Post by Gremlin on Mar 27, 2008 0:38:27 GMT -4
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS SIDEBAND?[/glow]
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), In addition to the "Regular" (AM) mode on each of the 40 channels. When switched to 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 capability. You can usually expect an increase in range, & less noise than on the "standard" AM 40 channels.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS THE "TALKBACK" FEATURE?[/glow]
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.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT RANGE WILL A CB RADIO GIVE ME?[/glow]
A - "Generally Speaking" range for a mobile CB Radio could be anywhere from 1 to 20 Miles or more, depending on 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, you will actually get more or less than these numbers in certian areas & terrain, & as you drive. Base Station CB setups, with larger roof mounted Base antennas will usually give more range than the ground level mobile units.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT DO THE RF & MIKE GAIN CONTROLS DO?[/glow]
A - Mike Gain (DynaMike)is your mike's "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.
[glow=red,2,300]WHY DOES THERE SEEM TO BE MORE STATIC ON CB CHANNELS THAN WHAT I HEAR ON OTHER TYPES OF RADIOS?[/glow]
A - Just like you car Stereo's AM/FM stations, where the "AM" has more interference than the "FM", CB channels are transmitted & received using an "AM" mode. Other Radios like FRS, GMRS, Police scanners ect all receive in "FM" mode. Again, with CB, just like 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 the noise better than standard CB's that have no noise filters, or just an "ANL" switch.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS THE FREQUENCY DISPLAY, & WHAT DOES IT DO?[/glow]
A - On some CB Radios such as the Texas Ranger TR-396F, TR-696F & the Galaxy DX-959, there is a 5 or 6 digit frequency display. This will show you the actual 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 CB channels, & their actual Frequencies:
1) 26.965 MHz
2) 26.975 MHz
3) 26.985 MHz
4) 27.005 MHz
5) 27.015 MHz
6) 27.025 MHz
7) 27.035 MHz
8) 27.055 MHz
9) 27.065 MHz
10) 27.075 MHz
11) 27.085 MHz
12) 27.105 MHz
13) 27.115 MHz
14) 27.125 MHz
15) 27.135 MHz
16) 27.155 MHz
17) 27.165 MHz
18) 27.175 MHz
19) 27.185 MHz
20) 27.205 MHz
21) 27.215 MHz
22) 27.225 MHz
23) 27.255 MHz
24) 27.235 MHz
25) 27.245 MHz
26) 27.265 MHz
27) 27.275 MHz
28) 27.285 MHz
29) 27.295 MHz
30) 27.305 MHz
31) 27.315 MHz
32) 27.325 MHz
33) 27.335 MHz
34) 27.345 MHz
35) 27.355 MHz
36) 27.365 MHz
37) 27.375 MHz
38) 27.385 MHz
39) 27.395 MHz
40) 27.405 MHz
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS THE BEST ANTENNA FOR MY MOBILE CB RADIO?[/glow]
A - This is tough to answer, but here are some general guidelines & "Rules of thumb". 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 ft CB antenna where you had a 2 footer, will usually give better results. It wouldn't matter what "brand name", color or style the 2 ft antenna was. CB antennas that are less than 3 feet tall, those that "stick to the glass", & AM/FM/CB "combo" antennas generally do not give good performance, they are bought & sold for "convienience" reasons only.
[glow=orange,2,700]LEGALITIES[/glow]
[glow=red,2,300]ARE CB TRANSMIT AMPLIFIERS (BOOSTERS, LINEARS) OK TO USE, & CAN I BUY ONE?[/glow]
A - It is against FCC rules to use an external Amplifier on CB radio channels in the USA. It is also against FCC rules to sell or market amps that are capable of operating "out of the box" between 24-35 Mhz (CB falls within this range). That being said, there seems to be many places that sell them anyway, However we Do Not sell them.
D[glow=red,2,300]O I NEED A LICENSE TO OPERATE A CB?[/glow]
A - No, since the early 1980's, the FCC stopped requiring licenses for USA CB radio use. Users must still abide by FCC rules regarding the CB Band, however.
