Got a CB in my truck, what is the weird whistling sound? and why do the ‘nerds’ go on to channels that lorry drivers use and complain about the swearing? 
Are you sure she’s Polish, sounds like “Olga”. She’s all over Ten Metres as well, she’s a Russian (Shed loads of Russian Taxi Firms)
s3.zetaboards.com/copythat/topic/7526200/1/#new
Scarab:
I keep trying, got a CB and wired it up to a ciggy plug (was on agency at the time) but finding a decent antenna which is mag mount and not metres long was a nightmare, found several recommended ones and no stock anywhere, tried several times now but i want something i can keep moving from truck to truck and a 80cm+ aerial is no good to me, but given how apparently useless anything under that, is, nobody seems to stock them.
I don’t know if you can still buy them but the best CB antena in the UK or the world in my oppinion has always been ‘The Modulator’ recognisable by it’s ■■■■■■■■■ coil extending about 10 inches from base and a yellow band round the bottom with a 5 ft whip attatched to a six inch wide mag base. i wish I could get hold of one of my old Modulators over here.
CB’s used to be good fun at one time but after moving over here I find not such fun. I don’t even use a CB handle anymore, as for directions etc I don’t bother asking because there are so many idiots who find it amusing to give wrong information it’s not worth the hassle, I am constantly hearing guys saying there is a 5 mile line for the G W bridge and found no delays whatsoever when I got there, when countless others took the advise and went up 17 and around to the Tappan Zee a very long way off route and a good hour extra. there are also so many stupid idiots yacking away with crap in NYC area that I actually turn it off completely, I get into too many rows.
modulator antenas are still made and sold in the uk by wallen industries !
these days sirio make some of the best you can buy
moose
Pat Hasler:
CB’s used to be good fun at one time but after moving over here I find not such fun. I don’t even use a CB handle anymore, as for directions etc I don’t bother asking because there are so many idiots who find it amusing to give wrong information it’s not worth the hassle, I am constantly hearing guys saying there is a 5 mile line for the G W bridge and found no delays whatsoever when I got there, when countless others took the advise and went up 17 and around to the Tappan Zee a very long way off route and a good hour extra. there are also so many stupid idiots yacking away with crap in NYC area that I actually turn it off completely, I get into too many rows.
And that Pat, is one reason why you should take your ham ticket.
Ken.
Do you need a licence to operate a CB radio in the U.K.?
howatsi:
Do you need a licence to operate a CB radio in the U.K.?
From what I’ve been told, no. Can CBs interfere with say control towers? We’re not meant to use them on Raf Brize yet security ask us to check where the other lorries are so they can leave a truck lane clear to let us through together. I would’ve thought control towers would be on a frequency well away from cbs anyway…
Scarab:
And the big decider for me, do you have to use that ruddy identifier number thing? Why can’t I just be Alex J from Eastbourne? is it some kind of willy waving contest? Lower the number the older you are and the bigger your coax or something?
You only have to use it once every 15 minutes. Some of the older hams do go overboard and my mate and I take great delight ripping the pi$$ out of them.
But its a small price to pay to be able to have a conversation with someone for more than 5 minutes and get some halfway intellectual conversation.
howatsi:
Do you need a licence to operate a CB radio in the U.K.?
No. They got rid of the licence over a decade ago.
Moose:
modulator antenas are still made and sold in the uk by wallen industries !
these days sirio make some of the best you can buy
moose
Next time I am in the UK I’ll try and get one 
Muckaway:
howatsi:
Do you need a licence to operate a CB radio in the U.K.?From what I’ve been told, no. Can CBs interfere with say control towers? We’re not meant to use them on Raf Brize yet security ask us to check where the other lorries are so they can leave a truck lane clear to let us through together. I would’ve thought control towers would be on a frequency well away from cbs anyway…
You always did when I lived there but I never renewed mine after the first one. I got stopped once by the post office officials to ask for mine, I told them it was not my truck and the CB was another drivers, they let me go.
I prefered the UK’s FM to this AM we have here.
