Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Federal Communications Commission established the CB radio spectrum in 1940 for short-distance communication. Since then, these radios have become popular for travelers as well as truckers that spend most of their time on the road. A Citizens Band radio has 40 channels which are individual frequencies. Channel 9 is considered the official emergency channel for road users as designated by the government. Even the highway patrol monitors this channel to communicate with truckers and listen for emergency help requests. The ability to quickly talk to other drivers in the area may make the CB radio valuable.
There are two main types of CB radios: mobile and portable. Mobile radios are designed to be mounted more permanently in a vehicle or at a fixed station such as a home. These radios often have to be connected to a large car battery or cigarette lighter power system in order to work. One beneficial aspect of mobile radios is their ability to operate longer than portable radios. For people that will be on the road frequently and for long periods of time, a mobile Citizens Band radio would be the best option for road emergencies.
Users that plan to take their radio with them instead of having it permanently attached to the car may want to use a portable CB radio. Portable radios offer the flexibility of carrying the device with you away from the car. Some of the high-quality portables are often waterproof and come with a rechargeable battery. It’s possible to connect portable radios to a vehicle’s power source by means of a cigarette power outlet adapter. A portable CB radio may not be the best option for road emergencies since it’s usually not connected to a car battery and has a weaker gain antenna, resulting in shorter transmission distances than a mobile transceiver with an external antenna attached.
To get the best signal, use a mobile radio with a magnetic mount antenna on top of the vehicle. These antennas can also be removed and don't require you to drill any holes in the vehicle. Remember, channel 9 is designated for emergencies only. If you decide to connect the radio to a car battery, use a fuse system for safety reasons. Always have spare fuses during long road trips.
Being on the road may also mean the possibility of experiencing dangerous weather conditions. Tornadoes, large hail and high winds can cause damage to vehicles and passengers. The best CB radio devices have built-in NOAA Weather Radio functionality. This is a free broadcast system that provides 24-hour-a-day weather information across the United States. You can listen to important weather information with the touch of a button. Some radio models also include a weather alert function that sounds an alarm in the event of a severe weather warning. Being quickly informed of threatening weather can save your life.