[glow=red,2,300]IS THERE ANY LICENSE I CAN GET OR BUY THAT WILL ALLOW EXTRA CB CHANNELS OR POWER? &
HOW MANY CHANNELS CAN I HAVE IN MY CB AFTER I GET A HAM LICENSE?[/glow]
A - ALL USA CB radios are allowed only the 40 26/27 Mhz CB channels, must be FCC approved for CB use, & have 4w AM/12W pep SSB maximum output power, license free. There is No "Ham" or Commercial License that allows the user to run higher Power, use "extra" channels or modified Amateur Rigs in the 11M 26/27Mhz CB Radio Band.
SWR & GENERAL INFO
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS THE "FREEBAND" or "OUTBAND"?[/glow]
A - These Terms refer to frequencies or "Extra" channels that are directly above or below the standard 40 CB channels (approx 26-28Mhz). While not FCC assigned for CB or Amateur use in the USA, These 11 meter freqs are never the less very popular (worldwide), & mostly used by "bootleg" CB & Amateur operators that internally modify their CB, Amateur, "Export or 10 Meter Radios to "reach" these channels. Although many of these freqs are still technically assigned for commercial or other users, Most legitimate licensed users of these frequencies abandoned them long ago, & now you will usually only hear "unlicensed operators" when monitoring these frequencies.
[glow=red,2,300]IF I WANT TO USE A MOBILE CB AS A HOME BASE STATION, WHAT WILL I NEED?[/glow]
A - Besides a good Base Station CB Antenna, you will need a Regulated Power Supply, to convert the "120vac House current" to 13.8VDC "Car current". Most Standard CB radios Draw Less than 4 Amps, so a good Regulated unit, rated between 4 and 6 amps output will suffice. See our OnLine Catalog for Power Supply Selections, such as the Pyramid models PS-7KX & PS-8KX.
[glow=red,2,300]IF ALL CB's ARE LIMITED TO 4W & 40ch, ISN'T A $59 SET AS GOOD AS A $200 RIG?[/glow]
A - NO. It's like saying, "Since all AM/FM car stereos pick up the same stations, isn't a $50 unit as good as one that sells for a thousand". Factors like Receive sensitivity & selectivity, Noise Filtering & modulation quality will all be better in a more expensive model. You get what you pay for. Also, features like Mic & RF gain controls, built in meters, noise blankers & more will also vary with different CB's.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT'S A POWER MIKE?[/glow]
A - "Powermikes" are replacement microphones for a CB radio that require a battery, and are amplified. They do not give the radio more power (watts), but most good ones usually sound much better, clearer & louder over the air than the cheaper plastic "stoc mics" that are packaged & sold with the CB. They also allow the user more versatility, to speak a little farther from the mike than with the "stock" unit, & help amplify softer voiced people too. Some Power mikes include "hobby" type controls such as "Echo/Reverb", or sound effects, while others do not.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS A "NOISE CANCELLING" MIKE, & WHAT DOES IT DO?[/glow]
A - This is a microphone designed to reject more backround noise, & only pick up the user's voice close to the mike, as compared with a standard mike. It is useful to truckers & drivers that have Loud engine or road noises as they drive, but is not nessessary in a quiet car or a Base Station setup.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS "SWR" & ANTENNA TUNING?[/glow]
A - SWR is a measure of how well your antenna is "matched" or "tuned" to operate at CB frequencies, & to your vehicle. Unlike TV or Scanner antennas that do not Transmit, the CB & other "transmit" antennas need to be tuned to operate or Transmit correctly & effieciently. If severely "out of tune" (or having a poor SWR reading), damage to the transmitter can result. While most good CB antennas, when mounted & grounded correctly as the maker intended, will usually have a "safe SWR", keep in mind that it is still a good idea to check & optimize your SWR reading. Regardless of Mfgr's claims, there really is no way to "Factory pretune" antennas for CB frequencies. The same exact antenna can actually give different SWR Readings when mounted on different vehicles, or even in different spots on the same vehicle!
