Getting Started in CB Radio

Getting Started in CB Radio
Lets start with a little history.

The origins of Citizens' Band Radio date back as far as the late 50's early 60's when it was decided a low power, easy to use, cheap radio system was needed in the USA for business and the local community to use.
It was decided in the early 70's to use 27 Mhz, at this time a part of the amateur band, this band was originally split into 23 channels and controlled by means of a bank of crystals one for each channel which made the radios large, and bulky the channel selection was done by a means of a rotary dial on the front of the radio with each click corresponding to its crystal inside the unit. The power output of the radio was limited to 4 watts ERP (Effective Radiating Power). and the mode of transmission was A.M. (Amplitude Modulation).
This sufficed until the demand grew and it was decided to increase the channel availability to 40, and with the advent of the silicon chip, PLL (Phased Locked Loop) control came into being, this reduced the amount of crystals in the radio to two, and the frequencies needed for the channels were mixed together and the control was now an LED rotary channel selector on the front of the radio the power output was still 4 watts but SSB Single Side band was introduced, this worked by using the same frequencies as before but making each channel available in two different modes by eliminating the need for the carrier signal needed by AM it was possible to make each channel three times larger by using USB, LSB and AM, also with the carrier signal removed more power could be concentrated into the transmission increasing the distance which the operator could talk, introducing DX (Skip Talking) over long distances and making it possible, under the right conditions, to communicate with other countries, although the latter still remains against licencing regulations. The power available on SSB is 12 watts PEP (Peak Envelope Power).

CB Radio In The United Kingdom CB started to be introduced into the UK in the mid 70's, with the popularity of such films as Convoy, Smokey and the Bandit, Citizens' Band and Breaker-Breaker. And the excellent TV series The Dukes Of Hazzard (who can forget the lost sheep) CB became a craze, twigs were popping up everywhere, cars looked like porcupines, all 40 channels were as full as the motorway service stations were "Breakers" used to congregate until the TV shut down and then went home to cause havoc on the airwaves.
But at this stage the imported AM and SSB rigs being brought in from the States were illegal and you risked a hefty fine if caught using one.
CB was legalised by the then Home Secretary "Willie" Whitelaw on the second of November 1981, 40 channels FM, (a full band higher than the illegal sets ) 4 watts output, and the craze grew.
In the early ninties an extra 40 Channels were introduced "Mid Band or Block" depending on where you live giving us the choice of two separate radio's, later to be combined into one affectionately known as "Muppets and Mid".

The aspects of CB radio I will talk about in the next part of these pages will be. Buying a Radio and Setting up your Station
Mobile Breaking
Obtaining a licence and Choosing a Handle
The Museum Of U.K. CB "Slang"
10 Codes
SSB and DX'ing

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Some More Good Links For You To Follow
CB Radio Resources page
Based in the UK, For everyone in the world
Amateur Radio Resources Page
Amateur version of the above, A bit more serious though
Worldwide CB Radio Resources Page
CB Radio Resources, With an International Flavour
The Museum Of U.K. CB "Slang"
Check this out for a bit of nostalgia
CB Radio Home Page Design (FREE)
Get your own CB Home Page for nowt !
The CB Handle Hall Of Fame
Be famous around the world
CB and Amateur Radio notice board
Anything to Buy, Sell or Say, Do it Here !!!
Add A Link | View Links Page
Got a site - Get it noticed
Getting Started in CB Radio
Giving CB a try for the first time ? Start here !
Citizen's Band The Movie
Its Not Convoy or Smokey, its the best CB Movie ever
Flat Tyre's Home page
Check out my original home page
Oldham CB radio page
OI !!! Gods Acre breakers read this !
Radio Scanning and S.W.L.
Just like to listen? Then this is for you
Join CB and Amateur radio web ring
Got your own site? Then check out my ring (Ha Ha !)
CB Radio Related Banners and Anims.
A few Banners and Animation's for your site or E-mail
CB Banners and Animation's (Funny Ones)
A few more Banners with a sense of humour
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THREADS (BBC Nuclear War Film 1984)
As Close As You'll Want To Get To A Nuclear War
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