FM follows the line of the land so providing nobody is broadcasting on the same channel as you between you and who ever you are talking to the signal can be amazing. I often pulled on to Woodhall services and sat chatting to my mate sitting on Leicester forrest east services as clear as a bell with just a regular 4 watt radio … and my modulator ofcourse
AM signal travels in a straight line and any curvature of the earth or hill for instance wipes out the signal, one advantage however is the straight line signal bounces off things like the atmosphere etc causing skip so you can actually hear people a few thousand miles away on good day’s but you need extra power to talk back.
As for using a CB as you drive ? technically lots of things you have in your cab are ilegal 
There are law prohibiting TV or other screens in view of the driver … so if you really want to get into it SATNAVS are breaking that law.
I started on CBs in 1980 when they were the illegal US ones, you used to buy them in pubs from Irish drivers who had been using them long before we did, they were that rare in UK then that you used to drive down Mway looking for other users with whip aerials or DB47s, (or is that a gun? ) the trend was to use the US 10-4 type jargon/BS, after seeing the Convoy movie of the time Brit drivers thought they were Chris Kristofferson/Rubberduck 
in their TK Bedfords, Mk2 Atkis and A series ERFs , I even used to take it out and put it in the car at weekends, that really Pd off my then girlfriend . After complaints from 999services and Model aeroplane enthusiasts 
about interference the sets were banned, and replaced by the licenced UK sets which were totally crap in terms of range comparison. I stopped using mine about 10to12yrs ago when the airwaves became swamped by a/holes & D/heads of all persuasions but if what you say is right and it is OK again now, I might dig it out of the loft and use it but if I forget myself and say " 10-4 Good bud" 
run me off the road for Christ,s Sake (By the way sorry if I,ve bored the arses off you all with my Trucking History lesson
My first post so thought I would try to be sensible
yes it is still legal to us a radio mic in the cab, but be warned the powers that be get round this if they are in vindictive mood by saying that you are not in FULL control of the vehicle and can use driving without due care and attention to get round the problem.
I will dig out the exact law details concerning the use of radio’s in vehicle so you can shove it under the nose of plod and post it as soon as I can find it.
For those of you that like to use radio, you may find amateur radio gives you many more options than CB’s which mostly work within a 10 mile radius if your lucky, If anyone is inetersted I would give more details if asked. For cab hoppers, it is easier to have a fully portable ham set up than a CB one, and it is easier to hide in your bag. The antennas can be as small as 14’’ including the mag mount.
Finally, if there are any full amateur licence holders running volvo fh12 with fridges, what antennas do you use for 80 & 40m , and do you have any problems, I operate mostly on 20 and above with no prob but LF is almost unusable.
cheers
radioshack
radioshack:
Finally, if there are any full amateur licence holders running volvo fh12 with fridges, what antennas do you use for 80 & 40m , and do you have any problems, I operate mostly on 20 and above with no prob but LF is almost unusable.cheers
radioshack
Little Tarheel II with a 6ft whip on the car but you need to drill holes as even a triple magmount doesn’t give a good enough ground. I usually work stateside on a night time on 40m mobile on the way back from my radio club meets.
howatsi:
Do you need a licence to operate a CB radio in the U.K.?
No.
radioshack:
My first post so thought I would try to be sensible
Welcome RS and, don’t worry, you were. 
For those of you that like to use radio, you may find amateur radio gives you many more options than CB’s which mostly work within a 10 mile radius if your lucky, If anyone is inetersted I would give more details if asked. For cab hoppers, it is easier to have a fully portable ham set up than a CB one, and it is easier to hide in your bag. The antennas can be as small as 14’’ including the mag mount
I looked into this a few years ago but with the added complication of doing the exam in French and the apparent expense of homebased equipment I put it off. There is a Scottish chap lives not far away who is a ham operator and the French secretary of my nearest club is about 70 kms distant.
Now, after 9 years of retirement, I am back on the road with a car on a part time basis and what you wrote above struck a cord, so perhaps you could give me some details of the cheaper options for mobile ham radio.