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SECTION 1 - MODES, FEATURES & RANGE

                                                                        Updated 03/10/2020 CopyRight 2012

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  • WHAT IS SIDEBAND or "SSB"?
    A - "SideBand" (SSB) is a mode capability found in higher-end CB Radios. You will have access to the Upper & Lower Sideband Modes (USB, LSB), on each of the 40 channels, in addition to the "Regular" (AM) mode, using the "Am/USB/LSB switch. When switched over to a sideband, each receive signal must be "fine tuned" in with the clarifier or voice lock control found on the SSB CB radio, otherwise people will sound garbled or distorted. Keep in mind that when switched to a sideband, you can only communicate with other CBers that have that same SSB capability as well. You can usually expect an increase in range, & less noise on SSB, than on the "standard" AM 40 channels.

  • WHAT IS THE "TALKBACK" FEATURE?
    A - If your CB has TalkBack, this is a feature that lets you hear or "Monitor" yourself thru the CB Radio's speaker while you are transmitting. It can be useful to check the sound of power & Echo type mikes. If turned up too high, you will get a feedback squeel, however. There are also external TalkBack Speakers that can give some CB's this feature when this type external speaker is plugged in.

  • WHAT RANGE WILL A CB RADIO GIVE ME?
    A - "Generally Speaking", range for a mobile CB Radio could be anywhere from 1 or 2 miles, to even 20 to 25 Miles or more, depending on the terrain, type of antennas used, & other factors. The "typical" range to expect from a mobile CB, with a good antenna, is about 2 to 5 miles, but you will actually get both more & less than this, in certian areas & terrain, & as you drive around. Home Base Station CB setups, with larger building roof mounted Base antennas, will usually give more range than the ground level mobile units do, & the small handheld "walkie-Talkie styles will usually give much less.
  • WHAT DO THE RF & MIKE GAIN CONTROLS DO?
    A - Mike Gain (also called "DynaMike" & XTRATALK" on some CB's), is your microphone's transmit "volume control", & can be lowered to reduce backround noise, or if your voice is really loud. The RF Gain control can be thought of as a "Receive Distance Control", & by turning it down, you can reduce the radio's sensitvity to distant chatter, noise & signals that are too weak to reach. The Better CB's will usually have both of these controls.
  • WHY DOES THERE SEEM TO BE MORE STATIC ON CB CHANNELS THAN WHAT I HEAR ON OTHER TYPES OF RADIOS?
    A - Just like you car Stereo's AM/FM Bands, where the "AM" has more interference & static than the "FM", CB channels are transmitted & received using a similar "AM" type of transmission mode. Other two-way Radios like FRS, GMRS, Police scanners ect all receive in an "FM" mode. Again, with CB, just as switching to "AM" on your car stereo, you will notice more static than when on FM. Look for CB Radios that include a Noise Blanker ("NB") switch, which helps minimize some of this noise better than standard CB's that have no noise filters, or just an "ANL" switch.
  • WHAT IS THE FREQUENCY DISPLAY OR FREQUENCY COUNTER, & WHAT DOES IT DO?
    A - On some CB Radios, such as the Texas Ranger TRE-936FFC, & the Galaxy DX-959, DX-929, DX-939 & DX-979, there is either a built-in, or add-on Optional 5 or 6 digit frequency counter display. This will show you the actual RF Frequency of the CB channel you are tuned to (ie.. 27.4050 Mhz is CB channel 40), Here is a Table of all 40 US / Canada CB channels, & their actual Frequencies:
    1) 26.965 MHz 9) 27.065 MHz 17) 27.165 MHz 25) 27.245 MHz 33) 27.335 MHz
    2) 26.975 MHz 10) 27.075 MHz 18) 27.175 MHz 26) 27.265 MHz 34) 27.345 MHz
    3) 26.985 MHz 11) 27.085 MHz 19) 27.185 MHz 27) 27.275 MHz 35) 27.355 MHz
    4) 27.005 MHz 12) 27.105 MHz 20) 27.205 MHz 28) 27.285 MHz 36) 27.365 MHz
    5) 27.015 MHz 13) 27.115 MHz 21) 27.215 MHz 29) 27.295 MHz 37) 27.375 MHz
    6) 27.025 MHz 14) 27.125 MHz 22) 27.225 MHz 30) 27.305 MHz 38) 27.385 MHz
    7) 27.035 MHz 15) 27.135 MHz 23) 27.255 MHz 31) 27.315 MHz 39) 27.395 MHz
    8) 27.055 MHz 16) 27.155 MHz 24) 27.235 MHz 32) 27.325 MHz 40) 27.405 MHz
  • IS THERE A CB MADE WITH A BUILT-IN POLICE RADIO SCANNER or FRS TRANCEIVER?
    A - No. Some Scanners, such as the Uniden BCD-996XT, BC-95XLT, BC-355C, or BC-346XT will receive the 40 CB channels, but none will transmit. There are no FCC approved CB's with other Radio services built into them either, such as CB plus FRS, Marine or Ham bands.
  • WHAT IS THE BEST ANTENNA FOR MY MOBILE CB RADIO?
    A - This is tough to answer, & there are many variables, but here are some good general guidelines & "Rules of Thumb" to follow. First, The Taller the antenna, the better it will work. Mount your antenna as high as possible on the vehicle, & try to get at least 50% of it over the roofline. Usually, all else being equal, the Tallest, longest antenna you are comfortable with, mounted as high as possible, will give the best performance. For Example, mounting a new 4 foot CB antenna in the same spot where you were using a 2 foot, will usually give better results. It wouldn't really matter what "brand name", color, or style the 2 ft antenna was. Mounting Height on the vehicle, & the antenna length should be more important than other considerations. Keep in mind that, generally, CB antennas that are less than 3 feet tall, those that "stick to the glass", & the AM/FM/CB "combo" antennas & adaptors usually do not give the best performance, they are bought & sold mainly for "convienience" & "cosmetic" reasons.
  • WHY DO I SEEM TO SOMETIMES LOSE A PERSON'S SIGNAL QUICKLY WHEN DRIVING MOBILE?
    A - This is a common question. Remember, in some types of terrain and/or driving speeds, you can lose another CBer's signal rather quickly. For example, two Vehicles traveling about 60MPH, going in opposite directions, become a mile apart every thirty seconds! There are easily many situations where that would be enough to lose each other within a minute or two, depending upon terrain, antennas ect....



    SECTION 2 - LEGALITIES

  •                                                                              Updated 01/15/2019 CopyRight 2012

     






      CITIZENS' BAND RADIO  
    PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT SELL ANY CB RADIO EQUIPMENT
    OR OFFER ADVISE ON CB RADIOS
     
    THIS PAGE IS JUST AN INFORMATION ONLY PAGE
    FOR YOUR PLEASURE AND AMUSEMENT 
     
           
     
     
    Citizens' Band radio (CB) is, in many countries, a system of short-distance radio communications between individuals on a selection of 40 channels within the 27-MHz (11 m) band. Similar personal radio services exist in other countries, with varying requirements for licensing and differing technical standards. The CB radio service is distinct from FRSGMRS, MURS, or amateur ("ham") radio. In many countries, CB does not require a license and, unlike amateur radio, it may be used for business as well as personal communications. Like many other two-way radio services, Citizens' Band channels are shared by many users. Only one station may transmit at a time. Other stations must listen and wait for the shared channel to be available.
     

    The Citizens' Band radio service originated in the United States as one of several personal radio services regulated by the FCC. These services began in 1945 to permit citizens a radio band for personal communication (e.g., radio controlled models, family communications, individual businesses). Originally, CB was located in the 460 MHz�470 MHz UHF band. There were two classes of CB: A and B. Class B radios had simpler technical requirements but were limited to a smaller range of frequencies. Al Gross, inventor of the walkie-talkie, started Citizen's Radio Corp. in the late 1940s to merchandise Class B handhelds for the general public.

     

    The technology at the time was not advanced enough for UHF radios to be practical and affordable for the average consumer. So, in 1958, the Class D CB service was opened at 27 MHz, and this is what is popularly known as CB. There were only 23 channels at the time; the first 22 were taken from what used to be an Amateur 11-meter band, while channel 23 was shared with radio-controlled devices. Some hobbyists continue to use the designation "11 meters" to refer to the Citizens' Band and adjoining frequencies.

     

    Most of the 460 MHz�470 MHz band was reassigned for business and public safety uses, but Class A CB is the ancestor of the present General Mobile Radio Service GMRS. Class B, in the same vein, is a more distant ancestor of the Family Radio Service. The Multi-Use Radio Service is another two-way radio service, in the VHF high band. An unsuccessful petition was made in 1973 to create a Class E CB service at 220 MHz, this was opposed by amateur radio organizations and others. There are several other classes of personal radio services for specialized purposes such as remote control devices.

     

    Over time, several countries have created similar radio services. While they may be known by other names, such as General Radio Service in Canada, they often use similar frequencies (26 to 28 MHz), and have similar uses, and similar issues with antennas and propagation. Licenses may or may not be required, but eligibility is generally simple.

