CB Radio - How it can help you - by Eddie Runner (NU5K)
 

CB Radio is a lot of fun. It is super cheap and it allows you to have fairly reliable mobile (or base) communications without having to get a radio operators license. CB radio was BIG BIG BIG in the 70s, it seemed like every car had a CB in it and many homes also. It provided a fun way to keep in touch with your friends and family. I used to radio home when I was leaving work so that dinner would be ready when I walked in the door. In the 70s we met a lot of friends on the air and had great fun. I started my mobile electronics career by installing CB radios in 1974. I also met my wife and actually got Married on the CB radio in 1976. (still married!)

But besides all that mushy stuff, CBs are coming back strong and are dirt cheap. Most CBs nowadays have 40 channels, so it is pretty easy to find a clear channel to talk on. Many mobile CBs also have a PA (public Address) system built in so that with the simple addition of a speaker you can talk to folks around your car, or holler at the idiot to get outa your way, or make MOOing sounds as you pass a heard of cattle in the country..

There are many CBs on the market but many are very close to identical on the inside, nowadays there aren't many BAD ones, and also not many really outstanding ones. They are mostly all good.

You can get;

A handheld CB, many times these have less power and an AWFUL antenna. But they are very very popular with some of the offroaders, they get very good results with handheld CBs. A big plus is that you can leave the car and still use them.

A Car powered CB with all the controls on the Mic, these work good but because of their small size they lack some cool features like PA or SSB. They are quite easy to mount though.

A normal mobile CB, the most common cb radio, most have 4 watts of output (the max legal) and 40 channels and PA capabilities.

An SSB CB, the "high end" of CB radios. Most CBs use AM (amplitude Modulation), but SSB CBs have both AM and SSB (single side band) modes for all 40 channels. AM which is normal for CBs is susceptible to all kinds of nasty interference, SSB makes a more efficient use of power and doesn't have as much problems with static.. But to use SSB you must be communicating with another CBer that also has SSB.

Base Station,  base stations are available in AM and SSB and require an antenna on the roof. Usually have much better range because of the higher antenna.

Being a lover of radio I eventually got into HAM radio, most folks regard it as a step up from CB radio because you must have a license, but for radio lovers like myself, Ham radio really has a lot to offer over CB radio, many more bands channels and frequencies, alot more technical stuff from moonbounce to satellite, to digital and daily worldwide communications...