Appreciation post: That old CB radio in the back of my truck saved me last week when cell towers went down for 6 hours outside Flagstaff.

I was hauling a load of lumber through a dead zone near the mountains and my phone was useless. Tuned into channel 19 and a driver 3 miles ahead warned me about a jackknifed semi before I could even see it. Has anyone else dusted off their ham gear or analog tech after years of relying on smartphones?

3 comments

3 Comments

juliarodriguez14d ago

Channel 19 probably saved me from rear-ending a stalled RV outside of Winslow a few years back. @the_parker, you're right about handheld ham gear being a solid backup, but just a heads up - tube-type radios don't actually survive EMPs any better than solid state stuff unless they're unplugged and shielded. The old tubes might still work if the circuit stays intact, but the antenna and power lines will fry just the same. Either way, having any analog radio beats staring at a dead smartphone.

the_parker20d ago

Old CB gear is way more reliable than people give it credit for. I still keep a basic handheld ham radio in my glovebox after getting stuck in a dead zone near the Mogollon Rim a few years back. Cell service is nice until it isn't, then you're glad for anything that doesn't need a tower.

kai_webb9120d ago

Forget the handhelds. Old tube-type CB radios survive EMPs that fry everything else.