[glow=red,2,300]HOW DO I CHECK MY ANTENNA'S SWR TUNING?[/glow]
A - It's fairly easy, you will need either an SWR meter function built into your CB radio (eg.. a Cobra 29, Texas Ranger TR-939WX or Galaxy DX-959), or an external SWR meter hooked between your radio & antenna (eg.. Pyramid SWR-14). Follow the directions that come with the meter. Readings above 3:1 ( "Three to One" )are considered bad or even dangerous, readings of 1.5:1 or lower are considered excellent. Readings around 2:1 are safe, but an effort should be made to tune the antenna for a lower reading. Actual tuning of the antenna will vary by type, but usually involves raising, lowering or trimming a whip or tip element, or adjusting a ring or tuning control at the bottom. Some antennas are factory sealed & not easily tunable, We would not normally reccomed these for a performance setup. Remember, the Meter can only check the SWR, not change it. Tuning the SWR reading must be done at the antenna itself. Most local CB installation shops will charge about $10 to test & tune your antenna, if you'd rather not attempt it yourself.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS A "ROGER BEEP" & WHAT"s IT FOR?[/glow]
A - The Roger Beep is a single or multi tone that is send for a brief second when you unkey your mike. This was originally intended to give a true confirmation to the receiving station of when the other person was finished talking, especially during weak signal & SSB reception. Most modern day CBers simply use it for "fun & games" however & it should be turned off if others find it annoying. Some CB sets have this feature built in (Galaxy DX-2547, Texas Ranger TR-396F), or it can be purchased in an optional mike or internal add-on board.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS A "GROUNDPLANE" & WHAT ABOUT ANTENNAS FOR FIBERGLASS OR NON METALLIC SITUATIONS?[/glow]
A - Most mobile antennas are actually "half" of the antenna, the other half is the body of the car or truck. This "other half" is also known as the Ground Plane of the antenna. If the Groundplane isn't adequate or large enough, poor SWR readings & performance will result. There are special "No Ground Needed" antennas designed for Boats, Fiberglass Door Trucks ect. Some of these antennas require a special included cable that can't be cut or replaced, others can be used with any cable. If a regular CB Antenna is mounted fairly close to the vehicles ground, such as on a truck's fiberglass door, sometimes running a thick ground wire from one of the mounting bracket's bolts, to a good chassis ground, can sometimes work & allow the use of "standard" mobile CB antennas.
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), In addition to the "Regular" (AM) mode on each of the 40 channels. When switched to 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 capability. You can usually expect an increase in range, & less noise than on the "standard" AM 40 channels.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS THE "TALKBACK" FEATURE?[/glow]
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.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT RANGE WILL A CB RADIO GIVE ME?[/glow]
A - "Generally Speaking" range for a mobile CB Radio could be anywhere from 1 to 20 Miles or more, depending on 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, you will actually get more or less than these numbers in certian areas & terrain, & as you drive. Base Station CB setups, with larger roof mounted Base antennas will usually give more range than the ground level mobile units.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT DO THE RF & MIKE GAIN CONTROLS DO?[/glow]
A - Mike Gain (DynaMike)is your mike's "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.
[glow=red,2,300]WHY DOES THERE SEEM TO BE MORE STATIC ON CB CHANNELS THAN WHAT I HEAR ON OTHER TYPES OF RADIOS?[/glow]
A - Just like you car Stereo's AM/FM stations, where the "AM" has more interference than the "FM", CB channels are transmitted & received using an "AM" mode. Other Radios like FRS, GMRS, Police scanners ect all receive in "FM" mode. Again, with CB, just like 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 the noise better than standard CB's that have no noise filters, or just an "ANL" switch.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS THE FREQUENCY DISPLAY, & WHAT DOES IT DO?[/glow]
A - On some CB Radios such as the Texas Ranger TR-396F, TR-696F & the Galaxy DX-959, there is a 5 or 6 digit frequency display. This will show you the actual 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 CB channels, & their actual Frequencies:
1) 26.965 MHz
2) 26.975 MHz
3) 26.985 MHz
4) 27.005 MHz
5) 27.015 MHz
6) 27.025 MHz
7) 27.035 MHz
8) 27.055 MHz
9) 27.065 MHz
10) 27.075 MHz
11) 27.085 MHz
12) 27.105 MHz
13) 27.115 MHz
14) 27.125 MHz
15) 27.135 MHz
16) 27.155 MHz
17) 27.165 MHz
18) 27.175 MHz
19) 27.185 MHz
20) 27.205 MHz
21) 27.215 MHz
22) 27.225 MHz
23) 27.255 MHz
24) 27.235 MHz
25) 27.245 MHz
26) 27.265 MHz
27) 27.275 MHz
28) 27.285 MHz
29) 27.295 MHz
30) 27.305 MHz
31) 27.315 MHz
32) 27.325 MHz
33) 27.335 MHz
34) 27.345 MHz
35) 27.355 MHz
36) 27.365 MHz
37) 27.375 MHz
38) 27.385 MHz
39) 27.395 MHz
40) 27.405 MHz
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS THE BEST ANTENNA FOR MY MOBILE CB RADIO?[/glow]
A - This is tough to answer, but here are some general guidelines & "Rules of thumb". 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 ft CB antenna where you had a 2 footer, will usually give better results. It wouldn't matter what "brand name", color or style the 2 ft antenna was. CB antennas that are less than 3 feet tall, those that "stick to the glass", & AM/FM/CB "combo" antennas generally do not give good performance, they are bought & sold for "convienience" reasons only.