     

    Some countries have personal radio services in the UHF band, such as the European PMR446 and the Australian UHF CB. Like the American FRS and GMRS services, these are more properly covered in their own articles, as much of this article is specific to the antenna and propagation issues of the upper HF and lower VHF bands.

     

     

    In the 1960s, the service was popular with small trade businesses (e.g., electricians, plumbers, carpenters), as well as truck drivers and radio hobbyists. With the advancement of solid-state electronics, the weight, size, and cost of the radios decreased, giving the general public access to a communications medium that had previously been only available to specialists. Many CB clubs were formed, and a special CB slang language evolved, used alongside 10-codes similar to those used in the emergency services.

     

     

    Following the 1973 oil crisis, the U.S. government imposed a nationwide 55 mph speed limit, and fuel shortages and rationing were widespread. CB radio was often used to locate service stations with a supply of gasoline, to notify other drivers of speed traps, and to organize blockades and convoys in a 1974 strike protesting the new speed limit and other trucking regulations.

     

    The prominent use of CB radios in 1970s-era films (see list below) such as Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Convoy (1978), and television shows like Movin' On (debuted 1974) and The Dukes of Hazzard (debuted 1979) bolstered the appeal of CB radio. Moreover, popular novelty songs such as C.W. McCall's Convoy (1976) helped establish CB radio as a nationwide craze in the USA in the mid- to late-1970s.

     
     
    PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT SELL ANY CB RADIO EQUIPMENT
    OR OFFER ADVISE ON CB RADIOS
     
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    Originally, CB required a license and the use of a call sign, but when the CB craze was at its peak, many people ignored this requirement and used made-up nicknames or "handles". The many restrictions on the authorized use of CB radio led to widespread disregard of the regulations, most notably in antenna height, distance restriction for communications, licensing and the use of call signs, and allowable transmitter power. Eventually, the license requirement was dropped entirely.

     

    Originally, there were only 23 CB channels in the U.S.; the present 40-channel bandplan did not come along until 1977. Channel 9 was reserved for emergency use in 1969. Channel 10 was used for highway communications, though channel 19 later became the preferred highway channel in most areas as it did not have adjacent-channel interference problems with channel 9.

     
     

    Until 1975, only channels 9�14 and 23 could be used for "interstation" calls to other licensees. Channels 1�8 and 15�22 were reserved for "intrastation" communications among units under the same license. After the interstation/intrastation rule was dropped, channel 11 was reserved as a calling frequency for the sole purpose of establishing communications; however this was withdrawn in 1977.

     

     

    Until the late 1970s when synthesized radios appeared, CB radios were controlled by plug-in quartz crystals. Almost all were AM only, though there were a few single sideband sets in the early days.

     
     
    PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT SELL ANY CB RADIO EQUIPMENT
    OR OFFER ADVISE ON CB RADIOS
     
    THIS PAGE IS JUST AN INFORMATION ONLY PAGE
    FOR YOUR PLEASURE AND AMUSEMENT 

     

    Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, a phenomenon was developing over the CB radio. Similar to the Internet chat rooms a quarter century later, the CB allowed people to get to know one another in a quasi-anonymous manner. Many movies and stories about CBers and the culture on-the-air developed.

     

    In more recent years, CB has lost much of its original appeal due to the advancement of technologies and changing values. Some of this rapid development includes: mobile phones, the Internet, and Family Radio Service. The changing radio wave propagation for long-distance communications, due to the 11 year sunspot cycle, is always a factor for these frequencies. In addition, CB in some respects became a victim of its own intense popularity. Because of the millions of users jamming onto frequencies during the mid-to-late 1970s and early 1980s, channels often were intolerably noisy and communication became difficult. Many CBers started to use their radios less frequently or not at all after this period.

     

    A gray market trade in imported CB gear does exist in many countries. In many instances, sale or ownership of foreign-specification CB gear is not illegal, but the actual use of it is. With the FCC's minimal enforcement of its rules regarding CB radio, enthusiasts in the USA often use "export" radios, or possibly European FM CB gear to get away from the overcrowded AM channels. American AM gear has also been exported to Europe.

     

     

    "Export" radios are marketed in the United States as 10 Meter Amateur transceivers. The marketing, importing and sale of such radios is illegal. It is also illegal to use these radios outside of the amateur radio bands by anyone in the USA as these radios are not type certified for the other radio services and usually exceed power limits.

     

    The use of these radios within the amateur radio service by a licensed amateur radio operator within his/her privileges is legal as long as all amateur rules are followed.

     

    Using radios outside their intended market can be dangerous as well as illegal.

     

    LIST OF TRANSCEIVERS

    ILLEGAL TO IMPORT OR MARKET

     

    COBRA - model: 200 GTL DX

     

    CONNEX - models: 3300, 3300 HP, 3300HP-ZX, 3300 PLUS, CX-3800, 4300 HP, 4300 HP 300, 4400, 4400 HP, 4600 Turbo, 4800 DXL, 4800 HPE, Deer Hunter, General Lee, General Washington

     

    GALAXY - models: 33HML, 44V, 45MP, 48T, 55, 55V, 66V, 73V, 77, 77HML, 88HL, 93T, 95T, 99V, 2517, 2527, 2547, Melaka, Saturn and Saturn Turbo

     

    GENERAL - General Jackson, Grant, StonewalL Jackson, Lee, Washington, A.P. Hill, Longstreet, Sherman

     

    MAGNUM - models: 257, 357DX, Alpha Force, Delta Force, Mini, OmegA Force,S3, S3RF, S6, S9,

     

    MIRAGE - models: 33HP, 44, 88, 99, 2950, 2950EX, 2970, 6600, 88H/L, 9900

    ,

    NORTH STAR - models: NS-3000 and NS-9000

     

    PRESIDENT - models: Grant, J.F.K., Jackson, Lincoln, HR-2510 and HR-2600

     

    PRO STAR - model: 240

     

    RANGER / RCI - models: AR-3500, RCI-2900, RCI-2950, RCI-2950-DX, RCI-2970, RCI-2970-DX, RCI-2980-WX, RCI-2985-DX, RCI-2995-DX, RCI-6300, RCI-6300 Turbo, RCI-6300F-25, RCI-6300F-150, RCI-6900, RCI-6900 Turbo, RCI-6900F-25, RCI-6900F-150, RG-99, Voyage VR-9000

     

    STRYKER - model: 440

     

    SUPERSTAR - model: 121, 122, 36, 3700, 3900, 3900HP, 3900 American SpirIt, 3900 HP G, 3900 Gold, 3900GHPA, 3900GHPM, 4800, Grant

     

    TEK - model: HR-3950

     

    UNIDEN - models: HR-2510 and HR-2600

     

    VIRAGE - model: 3300, 3300 HP, VX-38, VX-39,

     

    For further information concerning the listed transceivers or similar models, contact Ray LaForge or Gary Hendrickson at the FCC Laboratory, 7435 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046, (301) 362-3041  or (301) 362-3043 respectively. 

    E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected]

     

    CB was once the only practical two-way radio system for the individual consumer, and as such served several distinct types of users such as truck drivers, radio hobbyists, and those who needed a short-range radio for particular tasks. While some of these users have moved on to other radio services, CB is still a popular hobby in many countries. In the United States it is strongly associated with semi truck drivers and rural life.

     

     

    The 27-MHz-frequencies used by CBs, which require a long antenna and don't propagate well indoors, tend to discourage use of handheld radios for many applications. Many consumer users of handheld radios (ex. family use, hunters, hikers) have moved on to 49 MHz and then to the UHF Family Radio Service, while many who need a simple radio for professional use (ex. tradesmen) have moved on to "dot-color" business radios.

     

    On the other hand, CB is still popular among long-haul truck drivers to communicate directions, traffic problems, and other things of importance. This has long been the case in the United States, but less so in Europe where until recently conflicting regulations made it impossible for the same radio to be used across Europe. As a result, CB in Europe became more associated with hobbyists than with truckers.

     

    Most CB Radios sold in the United States today come with the following features:

    • ANL/NB � Automatic Noise Limiter or Noise Blanker reduces background noise, such as spark ignition noise.
    • CB/WX � selects weather radio receiver.
    • Dynamic or Mic Gain � adjust transmitted sound level (modulation level).
    • PA � some cb receivers can drive an external speaker
    • RF Gain � adjusts level of signals into receiver.
    • NOR/9/19 � quickly tunes pre-set channels for calling or emergency channels.
    • SWR � a tuner used to reduce the standing wave ratio caused by mismatched antennas and antenna cables.
    • Volume � speaker volume control.

    Popular microphone choices include:

    • Dynamic � A dynamic microphone uses a magnetic coil and permanent magnet.
    • Ceramic � uses a piezoelectric element; rugged, low cost, but high impedance.
    • Echo � These microphones deliberately introduce distortion and echo into the transmitted audio.
    • Electret � An electret microphone uses an electrostatic method to convert sound to electrical signals.
    • Noise-canceling microphone- uses two elements to reduce background noise.
    • Power Mic � An amplified mic.

