In the age of Google Maps, WhatsApp and GPS, you might be forgiven for thinking that the age of the humble CB radio may have passed.
While we have indeed moved into a digital age, and CB radios are seemingly teetering on the edge of obsoletion, the trusty two-way radio still has plenty of life left. It can provide several benefits for a road trip that modern technology has not quite managed to achieve.
Here are four ways that CB radio can transform your next road trip.
1. Communication
We’re not short on communication these days, with smartphones like mini-computers enabling everything from video calls to social media posts. But cell towers don’t always have the best coverage, especially in rural or less urban areas. It can be dangerous, not to mention lonely, when you find yourself cut off from digital communication channels.
CB radios usually have a range of between 3 and 20 miles. They provide an easy and free way of communicating with others on the road.
On long road trips, a friendly voice at the other end of the receiver can be a welcome distraction to the endless miles of open asphalt. With a good-quality Moonraker antenna, your pool of potential road trip buddies grows considerably.
2. Road Logistics
CB radios are also an excellent way for road users to relay information. In the internet age, you might assume that this may have become redundant. Still, because CBs don’t rely on satellites, you can use them in even the emptiest spots where cell phone coverage cannot reach. They also can come in handy in places where citizens have specifically chosen to forgo their use, such as Green Bank, West Virginia, America’s quietest town.
You can use CB radios to pass on information about traffic jams, road closures, possible re-routing, and the presence of law enforcement on the road. Sure, you can usually find all of this on your GPS, but those little bars vanish every so often, and you’re left to fend for yourself.
3. Emergency Situations
The most important use of CB radios is during emergencies when cell phone coverage has failed. Whether it’s hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, or earthquakes, finding yourself in such a situation can be scary, but a CB radio can make all the difference.
When it comes to crunch time, you will do well to have a CB radio in your vehicle as your backup for calling emergency responders.
4. Go Old School
Road trips once involved long, boring stretches filled with games and the constant refrain, “are we there yet?” Today’s long journeys involve a car full of people staring down at a phone in complete silence.
Not so with a CB radio. You can learn about the complex CB radio language and codes. It’s like stepping back in time and can be wonderfully fun for the whole family.
Ever wondered what a 10-99 is? Or what “sheepdog, got your ears on” means? Why not find out and completely transform those quiet road trips.
Conclusion
CB radios are experiencing a slow renaissance as more people use them in their vehicles and at home. We may not need them all the time. Still, they are indispensable in emergencies and as a way of relaying important information in areas with poor cell phone coverage. Modern technology is great, but let’s not forget the classic favorites and their unique use in the 21st Century.
