CB Radio
Citizens' Band or CB radio is a two-way radio used for short-distance communication between individuals. CB radio uses a selection of 40 channels within the single 27 MHz band. Don't confuse CB radio with amateur "ham" radio. They're different types of radios. Many countries don't require a license and some even allow commercial communication on CB radios. In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates CB radio use as well as governing several other personal radio services. CB radio services began in 1945 as a way to provide citizens with the opportunity to communicate across short distances. Originally, there were 2 classes of CB radio: Class A & Class B. Class B CB radios were limited to a smaller range of frequencies and had simpler technical requirements. In the late 1940s, Al Gross who invented the walkie-talkie, began selling handheld Class B CB radios to the general public.
History of CB Radios CB radios were popular with small trade businesses like carpenters, electricians, and plumbers as well as transportation services such as taxicabs and trucking companies in the 1960s. "10 codes" (i.e. 10-4 & 10-20) were used as codes for short acknowledgments. As technology advanced in the 1970s, CB radios became smaller, more powerful, and less expensive. CB radios became part of popular culture as they were featured in TV shows (The Dukes of Hazzard), movies (Smokey & the Bandit), and music (C.W. McCall's "Convoy" was a top 10 hit). As the popularity of CB radios rose, many users ignored the requirement for a license. Perhaps the most popular use of CB radios was to warn other drivers about speed traps. CB radios were very popular with truck drivers who used nicknames or "handles" and developed their own CB language full of slang terms. The requirement for CB radio users to obtain a license prior to using the CB radio was dropped entirely as the regulations were ignored and enforcement became impractical. Many other regulations besides the license requirement were commonly ignored including transmitter power, antenna height, and distance restriction for communications among others. Back in its heyday, the popularity of CB radios was similar the growing popularity of the Internet today. But in recent years as technology advances, the CB radio has fallen out of favor. Other items such as the Internet and cellular phones have replaced the CB radio. CB Radios Today CB radios are still popular in many countries but in the US, CB radios are used mainly by truck drivers and people who live in rural areas. Channel 19 is the most commonly used channel for highway use in the US. However in certain areas, different channels are used for North-South highways versus East-West highways. Channel 9 is reserved for emergency use in several countries including the U.S. |