     

                 

     

    PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT SELL ANY CB RADIO EQUIPMENT
    OR OFFER ADVISE ON CB RADIOS
     
    THIS PAGE IS JUST AN INFORMATION ONLY PAGE
    FOR YOUR PLEASURE AND AMUSEMENT 

     

    Legitimate, short-range use of CB radio is sometimes made difficult by uncooperative users and users of illegal high-power transmitters, which are capable of being heard hundreds of miles away. In the United States, the vast number of users and the low financing of the regulatory body mean that the regulations are only actively enforced against the most severe interfering stations, which makes legitimate operations on the Citizen's band unreliable.

      

    The maximum legal CB power output level, in the U.S., is four watts for AM and 12 watts (peak envelope power or "PEP") for SSB, as measured at the antenna connection on the back of the radio. However, illegal external linear amplifiers are frequently used. In the 1970s the FCC banned the sale of linear amplifiers capable of operation from 24 to 35 MHz to discourage their use on the CB band, though the use of high power amplifiers by lawless operators continued. Late in 2006 the FCC amended the regulation to only exclude 26 to 28 MHz. Extremely lax enforcement of these regulations by the FCC has led to manufacturers of illegal linear amplifiers (such as Fat Boy and Palomar Engineering) openly advertising their products for sale, and many CB dealers carry these and other amplifiers in their product lines and include them in catalogs.

     

         

     

    PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT SELL ANY CB RADIO EQUIPMENT
    OR OFFER ADVISE ON CB RADIOS
     
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    Shooting skip

    All frequencies in the HF spectrum (3�30 MHz) can be refracted by charged electrons in the ionosphere. Refracting signals off the ionosphere is called skywave propagation; the operator is said to be "shooting skip". CB operators have communicated across thousands of miles, sometimes around the world, making initial contact on the internationally recognized calling frequency (27.555 MHz), then moving to another frequency. Even low-powered 27 MHz transmitters can sometimes transmit over long distances.

     

     

    The ability of the ionosphere to bounce signals back to earth is caused by radiation from the sun. The amount of ionization possible is related to the 11-year sunspot cycle. In times of high sunspot activity, the band can remain open to much of the world for long periods of time. During low sunspot activity, it might not be possible to shoot skip at all except during periods of sporadic electron propagation, which occur from late spring through mid-summer. Skip contributes to noise on CB frequencies.

     

     

    In the United States, it is illegal to engage in, or attempt to engage in, CB communications with any station more than 250 km (155.3 miles) from an operator's location. This restriction exists to keep CB as a local radio service, but is widely ignored. The legality of shooting skip is not an issue in most other countries.

     

    Freebanding and export radios

    Operation on bootleg frequencies above or below the citizen's band (on the "uppers" and "lowers") is called "freebanding" or "outbanding". While frequencies just below the CB band, or between the CB band and the amateur radio 10-meter band seem quiet and under-utilized, they are allocated to other radio services, including government agencies, and unauthorized operation on them is illegal. Furthermore, illegal transmitters and amplifiers may not meet good engineering practice for harmonic distortion or "splatter", which may disrupt other communications and make the unapproved equipment obvious to regulators.

     

    Freebanding is done with modified CB equipment, amateur radios modified to transmit on 11 meters, foreign CB radios that may offer different channels, or with radios intended for export.

     

            

      

    Unlike amateur radios with continuous frequency tuning, export CBs are channelized. Frequency selection resembles that of modified American CBs more than any foreign frequency plan. They typically have a knob and display that reads up to channel 40, but include an extra band selector that shifts all 40 channels above or below the band, plus a "+10 kHz" button to reach the model control 'A' channels. These radios may have 6 or even 12 bands, establishing a set of quasi-CB channels on many unauthorized frequencies. The bands are typically lettered A through F, with the normal CB band as D.

     

    For example, a freebander with an export radio who wants to use 27.635 MHz would choose Channel 19 (27.185 MHz) and then shift the radio up one band (+ 0.450 MHz). It requires arithmetic on the part of the operator to determine the actual frequency, though more expensive radios include a frequency counter.

     

     

    Even well-meaning, but illegal, operations can end up on frequencies which are very much in use. For instance, Channel 19, shifted two bands up, becomes 28.085 MHz, which is in a Morse code-only part of the 10-meter ham band. Licensed amateurs typically regard this activity as an intrusion, and have been known to record, locate, and report such transmissions.

     

     

    Currently, many freeband operators use amateur radios modified to transmit out of band. Older amateur radios may require component changes; for instance, the 1970s-vintage Yaesu FT-101 was modified for CB by replacing a set of crystals used to tune portions of the 10-meter band, while on some newer radios, the modification may be as simple as cutting a jumper or diode. Today many types of amateur radios can be found on CB and freeband, ranging from full-coverage HF transceivers to simpler 10-meter mobile radios. In the United States, the FCC bans the importation and marketing of radios it deems too easily modifiable for the CB frequencies, and it is illegal to transmit on CB frequencies with a ham radio except in emergencies where no other method of communication is available.

     

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    CB antennas

     

    As 27 MHz is a relatively long wavelength for mobile communications, the choice of antenna has a considerable impact on the performance of a CB radio.

     

    One common mobile antenna is a quarter-wave vertical whip. This is roughly nine feet (2.7 m) tall and mounted low on the vehicle body, and often has a spring and ball mount. A common misconception is that the '102 inch' whip is the correct length for US CB frequencies; in reality, it is designed to be paired with a six-inch (152 mm) spring, both to bring it to the proper electrical length, and to enhance its resilience to scraping and striking overhead objects.

     

    Where a nine-foot whip would be impractical, shorter antennas include loading coils to make the antenna electrically longer than it actually is. The loading coil may be on the bottom, middle, or top of the antenna, while some antennas are wound in a continuously loaded helix.

     

     

    Many truckers use two co-phased antennas mounted on their mirrors. This arrangement reduces the distortion of the wave propagation due to an unequally-shaped ground plane, lessening the effect of the truck body on the radiation pattern. In addition, when such an array is properly constructed, it enhances performance to the front and back, while reducing it to the sides, a desirable pattern for long-haul truckers. However, the efficiency of such an arrangement is only an improvement over a single antenna when the co-phased antennas are separated by approximately eight feet or more, restricting this design to use mainly on tractor trailers and some full-size pickups and SUVs. Some operators will use only one of the antennas in the pair; this removes both the complexity and benefit of a true co-phased array but gives a symmetrical cosmetic appearance that some truck drivers prefer.

     

     

    Another mobile antenna is the continuously-loaded half-wave antenna. These do not necessarily require a ground plane to present a near 50 Ohm load to the radio, and are often used on fiberglass vehicles such as snowmobiles or boats. They are also ideal for base station usage where the circumstances preclude the use of an antenna that requires a ground plane to function properly.

     

     

    Handheld CBs often use either a telescoping center-loaded whip, or a continuously-loaded �rubber ducky� antenna.

     

     

     

    Base CB antennas may be vertical for omnidirectional coverage, or directional "beam" antennas may be used to direct communications to a particular region. "Ground Plane" kits exist as a mounting base for typical mobile whips, and have several wire terminals or hardwired ground radials attached. These kits are designed to have a mobile whip screwed on top (again, the full-length steel whip is a preferred candidate) and mounted on top of a mast. The ground radials take the place of the vehicle body, which is used as a counterpoise for the mobile whip in a typical vehicle installation.

     

          

     

     

     

     

    PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT SELL ANY CB RADIO EQUIPMENT
    OR OFFER ADVISE ON CB RADIOS
     
    THIS PAGE IS JUST AN INFORMATION ONLY PAGE
    FOR YOUR PLEASURE AND AMUSEMENT 
     

    A LONG TIME CB'er SENT ME THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL
     

    I have read your article about the origin of CB radios and frequencies. I differ in opinion, I was there. CB radio or VLF was used in WWII in Africa. Rommel was defeated when the army found him using these low frequencies to communicate. He was tracked and defeated. Originally when the government opened these frequencies for citizens use there were only 7 channels for use 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 23.  Quickly other channels were then released until they numbered 23. Later these became 40 channels. CB was set up for the small businessman inasmuch for delivery and farm communication as examples. Of course the everyday man soon bought the radios for communication. Everybody was professional until 1975 when the trucker movies came out and the truckers bought CB radios. They weren�t professional then or now. It didn't matter who was talking, they talked over them as if there was no one there. Channels 17, 18, 19 and 20 were used for sideband. It was a gentleman�s agreement between CB�ers to leave these channels as such. But not for truckers then or now, they disrupted the sidebanders and picked channel 19 as their talk channel, not out of convince, but for the reason of disrupting the sidebanders communications. The FCC did away with licenses because they refused to control this wild bunch. I have read word for word about the so called origin of CB radios and frequencies as you show here and on other web sites. So I gather instead of researching people just copy what they say. I am not against truckers, I have been one, but I was there and I know the facts. Thanks for listening. ------ John

