Citizen Band Radio-What is it?
Citizen band radio is a short distance radio communication system that operates within a selected range of forty channels. Majority of countries require no license to operate the radio service. A typical citizen band radio service is a two-way radio system that can be used for personal or business communication.
Citizen band radio is also shared among a number of users and is characterized by one station transmission at a time. Other stations must, therefore, wait for a shared channel to be available.
Check: CB Radio codes for truckers
Citizen band radio originated in the United States. The year was 1945 and the service was regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. It is said that the bands were taken from Amateur Radio to form CB’s first 22 channels from the 11 meters band. There was a twenty-third channel that was shared among radio controlled devices. The foundation of class A and Class B Citizen band radio was laid out in 1948. Class B was characterized by simpler technical requirements and formed the basis of today’s public handheld radio devices.
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The popularity of Citizen Band Radio
By 1977 Citizen band radio channels had increased from the twenty-three channels to forty channels. The expansion was associated with the service’ wide popularity after the 1973 oil crisis. The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) declared an embargo resulting to oil shortage, which therefore made the American Government impose a countrywide highway speed limit of 55 mph.
Truck drivers caught amidst the traffic regulations resorted to using Citizen band radio; through which they notified colleague drivers of speed traps and traffic barriers. The truckers would also use the service to locate fuel stations with favorable supplies of oil. The 1974 strike protesting the highway rules was also organized through the CBs whereby the truckers would impose blockades and convoys to demonstrate.
The popularity of Citizen band radio was also associated with the widespread use of the device on 1970s films such Smokey and Bandit and Convoy.
What Are The CB Frequencies And CB Radio Channels?
The following table presents the CB frequencies…
| CB Frequency | CB Channel | Customary Use |
| 26.96500 | CB Channel 01 | open to all |
| 26.97500 | CB Channel 02 | open to all |
| 26.98500 | CB Channel 03 | open to all |
| 27.00500 | CB Channel 04 | open to all–4×4 channel |
| 27.01500 | CB Channel 05 | open to all |
| 27.02500 | CB Channel 06 | open to all |
| 27.03500 | CB Channel 07 | open to all |
| 27.05500 | CB Channel 08 | open to all |
| 27.06500 | CB Channel 09 | Emergency |
| 27.07500 | CB Channel 10 | open to all–regional roads |
| 27.08500 | CB Channel 11 | open to all |
| 27.10500 | CB Channel 12 | open to all |
| 27.11500 | CB Channel 13 | open to all–marine, RV |
| 27.12500 | CB Channel 14 | open to all–walkie talkies |
| 27.13500 | CB Channel 15 | open to all |
| 27.15500 | CB Channel 16 | open to all (also SSB) |
| 27.16500 | CB Channel 17 | open to all–North/South Traffic |
| 27.17500 | CB Channel 18 | open to all |
| 27.18500 | CB Channel 19 | Truckers–East/West Hwy Traffic |
| 27.20500 | CB Channel 20 | open to all |
| 27.21500 | CB Channel 21 | open to all–regional roads |
| 27.22500 | CB Channel 22 | open to all |
| 27.25500 | CB Channel 23 | open to all |
| 27.23500 | CB Channel 24 | open to all |
| 27.24500 | CB Channel 25 | open to all |
| 27.26500 | CB Channel 26 | open to all |
| 27.27500 | CB Channel 27 | open to all |
| 27.28500 | CB Channel 28 | open to all |
| 27.29500 | CB Channel 29 | open to all |
| 27.30500 | CB Channel 30 | open to all |
| 27.31500 | CB Channel 31 | open to all |
| 27.32500 | CB Channel 32 | open to all |
| 27.33500 | CB Channel 33 | open to all |
| 27.34500 | CB Channel 34 | open to all |
| 27.35500 | CB Channel 35 | open to all |
| 27.36500 | CB Channel 36 | open to all (also SSB) |
| 27.37500 | CB Channel 37 | open to all (also SSB) |
| 27.38500 | CB Channel 38 | open to all (also SSB, LSB) |
| 27.39500 | CB Channel 39 | open to all (also SSB) |
| 27.40500 | CB Channel 40 | open to all (also SSB) |
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What CB Radio Channels Do Trackers Use?
