The last time I had a CB installed in a vehicle (a year ago) I found a few
channels unusable due to static from skip (radio signals reflecting from the
ionosphere).  I understand we just recently passed the peak of the 11 year
sunspot cycle, which ought to reduce the static from distant transmitters.
How much is this likely to improve the usability of CBs for local
communication?
Of course the down side of the reduced sunspot activity is that one can't
"work the skip" as well for very-long-distance communication.

Rusty J.
Ogden, UT
'80 Westy -- MV Vanagon Valdiz