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Subject: rec.radio.cb Frequently Asked Questions (Part 2 of 4) Newsgroups: rec.radio.cb,rec.radio.info,rec.answers,news.answers From: ikluft@oes.amdahl.com (Ian Kluft) Date: Tue, 22 Nov 1994 06:10:48 GMT Posted-By: auto-faq 3.1.1.4 Archive-name: radio/cb-faq/part2 Revision: 1.1 08/21/94 21:58:16 Rec.radio.cb Frequently Asked Questions (Part 2: Getting Started) ----------------------------------------------------------------- THIS ARTICLE IS INTENDED TO BE A FREE RESOURCE FOR THE BENEFIT OF USENET READERS. YOU MAY COPY AND REDISTRIBUTE IT UNDER THE CONDITION THAT THIS MESSAGE AND CREDIT TO THE EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS ARE INCLUDED WITHOUT MODIFICATION. Material from the FAQ may be used to answer any questions. Corrections and updates are welcome. Questions discussed in Part 2: (dates indicate last modification) * What is CB? (6/92) * Do I need a license to operate a CB radio? (1/93) - in the USA (6/92) - in Canada (2/93) - in Japan (6/92) - in Australia (1/93) - in New Zealand (7/93) - in the UK (6/92) - in France (9/93) - in Germany (6/92) - in Italy (7/93) - in Russia (7/93) - notes for all countries (7/93) * What are the CB Frequencies? (11/92) - in the USA (6/92) - in Canada (6/92) - in Australia (9/93) - in New Zealand (7/93) - in Japan (9/93) - in countries subscribing to the European CEPT conference (11/92) - in the UK (6/92) - in France (11/92) - in Germany (11/92) - in Italy (7/93) - in Russia (7/93) - in other countries (1/93) * What are the common brands of CB radios? (7/93) * What should I consider when choosing a location for my antenna? (7/92) * 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? (6/92) --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. The FAQ also covers non-licensed or minimally-regulated radio bands internationally. Readers can expect to find discussions, questions, and answers about legal uses of CB and related bands here. There are also other newsgroups for other radio applications, such as rec.radio.shortwave, rec.radio.broadcasting, 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 region.) We have to bring up one point because it has been a problem before: any encouragement of illegal activity is inappropriate because it is outside the chartered scope of this newsgroup. Such illegal activity includes the use of illegal equipment or improper operating procedures. (An ongoing effort has been made to define what is legal in various countries. That depends on reader input.) However, acceptable (possibly borderline) topics include issues about legality, how to deal with unruly CB users, and others. * 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 USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Russia. Note that all of these are from e-mail reports contributed by readers. As regulations change, we can only keep up when people notify us. Please check your local regulations because you are responsible to know and obey them. --- in the USA 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: 1. Your old Class D callsign, if you have one. 2. K, your first and last initials, and your zip code (i.e. KPS 68123) 3. your name (i.e. "Paul") 4. some unique nickname or Handle (i.e. "Cobra", "Rubber Duck", etc.) A rule change in May 1992 now allows one-way transmissions about highway conditions on CB. This was intended to allow local authorities to use unattended audio warnings about road construction or other hazards. In the USA, there are two additional radio bands besides CB which are intended for use with minimal regulation by individuals. 1. GMRS, the General Mobile Radio Service, is located in the 460-470 MHz band. A license is required. More information is included in Part 4. 2. The FCC has recently opened up the 31.0-31.3 GHz microwave band to licensed users of several fixed and mobile radio services including GMRS. --- in Canada No license is required. You may identify yourself by your name or a handle of your choice. --- in Japan 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 USA had before it deregu- lated CB. A license is required but there is no examination. At last report, the annual fee was A$18. The government will issue a callsign such as "VHSA 999" which includes the Australian prefix "VH", a code for the state (South Australia in this example) and a 3- or 4-numeral suffix. --- in New Zealand A license is required in New Zealand. A callsign will be issued with your license. You must identify yourself by at least your callsign. Callsigns look like AK1122 ("Auckland 1122") or WN63 ("Wellignton 63".) There are 16 callsign districts using a 2- to 4-letter code for the region name and the radio station number. Some callsigns may be issued for experimental use and will have an "X" after the district name (i.e. AKX1 "Auckland Experimental 1".) --- in the UK A license is required in the UK. For licensing information and/or a set of "CB information sheets" you may contact the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) at the following address: CB Licensing Section, Radiocommunications Agency, Room 613, Waterloo Bridge House, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UA, UK. The telephone number is (+44) 71 215 2171. The UK will honor licenses from other countries using CEPT-approved radios. (See the CB Frequencies section below on CEPT for more information.) Your license may be used under the terms from the country which issued it. --- in France As of 1993, France no longer requires a license for you to operate a CB. But there is a 296.50FF tax on CB radios which is close to the cost of the old license. The main difference is that the old license was good for 5 years. Now you will pay the tax every time you buy a radio. Like most (or possibly all) of Europe, France does not give you a callsign. So you may identify yourself by your name or a handle of your choice. France will honor licenses from other countries using CEPT-approved radios. Your license may be used under the terms from the country which issued it. --- in Germany A license is required whether you plan to use FM or both AM and FM. The "agreement