[glow=orange,2,700]LEGALITIES[/glow]
[glow=red,2,300]ARE CB TRANSMIT AMPLIFIERS (BOOSTERS, LINEARS) OK TO USE, & CAN I BUY ONE?[/glow]
A - It is against FCC rules to use an external Amplifier on CB radio channels in the USA. It is also against FCC rules to sell or market amps that are capable of operating "out of the box" between 24-35 Mhz (CB falls within this range). That being said, there seems to be many places that sell them anyway, However we Do Not sell them.
D[glow=red,2,300]O I NEED A LICENSE TO OPERATE A CB?[/glow]
A - No, since the early 1980's, the FCC stopped requiring licenses for USA CB radio use. Users must still abide by FCC rules regarding the CB Band, however.
[glow=red,2,300]IS THERE ANY LICENSE I CAN GET OR BUY THAT WILL ALLOW EXTRA CB CHANNELS OR POWER? &
HOW MANY CHANNELS CAN I HAVE IN MY CB AFTER I GET A HAM LICENSE?[/glow]
A - ALL USA CB radios are allowed only the 40 26/27 Mhz CB channels, must be FCC approved for CB use, & have 4w AM/12W pep SSB maximum output power, license free. There is No "Ham" or Commercial License that allows the user to run higher Power, use "extra" channels or modified Amateur Rigs in the 11M 26/27Mhz CB Radio Band.
SWR & GENERAL INFO
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS THE "FREEBAND" or "OUTBAND"?[/glow]
A - These Terms refer to frequencies or "Extra" channels that are directly above or below the standard 40 CB channels (approx 26-28Mhz). While not FCC assigned for CB or Amateur use in the USA, These 11 meter freqs are never the less very popular (worldwide), & mostly used by "bootleg" CB & Amateur operators that internally modify their CB, Amateur, "Export or 10 Meter Radios to "reach" these channels. Although many of these freqs are still technically assigned for commercial or other users, Most legitimate licensed users of these frequencies abandoned them long ago, & now you will usually only hear "unlicensed operators" when monitoring these frequencies.
[glow=red,2,300]IF I WANT TO USE A MOBILE CB AS A HOME BASE STATION, WHAT WILL I NEED?[/glow]
A - Besides a good Base Station CB Antenna, you will need a Regulated Power Supply, to convert the "120vac House current" to 13.8VDC "Car current". Most Standard CB radios Draw Less than 4 Amps, so a good Regulated unit, rated between 4 and 6 amps output will suffice. See our OnLine Catalog for Power Supply Selections, such as the Pyramid models PS-7KX & PS-8KX.
