Question concerning the lost art of sideband cb radio clubs?

Question

I'm getting back into this again.............at least trying to. I just purchased an Antron 99 fiberglass antenna for the house.....and now I'm looking into different brand name sideband radios. Here are my questions:

1) Do the sidebanders still do their thing today?

2) Is it illegal to talk "skip"?

3) Any advice on a good sideband radio to go with this new Antron antenna?

Thank you in advance.

-Primo

Answer 1

1) Yes they still do but not as much since the FCC dropped code in the US to talk on HF. But there are people who still do it legally and illegaly. I personally haven't talked CB SSB in about 5 years due to the fact most with the capability either when freeband or became Hams

2) Yes.. anything over 155 miles is illegal according to FCC regulations however most still do it as the FCC has been reactive instead of proactive on the CB regulating front as of late.

3) Some of the better Cobras and Unidens were pulled off the market years ago that were plug in base stations. The mobiles Like the grant and Cobra's 148 mobile rigs are some hot legit numbers.

Most freebanders (those that talk skip and dx outside the legal 40) usually use Ham/ supposedly Ham rigs such as the Galaxy line of rigs (however they have a habit of not operating on the sideband right I have found in talking with owners)

Legal CB SSB clubs I haven't heard from in a while. the one I was in basically died when everyone got ham tickets, died, or got out of radio.

The Illegal (freeband) DX SSB clubs are still out there and a look up on google of clubs such as Alpha Tango, Sugar Delta, and the such will show that SSB is alive on CB albet not legally in the US