Posted-By: auto-faq script Archive-name: cb-radio-faq/part2 Rec.radio.cb Frequently Asked Questions (Part 2: Getting Started) ----------------------------------------------------------------- [Last modified 4/15/92] Questions discussed in Part 2: (dates indicate last modification) * What is CB? (1/92) * Do I need a license to operate a CB radio? (4/92) * What are the CB Frequencies? (3/92) * What are the common brands of CB radios? (3/92) * What should I consider when choosing a location for my antenna? (1/92) * Once I hook up my CB and antenna, is the radio ready to use? (2/92) * What are good antenna characteristics and what are some good antennas? (3/92) --Rec.radio.cb Frequently-asked Questions-----------------------------Part 2-- * What is CB? ------------- CB stands for "Citizen's Band" radio. It got that name because its main idea is to be a kind of radio anyone can use. Depending on the country you live in, it is either a minimally-regulated or an unregulated set of radio channels used for short-range (local) communications. Many people use CB radios in their vehicles, homes or both. This UseNet newsgroup, "rec.radio.cb," is all about CB radio. Readers can expect to find discussions, questions, and answers about CB here. There are also other newsgroups for other radio applications, such as rec.radio.shortwave and several subgroups of rec.radio.amateur, for amateur or "ham" radio. Radios either wanted or for sale are the subject of rec.radio.swap. (Though, an article about a CB radio for sale should be cross-posted to rec.radio.cb and rec.radio.swap with a distribution limited to your city, state or province.) * Do I need a license to operate a CB radio? -------------------------------------------- The answer to this question depends on the country you reside in. We currently have information on the US, Australia, the UK, Japan, France, and Germany. --- in the US You are no longer required to have a license to operate a CB radio in the United States. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) did at one time require a Class "D" license for for Citizen's Band which required nothing more than filling out a form and sending it in to the FCC with the license fee. The FCC then sent you a call sign which might look like "KPS 2720" or something similar. During the CB craze in the mid-70's, the FCC decided that the paper- work burden outweighed the benefits and put CB under blanket authorization. The FCC permits the use of the following to identify yourself: a. Your old Class D callsign, if you have one. b. K, your first and last initials, and your zip code (i.e. KPS 68123) c. your name (i.e. "Paul") d. some unique nickname or Handle (i.e. "Cobra", "Rubber Duck", etc.) --- in the UK, Japan, and Germany No license is required. You may identify yourself by your name or a handle of your choice. --- in Australia Australia's CB regulations are similar to what the US had before it deregu- lated CB. A license is required but there is no examination. We are looking into more details - if the government issues you a callsign, you have to use it to identify yourself. Otherwise, you may identify yourself by your name or a handle of your choice. We have not received any more details from our source in Australia that brought this to our attention - if anyone else can fill in more details, please send them to us. --- in France You are required to obtain a license but there is no examination. At the time of this writing, the license costs 190FF every 5 years. You have to send France Telecom the "agreement number" from your radio. Once on the air, you may identify yourself by your name or a handle of your choice. --- notes for all countries There are rules and regulations that must be complied with while using CB, no matter which country you live in. If you don't have a list of those rules (which most likely were included with your CB), you will probably find them at any store that sells CB radios. * What are the CB Frequencies? ------------------------------ The answer to this question depends on the country you reside in. We currently have information on the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan, France, and Germany. --- in the US Legal CB transmitters use the operator's choice of AM (amplitude modulation) (with 4 watts maximum power) or single sideband (with 12 watts maximum power) on the following frequencies. frequencies (MHz) modulation description 26.965 - 27.405 AM/SSB 40 channels, max power 4W AM, 12W SSB 1=26.965 11=27.085 21=27.215 31=27.315 2=26.975 12=27.105 22=27.225 32=27.325 3=26.985 13=27.115 23=27.255* 33=27.335 4=27.005 14=27.125 24=27.235* 34=27.345 5=27.015 15=27.135 25=27.245* 35=27.355 6=27.025 16=27.155 26=27.265 36=27.365 7=27.035 17=27.165 27=27.275 37=27.375 8=27.055 18=27.175 28=27.285 38=27.385 9=27.065 19=27.185 29=27.295 39=27.395 10=27.075 20=27.205 30=27.305 40=27.405 * Channels 23-25 are not in ascending order due to historical reasons. CB started with only 23 channels. Later, 24 and 25 filled a gap between 22 and 23 and 26-40 were added in ascending order. Special-use channels: 9 - emergency, monitored in some areas by "REACT", a volunteer group coordinated by the local Sheriff's office (not in all areas) 17 - unofficial "trucker's" channel (California & western U.S.) 19 - official "trucker's" channel for traffic and speed trap advisories 30-40 - Often are used for single sideband (SSB) activity Note that US regulations disallow "DX" long-distance