     


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    Common CB Radio Ten Codes

     

    10-1 = Receiving poorly
    10-2 = Receiving well
    10-3 = Stop transmitting
    10-4 = Message received
    10-5 = Relay message to _____
    10-6 = Busy, please stand by
    10-7 = Out of service, leaving the air
    10-8 = In service, subject to call
    10-9 = Repeat message
    10-10 = Transmission completed, standing by
    10-11 = Talking too rapidly
    10-12 = Visitors present
    10-13 = Advise Weather/Road conditions
    10-16 = Make pick up at _____
    10-17 = Urgent business
    10-18 = Anything for us?
    10-19 = Nothing for you, return to base
    10-20 = My location is _____
    10-21 = Call by telephone
    10-22 = Report in person to
    10-23 = Stand by
    10-24 = Completed last assignment
    10-25 = Can you contact _____
    10-26 = Disregard last information
    10-27 = I am moving to channel _____
    10-28 = Identify your station
    10-29 = Time is up for contact
    10-30 = Does not conform to FCC rules
    10-32 = I will give you a radio check
    10-33 = Emergency Traffic
    10-34 = Trouble at this station
    10-35 = Confidential information
    10-36 = Correct time is
    10-37 = Wrecker needed at
    10-38 = Ambulance needed at
    10-39 = Your message delivered
    10-41 = Please turn to channel
    10-42 = Traffic accident at
    10-43 = Traffic tie up at
    10-44 = I have a message for you
    10-45 = All units within range please report
    10-50 = Break channel
    10-60 = What is next message number?
    10-62 = Unable to copy, use phone
    10-63 = Net directed to
    10-64 = Net clear
    10-65 = Awaiting your next message/assignment
    10-67 = All units comply
    10-70 = Fire at _____
    10-71 = Proceed with transmission in sequence
    10-77 = Negative contact
    10-81 = Reserve hotel room for ______
    10-82 = Reserve room for _____
    10-84 = My telephone number is ______
    10-85 = My address is _____
    10-91 = Talk closer to the microphone
    10-93 = Check my frequency on this channel
    10-94 = Please give me a long count (1-10)
    10-99 = Mission completed, all units secure
    10-200 = Police needed at _____


     

    CB SLANG

     

    A

    ACE - Important CB�er

    Apple - A CB addict

    AF -Audio Frequency

    Afterburner-Linear amp

    Alamo City- San Antonio

    ALERT -Affiliated League of Emergency Radio Teams

    All the good numbers -Best wishes.

    Alligator-Tread from the tire of an 18 wheeler on the road

    Alligator Station -All mouth and no ears. A person who likes to talk just to hear himself.

    Amigo -Friend

    ANL -Automatic noise limiter

    Ankle biter- Small child or annoying teenager

    Antenna Farm- Base station with many antennas strung up in the air

    Antler Alley -Deer crossing

    Appliance Operator -Non technical person who knows how to turn the rig on, and that�s about all.

    AM -Amplitude Modulation

    Ancient Mariner -AM, or someone who uses AM

    Astrodome City- Houston Texas (see Space City)

    B

    B Town -Birmingham

    Baby Bear- Cop in training, or rookie

    Backdoor -Vehicle behind the one who is ahead of it.

    Backdoor closed- Rear of convoy covered for police

    Back �em up -Slow down

    Back off the hammer -Slow down

    Backslide- Return trip

    Bad scene- A crowded channel

    Ballet Dancer -A antenna that really sways

    Barefoot Using an unmodified CB transmitter

    Bar city -Forrest City, AK

    Base Station -Radio installed at a fixed location, house, etc.

    Bay City -San Francisco

    Beast -A CB rig

    Beam- Directional Antenna

    Be-Bop- Radio control signals

    Bean House Bull -Trucker talk exchanged at truck stops, eyeball-to-eyeball

    Bean Bopper -Pillhead

    Bean Town- Boston, Ma.

    Bear Bait -Speeding car

    Bear Cage- Police station or jail

    Bear Cave -Poice station or barracks

    Bearmobile- Police car

    Bear Trap -Stationary police vehicle with radar

    Bear in the air- Helicopter or other police aircraft

    Bear -Cop

    Beat the bushes -To drive ahead of the others and try to lure out the police

    Beaver -Female

    Beaver Bait- Money

    Beaver Bear -Female Cop

    Beaver Fever -A Cber who misses his girlfriend or wife

    Beaver Palace -Niteclub; Singles bar

    Beaver Patrol- On the hunt for women

    Beaver Trap- Sharp looking rig with custom interior

    Beer Bust -Party

    Beer Tone -An intermittent tone signal

    Beer City -Milwaukee

    Beetle -VW

    Benton Harbor Lunch Box -Heathkit CB-1

    Better Half -The other person (wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, husband)

    Big A- Armarillo

    Big Charlie- FCC

    Big Daddy -The FCC

    Big D -Dallas

    Big M- Memphis

    Big Mack -Mack truck

    Big Mama- 9 foot whip antenna

    Big R -Trucks running for Roadway Freight

    Big Rig -Could mean "18 Wheeler" or "Fancy, expensive radio"

    Big Slab -Expressway / Freeway

    Big Truck -18 wheeler

    Big T- Tucson

    Big 10-4- Hearty agreement.

    Bikini State -Florida

    Bit on the seat of the britches -Got tagged for a speeding ticket

    Black�n White- Cop

    Black�n White Cber -Cop with CB in his car

    Black Ice -A patch of iced over blacktop road.

    Bleeding/Bleedover -Strong signals from a station on another channel, interfering with your reception

    Blessed Event -A new CB rig

    Blew my doors off -Pass by me with great speed, sometimes referenced to loud or strong signal

    Blowin� Smoke -Loud signal

    Blue Slip- Ticket

    Boast Toastie -A CB expert

    Boat Anchor -Either an old tube rig or a radio that is unrepairable.

    Bodacious- Awesome

    Bootlegger- Running illegal station

    Boy Scouts -The State Police

    Box -Tractor Trailer

    Box- Linear amplifier

    Break -Request to use the channel, while other stations are using the frequency

    Variations: Breaker, Breaker-Broke, Breakity-Break, Break For

    Breaking Up- Audio cutting in and out

    Breaker-Breaker -Same as break. Also the title of Chuck Norris�s first mainstream movie.

    Breaking the �ol needle- Strong signal

    Bring it back -Answer back

    Bring yourself on it- Request to move into the right lane

    Brown paper bag -Unmarked Police car

    Brush your teeth and comb your hair-Radar trap ahead

    BTO- Big Time Operator

    Bubble gum machine- Flashing lights on top of car

    Bucket Mouth- Loudmouth, or someone who uses a lot of profanity.

    Bucket of bolts -Eighteen wheeler

    Buckeye State -Ohio

    Bug Out -To leave a channel

    Bumper Lane- Passing lane

    Button Pusher -Another Cber who is trying to breakup your communication with another station by keying his microphone, playing sounds, etc.

    C

    Cactus Patch- Phoenix Arizona; Roswell New Mexico

    Camera -Police radar

    Can- Shell of a CB set, or tunable coil in CB set

    Candy Man -FCC

    Capital J -Jackson, Mississippi

    Cartel- A group hogging a channel

    Casa- House

    Cash Register -Toll booth

    Catch ya on the flip-flop- I�ll talk to you on my return trip

    CB -Radio

    Cell Block- Location of the base station

    Chain Gang -Members of a CB club

    Channel 25 -The telephone

    Charlie -The FCC (see Uncle Charlie)

    Chew �n choke -Restaurant

    Checking My Eyelinds For Pin Holes -Tired or sleepy.

    Check the seatcovers -Look at that passenger (usually a woman)

    Chicken Coup- Weigh station

    Chicken Coup is Clean -Weigh station is closed.

    Chicken Inspector -Weigh station inspector

    Circle City -Indianapolis Indiana

    Chopped Top- A short antenna

    Choo-Choo town-Chattanooga

    Christmas Card- Speeding ticket

    Christmas Tree -18-wheeler with an excess of running lights

    Chrome Dome- Mobile unit with a roof antenna

    Cigar City -Tampa

    Citizens Band- The radio service used by CB�ers. Also the name of a popular 70�s movie.

    City Kitty- City police

    Clarifier -Found on SSB rigs, this control varies the receiver frequency to help tune the other station in (called "delta-tune" on AM rigs). Because sideband is so sensitive, it is a common practice to "open" the transmit side of a clarifier so that the Transmit and Receive frequencies are tied together.