[glow=red,2,300]IF ALL CB's ARE LIMITED TO 4W & 40ch, ISN'T A $59 SET AS GOOD AS A $200 RIG?[/glow]
A - NO. It's like saying, "Since all AM/FM car stereos pick up the same stations, isn't a $50 unit as good as one that sells for a thousand". Factors like Receive sensitivity & selectivity, Noise Filtering & modulation quality will all be better in a more expensive model. You get what you pay for. Also, features like Mic & RF gain controls, built in meters, noise blankers & more will also vary with different CB's.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT'S A POWER MIKE?[/glow]
A - "Powermikes" are replacement microphones for a CB radio that require a battery, and are amplified. They do not give the radio more power (watts), but most good ones usually sound much better, clearer & louder over the air than the cheaper plastic "stoc mics" that are packaged & sold with the CB. They also allow the user more versatility, to speak a little farther from the mike than with the "stock" unit, & help amplify softer voiced people too. Some Power mikes include "hobby" type controls such as "Echo/Reverb", or sound effects, while others do not.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS A "NOISE CANCELLING" MIKE, & WHAT DOES IT DO?[/glow]
A - This is a microphone designed to reject more backround noise, & only pick up the user's voice close to the mike, as compared with a standard mike. It is useful to truckers & drivers that have Loud engine or road noises as they drive, but is not nessessary in a quiet car or a Base Station setup.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS "SWR" & ANTENNA TUNING?[/glow]
A - SWR is a measure of how well your antenna is "matched" or "tuned" to operate at CB frequencies, & to your vehicle. Unlike TV or Scanner antennas that do not Transmit, the CB & other "transmit" antennas need to be tuned to operate or Transmit correctly & effieciently. If severely "out of tune" (or having a poor SWR reading), damage to the transmitter can result. While most good CB antennas, when mounted & grounded correctly as the maker intended, will usually have a "safe SWR", keep in mind that it is still a good idea to check & optimize your SWR reading. Regardless of Mfgr's claims, there really is no way to "Factory pretune" antennas for CB frequencies. The same exact antenna can actually give different SWR Readings when mounted on different vehicles, or even in different spots on the same vehicle!
[glow=red,2,300]HOW DO I CHECK MY ANTENNA'S SWR TUNING?[/glow]
A - It's fairly easy, you will need either an SWR meter function built into your CB radio (eg.. a Cobra 29, Texas Ranger TR-939WX or Galaxy DX-959), or an external SWR meter hooked between your radio & antenna (eg.. Pyramid SWR-14). Follow the directions that come with the meter. Readings above 3:1 ( "Three to One" )are considered bad or even dangerous, readings of 1.5:1 or lower are considered excellent. Readings around 2:1 are safe, but an effort should be made to tune the antenna for a lower reading. Actual tuning of the antenna will vary by type, but usually involves raising, lowering or trimming a whip or tip element, or adjusting a ring or tuning control at the bottom. Some antennas are factory sealed & not easily tunable, We would not normally reccomed these for a performance setup. Remember, the Meter can only check the SWR, not change it. Tuning the SWR reading must be done at the antenna itself. Most local CB installation shops will charge about $10 to test & tune your antenna, if you'd rather not attempt it yourself.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS A "ROGER BEEP" & WHAT"s IT FOR?[/glow]
A - The Roger Beep is a single or multi tone that is send for a brief second when you unkey your mike. This was originally intended to give a true confirmation to the receiving station of when the other person was finished talking, especially during weak signal & SSB reception. Most modern day CBers simply use it for "fun & games" however & it should be turned off if others find it annoying. Some CB sets have this feature built in (Galaxy DX-2547, Texas Ranger TR-396F), or it can be purchased in an optional mike or internal add-on board.
[glow=red,2,300]WHAT IS A "GROUNDPLANE" & WHAT ABOUT ANTENNAS FOR FIBERGLASS OR NON METALLIC SITUATIONS?[/glow]
A - Most mobile antennas are actually "half" of the antenna, the other half is the body of the car or truck. This "other half" is also known as the Ground Plane of the antenna. If the Groundplane isn't adequate or large enough, poor SWR readings & performance will result. There are special "No Ground Needed" antennas designed for Boats, Fiberglass Door Trucks ect. Some of these antennas require a special included cable that can't be cut or replaced, others can be used with any cable. If a regular CB Antenna is mounted fairly close to the vehicles ground, such as on a truck's fiberglass door, sometimes running a thick ground wire from one of the mounting bracket's bolts, to a good chassis ground, can sometimes work & allow the use of "standard" mobile CB antennas.