communications (over 150 miles in this case) with CB. --- in Canada We don't have specific information on Canada but, "reading between the lines" on articles posted from Canada, we believe that made-for-the-US radios are legal. --- in the UK The UK has 2 bands for CB as follows: Legal CB transmitters use FM (frequency modulation) in either of 2 bands: frequencies (MHz) modulation description 26.965 - 27.405 FM 40 channels, same frequencies as US 27.6 - 27.99 FM 40 channels, 0.01 MHz (10 kHz) spacing AM and FM are not compatible so a US-legal CB cannot communicate with a UK-legal CB even though they may use the same frequencies. And each is illegal on the others' soil so this only prevents use of atmospheric skip between them. FM is legal on CB in most or all of Western Europe so a UK CB can communicate with those from the mainland if they are in proximity to do so. This will usually be the case only if someone takes their CB across the English Channel or North Sea. Make sure your CB is legal in the other country before trans- mitting (i.e. power output, modulation, licensing, or other regulations.) --- in Australia Australia has 2 bands for CB. The use of AM or FM depends on the band. frequencies (MHz) modulation description 26.965 - 27.405 AM/SSB 40 channels, same frequencies as US max power: 4W AM, 12W SSB (same as US) 476.500 - 477.475 FM 40 channels, .025 MHz (25 kHz) spacing As the first of the two bands above shows, made-for-the-US CB radios are legal in Australia. The following AM/SSB band frequencies have special uses either by regulation or by common usage: Channel 8 Road channel (truckers) Channel 9 Emergency (same as US) Channel 11 AM calling Channel 16/LSB SSB calling, also used for DX (distance) Channel 35/LSB unofficial additional SSB calling, also for DX --- in Japan Japan has 3 radio frequency bands that do not require licenses. Two of them are limited to extremely short-range use because of low power limits. The other, with maximum power output of 5 watts, is more like CB as it is known in North America, Europe and Australia. frequencies (MHz) modulation description 26.968 - 27.144 AM (no SSB) "Citizen's Radio" maximum power 0.5W channels 1-8 on 26.968, 26.967, 27.040, 27.080, 27.088, 27.112, 27.120, and 27.144. Other channels in between these are assigned to fishing vessels (with 1W max power). 422.200 - 422.300 FM "Specific Low Power Radio", also known as "UHF CB" maximum power 0.01W (10mW) 9 channels with 12.5 kHz spacing. newly-authorized in 1989, mostly used for handy-talkies and ski patrols 903.0125-904.9875 FM "Personal Radio" maximum power 5W 158 channels with 12.5 kHz spacing External antennas are permitted. Radios must be equipped with a control ROM for automatic ID. As in the UK, made-for-the-US CB radios are illegal in Japan. There have been cases where such radios have caused interference with maritime emergency traffic. --- in France France uses the same frequencies (in 40 channels) as the US but also allows FM in the same band. The only legal CB radios in France are those which are approved by France Telecom. frequencies (MHz) modulation description 26.965 - 27.405 AM/SSB/FM 40 channels, same frequencies as US max power: 1W AM and 4W FM (we don't have the max power for SSB - inquire locally) Channel 9 AM used to be for emergencies but was deregulated because no one monitored it for that purpose. Channel 19 AM is the calling channel (used to establish contact then move to another channel.) Channel 11 FM is used for DX/skip long-distance contacts. AM is the more commonly-used modulation method in France. --- in Germany Germany also uses the same frequencies as the US. AM and FM are the only legal modes of modulation. (SSB is not allowed.) AM is only allowed on some channels. frequencies (MHz) modulation description 26.965 - 27.405 AM/FM 40 channels, same frequencies as US except that Channel 24 is 27.245 MHz and Channel 25 is 27.235 MHz. max power: 1W AM and 4W FM AM is allowed on Channels 4-12 FM is allowed on all 40 channels All signals must have vertical polarity. Channel 9 AM is the calling channel. Notes: to meet the vertical polarity requirement, antennas must stand vert- ically. Also, tone-call transceivers are allowed so you can use touch tones to call someone if they are within receiving range and have a radio that will recognize the tones. --- in other western European countries This is the "grab bag" section. We have incomplete information on these countries but we'll tell you what we've heard. We'll add more information as people send it to us. * Italy uses AM and FM like France and Germany. Channel 19 is the calling channel. Channel 9 has no special designation (i.e. it is not an emergency channel.) Italy also has some other unregulated frequencies but we don't have any more information. * Channel 19 is the calling channel in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden. * From the context of a news article, we assume CB radios in Sweden and Finland must be "CEPT approved". We guess that means AM/FM and specifies power limits on each. * What are the common brands of CB radios? ------------------------------------------ Some of the more common brands that you will find out in the US market are as follows: Uniden, Cobra, Midland, Realistic (Radio Shack), Archer (Radio Shack) and others. Made-for-the-US radios are also legal in Canada and Australia. We currently don't have any corresponding information for Europe or Japan. * What should I consider when