Yes, it can be used strictly as a 40 channel cb.
Simply put, what a sideband cb radio does is you have 40 channels like a non sideband radio.
But you also have the capability of spliting each of the 40 channels.
They are fun once you get the hang of how to operate it.

 

It might be due to the freqs involved and possible interference.
I know some of the ham freqs are limited due to this.

 

Out in the desert SSB makes a lot of sense since the distances can be greater between vehicles. That extra power really does help you punch through.

The only problem I see is that the radios for SSB tend to be full sized, and since the fine engineers at Jeep didn't consider putting a CB (or power or coax) into the thing it makes it a lot harder to mount them. I had a Texas Ranger 966 mounted on the back side of my center console, but passengers kept kicking it. I finally gave up and put a Uniden 510XL on the center console beside the driver. I had it tuned up when I bought it and it really does get out pretty good.

Sure would like an SSB rig again though....

I

 

That's what I thought. I always wanted to try one. Just be using it to fool around with while I'm out in the Jeep camping or just sitting watching a nice sunset. This is one time where size is a problem. I was thinking the same thing about mounting it behind the console, but rear passangers would hit it.

 

FM uses much more bandwidth as well, so it does not really make sense if the frequency range is limited.

 

There again..........that's when being a HAM op has it's benefits.....

 

Yes...........with an SSB radio, for each of the 40 AM channels you also have a "lower" and an "upper" SSB channel. But, like I mentioned earlier, there is (used to be) kind of an unwritten CB rule, that the AMers wouldn't talk on channel 30 and above, as that's where the SSBers were. But I haven't kept up with CB in years so that may not be the case anymore.

 

SSB'ers are generally on 30 and above with Ch38 LSB as the calling channel.

On AM the channels are basically like this:

Ch4 Off roaders
Ch6 Skip shooters
Ch8 Spanish speakers
Ch9 Emergency
Ch12 Old timers
Ch15 Truckers
Ch17 Truckers Los Angeles and OC
Ch19 Truckers

 

Thats why I love 2m !!

 

I'm studying for my HAM license now. I write the exam when I get back from my current overseas stay, and will be installing either a 2m/70cm or a 10m/6m/2m/70cm mobile rig into my Jeep when I get home

The areas that I normally wheel in actually have a lot of 2m repeaters on surrounding terrain points, so I anticipate fairly good coverage