Talk:Citizens' band radio

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Isn't it strange that it has GMRS, but no FRS? Ilyanep 17:44 19 Jun 2003 (UTC)

Yes, and it was not properly characterized (FRS, GMRS, MURS). These services and CB are part fo the FCC's Personal Radio Services (PRS). It use to be Citizens Radio Services since 1957 - BUT the public could not understand or differentiate that title from Class "D" service - so FCC changed the division’s name (reducing ambiguity). http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_home&id=personal_radio

The origianl Class "D" and Class "E" sections had significant errors (not supported by the FCC filing and ruling records). I softened wording - for proper context -- since it comes across to this reader as "anti-amateur radio". Class "E" requirements were actually met in 1980s with 3 new services. The 220 MHz band is not generally available to the public (globally) - so this would have been an economic barrier for affordable radios (global mfg.) to public in 1970s. The UPS allocation (arm twisting in Washington DC) menioned in 1993 did get some 220 MHz bandwdith (as did another service at 218 to 219 MHz. These frquencies are not well utilized (economics again) - and FCC forced UPS to use a narrow bandwidth system (not FM, SSB, or AM) -- much to the embarrassment of UPS. G. Beat 21:56 18 March 2006 (UTC)

I could be mistaken, but wasn't channel 19 the default channel for most truck communications, not just traffic moving in certain directions?JesseG 03:44, 8 Jul 2004 (UTC)

Back in the 1970s channels 19 and 21 were both trucker's channels. If I recall correctly, 19 was for east/west and 21 was for north/south. When I was truck driving in 1996 and 1997 channel 19 was the trucker's channel thoughout the country. However, I think channel 21 was still popular on Interstate 5, perhaps to avoid interference with State Route 99. Rsduhamel 19:42, 3 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Wasn't channel 3 the main channel for boats equipped with a CB radio?

JesseG 18:47, 25 Jul 2004 (UTC)

I'd like to see more about CB-like services in other countries. In the UK they have a 446 MHZ service that's unlicenced. And I bet Japan has some interesting radio hobby services, too. I'll have to dig up my old magazines from the period and see if I can identify when 40-channel gear first turned up in quantity. --Wtshymanski 23:32, 7 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Somebody needs to verify that Popular CB Channels section. --141.156.47.42 20:53, 12 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] CB in Movies

I really don't rememeber the use of CB in the movie Die Hard. I thought they were just 2-way FM radios - not CB.

To the best of my knowledge in Die Hard the bad guys use kenwood handy's, as well as in Die Hard 2. Since kenwood only produces for amateur of professional bands it is unlikely that they would have covered CB.

John McClain gets on the radio and says something like "channel 9 channel 9!" Then it cuts to a scene in a police station where the female cop responds to the call. Anymore doubts?

Channel 9 can be an assignment on a 16 position radio for the Land Mobile Radio (LMR) Service - just as it is for a Citizens band radio (27 MHz). Nope, not 27 MHz CB - LOOK at the length (wavelength and frequency have inverse relationship) of the radio's antenna used - physics answers this question - looks like a UHF radio (GMRS service is at 462-467 MHz/UHF). G. Beat 21:56 18 March 2006 (UTC)

In Die Hard, the handhelds are obviously not CBs, but when they show the dispatcher on the other end, she has what looks like a Cobra CB base station.

[edit] Other, derogatory terms

Does it make sense to mention the other terms sometimes applied to CB, such as "children's band" or "chicken band"? N0YKG 21:07, 28 September 2005 (UTC)

I suppose it would depend on how you present it ;)

[edit] Isn't 14 the main calling channel?

Breaker, breaker 1-4; 1 4 for a copy? DavidFarmbrough 13:32, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

Yes, in Britain, on the 27/81 channels. I think that was a USA reference about 11 being the calling channel. While i read long ago in a book on CB that 11 was an unofficial calling channel, i've never seen it used IRL as such. I'd suggest relegating 11=calling to a historical note. -- anon, 07 Jan '05

Here's your answer. Way back in the early 1970's when CB was illegal in the UK, British CB'ers used 11 as a calling channel (just like the Americans) but were forced to move to 14 because of interference from legal equipment on the same channel. When CB was "legalized" in 1981 they continued to use 14. Apgeraint 14:57, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What a Picture...

What a dirty radio, you'd think someone would wipe the dust off of it before taking a picture and putting it in the encyclopedia. Anonym1ty 17:58, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

  • Because dust is totally uncylopedic?--205.188.117.72 05:29, 25 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] replace the picture!

If I could, I would take a product shot from some place online and submit it instead of that ugly dusty radio, but I can't, so it's up to the other users to take a freely usable picture of a CLEAN cb radio and replace that dusty POS picture.

I'm here to say the same thing. How about a photo of a CB radio in a truck cab, or one of a mint Cobra 148 or President Lincoln. Not a dirty old rig on someone's bed, please! --kingboyk 03:33, 4 March 2006 (UTC)
it is a horrible picture. i may have a better picture, i will check. if i dont i'm sure someone else looking at this does. also technically a president lincoln is not an american c radio ;). A president washington or a cobra 2000 would look great on this page though. 08:29, 7 July 2006 (UTC)
I have a good photo showing a base station in new condition with a D-104. Many CB'rs have bigtime base set-ups with "extra" stuff if you know what I mean. Should I post it? JungleCat 23:30, 7 July 2006 (UTC)
Much better picture. Great job! Phauge 04:36, 8 July 2006 (UTC)
that is a beautiful picture, great looking rig you have there Lenn0r 02:30, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] huge Australian CB history section?

It's enormous. Why not create a separate "CB Radio in Australia" article? --141.154.25.91 16:49, 25 June 2006 (UTC)

  • This is a good question. After all, we have a CB radio in the United Kingdom article allready there, and it has its own standing. Yes, shouldn't this be set apart? JungleCat 02:14, 8 July 2006 (UTC)
  • I agree. But I looked at doing it and decided it needed a bit more thought and discussion rather than merely cutting out the Australia paragraph, because the whole article could do with deciding whether it's "CB radio" or "CB radio in the United States". And either way, there's a bit of Australian stuff outwith the main paragraph. – Kieran T (talk | contribs) 09:34, 8 July 2006 (UTC)
You are correct. That would take much time and thought to "separate these twins". JungleCat 15:23, 9 July 2006 (UTC)
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