CB Radio
Citizen's Band radio. Public radio service in the 11 meter shortwave band. In North America, the frequencies are 40 channels from 26.965 kHz to 27.405 kHz in 10 kHz steps. AM (amplitude modulation) or SSB (single sideband) modes may be used. A CBer may not use more than 5 watts on AM or 12 watts PEP on SSB, yet the power restrictions are often flouted.
The FCC (US radio regulatory agency) once required licenses for CB. The popularity of CB in the 70s resulted in much illegal operation. The FCC dropped licensing requirements in the early 1980's.
North American CB today is a wasteland of cursing, vulgarity, sexual innuendo, jamming, music broadcasting, and heavily distorted audio due to improper radio modifications. Amateur radio (ham radio) operators have a particular dislike for CBers and CB lingo. CBers sometimes transmit illegally on ham radio frequencies and are often caught by vigilante hams with radio direction finding equipment. Ex-CBers who get ham licenses are often ostracized for using CB lingo on the air. It is a grave insult to call an American ham operator a CBer.
The FCC (US radio regulatory agency) once required licenses for CB. The popularity of CB in the 70s resulted in much illegal operation. The FCC dropped licensing requirements in the early 1980's.
North American CB today is a wasteland of cursing, vulgarity, sexual innuendo, jamming, music broadcasting, and heavily distorted audio due to improper radio modifications. Amateur radio (ham radio) operators have a particular dislike for CBers and CB lingo. CBers sometimes transmit illegally on ham radio frequencies and are often caught by vigilante hams with radio direction finding equipment. Ex-CBers who get ham licenses are often ostracized for using CB lingo on the air. It is a grave insult to call an American ham operator a CBer.
Example:
Heard on CB radio channel 14: (shouting, incomprehensibly distorted audio) "Roger roger breaker breaker 14 hear my radidio come on come on"
Ham 1: "Did you hear that new ham on the repeater? He was using CB lingo like 'what's your 20?'"
Ham 2: "Yeah, I'll have to pull him aside at the next hamfest and talk to him about it."
Heard on CB radio channel 14: (shouting, incomprehensibly distorted audio) "Roger roger breaker breaker 14 hear my radidio come on come on"
Ham 1: "Did you hear that new ham on the repeater? He was using CB lingo like 'what's your 20?'"
Ham 2: "Yeah, I'll have to pull him aside at the next hamfest and talk to him about it."