    Clean Cat- An unmodified rig

    Clean Shot -Road ahead is free of obstructions, construction, and police

    Clean as a hounds tooth -Same as clean shot

    Cleaner channel- Quieter channel ("Lets find a cleaner channel to talk on")

    Clear- Final transmission "This is 505 and I�m clear"

    Clear after you -You are ending transmission after the other person finishes signing off

    Clear as a spring day -Same as "Clean Shot"

    Coffee Bean- Waiter or waitress

    Coffee Break -Informal gathering of CB�ers

    Coke stop- Restroom

    Cold Rig- 18-wheeler pulling a refrigerated trailer

    Collect Call -Call for a specific Cber

    Colorado Kool Aid -Beer

    Come again -Repeat your last transmission

    Come Back- Answer my call

    Comic Book -Truckers log book

    Coming in Loud�n Proud- Loud and clear signal

    Container -Chassis and shell of a CB rig

    Concrete Blonde -Hooker

    Convoy- 2 or more vehicles traveling the same route. This term was made popular, then over-used by the entertainment industry via songs and movies.

    Cooking -Driving

    Cooking Good -Reached desired speed.

    Copy -Receiving a message: "Do you copy?"

    Copying the mail- Listening to traffic on a given channel. Also referred to as "Reading the mail"

    Corn Binder- International Truck

    Cotton mouth -Thirsty

    Cotton picker- Non-profane profanity. Replaces any variety of four letter words.

    County Mountie- County police / Sheriff�s Dept.

    Covered Up -Transmission was blocked by interference or high noise level

    Cow Town- Fort Worth

    Crack�em Up -Accident

    Cradle Baby -CB�er who is afraid to ask someone to stand by

    Cub Scouts -Sheriff�s men

    Cup of Mud -Cup of coffee

    Curly Locks- Coils in a CB rig

    Cut Out -To leave a channel

    Cut Some Z�s -Get some sleep

    Cut The Coax -Turn off the radio

    CW -Morse Code

    D

    Daddy-O The FCC

    Dang- Country term for darn or damn

    Darktime -Night

    Dead Pedal- Slow moving car or truck

    Dead Key- Activating the microphone, but not talking. Same as "keying the mike".

    Decoy- Unmanned Police car

    Derby City- Louisville Kentucky

    Despair Box -Box where square CB components are kept

    Diarrhea of the mouth- Constant, non-stop talking.

    Dice City- Las Vegas

    Diesel Digit -Channel 19

    Diesel Juice -Fuel oil

    Dime Channel -Channel 10

    Ding-a-ling -Goofy or bad operator. Also referred to as a LID

    Dirty Side-Eastern Seaboard

    Divorce City -Las Vegas

    Dixie Cup- Female operator with southern accent

    Dog Biscuits -DB�s

    Doing the Five-Five- Traveling at 55mph

    Doin� it to it- Full speed

    Doing our thing in the lefthand lane- Full speed in the passing lane

    Do it to me -Answer back

    Do you copy?- Do you understand?

    Dome- Houston

    Don�t Tense -Take it easy

    Don�t Feed The Bears- Don�t get any tickets

    Donald Duck -Sideband station

    Double key- Two stations talking at the same time.

    Double L- Telephone call. Also referred to as "Landline"

    Double Nickel -55mph

    Double Nickel Highway -Interstate #55

    Double Seven- No, or � "Negative contact"

    Down �n Out- Signing off / ending transmission

    Down�n gone- Signing off

    Down and on the side -Through talking but listening.

    Drag Your Feet-Wait a few seconds before transmitting to see if there is a "Breaker"

    Dream Weaver- Sleepy driver who is all over the road.

    Dress For Sale -Hooker

    Dressed for the ball -You have your "Ears ON", listening to the road conditions

    Drop Out -Fading signal

    Drop Stop Destination -where freight will be dropped off.

    Drop the Hammer -Go as fast as you can

    Drop the hammer down -Same as above

    Dropped a carrier -Keyed the microphone to prevent someone else to talk

    Dropped it off the shoulder- Ran off the side of the highway

    Duck Plucker -Obscene term

    Dusted yer britches- Keyed up at the same time.

    Dusted my britches -Passed me

    Dusted Your Ears- Transmission interrupted.

    DX -Long Distance

    E

    Eager beaver -Anxious young woman

    Ears- Receiver / Radio

    Ears ON -CB radio turned ON

    Eastbound -Vehicle moving in the eastern direction

    Easy chair- Middle CB vehicle in a line of three or more.

    Eighteen wheeler -Tractor trailer truck

    Eighteen legged Pogo Stick -18 wheeler

    Eight�s -Love and kisses

    Eight�s and other good numbers -Love and kisses, and best wishes

    Eighty-eight�s -Love and kisses

    Eighty-eight�s around the house - Good luck and best wishes to you and yours.

    Equalizer - High-gain antenna, high-power transmitter, and sometimes "radar detector"

    Eatum-up Roadside diner

    Eyeball Que-so Personal meeting

    Eyeball- Personal meeting

    Eyeball�s -Headlights

    Everybody must be walking the dog- All channels are busy.

    Evil Knievel -Motorcycle cop

    F

    Fake brake- Driver with his foot on the brake

    Fat load- Overweight truck load

    FCC -Federal Communications Commision

    Fed- Federal officer

    Feed The Bears -Paying a speeding fine or ticket

    Feed the ponies- Loose at the racetrack

    Fender bender -Traffic accident

    Fer sure -Affirmative/Yes/10-4

    Fifth wheel -Trailer hitch on tractor trailer trucks

    Fifty Dollar Lane -Passing lane

    Fingers -A channel-hopping CB�er

    First Sargent -Wife

    Flag waver -Highway repair crew

    Flaps down -Slow down

    Flappers -Ears

    Flatbed -Track trailer with flatbed.

    Flight Man- Weigh station worker on wheels.

    Flip flop -Return trip

    Flip-Flopping Bears -Police reversing direction

    Flipper -Return trip

    Flop it -Turn around.

    Flop box -Motel, or room in truck stop

    FM- Frequency Modulation

    Fog Lifter -Interesting CB�er

    Follow the stripes home- Have a safe trip

    Footwarmer- Linear amplifier

    Forty weight -Coffee sometimes Beer.

    Forty fours - Childern; kisses

    Four - Shortened version of 10-4

    Four Wheeler - Car

    Four lane parking lot - Interstate highway

    Four legged go-go dancers - Pigs

    Four Roger - OK/ 10-4/ Four / Roger

    Four Ten - OK/ 10-4 / Four / Four Roger / Roger

    Fox - Sexy lady

    Fox Charile Charlie - FCC

    Fox hunt - FCC hunting for illegal operators

    Fox jaws - Female with nice voice, but not necessarily a body to match

    Free Ride - Prostitute

    Freight Box - Trailer for big rig

    Friendly Candy Company - FCC

    Front Door - The lead car/truck in a convoy

    Fugitive - CB�er operating on a different channel than favorite

    Full of vitamins - Running full bore

    Full Bore - Traveling at full speed

    Full Throttle - Traveling at full speed

    Funny Candy Company - FCC

    Funny channels - Channels that are outside the legal 11meter band.

    G

    Gallon - 1000 watts of power

    Garbage - Too much small talk on a channel

    Gas Jockey - Gas station attendant

    Gateway City - St.Louis Missouri

    Gear - Overnight bag

    Geological Survey - CB�er who looks under his set

    Get horizontal - Lie down to sleep

    Get Trucking - Make some distance.

    Getting out - Putting out a good signal

    Ghost Town - Casper, Wyoming

    Girlie Bear - Female cop

    Give me a shout - Call for me on the radio

    Glory Card - Class D License

    Glory Roll - CB�er who gets his name in S9

    Go Breaker - Invitation to break

    Go Ahead - Answer back.

    Go Back to him - Talk to him.

    Go Juice - Truck fuel

    Go to channel 41 - In the 23ch days � a joke to get someone off the airwaves.

    Going Horizontal - Lying down;sleeping; or switching antenna polarization

    Going like a raped ape - Moving fast

    Gone - Leaving the airwaves or channel

    Gone 10-7 - permanently Dead, deceased.

    Goodies - Extra accessories for a CB rig

    Good Buddy - At one time it meant "Friend" or "buddy", today it means "Homosexual"

    Goon Squad - Channel Hoggers

    Gooney Box - Gonset G-11

    Got a copy? - Can you hear me?

    Got my shoes on - Switched the linear ON

    Got your ears on? - Are you on this frequency

    Got my eyeballs peeled - I�m looking hard

    Got my foot in it - Accelerating.

    Go to 100 - Restroom stop.

    Grab Bag - Illegal hamming on CB

    Grass Median - strip along the highway

    Green light - You have the go ahead.

    Green Stamps - Money

    Green Stamp Collector - Police with radar

    Green Stamp lane - Passing lane

    Green Stamp Road - Toll road.

    Grease monkey - Mechanic

    Greasy Spoon - Bad place to eat

    Ground Clouds - Fog

    Guitar Town - Nashville

    Gypsy - Independent trucker

    H

    Hack - Taxi

    Hag Feast - Group of female CB�ers on the channel

    Haircut palace - Bridge or overpass with low clearance

    Hairpin - Sharp curve

    Hamburger helper - Linear Amp

    Hamster - One who "hams" on CB, or a HAM operator.

    Hammer - Accelerator

    Hammer Off - slow down

    Hammer Down - Accelerate

    Hang it in your ear - Response to a foolish remark

    Hand - Truck driver

    Handle - Moniker/ Name i.e.- "What�s the handle on that end?"

