I had cb's and a base station 30 yrs ago. My grandfather was an avid user and my grandmother would monitor the base and he would call her when he was on his way home. He was self employed and had varying hours. He had a license from the FCC and used his call letters and handle. I got his radio when he passed. I had nice equipment and had taken it all out of the cars when the kids found it. I didn't know they had it and it was ruined after being outside for a month. I still had the base mounted under a kitchen cabinet. The antenna blew off the roof in a straight line wind, but it is still grounded and I have it next to a tree.
I was at camp this last week and I saw a top of the line Cobra in Radio Shack. It has weather channels built in. I couldn't resist. I installed it with a magnetic mount antenna and was thrilled again. I rigged it to be completely removable without a trace. No holes drilled. I found my old external speaker and mounted it today. It really brings back a neat memory. I have managed to amass four 40 channel hand held units from garage sales and Craig's List. I plan to use them at camp because cell service is bad there.
I was wondering if anyone else uses them nowadays? I was listening and it's often pretty trashy around town with the massive base stations and crude talk, but that's how I remember it sometimes.