card" costs more if your radio also has AM. You may identify yourself by your name or a handle of your choice. Germany will honor licenses from other countries using CEPT-approved radios. Your license may be used under the terms from the country which issued it. --- in Italy A license is required to operate a CB in Italy. Licenses may be obtained from Ministero PP.TT. You will need to provide them with your CB's model, serial number, and certification number. They will also want to know your "handle" (if you go by a fictitious name on the radio) and whether you want your license to apply to other members of your family. The total cost is (equivalent to) US$50 plus $10 per year. You must notify the PP.TT if you sell your radio or buy a new one because the license applies to a person and a radio. Our reporter in Italy says it takes about 2-3 months for the license to arrive. It is valid for 10 years. --- in Russia A license is required. You must identify yourself by the callsign that is issued with your license. Callsigns look like "3A4157". --- 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. If your government issues a callsign to you, you must identify yourself at least with that callsign. * What are the CB Frequencies? ------------------------------ The answer to this question depends on the country you reside in. We currently have information on Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Norway, Russia, Sweden, the UK, the USA, and Vatican City. --- in the USA 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 Citizen's Band (CB) 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=27.405 460 - 470 FM General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) license required, see Part 4 31.0-31.3 GHz any mode microwave band now open for individuals to use, requires GMRS license, see Part 4 * 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 states.) 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. However, directional antennas may be used to enhance communications within the legal range. --- in Canada The CB frequencies, modulation, and power limits are the same as the 26-27 MHz CB band in the USA. Radios must be type accepted for use in Canada. --- 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 USA max power: 4W AM, 12W SSB (same as USA) 476.500 - 477.475 FM 40 channels, .025 MHz (25 kHz) spacing max power: 5W We've been told there are "no antenna restrictions" though you'll probably need to double-check with local regulations if you're thinking of putting up a tower. Radios for the Australian 26MHz band are essentially the same as radios made for the USA. However, all CB radios used in Australia (either band) must be type accepted by the Department of Transport and Communications (DOTAC). The following AM/SSB band frequencies have special uses in Australia: Channel 8 Road channel (truckers) Channel 9 Emergency (same as USA) Channel 11 AM calling Channel 16/LSB SSB calling, also used for DX (distance) Channel 35/LSB unofficial additional SSB calling, also for DX A unique feature of Australia's 476-477 MHz band is that repeaters are allowed. Inputs are on Channels 31-38 and outputs are on Channels 1-8. A repeater must use the proper channel pair, i.e. 1/31 to 8/38. The maximum power output for a repeater is 21W input. Note: as with repeaters on other bands, do not begin to operate one without obtaining and fully understanding the applicable regulations. Additional information about the technical aspects repeater operation is available from amateur (Ham) radio sources such as the ARRL Handbook. --- in New Zealand The CB frequencies, modulation, and power limits are the same as the 26-27 MHz CB band in the USA and Australia. The following frequencies have special uses in New Zealand: Channel 5 European call (USB) Channel 11 truckers' channel (AM) Channel 15 AM calling Channel 35 SSB calling --- in Japan Japan has 3 radio 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). 421.8125 - 422.300 FM "Specific Low Power Radio", also known as "UHF CB" maximum power 0.01W (10mW) newly-authorized in 1989, mostly used for handy-talkies and ski patrols 9 duplex channels with 12.5kHz spacing 421.8125/440.2625 ... 421.9125/440.3625 9 simplex channels with 12.5 kHz spacing 422.2000 ... 422.3000 Note: other frequencies in this band are allocated for business use 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 Europe, made-for-the-USA CB radios are illegal in Japan. There have been cases where such radios have caused interference with maritime emergency traffic. --- in countries subscribing to the European CEPT conference The following countries have implemented the CEPT (Conference of European Postal and Telecommunications administrations) recommendations T/R 20-02 and T/R 20-07 for CB radios: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus (see Note 1), Denmark (see Note 2), Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal (see Note 2), Norway (see Note 2), Sweden, United Kingdom, and Vatican City. Notes: 1) as of last report, confirmation was pending in Cyprus 2) special markings are required on the radios so, for example, UK radios marked "CEPT PR 27 GB" are legal but ones marked "PR 27 GB" are not. Radios from other countries may also be similarly affected. CEPT approval is significant because, with the exceptions listed above, CEPT- approved CBs from any one of the countries listed above can be used in any other on the list. frequencies (MHz) modulation description 26.965 - 27.405 FM 40 channels, same frequencies as USA 4W max power If you travel to another CEPT-conforming country, you may use your CB under the terms of your license from your own country. Be aware that only FM is CEPT-approved so AM and SSB may not be legal to use once you cross the border. Important note: CEPT-approved CB radios are not legal in the USA and made-for- the-USA CB radios are not legal anywhere in Europe. The difference is because CEPT radios use FM and American radios use AM or SSB. There are no agreements allowing a radio which is type-accepted in North America to be used in Europe or vice versa. Channel 19 appears to be the calling channel in