choosing a location for my antenna? ----------------------------------------------------------------- The answer to this question differs greatly between base and mobile installa- tions. Each will be answered separately. In mobile installations, things to consider are whether you're willing to drill holes, use a magnet mount, or use a bumper mount. If you say "no" to all of those (which would probably mean you have a very nice car) your list of options is pretty short - use a handheld with a rubber duck antenna. Otherwise, you can start making choices with the following things in mind: 1) the closer your antenna is to the top & center of the vehicle, the better. So the roof is better than the trunk and both of those are far better than the bumper. But they'll all work. 2) a drilled/permanent mount is better than a magnet mount in the same loca- tion. (This is so that the antenna gets a better "ground plane".) If you use a magnet mount, run your coax feed line through the door or hatch that gets the least use and then leave it alone. Don't use any path where the coax would get pinched. For base installations (i.e. at home) the best places are "as high as you can" within legal limits. The roof is normally fine. If you're in an apartment complex, you may be limited to a balcony but ask the manager - they may just want you to keep it "invisible." (Check your national and local regulations. In the US, the FCC regulations limit CB antennas to 60 feet above ground level.) Base station antennas should have a good ground in case of lightning. (In the rare event of a lightning strike, this can mean the difference between burning down the building or just the radio.) Most cold water pipes that go into the ground will work. But the best choice for a ground would be an 8-foot (2.4m) copper rod stuck in the ground near the antenna. (If you want to use anything other than the rod for a ground, contact someone knowledgeable about housing construction and safety - you don't want to accidentally use a hot water or gas pipe. You also need to know your local building codes.) * Once I hook up my CB and antenna, is the radio ready to use? -------------------------------------------------------------- No. When you get a new CB and/or new antenna, the CB and the antenna must be tuned or "matched." To do this, you need an SWR meter which is a device that measures the impedance between the radio and the antenna. SWR stands for "Standing Wave Ratio." The lower your SWR, the better your match. First timers are recommended to get help from a knowledgeable person but some notes about the process are included here. You do NOT want your SWR reading to be over 3:1 ratio on any channel. It can damage your radio. A "perfect" match is 1.0:1 which gives you the best efficiency for your radio's output. However, "perfect" isn't possible so 1.1:1 is the best you can hope for. Even 1.5:1 is acceptable, but it isn't as good. You will only be able to achieve your best match on one or a small group of channels. The SWR will increase on each channel as you get further from that point. So 2:1 may even be unavoidable on the extremes, like Channels 1 and/or 40. If you know you're going to use one channel most of the time, try to put your best match there. Otherwise, just center it at Channel 20 so you can use all 40 channels optimally. You may find SWR meters at places like Radio Shack or amateur radio dealers. Further information about Standing Wave Ratio can be obtained from the ARRL Handbook. (ARRL is the Americal Radio Relay League. Their annual handbook is full of information on many different aspects of amateur radio but the basic concepts apply in all radio bands.) Most stores that sell CB radios will have an SWR meter and someone who knows how to use it. But they will charge for their services. * What are good antenna characteristics and what are some good antennas? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Antennas have to be designed to transmit and receive on the band that you are using. CB is located in the 11-meter band. (They call it that because the wavelength is about 11 meters.) CB antennas range in height from a little under 2 feet (24 inches) up to 108 inches. The 1/4 wave whip (108") will offer better reception and transmission capability over a shorter, coiled or "loaded" antenna. VERY short antennas, or multiple antennas that aren't "phased" properly will result in a very poor signal. Remember, for cophasing antennas, they must be 1/4 wavelength apart which, for the 11 meter band, is around 9 feet. Most cars aren't wide enough to allow antennas to be placed 9 feet apart. The other characteristic of cophasing is that it is much more direc- tional than a single antenna. It will transmit and receive MUCH better along the axis of the car than sideways off the car so if you want a omnidirectional antenna, you don't want cophasing (so you only want one antenna.) Another subject of common questions is about antennas which receive AM/FM broadcast stations and act as a CB transceiver antenna. User experiences on this newsgroup vary widely with each brand. (The motorized ones seem to have the least favor among the postings we've seen.) In general, these antennas work but are not nearly as good as a dedicated CB antenna. You have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages for your circumstances. Good brands of dedicated CB antennas include (but are not necessarily limited to) Hustler, Wilson, FireStick and K-40.