Has anyone ever used a CB radio to talk with their friends?

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SamSamNintendoMan

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#69861 14-Oct-2010 11:43

Hey I was wondering instead of paying cellphone bills me and all my mates could install cb radios in our cars like trucks have, then we could just be like "breaker breaker, what you up to?" haha. Would this work?

graemeh

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#391735 14-Oct-2010 11:54

Yes but you would have a limited range and if it's UHF you would pretty much need to be able to see your mate's car.

Linuxluver

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#391737 14-Oct-2010 11:55

SamSamNintendoMan: Hey I was wondering instead of paying cellphone bills me and all my mates could install cb radios in our cars like trucks have, then we could just be like "breaker breaker, what you up to?" haha. Would this work?

Back in the 70's...yeah. But they have to be nearby. CB range is limited. It used to work for truckers in North America as they would co-operate, relaying messages back and forward up and down the highway. Highly unreliable.

Use txts. Cheaper and far more reliable.

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#391740 14-Oct-2010 11:55

Yes but you need to be licensed I think...

For car convoys, PRS radios are a lot cheaper to get and no license required.

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kyhwana2

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#391745 14-Oct-2010 11:57

Sure, you can buy UHF CB radios for cheap these days. Most handhelds are 2W units (I believe you can buy up to 5W ones).

Be aware that range will be pretty limited. Without a repeater, you can do about 10km line of sight, but in the city you'll be limited to a few kms, depending on terrian/power/etc

There are also repeaters around the country you can use, that will give you a lot more range, but you need to be curtious and use them responsible.

SamSamNintendoMan

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#391748 14-Oct-2010 12:00

oh ok so thats how truckers did it... So you wouldn't be able to use one that would span an area say the size of ponsonby/grey lynn?

Rollux

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#391756 14-Oct-2010 12:16

I used to have a 5w CB mounted in my car - great for road trips!
Range varies a lot - sometimes it would be a couple of kms, sometimes over 30. Depends on weather, surroundings etc.
Just note that anyone can hear you, and join in your conversations. Also, quite a number of people sem to have scanners (inc police), so your conversations are VERY public.
Idle chitchat seems to be frowned upon on most channels as often certain services or trucking groups will use a particular channel for communication in various areas.

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nickb800

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#391767 14-Oct-2010 12:32

$6 per month bestmate on vodafone would probably work out cheaper for unlimited communication given the cost of buying radios

But i understand where you're coming from, CBs are boss!

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kyhwana2

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#391778 14-Oct-2010 12:42

SamSamNintendoMan: oh ok so thats how truckers did it... So you wouldn't be able to use one that would span an area say the size of ponsonby/grey lynn?

There are repeaters in the auckland area.. http://zcat.geek.nz/radio/about/repeaters.php

SamSamNintendoMan

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#391790 14-Oct-2010 12:55

Rollux that's a good point... I forgot the whole thing with cbs is everyone has access to them. And with the $6 bestmate its probably a good idea but I just have this idea in my head of us all talking on the cb to each other hahaha. Thanks for the info about the repeater stations I think with that in mind its definitely feasable. I already have one old unit and I might try and convince my mate to get one and we'll just give it a crack. Its just my mates are all slack as at txting back so it would be cool to be like, "hey, come over"... "sweet will do"