most CEPT-conforming countries. When exceptions are known, they are listed specifically for the country. --- in the UK The UK has 3 bands for CB as follows: frequencies (MHz) modulation description 26.965 - 27.405 FM 40 channels, same frequencies as CEPT & USA 4W max power radios using this band are marked "PR 27 GB" or "CEPT PR 27 GB" and are CEPT-approved 27.6 - 27.99 FM 40 channels, 0.01 MHz (10 kHz) spacing 4W max power radios using this band are marked "27/81-UK" and are only legal in the UK 934.0125-934.9625 FM 20 channels, 0.05 MHz (50 kHz) spacing 4W max power radios using this band are marked "CB 934/81" and are only legal in the UK, no new radios of this type are being made but existing equipment may continue to be used legally Antennas must be omnidirectional - beams and yagis are prohibited. Antennas must stand vertically, no higher than 1.65m (not including ground plane.) AM and FM are not compatible so a US-legal CB cannot communicate with any 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. (See Part 4.) --- in France France uses the same frequencies (in 40 channels) as CEPT and the USA. AM, FM and SSB are permitted. The only legal CB radios in France are those which are approved by France Telecom or visiting CEPT-approved radios. frequencies (MHz) modulation description 26.965 - 27.405 AM/SSB/FM 40 channels, same frequencies as USA max power: 1W AM, 4W SSB, 4W FM 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. Channel 27 AM is sometimes used as a calling channel for base stations (at home.) AM is the most commonly-used modulation method in France. When traveling outside France, remember that most countries in the CEPT conference do not permit the use of AM or SSB. France has adopted the CEPT rules for CB in Europe - see below for more information. --- in Germany Germany also uses the same frequencies as CEPT and the USA. 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 USA max power: 1W AM and 4W FM AM is allowed on Channels 4-15 FM is allowed on all 40 channels SSB is not permitted All signals must have vertical polarity. Channel 4 FM is the calling channel. FM is the more commonly-used modulation method in Germany. 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. When traveling outside Germany, remember that most countries in the CEPT conference do not permit the use of AM. Germany has adopted the CEPT rules for CB in Europe - see below for more information. --- in Italy Italy also uses the same frequencies as CEPT and the USA. AM, FM, and SSB are permitted. frequencies (MHz) modulation description 26.965 - 27.405 AM/FM/SSB 40 channels, same frequencies as USA max power: 4W AM/FM/SSB Directional antennas are not permitted Selective call devices (i.e. tone encoders or tone squelch) are not permitted Channel 9 is recommended as an emergency channel. Truckers often use Channel 5 on AM. It has been reported that Q-codes are popular in Italy. Our reporters in both Italy and Germany have said that many Italian CB'ers can be heard using linear amplifiers even though they are illegal. --- in Russia CB radios in Russia use the same frequencies as the USA and CEPT (European) countries. AM and FM are both permitted. The maximum transmit power is 5 watts. Our reporter from Russia says there is no restriction on the distance of communications so, technically, use of skip (see Part 4) can be assumed to be legal. Because both AM and FM are legal, Russian CB radios can communicate with European radios (in FM) and with North American or Australian radios (in AM.) --- in other 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. (If you know more, please tell us!) * Switzerland uses FM on the same frequencies as CEPT but CBs do not appear to be very common there. * Channel 19 is the calling channel in Poland. Some probably-outdated info said that this was also the case in Czechoslovakia but that may not necessarily be true under the new governments of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. * The calling channels in Austria are 4 AM and 9 AM. * From California, we can hear a lot of CB activity in Mexico via skip but no one has provided us with any details yet. However, we know that Mexico uses AM on the same frequencies as the USA's 27 Mhz CB band. In every country we know of where CB is legal, radios must be type-accepted, meaning they must have been manufactured specifically for use with one or more country's regulations. They must be unmodified and properly marked for use in that country. The exception is CEPT-approved radios, which may be used in any country which has implemented the conference's recommendations. * What are the common brands of CB radios? ------------------------------------------ Some of the more common brands that you will find out in the USA market are as follows: Uniden, Cobra, Midland, Realistic (Radio Shack), Archer (Radio Shack) and others. Made-for-the-USA CB radios are also legal in Canada and Australia though they must be properly labeled ("type accepted") for sale and use in those countries. In France some common brands of radios are President and Midland. These are somewhat similar to Germany but the President brand is known as "Stabo" there. In Italy, Midland, Lafayette, and President are among the popular brand names. We currently don't have any corresponding information for other countries. Note that radios must be marked properly for sale in your country, even in countries using American or CEPT (European) radios. * 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 or use a magnet mount, gutter mount, trunk mount, or 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 rain gutter or trunk and all 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 USA, the FCC regulations limit CB antennas to 60 feet above ground level or maybe shorter if you live close to an airport - one foot high for every hundred feet from the nearest runway.) 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 American 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 in the USA include (but are not necessarily limited to) Hustler, Wilson, FireStick and K-40. In France, some common brands are President and Magnum.