CB Radio exists in many different
forms around the world. Here are extracts for the rec.radio.cb newsgroup
FAQ.
USA
Canada
UK
Japan
France
Germany
New Zealand
USA
It is no longer required
to have a license to operate a CB radio in the United States. The FCC
(Federal Communications Commission) did at one time require a Class "D" license
for for Citizen's Band which required nothing more than filling out a form
and sending it in to the FCC with the license fee. The FCC then sent
you a call sign which might look like "KPS 2720" or something similar.
During the CB craze in the mid-70's, the FCC decided that the paper-work burden
outweighed the benefits and put CB under blanket authorization.
The FCC permits the use
of the following to identify yourself:
1. Your old Class D callsign, if you have one.
2. K, your first and last initials, and your zip code (i.e. KPS 68123)
3. your name (i.e. "Paul")
4. some unique nickname or Handle (i.e. "Cobra", "Rubber Duck", etc.)
A rule change in May 1992
now allows one-way transmissions about highway conditions on CB. This
was intended to allow local authorities to use unattended audio warnings about
road construction or other hazards.
In the USA, there are two
additional radio bands besides CB which are intended
for use with minimal regulation by individuals.
1. GMRS, the General Mobile Radio Service, is located in the 460-470
MHz
band. A license is required. More information
is included in Part 4.
2. The FCC has recently opened up the 31.0-31.3 GHz microwave band to
licensed users of several fixed and mobile radio services
including GMRS.
Legal CB transmitters use
the operator's choice of AM (amplitude modulation)
(with 4 watts maximum power) or single sideband (with 12 watts maximum power)
on the following frequencies.
26.965 - 27.405 AM/SSB
40 channels, max power 4W AM, 12W SSB
Special-use
channels:
9 - emergency, monitored in some areas by "REACT" and/or a volunteer
group coordinated by the local Sheriff's office.
17 - unofficial "trucker's" channel (California & western states.)
19 - official "trucker's" channel for traffic and speed trap advisories
30-40 - Often are used for single sideband (SSB) activity
460 - 470
FM
General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) license required.
31.0-31.3 GHz
Any mode microwave band now open for individuals to use, requires GMRS
license.
Note that US regulations disallow "DX" long-distance communications (over
150 miles in this case) with CB. However, directional antennas may be
used to enhance communications within the legal range.
Canada
No license is required.
You may identify yourself by your name or a handle of your choice.
The CB frequencies, modulation,
and power limits are the same as the 26-27 MHz CB band in the USA.
UK
A license is required in
the UK.
For licensing information
and/or a set of "CB information sheets" you may contact the DTI (Department
of Trade and Industry) at the following address: CB Licensing Section, Radiocommunications
Agency, Room 613, Waterloo Bridge House, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UA, UK.
The telephone number is (+44) 71 215 2171.
The UK will honor licenses
from other countries using CEPT-approved radios. (See the CB Frequencies section
below on CEPT for more information.) Your license may be used under
the terms from the country which issued it.
The UK has 3 bands for
CB as follows:
26.965 - 27.405
FM
40 channels, same frequencies as USA 4W max power
Radios using this band are marked "PR 27 GB" or "CEPT PR 27 GB" and
are CEPT-approved
27.6 - 27.99
FM
40 channels, 0.01 MHz (10 kHz) spacing 4W max power
Radios using this band are marked "27/81-UK" and are only legal in
the UK
934.0125-934.9625
FM
20 channels, 0.05 MHz (50 kHz) spacing
4W max power
Radios using this band are marked "CB 934/81" and are only legal in
the UK, no new radios of this type are being made
but existing equipment may continue to be used legally.
Antennas must be omnidirectional
- beams and yagis are prohibited. Antennasc must stand vertically, no
higher than 1.65m (not including ground plane.)
AM and FM are not compatible
so a US-legal CB cannot communicate with any UK-legal CB even though they
may use the same frequencies. And each is illegal on the others' soil
so this only prevents use of atmospheric skip between them.
Japan
No license is required.
You may identify yourself by your name or a handle of your choice.
Japan has 3 radio bands
that do not require licenses. Two of them are limited to extremely short-range
use because of low power limits. The other, with maximum power output
of 5 watts, is more like CB as it is known in North America, Europe and Australia.
26.968 - 27.144 AM (no SSB) Maximum power 0.5W
Channels 1-8 on 26.968, 26.967, 27.040,
27.080, 27.088, 27.112, 27.120, and 27.144.
Other channels in between these are assigned to fishing vessels (with
1W max power).
422.200 - 422.300
FM
Specific Low Power Radio", also known as "UHF CB" maximum power
0.01W (10mW)
9 channels with 12.5 kHz spacing.
Newly-authorized in 1989, mostly used for handy-talkies and ski patrols
903.0125-904.9875
FM
"Personal Radio" maximum power 5W
158 channels with 12.5 kHz spacing
External antennas are permitted.
Radios must be equipped with a control ROM for automatic ID.
As in Europe, made-for-the-USA
CB radios are illegal in Japan. There have been cases where such radios
have caused interference with maritime emergency traffic.
France
A license is to be obtained
but there is no examination. At the time of this writing, the license
costs 190FF every 5 years. You have to send France Telecom the "agreement
number" from your radio. Once on the air, you may identify yourself
by your name or a handle of your choice.
France will honor licenses
from other countries using CEPT-approved radios. Your license may be used
under the terms from the country which issued it.
Germany
A license is required whether
you plan to use FM or both AM and FM. The "agreement card" costs more
if your radio also has AM. You may identify yourself by your name or
a handle of your choice.
Germany will honor licenses
from other countries using CEPT-approved radios. Your license may be used
under the terms from the country which issued it.
New
Zealand
New Zealand
has it's own 40 channels, not on 27MHz at all.