    Happy Number - An "S" meter reading

    Hanker - Getting a "notion" to do something. A "Want".

    Have a nice one - Have a good trip, weekend, day, etc.

    Hay Shaker - Trailer transporting a mobile home

    Heading for a hole - Giving someone advance notice you are going into a low spot for communications.

    Heavenly Body - Peterbilt semi

    Heater - Linear amplifier

    Hell bent for leather - Traveling really fast.

    Here�s looking at you - Another way to sign off

    Henchmen - A group of CB�ers

    Hiding in the grass - Police on a median strip

    Hiding in the bushes, sitting under the leaves - Hidden police car.

    Highball - Go nonstop to your destination at a rapid pace.

    High Rise - A large bridge or overpass.

    Hippie Chippie - Female hitchhiker.

    Hip Pocket - Glove box.

    Hit the cobblestones - Hit the road.

    Hog - Harley Davidson

    Hog country - Arkansas

    Holler - Give me a call.

    Holler in a short - I�ll call you back shortly.

    Home Twenty - Home location

    Home Port - Residence

    Horizon - An imaginary line

    Horse - Mustang

    Hot Stuff - Cup of coffee

    Hot Lanta - Atlanta, Georgia

    Hot Town - Atlanta

    Hotwater City - Hot Springs, Arkansas

    Hound Men - Policemen looking for CB�ers using rigs while mobile

    How am I hitting you? - How do you receive me?

    How tall are you? - How tall is your truck?

    H Town - Hopkinsville, Kentucky

    Hung Up - CB�er who can�t leave set

    Hundred mile coffee - Strong coffee

    I

    I�m gone - Leaving the airwaves, or frequency.

    Ice Box - Refrigerated trailer.

    Ice Box - International Crystals first CB rig

    Idiot Box - TV set

    Indian - Neighbor who has TVI from you

    In a short - Real soon.

    In a short-short - Real soon

    In the mud - Noise or other signals on the channel.

    In the Pokey with Smokey - Arrested.

    Indians TVI from CB transmissions

    Invitations -Traffic citations, tickets.

    J

    Jack - CB term for brother or friend.

    Jack Rabbit - Police of any kind

    Jam - Deliberately interfere with another station.

    Japanese toy - CB

    Jargon - CB lingo

    Jaw Jacking - Talking, Jaw boning.

    Jewelry - Lights on a rig.

    Jimmy - GMC truck.

    Jingle - To contact a CB�er via the telephone.

    Johnny Law - Cop

    John Law - Cop

    "J" Town - Jackson, Tennessee

    J Trail - CB Jamboree season

    Juke Joint - Small, inexpensive eating or drinking place.

    Jump Down - Switching to a lower channel.

    Jump Up - Switching to a higher channel.

    K

    Keep �em Between the Ditches - Have a safe trip

    Keep the bugs off your glass and the trouble off your� - CB Sign-off.

    Keep the whites on your noise and the reds on your tail - Stay on the road. Drive carefully and have a good trip.

    Keep the shiny side up and the greasy side down - Drive safely.

    Keep the wheels spinning - Drive safely.

    Keep your eyes and ears open and your black stack smokin� - Be alert and make good time.

    Keep your noise between the ditches and smokey out of your britches - Drive carefully, lookout for speedtraps.

    Keep your rubber down and your metal up � Drive carefully and have a good trip.

    Kenny Whopper - Kenworth tractor equipment.

    Keyboard - Controls of a CB set

    Keying the mike - Activating the microphone without speaking. Same as "Dead Key".

    Keydown - RF power contest. Operators travel from all parts of the country to attend keydown events. Their trucks/vans put out well over 10kw (10,000 watts) and use expensive amplifiers and many alternators! The object of the game is to see who is "Top Dog", or more powerfull than the others.

    Kicker - Linear amplifier.

    Kiddie car - School bus.

    Kitty Cat - Catepilar powered tractor.

    Knock the stack out - Accelerate.

    Knuckle Buster - Fight.

    Kojak - Cop

    Kojak with a Kodak - Cop with radar.

    K.W. - Kenworth tractor equipment.

    L

    Lady Bear - Female police officer

    Lady Breaker - Female CB operator asking for a break.

    Lame - Broken down vehicle

    Land Line - The telephone

    Land Yacht - Mobile home or camper.

    Lane Flipper - Car or truck that keeps changing lanes.

    Lane Lover - Someone who won�t budge out of a particular lane.

    Latrine Lips - One who has a dirty mouth.

    Lay an eye out - Take a look at this�

    Let the channel roll - Telling other CB�ers to break in and use the channel.

    Legal Beagle - One who always follows the rules

    Lettuce - money

    LID - CB�er with poor operating skills. The Term LID originated in Amateur radio and the CW mode. It meant "Poor Fist".

    Lights green, bring on the machine - Road is clear of police and obstructions.

    Lil �Ol modulator - CB Set

    Line - Freight line company.

    Linear - RF amplifier

    Little Bear - Local cop.

    Little Beaver - Daughter.

    Little Bit - Prostitute

    Little Brother - Same as "Good Buddy".

    Little Footwarmer - Linear

    Load of rocks - Bricks

    Load of sticks - Lumber

    Local Bear - Local cop

    Local Yokel - Small town cop

    Lock-Em-Up - Police station or jail.

    Log - Truckers log book.

    Log some Z�s - Get some sleep.

    Lollipop - D104 desk microphone.

    Loot Limo - Armored Car.

    Loser - LID

    LSB - Lower Sideband.

    M

    M20 - Meeting Place

    Machine - Same as "Rig"

    Mad Money - Expense account.

    Magic Mile - The last mile of any trip.

    Magnolia State - Mississippi

    Make a trip - switch channels.

    Mail - Conversation on a channel.

    Make it a best seller - Have a good trip.

    Make the trip - A transmitted signal making it to another station: "Did I make the trip?"

    Mama - Girlfriend or wife.

    Mama Bear - Policewoman.

    Man in Blue - Policeman

    Man in Slicker - Fireman

    Man in White - Doctor

    Mardi Gras Town - New Orleans, Louisiana

    Mare - Woman

    Marker - Milepost on highway.

    Mashing the mike - Same as "Deadkey"

    Mayday - Distress call.

    Mate - Good buddy or friend.

    Meatwagon - Ambulance.

    Mercy! - Exclamation. "Mercy sakes alive", "Mercy sakes".

    Mercy Sakes - See above.

    Mess-em-up - Accident.

    Mike Fright - Shy person, afraid to talk on the radio.

    Mikey Mouse - Temporary, non professional fix to a situation.

    Mile High - Denver, Colorado

    Mile Marker - Milepost on interstate highways.

    Mile Post - Same as Mile marker.

    Mini Skirt - Woman, girl

    Mini State - Rhode Island

    Mobile - CB radio station in a car or truck.

    Mobile Eyeball - Checking out another truck while passing it.

    Mobile - Forrest Logging truck

    Mobile Mattress - 4 wheeler pulling a camper.

    Modulate - Talk

    Modulating - Talking

    Modulation - Audio portion of your signal.

    Modulation Booster - Microphone pre-amp/compressor either external or internal to the microphone or radio. External devices between the mike and rig are called Modulators.

    Modulator - Some refer to it as a linear. It�s actually a device to boost the transmit audio.

    Money Bus - Armored truck.

    Monkey Town - Montgomery Alabama

    Monitor - To listen, i.e.- "I monitor channel 16"

    Monster Lane - Speed lane

    Motion Lotion - Gas; fuel.

    Moth Ball - Annual CB Convention

    Motor Boat - Rapid fluttering signal.

    Motor City - Detroit

    Motoring On - Traveling on.

    Motorcycle Mama - Woman riding on a motorcycle.

    Mouth Piece - Lawyer

    Mr. Clean - Overtly cautious driver.

    Muck Truck - Cement truck.

    Mud Ball - Donut

    Mud - Coffee

    Mud Duck - Someone with a very weak signal / very hard to copy.

    Muff - Woman/girl

    Mumbo Jumbo - CB Jargon for "I don�t copy"

    Music City - Nashville

    My Goodness Gracious - Term for surprise, or excitement.

    N

    Nail it down - Pinpoint or recollect

    Nap Trap - Place to sleep.

    Negative - No

    Negative Contact - Didn�t make contact with the desired station.

    Negative Copy - Didn�t hear.

    Negatory - No.

    Neon, Freon, Ion Jockey - Truck driver with many lights on his rig.

    Nightcrawlers - Many police in the area.

    Niner - Channel 9

    Ninety Weight - Liquor

    Nix - No

    Nodding off - Getting tired.

    Nobody knows where the teddy bear goes - State troopers criss-crossing the freeway.

    Noise Blanker - Circuit to reduce receiver noise

    Noise Limiter - Another noise reduction circuit. This reduces impluse type noise.

    Numbers - Best wishes. "3�s and 8�s".

    Also used on SSB � "What are your numbers?" (call numbers).

