05-28-2009, 05:02 PM
CB radio was a class of radio created in the 1950's by the FCC to allow extremely short range mobile to mobile and base to mobile personal communications. The FCC limited range by limiting transmit power and antenna height. You had to file for a license but there was no test so anybody could get one.
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Also the frequencies selected for the CB channels are in the 27 MHz band, which typically do not allow for anything but short range communication. CB is now a place where truck drivers communicate short distances on the interstate highways. 50% of CB transmissions are illegal because of power levels. CB'er try to talk long distance by increasing power. There is much more to the problems with CB, including radio wave propagation during sun spot cycles and other factors that make 27 MHz the worst place to be for effective communications. This was all taken into consideration when CB was created. It is sort of an unlicensed wild west place with some very colorful and out of control characters. Another way to think of this is CB radio has not changed since the 1950, so you can see how limited it is.
SSB is a "mode" that modulates your voice on a radio wave for longer distance and a smaller channel width. FM is typical of modern mobile transceivers, like police and fire.
CB transmits on 27,000,000 cycles per second, (27MHZ) in the high end of the shortwave spectrum, the radios in the link are VHF and UHF transceivers, just like police and fire radios, operating on 144 MHZ and 440 MHz.
Ham radio has so many frequencies and modes of operation I could not list them here.
I have talked on a satellite from my house using ham radio. Ham radio is typically a very professional and intelligent place to be. The FM (not AM or SSB) dual band transceiver in the link has 500 memories, 50 watts transmit power, a wide band receiver that allows you to monitor all police, fire, marine, aircraft frequencies. With a handheld radio, you can travel and access repeaters in all major cities, and along highways. Some mainland systems are linked over numerous states. There is now digital audio as a mode of operation.
CB radio is like trying to cross the ocean in a row boat, you might make it, but I would rather be on the aircraft carrier of ham radio.
I hope this helps. And look on the internet, it is endless the information about ham radio communications.
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Also the frequencies selected for the CB channels are in the 27 MHz band, which typically do not allow for anything but short range communication. CB is now a place where truck drivers communicate short distances on the interstate highways. 50% of CB transmissions are illegal because of power levels. CB'er try to talk long distance by increasing power. There is much more to the problems with CB, including radio wave propagation during sun spot cycles and other factors that make 27 MHz the worst place to be for effective communications. This was all taken into consideration when CB was created. It is sort of an unlicensed wild west place with some very colorful and out of control characters. Another way to think of this is CB radio has not changed since the 1950, so you can see how limited it is.
SSB is a "mode" that modulates your voice on a radio wave for longer distance and a smaller channel width. FM is typical of modern mobile transceivers, like police and fire.
CB transmits on 27,000,000 cycles per second, (27MHZ) in the high end of the shortwave spectrum, the radios in the link are VHF and UHF transceivers, just like police and fire radios, operating on 144 MHZ and 440 MHz.
Ham radio has so many frequencies and modes of operation I could not list them here.
I have talked on a satellite from my house using ham radio. Ham radio is typically a very professional and intelligent place to be. The FM (not AM or SSB) dual band transceiver in the link has 500 memories, 50 watts transmit power, a wide band receiver that allows you to monitor all police, fire, marine, aircraft frequencies. With a handheld radio, you can travel and access repeaters in all major cities, and along highways. Some mainland systems are linked over numerous states. There is now digital audio as a mode of operation.
CB radio is like trying to cross the ocean in a row boat, you might make it, but I would rather be on the aircraft carrier of ham radio.
I hope this helps. And look on the internet, it is endless the information about ham radio communications.