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If I’m not yapping on the local 2m repeater, then I can often be found on 20m or 40m ssb, getting those all important dx contacts into the log.
Ken.
Simples! 
Cheers Quinny!
i quote "but can you ask the bloke heading north on the M6 what the traffic’s like around junction ten? "
Yes, just put a call out on GB3CF ( 2meter repeater)
Has massive coverage, very popular with tracking amateurs for that reason
covers M6 J1 to j9 (thou its workable, from j19~17 also) and a big chunk of the M1 (j15 ~ j28)
so you could get that traffic report, well before your on the M6
see coverage map… http://www.ukrepeater.net/repeaters/maps/gb3cf-hi.jpg
for station above J8 M6 you need GB3VT http://www.ukrepeater.net/repeaters/maps/gb3vt-hi.jpg
(and were just discusing the Midlands here, whole country has coverage, inculding low-population areas)
Beyond the Midlands, gb3in is very popular, as it covers a massive area
see map, M1 junction 23 - 33 no problem http://www.ukrepeater.net/repeaters/maps/gb3in-hi.jpg
with a half desent antenna at both ends, anyone inside the purple-coloured-zone, will be able to work anyone else
inside same zone just as if there local to each other (ie SOILD SIGNALS)
for better idea of the coverage of whole country using 2mter repeaters see,
http://www.ukrepeater.net/channels/maps/2m-hi.jpg
and remember this is just one BAND…
Someone asked, whats the mobile to mobile range, well on 2 meters,
because very effective anennas are much smaller than on CB-Radio)
its quite possiable to have a full 5/8wave antenna mounted on the cab roof
(on 27megs/cb band, same antenna would be impractical as its 25ft long, but on 2mters, 4ft long)
asuming your talking direct (just like on CB-radio) not using a repeater.
tipical range about 8~12 miles, using 10watts each end (and ten watts is low power)
2 meters is very popular for mobile work, for two main reasons
The rigs are low-cost (mine cost £140), and a effective antenna isnt very large
(ie lenght, about same CB antenna’s commonly fitted to trucks) !
And ho yep, if your cabs a real TALL Bridge clipper, a 1/4wave is only 500mm tall [on 2 meter band] 
joemaxi:
Gotta ask- whats a repeater?
ask again. 
my cb is a cobra, its output is 40w am/fm, and 100w sideband. i only use it on am though.
Also a “Ham” M0LAG, Hello Ken, was on CB for 25 years, but got my first ham licence in 2004. The whole set up is better, the repeaters are really good for extending the range, as Quinny said it can be a hundred miles +, and if weather conditions are right, continental working is not out of the question. Whatever you do Ken don’t tell 'em on here i’m only a white van man…DOH!
Bugadifino:
Also a “Ham” M0LAG, Hello Ken, was on CB for 25 years, but got my first ham licence in 2004. The whole set up is better, the repeaters are really good for extending the range, as Quinny said it can be a hundred miles +, and if weather conditions are right, continental working is not out of the question. Whatever you do Ken don’t tell 'em on here i’m only a white van man…DOH!
Just so people know…
Dave is one of the aforemetioned guys in my posting above, who did the coast to coast contact, so he can tell you at first hand how good a range can be achieved through a repeater.
And if anyone on here is in the Wakefield area on a Thursday evening, around 7.30pm and wants to see a ham radio set up at first hand, then let me know, and you can come along to our club as my guest, and see what it’s all about. And if your parked up in the lorry park, I’ll pick you up and drop you off, as it’s only 5 minutes from that.
Ken.
I do a bit of agency work from time to time and have taken an FT-790 with me. Its not easy having extra gear to load into a motor every time, but useful at times and a great way to pass on time whilst driving - plus not every truck has 12 volts available and an dc-dc converter is yet more stuff to hump! Don’t think I will take my 2M set, truck mobile - its a classic FT-480R - but at least its big enough to fix if something goes wrong, not like some of these tiny modern sets.
I’m rarely heard on any band these days - just spend too much time on the internet! Ham radio however still fascinates me - how many people never consider how a signal gets from transmitter to receiver? Indeed most of us use mobile phones - and they don’t work by magic!
I’ll listen out for those callsigns mentioned above.
BTW although my callsign is very old - i’m not so old
DE G3VC
limeyphil:
my cb is a cobra, its output is 40w am/fm, and 100w sideband. i only use it on am though.
I used to use a converted Sony Walkman and a straightend out wire coathanger on an old oxo tin in the truck 
Smart Mart…
Ah, the FT480, my first radio, I also had the matching FT780.
Signal report sent out “You are 5 lemons, 2 oranges and 3 cherries Old Man”.
I also had the Icom IC2E and the IC4E and used to go up the hills near Matlock. These were handhelds with 1.5 watts on 2 metres and 1 watt on 70 cms and I used to put big mobile whips on them (7/8 on 2 and 3*5/8 on 70) I held the base of the whips to avoid breaking the BNC connector . With that flea power I regularily worked 50 miles.
Unfortunately they won’t let us use anything when driving the buses 
I used to carry my Icom IC32e dual band hand held (2m & 70cm ie 144Mhz & 432Mhz) but had my bag nicked out of the bus when I nipped to the bog en route one day(luckily I still had it in my pocket and hadn’t put it back into my bag) so tend to leave it at home now. I also have a Yaesu FT290 to use in the car (when i can be bothered to connect it up) As anyone who knows about these things will have spotted by now I haven’t spent a lot on updating my rigs for some years now .Callsign G6OPD (but seldom heard)
Around 6/7 years ago the airwaves around the Midlands,Cambridgeshire,Norfolk and Suffolk were
alive with the sounds and “smell” of Diesel.
Due the efforts of thr GRIM REAPER and changes of jobs and the like , the 2m air is clear.
RIP… G0DKE…G6RNN…
For Steve-o’s benefit heres a link
rsgb.org/local/clubs/index.php#region1clubs
For others have a root around here
G8YNW…did you used to drive a road sweeper round a works in Lincoln?
If so I met you years ago.
No, that wasnt me. Up to 1997 I lived and worked in the Chesterfield area.
Last weekend My wife (M0LUY Lucy) and I were helping out at the National Hamfest at Newark Showground.
Alot of work but fun, sorry, I should have posted it on here, I’ll remember for next year.
M0SRW reporting in mostly on 40m from the mobile when iam in belgium !!
MW6KHZ
My club are currently just off J38 M1 doing a field weekend, finishing tomorrow.
Today I have worked China, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Thirsk (Yes I know it’s only up the road.) under the club callsign of G1WRS and running 400w through a Yaesu FT990 into a Cushcraft A3S with 17m add on.
If I can get back early enough tomorrow morning, there’s a good chance of Hawaii and maybe Australia.
Ken.