CB Radio Usage

Citizen’s band radios (CB Radios for short) were quite the rage in the late 1970s and early to mid 1980s. These days it seems like truckers are some of the few people that still use them. Most others have abandoned them for cell phones or the small hand held walkie talkies the mass retailers sell everywhere, or have moved on to newer technology. You will hear from users of the new technology about its superior range and clarity etc. This is the FRS (Family radio service) and GMRS (General mobile radio service). Since we run upwards of 30 trails a day during Safari the new technology has some limitations for our unique event. CB radios fi t perfectly with four wheel drive trips. In fact they are almost a “must have” for the Moab Jeep Safari. We consider them so important we list a CB channel for every trail in the schedule of trails section, on pages 46-51.

CBs allow our leaders to communicate with everyone on the trail that has their radio set to the correct channel. Some leaders may be bashful and only use the CB to communicate information on lunch and potty stops (10-100s in CB lingo) and to answer questions from participants. Other leaders are fountains of knowledge and use the radio to pass along all kinds of local tidbits about fl ora and fauna, geology and history of the area. Most leaders also use their radios to allow everyone on their trail to introduce themselves to their fellow travelers. If you aren’t equipped with a radio, you are reduced to following the line and getting updates later from your buddies who have their “ears on”.

A quick reminder about CB etiquette, if you have a radio or when you get one, we ask that you keep communications with people on the trail short and concise when on one of our Safari trails.

It seems like the two biggest impediments to those who don’t have CB radios are: 1) where to buy one, and 2) where to mount one in my vehicle. Mounting one in the newer vehicles is a challenge, we’ll admit. Sometimes a professional can off er advice or installation, or just a look at how fellow Safari participants get the job accomplished in your brand of rig may be enough to provide ideas. These days CBs come in pretty compact sizes or with a remote radio that fi ts under a seat with all the controls in the microphone hand piece. Both types are helpful with today’s tight dashboard space.

Again there are lots of choices, but the magnetic mounts seem to be a favorite of those that don’t want to mess with a permanent mount. The antenna can then be stored in the vehicle or at home when not in use, and attached to the roof or hood with the cable tucked in a door opening when in use on the trail.

The Red Rock 4-Wheelers hope you enjoy the Jeep Safari, and look forward to communicating with you on the trail.

We have also heard from the Ham radio community about the superior coverage that they would provide. It has been determined that we don’t need to communicate with Bolivia.

We are watching the technology move forward and will revisit it each year. If the club decides to make a change, we will give a years notice of the change.