Why a PA?

[TNT1450]

One thing I've noticed through the years but never understood is why, on all mobile and some base CBs from around the early 1970's onward, do they all contain a PA function? I've gone my whole life without ever needing a public address system on my mobile. Well, maybe once or twice it would have been nice to be able to yell at the car in front of me, but I digress... Was it just a selling point for radios or was it some strange FCC mandate that they all contain a PA function? To me, it's always been the one most useless feature of a two-way radio. But even modern CB's are still being produced with PA.

[295 antenna]

I have often wondered about the same thing .There is no "rule " that i know of.

[sonoma]

years ago I was on a farm and would use it to call the cows as I drove through the pasture to get their attention to come up for milking. I had a cobra 21 and when you put it in PA mode you could here the people talking on the channel the radio was on. since no cell phones back then we would be out repairing fences or even out fishing and if some one wanted to contact you it was nice to hear them so you could go to the vehicle to contact them back

[TNT1450]

Around here a lot of the cattle farmers have sirens on their trucks to alert the cattle when they feed them.

[MDYoungblood]

I always asked that question mainly on base station radios, I know that it is because the board used is that of a mobile radio but it could have been omitted on the base.

3's

Greg

[De_Wildfire]

I asked the same question too but I have fun with it on Halloween. I hook the wireless transmitter into the PA and hide the wireless speakers in the yard. Using the reverb mic, I change my voice and sound like the devil. The kids get a kick out of it along with the surprised look of the parents because this is a first for them.

[Bozo]

I turn my PA on when I am selling Ice Cream..

[Deleted User 30222]

They still do come in handy. I use mine every time i need my girl to bring me another beer.

[TNT1450]

I turn my PA on when I am selling Ice Cream..

"The ice cream truck in my neighborhood plays 'Helter Skelter.'" - Steven Wright

[Deleted User 30222]

Could be worse. Could be playing the theme from the Exorcist.

[Bobcat]

When I was young and got my very first CB in my car, I very quickly got a hold of a 5" horn and mounted it under the hood and wired it in to the radio. Messed around with it a bit.... but never had any real reason to use it.

Now, in my older age, there is even better use for a PA. Wire it in to the kitchen so I can call up the wife to bring another beer!!!!!!

If I tried that, I think we ALL know it would be even longer till I got back in here next time!!!!!!

[443 Arizona]

years(decades) ago the civil defense used CB and always talked about "controlling the crowds" in the event of a civil emergency.
thus you supposedly would hear PA announcements while you were loitering around snarfing coffee,cookies,donuts, and sticking your head between the knee's and any other mischievous so on and so forth.
on a personal experience, in ancient times,,,,the local hometown sportscaster would sit and call the plays behind the dugout using his PA.
he also was the local director of the CD.
i've heard of guys using them to call in game,predators.
have used them for long distance"yelling" to someone.
pulled (sneaked)up to some teenagers "parking" and with bright lights on, used the PA saying"get outa the car with your hands up!",