March 12, 2007
CB Radio or Two Way Radio?
The basics of how a CB radio works is similar to that of a two way radio. Both allow you to communicate with others over the public airwaves, but there are circumstances where one would be preferable to the other. I will try to outline the major differences here.
CB Radios
CB radios are primarily used in vehicles, so if you are looking to communicate with others only while in a vehicle then a CB is a great choice. With a CB you are not limited to talking to others in your caravan, it is acceptable to strike up a conversation with anyone.
Most CB's are designed to be connected to an external antenna, which can offer range far greater than that of a two way radio. Some individuals mount antenna's on their roofs to allow them to communicate via CB with homes that are miles away. With a 2 way radio, this would require a repeater which can be very expensive.
CB radios are better if you need to a way to call for help. Although it is rare, In some areas channel 9 is monitored by authorities for emergencies.
Bottom line: CB radios have an advantage when travelling and when you need more range without buying expensive equipment. They are great for communicating with both friends and strangers, and do not require a license. Disadvantages are portability, privacy, and the perform poorly inside buildings.
Two Way Radios
Two way radios (walkie talkies) are small and hand held, which makes them very portable. You can use a 2 way radio to communicate with a family member in another vehicle while travelling to a theme park, and then take the radio with you to use in the park. This wouldn't be possible with most CB radios. Even handheld CB radios can be rather large.
While conversations are not at all private on either a CB radio or a two way radio, two way's provide better perceived privacy. They offer features such as privacy codes which filter out the transmissions of other radios, making it appear that your group has the frequency all to yourselves. This makes two way radios a good tool for communicating with a group but, unlike a CB, they are not especially useful for communicating with strangers.
Two way radios are available in many frequency ranges. VHF two way radios work well outside, while UHF radios (such as GMRS and FRS radios) work well in many environments including inside buildings. Many types of two way radios, however, require a license which can be an added expense.
Bottom line: Two way radios have an advantage in portability, size, and privacy. They operate adequately in most environments including inside buildings. They are not intended for communicating with people you don't know, and range is usually less than 2 miles unless you buy expensive equipment like a repeater. Some types require a license.
January 02, 2007
CB Radio 10 Codes
The following is a list of CB radio "10 codes". Ten codes are an abbreviated way of sending messages, some of which are very common among those that use CB radios frequently or professionally. If you're new to the CB world, take a look at the list below to get familiar with some codes you may hear.
As you can imagine, some are more popular than others. I don't recommend that you memorize the list below, just use it as a reference if you hear something that you're not sure about. The list of 10 codes below was taken from the manual of a Cobra CB Radio.
| 10 Code | Description | 10 Code | Description |
| 10-1 | Receiving Poorly | 10-34 | Trouble at this Station |
| 10-2 | Receiving Well | 10-35 | Confidential Information |
| 10-3 | Stop Transmitting | 10-36 | Correct Time is |
| 10-4 | Ok, Message Received | 10-37 | Wrecker Needed at |
| 10-5 | Relay Message | 10-38 | Ambulance Needed |
| 10-6 | Busy, Stand by | 10-39 | Message Delivered |
| 10-7 | Out of Service, Leaving | 10-41 | Turn to Channel |
| 10-8 | In Service, Subject to Call | 10-42 | Traffic Accident at |
| 10-9 | Repeat Message | 10-43 | Traffic Tie-Up at |
| 10-10 | Transmission Completed, Standing by | 10-44 | Have a Message for |
| 10-11 | Talking too Rapidly | 10-45 | All Units Within Range, Please Report |
| 10-12 | Visitors Present | 10-50 | Break Channel |
| 10-13 | Advise Weather/Roads | 10-60 | What is Next Message Number? |
| 10-16 | Make Pick-Up at | 10-62 | Unable to Copy. Use Phone. |
| 10-17 | Urgent Business | 10-63 | Net Directed to |
| 10-18 | Anything for Us? | 10-64 | Net Clear |
| 10-19 | Return to Base | 10-65 | Awaiting Your Next Message/Assignment |
| 10-20 | My Location is | 10-67 | All Units Comply |
| 10-21 | Call by Phone | 10-70 | Fire at |
| 10-22 | Report in Person to | 10-71 | Proceed. Transmission in Sequence. |
| 10-23 | Stand by | 10-77 | Negative Contact |
| 10-24 | Completed Last Assignment. | 10-81 | Reserve Hotel Room for |
| 10-25 | Can You Contact? | 10-82 | Reserve Room for |
| 10-26 | Disregard Last Info. | 10-85 | My Address is |
| 10-27 | Moving to Channel. | 10-91 | Talk Closer to Microphone. |
| 10-28 | Identify Your Station. | 10-93 | Check my Frequency on This Channel. |
| 10-29 | Time is Up for Contact | 10-94 | Give me a Long Count. |
| 10-30 | Does not Conform to FCC Rules | 10-99 | Mission Completed. All Units Secure. |
| 10-33 | Emergency Traffic | 10-200 | Police Needed at |
December 29, 2006
Introduction to CB Radios
CB Radios are communications devices that are almost exclusively used in vehicles. They are typically used to listen to or participate in friendly conversation with others on the highway, but they can also be used to communicate with friends or report emergencies.
A typical CB radio is mounted and hard wired directly into a vehicle. An antenna is typically mounted on the outside of the vehicle. Connected to the main CB unit, will be a palm-size microphone. A button is pressed on the side of the microphone to transmit a message over the currently selected channel. Other CB owners within range will hear your message if they are tuned to your channel.
Standard CB Radios support 40 channels, and those supporting SSB (Single Side Band) support even more. Channel 9 is an emergency channel and should only be used to transmit an actual emergency. Channel 19 is the preferred highway channel in most areas. Many CB radios have "Instant Channel Access" buttons to let you quickly tune to channels 9 or 19.
CB radio range varies from a few miles to possibly thousands of miles. The type of antenna and the output power of the radio most directly affect the range, but other factors can contribute as well. Radio output power is limited to 4 watts by the FCC and most CB radios operate at this maximum. Antenna's, however, can vary widely. In general, the longer the antenna the better.
Because of the frequency range within which CB radios operate, it is possible that radio signals can bounce off the ionosphere (called "skip") and be heard hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Taking advantage of this "skip" to communicate with those hundreds of miles away is discouraged by the FCC.
CB radios are now predominately used by truckers, but there are several reasons the average person may find them convenient. For exclusive vehicle use, they may be better choice than a two way radio for communicating between vehicles on a road trip. Many offer NOAA weather channel support, which allows you to stay aware of local weather. Just being able to communicate with other travellers has many other small benefits, such as getting suggestions for where to dine or being alerted to speed traps.
CB radios can also be fun! CB radio users have their own lingo, including ten codes and slang. They can also be quite inexpensive to get started with, so why not give one a try?