    O

    O.L. - Old Lady

    Oil burner - Diesel truck

    Old Kitty - Whomper Truck

    On the by - Listening, not talking.

    On the standby - Monitoring but not talking.

    On the side - Standing by, available for a call, listening on frequency.

    O.M. (old man) - A CB�er

    On a [insert city name] Turn - i.e.- "I�m on an Alamo turn" (I�ll make my return from San Antonio).

    One eyed monster - TV Set

    One foot on the floor, one hanging out the door, and she just won�t do no more - Full speed.

    Open Season - Cops are everywhere

    Other Half - The wife, or husband. Boyfriend or girlfriend.

    Out - Through transmitting.

    Outdoor TV - Drive-in movie.

    Over - Your turn to transmit.

    Over and out - Closing the transmission.

    Over modulation - Talking too loud; audio is distorted or otherwise unreadible.

    OW - Old woman.

    P

    PA - Public Address. This feature isn�t used a lot nowadays except as a switch for internal, illegal modifications.

    Pack it in - Ending transmission

    Pair of sevens - No contact or answer.

    Panic in the streets - Area being monitored by the FCC

    Papa Bear - State trooper with CB.

    Paper hanger - Police giving ticket.

    Paperwork - Speeding ticket

    Parking Lot - Traffic jam

    Pavement Princess - Hooker

    Part 15 - Relates to the section of FCC rules which pertain to unlicensed stations

    Part 95 - FCC Rules and Regulations.

    Pass the numbers - Best wishes

    Patch City - Town

    Peanut butter in his ears - Is not listening.

    Pedal against the middle - drive fast

    Pedaling in the middle - Straddling both lanes.

    Peeling Off - Getting of the freeway.

    PEP - Peak Envelope Power; most often refers to SSB output.

    Petro Refinery - Truck hauling gas or oil.

    PF Flyers - Truck wheels.

    Pill (s) - Reference to transistor finals in linear amplifiers. The greater number of "pills", the larger the amplifier is.

    Plain Wrapper - Unmarked police car

    Play Dead - Stand by

    Penman - CB�er �to-be who has filed for license

    Pedal to the metal -Running flat out, in excess of the speed limit

    Peel your eyeballs - Be on the lookout.

    Peter Rabbit - Used in the Western US for "Smokey"

    Phone Patch - A device which hooks a base unit to the telephone.

    Pick�em up - Pickup truck

    Picture taking machine - Radar

    Piece of paper - Speeding ticket.

    Pigeon - someone caught speeding.

    Pigeon Plucker - Police ticketing speeders.

    Pig Pen - Another name for weigh station / chicken coop

    Pink Panther - Unmarking police vehicle; one with CB

    Pink QSL Card - Warning ticket.

    Pinning the needle - Strong signal being received.

    Pipe Line - Specific Channel

    Pit Stop - Gas stop; Restroom stop; just about any kind of stop.

    Play Dead - Stand by

    PLL Phase-Lock-Loop. The digital circuitry which determines your frequencies. One chip does it all compared to the "olden" days where a separate transmit and receive crystal was required for each channel.

    Polack kids - Cattle

    Polack school bus - Cattle truck

    Pole Cat - Black and white patrol car; sometimes refers to sneaky person.

    Politz-eye - The police

    Popcorn - Hail

    Porcupine - Car with a lot of antennas on it.

    Porky Bear - Cops

    Portable Barnyard - Cattle Truck

    Portrait Painter - Radar gun

    Positive - Yes

    Posse - Police

    Post Mile - marker post along the highway.

    Pounds - "S" units on your meter. "You�re giving me 10 pounds over on this end"

    Pounding the pavement - Walking

    Prescription - FCC rules

    Pregnant Roller Skate - VW

    Press some sheets - Sleep.

    PTT Switch - Push-to-talk switch on microphone

    Professional Beaver - Hooker

    Pull in for a short - Quick stop.

    Pull the big one - Signing off for good

    Pull the hammer back - Slow down � police ahead.

    Pull the plug - To signoff the air and turn the radio OFF.

    Pushing a truck - Driving a rig.

    Put an eyeball on him - Saw him.

    Put it on the floor and looking for some more - Full speed.

    Put the word on the base - Mobile unit to a base unit with phone patch.

    Put your foot on the floor and let the motor toter - Accelerate.

    Q

    Q-bird - An intermittent tone generator

    QSL Card - Personalized postcard sent to confirm a conversation.

    QSL - Term used on SSB for "Roger"; i.e.- "QSL on that". While the Q signals were originally used on CW in the Amateur Radio Service, and often are the butt of complaints, they have found their way into CB�s society, and live with them we must.

    QSK - Another Ham term, reformatted for CB. Means � "Break"

    QRM - Noise or interference

    Q-R-Mary - Noise or interference.

    QSY - Change or changing channels/frequency.

    QRT - Off the air; Signing OFF.

    QRX - To wait, or standby.

    QSB - Noise

    QSO - Pronounced "Que-Sew", meaning "conversation" or "communication".

    QSY - Move to a different channel or frequency.

    QTH - Location

    Quasar - Female

    Queen City - Cincinnati, Ohio

    Quck trip around the horn - Scanning the 40channel band.

    R

    Radar Alley - Ohio Turnpike

    Radio - "Rig" or CB transceiver.

    Radio Check - Meter reading, Signal report, statement of the quality of the signal. Often mis-used, and a joke on channel 19. Too many people use this as an excuse to start a conversation.

    Radio Runt - Child or young person breaking in on a channel.

    Rain Locker - Shower room

    Raise - To try and contact someone

    Rake the leaves - Last vehicle in a CB convoy

    Ratchet-Jaw - Non-stop talker

    REACT - Radio Emergency Associated Citizens Teams.

    Read - To receive; or "hear" ("How do you read me?")

    Rebound - Return trip.

    Red Lighted - Police with someone pulled over.

    Redneck radio - Someone who talks on the CB using only slang terms.

    REST - Radio Emergency Safety Teams

    Rest-em-up - Roadside rest stop

    RF - Radio Frequency

    RF Gain - This control, found on many CB radios, comes in handy when you have a station close by, which is overloading your radios "Front-end". It de-sensitizes the incoming signal.

    Rig - Radio

    Rig Rip - off Stolen CB

    Riot Squad - Neighbors who have TVI

    River City - Memphis Tennessee in the Southeast; Paducah, Kentucky in the midwest.

    Road Jockey - Driver of tractor trailer.

    Road Ranger - Smokey

    Rock - Slang for crystal.

    Rock City - Little Rock, Arkansas.

    Rockin� chair - car in the middle of a convoy

    Rodeo Town - Cheyenne, Wyoming

    Roger - O.K.

    Roger Dodger - Same as "Roger"

    Roller Skate - A car

    Rolling - Moving.

    Rolling Bears - Cops on the move.

    Rolling Ranch - Cattle truck

    Rolling Refinery - Truck hauling gas or oil.

    Rookie Rig - Newbie CB�er

    Rubber City - Akron, Ohio

    Rugrats - Children/kids.

    Rubberneckers - lookers.

    Running Barefoot - Using a radio at the legal output � no extra "help"

    Run interference - CB-less car speeding along past you.

    Running on rags - Driving a vehicle with little to no tread on the tires.

    Running Shotgun - Driving partner

    Running together - CB�ers traveling in the same direction, keeping in contact with each other.

    S

    Sailboat fuel - Running on empty

    Salt mines - Place of employment.

    Salt Shaker - Highway department Salt truck

    San Quentin Jailbait - Under age female hitch hiker.

    Sandbox Dump - truck hauling dirt or stones

    Savages - CB�ers who hog the channel

    Scale house - Weigh station

    School twenty - Location of school.

    Scrub brush - Street cleaning truck

    Seatcover - Attractive female occupant in a car

    Set of Dials - A CB rig

    Seven-thirds - Best regards

    Seventy-Thirds - Sign-off meaning "Best wishes"

    Shake the bushes - Lead CB�er looking for radar traps or other police.

    Shakey City - Los Angeles

    Shaking it - Moving

    Shaking the windows - Clear reception of signal.

    Shim - To illegally soup up a transmitter

    Shoot the breeze - Casual conversation.

    Shout - Calling someone on the CB

    Short-short - Soon.

    Shot an eyeball on it - Saw it.

    Shovelling coal - Accelerating.

    Show-off lane - Passing lane.

    Skates - Tires

    Skip - Atmospheric conditions that cause signals to travel much farther than they normally would. Typically signals are line-of-sight, but when the ionosphere is "charged" by the sun, signals that would normally pass through it are now reflected back to Earth, or "Skip" a large distance. Hams refer to this as a "Band opening".

    Skipland - Distant stations

    Skippers - CB�ers who talk a long distance.

    Skip Talk�n - Someone who has been talking a long distance.

    Sidedoor - Passing lane.

    Sidewinder - Someone talking on sideband.