Channel 19 is the most popular CB channel for trackers. However, due to the influx of traffic, most of the time channel 19 is busy. Despite the fact that channel 19 is also the nation’s standard channel for truckers, it is worth to note that it will not be found in some areas. Good examples are Washington, Oregon, and California which use channel 97 and channel 17. It is advised to use channel 15 from between Los Angeles to Lost Hills highway. Channel 21 was also a household channel for Los Angeles to San Diego. California uses channel 1-15.
Other Citizen Band Radio Channels
The Citizen Radio Frequency chart and range were harmonized by the Federal Communications Commission in the United States. In Europe, the Citizen Radio channels are regulated and were harmonized by the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT). Different channels are used to serve a different purpose. For instance, channel 13 is mainly for marine and RV. Channel 14 is used with walkie-talkies. Channel 10 for regulating regional roads while channel 17 is used to controlling highway traffic in the North. There is also an emergency channel for civilians caught in devastating situations, channel 9. Channel 13 and 14 are also suitable for high power industrial activities.
Illegal Citizen Band Radio Frequencies
Frequencies above 28,000 MHz in the CB radio frequency chart are considered illegal by FCC. The body imposed huge fines on anyone caught transmitting on those frequencies. The fine is mainly because all of those channels are for licensed Amateur radio operations. Majority of them also use the morse code technique, placing any civilian user under the risk of attracting regulatory officials.
What Are Bootleg Frequencies?
Licensed operators are allowed by FCC to modify and use CB radio for Amateur radio’s range of 10 meters. The resulting frequency is called a bootleg frequency. Note that everyone, including amateur operators, is supposed to use CB radios that have been approved by FCC. Approved radios are more difficult to bootleg or modify than non approved ones.
What is Freebanding and Why You Should Think Twice Before Using It
Freebanding is where an operator uses different channels within the 11 meters frequency. Majority of the frequencies within this range are outside the allowed CB radio frequency range. They are mostly used by private individuals or institutions that are licensed or authorized to do so.
International call frequencies 26.285 and 27.555 are considered unauthorized frequencies. One is only allowed to listen to such frequencies, once they talk, it is considered an intrusion and therefore one is placed under the radar of FCC.
Freebanding is illegalized for two reasons. Illegal linear amplifiers which are used to freeband are poorly designed and often result to harmonic distortion of Citizen band radio frequency. The other reason comes about due to emergency situations which require all channels to always remain open. Therefore disruption caused by freebanding is a great risk.
Closing Remarks
A person considering to use CB radio should take a look at a number of FCC laws governing the channels.CB radio operators are advised to give first priority to emergency cases and alerts. Such a regulation may appear meager but is crucial to focus on, in order to avoid being on the wrong side. One also needs to ensure the radio devices they buy are FCC approved.FCC advises operators to put great consideration into the unit sizes, CB antennas, and installation to ensure quality sound reception.
hi im trying to get a chart list of the ssb freq and cw freq can you help me get a list of these freq .
CB SINGLE SIDE BAND STARTS AT26.96500 AND ALL THWAY UP TO 27.40500 TRUCKERS CH AND HIGHWAY TRAFFICE IS CH19– FREQ27.185 AND 27.1843 FREQ. NCDADDYBEAR54@ MAIL.COM. . HANDLE NAME ON CB NCPAPABEAR CH-19 .
HI CB FREQUENCY CHARY TYPE @ BUCKY M6VUK THATS THE CB FREQ CHART HERE ONLINE MCDADDTBEAR54 MAIL.COM .
I need to add one thing to my comments. The FCC uses the latest technology for radio direction finding. If they are actively looking for you, SDR receivers, computers and the internet will put an ‘X’ on top of you on Google maps in a heartbeat. If you just have to branch out into illegality, keep your signal clean, don’t deliberately interfere with anything, play nice, and the door knock or letter in the mail will not be in your future.