, it’s probably not connected. Don’t hold the mic button for too long if the meter is above two, or you might fry your transmitter. If the antenna is not connected, it’s a quick fix. Many of the trucks factory radios have weather channels.

So how do I connect the antenna? I followed the owner's manual in calibrating the radio. I checked the connection on the back of the radio. I turned on the SWR function and with a quick mic button press, way past 2. I briefly picked up a weather transmission EB I 86 near Corning Airport. With the coax connected to the radio, that means the issue is a connection somewhere between the coax cable and the antenna. Should I just buy an antenna, rather than asking company shop to troubleshoot the truck's antenna connection?

Company shop hooked up my radio for me, but I am not able to pick up any of the weather channels. I press the "weather" button which brings up those channels (7 of them) and then select "scan." Nothing. Even while driving near Cleveland on 271 to 90, nothing on weather channels. This was the main purpose for me to get the radio, so if these are not working for me, I feel like I have a piece of hardware just sitting there.

Suggestions?

Maybe they didn’t connect the antenna cable. A quick way to check, besides checking the back of the cb, is to quickly press and release the mic. Button. If the SWR meter goes above two, it’s probably not connected. Don’t hold the mic button for too long if the meter is above two, or you might fry your transmitter. If the antenna is not connected, it’s a quick fix. Many of the trucks factory radios have weather channels.

So how do I connect the antenna? I followed the owner's manual in calibrating the radio. I checked the connection on the back of the radio. I turned on the SWR function and with a quick mic button press, way past 2. I briefly picked up a weather transmission EB I 86 near Corning Airport. With the coax connected to the radio, that means the issue is a connection somewhere between the coax cable and the antenna. Should I just buy an antenna, rather than asking company shop to troubleshoot the truck's antenna connection?

Dang man, I don't know . . . wish I saw this earlier; Tom's not here to ask. Hope somebody else on here replies. Do you have ANY external antenna, at all, now?

If you're heading in to the company shop; what've you got to lose? If you're closer to Bob's on the 80 (or 84? I forget...) I'd stop in there, even if just for free advice, or an antenna suggestion.

I sure hope one of the previous 'guys' stop in; It's been a few years since I was 'educated' at all in this.

Like TCB said; the company installed it, right? Did they have anything to say about running/adding the external antenna? Gosh I wish I had more.

Hang in! At least you can squawk accidents/incidents back & forth for now. Weather isn't supposed to be hitting, until tomorrow.

Be safe, man.

~ Anne ~

Dang man, I don't know . . . wish I saw this earlier; Tom's not here to ask. Hope somebody else on here replies. Do you have ANY external antenna, at all, now?

If you're heading in to the company shop; what've you got to lose? If you're closer to Bob's on the 80 (or 84? I forget...) I'd stop in there, even if just for free advice, or an antenna suggestion.

I sure hope one of the previous 'guys' stop in; It's been a few years since I was 'educated' at all in this.

Like TCB said; the company installed it, right? Did they have anything to say about running/adding the external antenna? Gosh I wish I had more.

Hang in! At least you can squawk accidents/incidents back & forth for now. Weather isn't supposed to be hitting, until tomorrow.

Be safe, man.

~ Anne ~

Waiting to get loaded in Medford, MA with a load going to Columbus. No idea when I will be back at company yard. I have two external antennae. I know that at least one is connected to something because satellite radio works. I really figured that when I asked company shop to hook the CB radio up that they would make sure it's ready to go. I didn't expect them to tune it and everything, just have it ready to transmit and receive so that I would be able to calibrate it and tune it. From seeing several YouTube videos on this radio, it's not one that needs to be opened up and adjusted. Basically, the adjustments needed are a good length antenna that is properly grounded (already installed on these trucks), calibration through radio settings, squelch for receiving signals, and SWR. I would kind of be going out of my way to stop at Bob's CB (junction of I-80 and US-322) on my way to Columbus. Since antennae on these trucks are internally wired through mirror housing, I thought to myself that it might be easier for me to buy a mag mount antenna to hook up myself.

The company shop said that the radio was hooked up and ready to go. Nothing further was said about it.

So far, the only transmission that I have picked up is a weather transmission from the Corning Airport as I passed it on I-86. I was at a big DC in Westfield, MA last night with probably 300 trucks there at any given time and I had nothing on 9 and 19. Pretty sure that if the radio were picking anything up that something would have come across with that many trucks docked or parked on the staging pad. I am not going to try to transmit because SWR is way above 2. I don't want to risk frying transmitter.

Well, I will say that the radio is pretty nice. I really like the option for two display settings (day/night). No concern for having to brighten/dim display according to time of day. This split display setting also allows different display colors for the split setting. Once I get the connection issue figured out, I am sure that it will serve Its purpose for me well.