    Sin City - Cincinnati, Ohio (Midwest); Las Vegas, Nevada (West)

    Sitting in the saddle - Middle CB vehicle in a line of three or more vehicles

    Six wheeler - Small truck.

    Slaughter house - Channel 11

    Slammer - Jail.

    "S" Meter - The meter on your radio which indicated incoming signal strength. Usually calibrated in "S" units (1 "S" unit = 1DB). S units are also referred to as "Pounds".

    Slave Drivers - CB�ers who take control of a channel

    Slider - VFO, sometimes referred to clarifier

    Smile and comb your hair - Radar trap up ahead.

    Smokey - State Police

    Smokey Bear - State Police

    Smokey report - Police location report.

    Smokey Beaver - Woman police officer.

    Smokey Dozing - Police in a stopped car.

    Smokey�s thick - Police are everywhere.

    Smokey with a camera - Cop with radar

    Smokey with ears - Cop with CB in car.

    SNAFU - Foul up

    Sneakers - Linear amp i.e.- "Do you have your sneakers on?"

    Sneaky Snake - Hidden patrol car

    Snooperscope - An illegally high antenna

    Solid-state - Electronic device that doesn�t use tubes.

    Someone spilled honey on the road - State troopers ahead everywhere.

    Somebody stepped on you - Another station transmitted at the same time and was stronger

    Sonnet - A CB�er who advertises products over the air

    Souped Up - A rig modified to run illegally high power.

    Sounding Choice - Clear, strong signal.

    Sport City - Shreveport, Louisiana

    Splashed - Getting bleedover from another channel

    Splashover - Same thing as splashed

    Splatter - Same thing as splashover

    Spreading the greens - Cops giving out tickets.

    Spud town - Boise Idaho

    Squelch - Control on radio which silences the speaker until a signal of a certain strength breaks through it.

    SSB - Single-Sideband

    State Bear - State Trooper.

    Stepped on - Reception squashed by bleedover or another strong signal. "Come on back, you got stepped on"

    Stepped all over you - Similar to "Stepped On"

    Stop to get groceries - Stop and eat.

    Straight Shot - Road is clear of police and other obstructions.

    Stroller - CB�er with a walkie-talkie

    Struggle - Trying to "Break" a channel

    Sucker - A CB rig on the service bench

    Suds - Beer

    Super Slab - Highway

    Superdome city - New Orleans, Louisiana

    Suppository - Negative.

    Sunbeam - A CB�er who livens the channel with witticisms.

    Sweet thing - Female CB operator.

    SWR - Standing Wave Ratio. An incorrect impedance match can cause some of the transmitted signal to "reflect" back to the transmitter, which can reduce your signal, and possibly damage the Finals section of your transmitter. While a good match (1:1) is desirable, anything under 2:1 is safe. In my opinion, if you have two identical stations, at the same location, with one station having an SWR reading of 1.2:1 and another at 1.7:1, a receiving station at the other end, won�t see a noticeable difference between the two signals. Sometimes referred to in the plural sense (SWR�S) which makes about as much sense as "We" (see WE in the "W" section).

    T

    Taco Town - Corpus Christi, Texas

    Taking pictures - Police radar

    Taking pictures each way - Two-way radar

    Tanker - Truck hauling liquid

    Tennessee Valley Indians - TV Interference

    Tearjerker - A CB�er who always cries the blues

    10-1 Receiving poorly

    10-2 Receiving well

    10-3 Stop transmitting

    10-4 Ok, message received. Variations:

    Big Ten-four

    Four-Ten

    Ten-Forty

    Forty-Ten

    That�s a four

    Four

    Four-Roger

    10-5 Relay message

    10-6 Busy, stand by

    10-7 Out of service. Leaving the air.

    10-8 In service, taking calls.

    10-9 Repeat message

    10-10 Transmission complete, standing by.

    10-11 Talking too fast.

    10-12 Visitors present

    10-13 Advise weather conditions

    10-16 Make pickup at_________

    10-17 Urgent business

    10-18 Anything for us?

    10-19 Nothing for you, return to base.

    10-20 My location is_______. (i.e.- "My 20 is____", or "What�s your twenty?")

    10-32 Radio Check

    10-33 Emergency traffic at this station

    10-34 Confidential information.

    10-36 Correct time. An overused term that gets more grief than it�s worth

    10-77 Negative contact

    10-100 Restroom stop

    Ten Roger - Message received.

    Ten-ten - we�ll do it again Signoff.

    The dirty side - New York City

    Thread - Wires in a CB rig.

    Three�s and eights - Signoff- Best wishes.

    Thin - A very weak signal

    Thin Man - CB�er with a weak carrier

    Ticker Tape - The FCC rules

    Ticks - FCC rules

    Tin Can - CB rig

    Tighten up on the rubber band - Accelerate

    Tighten your seat, we�re running heavey - We are accelerating.

    Tijuana Taxi - Police car; Wrecker; Taxi

    Tinsel City - Hollywood California

    Toenails are scratching - Full speed.

    Toenails in the radiator - Full speed

    Toenails on the front bumper - Full speed.

    Toilet mouth - Foul mouth. Someone who uses obscene language.

    Tooled-up - A souped up rig

    Top Twenty - National CB Jamboree held 3 days each year in a different city.

    Trading Stamps - Money.

    Transceiver - Combination of Transmitter and Receiver in one box.

    Treetop Tall Strong, - Loud signal

    Trick babe - Prostitute

    Tricky Dick�s - San Clemente, California

    Truck �em easy - Drive safely

    Truck �em up stop - Truck Stop

    T-R Switch - Transmit Receive switch found on older radios.

    T � Town - Texarkana

    Turkey - Dumb

    Turkey Call - An intermittent tone generator

    Turning around my house - Rotating my antenna for better reception.

    Turn Over - Stop

    Turn Twenty - Location of exit or turn.

    TVI - Television Interference.

    Twelves - I have company present.

    Twenty - Location.

    Two Stool beaver - Very fat woman.

    Twin huskies - Dual antenna�s

    Twin Pets - A CB�er who has 2 sets from the same manufacturer

    Two miles of ditches for every mile of road - Drive safely, keep in the middle.

    Tx - Transmit

    U

    U.C.B.T.A. - United CB Truckers Association

    Ungowa Bwana - O.K.

    Uncle Charlie - FCC

    Uppers and Lowers - Indicates that the radio will go above channel 40 and below channel 1

    USB - Upper Sideband

    USCRC - United States Citizens Radio Council

    Use the Jake - Slow down

    V

    Valve -Tube

    V.F.O. - Variable Frequency Oscillator, sometimes called a "Slider".

    VOX - Voice operated relay. Allows the operator to transmit with the sound of his voice, rather than using a microphone push-to-talk switch.

    W

    Wall-to-wall - Very strong signal. Often used in conjunction with "Treetop Tall"

    Walkie-talkie - Portable, battery operated, handheld transceiver.

    Walking in here blowing smoke - Clear signal.

    Walking on you - Covering up your signal i.e.- "Try it again, the other guy is walking on you".

    Walking the dog - Clear reception

    Wallpaper - QSL cards

    Wall-to-wall bears - Police are everywhere.

    Wall-to-wall and treetop tall - Strong, clear signal � the loudest.

    Wall-to-wall and ten feet tall - Strong clear signal

    Warden - The wife, the FCC

    Walked on - Same as "Stepped On"

    Watch the pavement - Drive safely

    Watch your donkey - Police are coming up behind you.

    Water hole - Truck stop

    Watergate City - Washington DC

    Watt - RF power rating. "My rig puts out 5 watts".

    Way is bueno - The road ahead is clear.

    Wear your bumper out - Following too close.

    Welfare station - CB setup bought with welfare money.

    We�re c lear - Signoff

    We�re down - Signoff

    We gone - Signoff

    We�re down, out, and on the side - Through transmitting but listening.

    We�re listening - Monitoring the channel

    We - While "We" normally means two or more, in most cases when you hear someone say "we" on the radio, he is referring to himself only. This strange use of the word "we" is not confined to the CB band spectrum only. Many hams use (or mis-use) this as well.

    Wearing socks - Has linear amplifier.

    We�re trying - Trying to make a contact.

    What am I putting on you? - What kind of signal am I giving you on the meter?

    What�s your twenty? - What is your location?

    Whip - Long cb antenna

    Who do you pull for? - Who do you work for?

    Whomping on you - Another station is talking over your signal.

    Wheels - The mobile unit

    Wierdy - A home made CB rig

    Wilco Roger - affirmative.

    Wind Jammer - A long winded CB�er

    Windy City - Chicago

    Wooly Bear - Woman

    Wooly-wooly - Woman

    Working man - Truck driver (today they use "hand" for this term).

    Work Twenty - Place of employment.

    Wrapped Leaf - A CB rig in its original carton

    X

    XYL - The wife of a CB�er

    Y

    YL - Young lady, Miss

    Youngville - Young children using the channel

    You got it - Letting another station know he has the "floor".

    You gone? - Are you still there?

    Your telephone is ringing - Someone is calling for you.

    Z

    Z�s - Sleep

     


     
     
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