Sunday, April 15, 2012

CB Citizens Band Radio



CB Citizens Band Radio Service

Citizens' Band radio (CB) is a system of short distance, simplex radio communications between individuals on a selection of 40 channels within the 27 MHz or sometime call the 11 meter band. The CB radio service should not be confused with FRSGMRSMURS or amateur 'HAM' radio.

CB Radio History

The Citizens' Band radio service originated in the United States as one of several personal radio services regulated by the FCC. These services began in 1945 to permit citizens a short distance radio band for personal communication (e.g., radio controlled models, family communications, individual businesses). Originally, CB was located in the 460-470 MHz UHF band. There were two classes of CB: A and B. Class B radios had simpler technical requirements but were limited to a smaller range of frequencies. Al Gross, inventor of the walkie talkie, started Citizen's Radio Corp. in the late 1940s to merchandise Class B handhelds for the general public.

The technology at the time was not advanced enough for UHF radios to be practical and affordable for the average consumer. So, in 1958, the Class D CB service was opened at 27 MHz, and this is what is now popularly known as CB. There were only 23 channels at the time; the first 22 were taken from what used to be an Amateur 11-meter band, while channel 23 was shared with radio-controlled devices.
In the 1960s, the service was popular with small trade businesses (e.g., electricians, plumbers, carpenters), as well as truck drivers and radio hobbyists. With the advancement of solid-state electronics, the weight, size, and cost of the radios decreased, giving the general public access to a communications medium that had previously been only available to specialists. Many CB clubs were formed and a special CB slang language evolved, used alongside 10-codes similar to those used in the emergency services.

Following the 1973 oil crisis, the U.S. government imposed a nationwide 55 mph speed limit, and fuel shortages and rationing were widespread. CB radio was often used to locate service stations with a supply of gasoline, to notify other drivers of speed traps, and to organize blockades and convoys in a 1974 strike protesting the new speed limit and other trucking regulations.

The prominent use of CB radios in 1970s-era films such as Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and television shows like The Dukes of Hazard (debuted 1979) bolstered the appeal of CB radio. Moreover, popular novelty songs such as C.W. McCall's Convoy (1976) helped establish CB radio as a nationwide craze in the mid to late 1970s.

Originally, CB required a license and the use of a call sign, but when the CB craze was at its peak, many people ignored this requirement and used made-up nicknames or 'handles'. The many restrictions on the authorized use of CB radio led to widespread disregard of the regulations, most notably in antenna height, distance restriction for communications, licensing and the use of call signs, and allowable transmitter power. Eventually, the license requirement was dropped entirely.

Originally, there were only 23 CB channels in the U.S.; the present 40-channel band plan did not come along until 1977. Channel 9 was reserved for emergency use in 1969. Channel 10 was used for highway communications, though channel 19 later became the preferred highway channel in most areas as it did not have adjacent-channel interference problems with channel 9.

Until 1975, only channels 9-14 and 23 could be used for interstation calls to other licensees. Channels 1-8 and 15-22 were reserved for intrastation communications among units under the same license. After the interstation/intrastation rule was dropped, channel 11 was reserved as a calling frequency for the sole purpose of establishing communications; however this was withdrawn in 1977.

Until the late 1970s when synthesized radios appeared, CB radios were controlled by plug-in quartz crystals. Almost all were AM only, though there were a few single sideband sets in the early days.

Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, a phenomenon was developing over the CB radio. Similar to the Internet chat rooms a quarter century later, the CB allowed people to get to know one another in a quasi-anonymous manner. Many movies and stories about CBers and the culture on-the-air developed.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Listening to the CB Radio as We Traveled Across America


As young kids and teenagers, my siblings and I traveled everywhere with my parents. One year we would go camping in Yellowstone or at Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Other years we would spend a week on the beach in Hawaii. Some of our favorite trips were traveling across the country. The first time we took this kind of a trip, we traveled from Salt Lake City along Interstate 80 to the East Coast of America. We traveled through the Midwest states of Illinois, Iowa and Ohio. We stopped at my great-uncle’s house in Iowa, caught lightning bugs and put them in jars. We ended up in Washington, DC where we toured all of the monuments and museums.
We did many things to keep us entertained along the way. We would play the alphabet game. We looked at the letters on all of the road signs and tried to be the first one to complete the entire alphabet. We slept much of the way and ate lots of snacks. One fun activity was playing with my dad’s CB radio. We could talk to all of the big truck drivers on the CB radio. They would tell us of good places to eat in the next town or city. Often we would just sit and listen to them tell each other interesting stories.

Choosing The Right CB


If you’re in the market for a CB radio has a lot to choose from. Whether an emergency or everyday, the CB is still a powerful force in the communications industry. Of course, all manufacturers of CB radios are required by the FCC to give their radio output of 4 watts of power. So what’s the difference you ask? Four-band radio manufacturers today. For each manufacturer, which have different characteristics that are complementary to any radio. So if you are looking for a new radio, think about what you want and go from there.
Cobra Electronics has been producing radios for 50 years and they are by far the most renowned manufacturers. Cobra products are available in 40,000 and showcase in North America, many online retailers. One of the stations most popular of all time is the 29LTD. Recently, Cobra came with a Bluetooth 29LTD. This gave him the opportunity to use the drivers for both the CB and cell phone in one device. This driver is not in possession of a mobile phone safely while driving. To celebrate its fiftieth anniversary 29LXLE Posted Cobra, a drastic change in the way of seeing the band radios and the function was. It was also a limited edition radio. A digital display has almost completely replaced the traditional buttons and switches. Many features of this radio are new to the industry with a diagnosis of radio control. This can help diagnose problems in the configuration of CB. With the success of the Cobra 29LXLE published 29LX, which has the same characteristics as the 29LXLE but is now a standard for its product. Cobra is the innovator in the industry continues.
Uniden also produces a complete line of CB radios with a range of other products. As the record in 1979, Uniden has done to meet the needs of growing industrial sectors of the electronics. Its product range is very popular CB radio for many years. The compact PRO510XL CB radio is simply because he is the protagonist. A volume dial silent, and the channel is all you need for the work of communication. From there you can go on top of the line, the PC78 ELITE CB. The radio has features like a backlit display, instant channel 9 and 7 NOAA weather channels, among other characteristics. Uniden recently announced three new CB radios ready for production. The PRO505XL, Bearcat Bearcat 680 and 880th Each device has a unique design and has many new features. The Bearcat 680 and 880 both have digital displays, buttons and switches replaced traditional. Uniden is an innovator in CB radios and consumer electronics.
Midland Radio is best known for its range of weather radios. They are the oldest manufacturer of CB U. S.. Which currently has seven product models for the CB market. Midland Product 2 and 5 mobile radios. Most radios are RoHS compliant, which means they are certified lead free. To make a radio producer, and lead in the production of their radios. With their concerns and innovation in the technology of the time, it is not surprising that four of the seven has installed a technology over time. All radios Midland has a manufacturer’s warranty of three years, so you know, the production of quality products.
Galaxy is mainly known in the industry of 10 meters. They also have a good list of CB radios. Galaxy CB produces 6 models. Typically, each model is a step forward from the previous model, as evidenced by their number, DX919, DX929, DX939, DX949, etc. Some Galaxy CB with a frequency counter to set the channel equipped. The DX939 is the latest model to be released. It functions as a backlit display lights and blue channels and m variables that discussion to be masters of their shipments through the speaker.