Band Radio

How do I use the side band settings on my cb radio and what are the benifits, and should I considder a linear?

I have a new side band radio and tuned a set of firestik duals but dont really know how to use it besides talking to truckers on the road. What are the advantages of upper and lower side band, and how much trouble would one be in for adding a linear amplifier to their radio? What are the benifits of that? And last but not least how do I get the engine noise to go away from the radio?

Sideband is a Mode (or type) of transmission , just as AM is also another Mode.
CB’s that have sideband modes will be switchable from LSB (lower sideband) and USB (upper sideband).
These modes offer greater range than normal AM.
Sideband CB’s will put out 12 watts on sideband whereas AM transmissions are only 4 or 5 watts output.
Due to atmospheric conditions in the ionosphere long distances (500miles +) are possible on the CB band.

While possible on AM , the Mode is more prone to noise and fading effects , combine that with low output power makes it a poor choice for trying for long distance ‘DX’ contacts.

Sideband Mode is much more suitable for DX as it is less prone to distortions of the signal when it is refracted back to earth by the ionosphere. , and the extra power does help.

With the standard power of 12 watts feeding a 5/8 wave vertical I was able to make contacts easily of over 2500miles and I also made some contacts of over 5000 miles.

This is of course using the ionosphere to return the transmitted signals back to earth.
This condition is called ‘Skip’ , even though this is a misapplied term.

Typically without Skip , the standard transmission range of sideband Cb’s with 12 watts is about 20 to 30 miles with a good antenna system.

Using an external amplifier , often called a ‘Linear Amp’ is illegal and is a Federal offense.
Using one and getting caught with it will incur a heavy fine and a police record that never goes away.
Performance wise, it is better to go with standard power and good antenna rather than use a poor antenna and a Linear Amp.

Electrical interference getting into the radio can be cured by installing noise suppressors on the alternator.
Older vehicles with separate regulators etc may need one there as well. , as well as distributers that use contact points.

This will cure most of your noise.

Don’t forget to firmly mount the radio to the car body making sure it has a good electrical connection as well.

Run your + battery supply directly between the battery and the radio , making sure that the cable it doesn’t pass nearby devices in the engine compartment (or the cabin) that makes noise (eg , alternator , electric fans , computers etc)

Make sure your antenna also is properly grounded to the vehicle body with a good solid mechanical and electrical connection.

Aircastle AM/FM 5 Band Radio Model 136F1 (Excellent Condition) $9.99

TYT TH-UVF1 VHF/UHF Dual Band two way radio + earp $93.00

BAOFENG UV-3R RED Colour Dual Band Radio Softcase fit UV-3R UV-3R Mark II $0.99

General Electric Help Two-Way Portable Citzens Band CB Radio 3-5909 $14.99

BAOFENG New UV-3R Mark 2 136-174/400-470Mhz Dual Band Radio + USB cable $53.50

Red TYT TH-UVF1 Dual Band Radio 136-174/400-470 + earpiece + USB cable + CD $106.90

TYT TH-UVF1 Dual Band Radio 136-174/400-470 + earpiece + USB program cable + CD $106.90

VINTAGE CB HAM MOBILE COBRA 77X 40 BAND TRANSCEIVER BASE RADIO MICROPHONE RARE $4.99

RARE CB HAM MOBILE COBRA 29XLR 40 BAND TRANSCEIVER BASE RADIO MICROPHONE GOLD $7.99

ICOM F4TR UHF radio w/ charger / software (narrow band compatible) $35.00

Radio Shack TRC-225 Citizens Band Walkie Talkie $15.00

Yaesu FT-50R Dual Band Radio and Accesories,Ham,Amateur, AA Battery Case $2.25

Bendix Navigator 555 Direction Finder 3 Band Marine Radio $26.99

Vintage PANASONIC RF-2200 Shortwave 8-Band SW RADIO RECIEVER EXCELLENT VTG $174.99

KG-UVD1P Radio 136-174/420-520 MHz dual band portable radio +USB + Speaker Mic $99.80

Cobra Model 19 Plus CB Citizens Band 40 Channel Radio – Used only a few months $20.00

Uniden SMU 300K UHF business band Ham Radio FCC ID amw9yr-839 $20.00

vintage Sony CRF-230 World Zone 23 band Shortwave radio receiver rare find !! $0.99

VINTAGE ZENITH 3000-1 MULTI-BAND RADIO $49.95

LOW LOSS! TELEWAVE BAND REJECT VHF DUPLEXER, HAM RADIO, FREE TUNING, 144-174 MHZ $600.00

Rare Peerless SM-1680 8 Band Solid State Shortwave Radio With Tuning Meter $19.95

RARE 2 Hallicrafters CB-8 Citizen Band Walkie Talkies +Original Boxes Radio Lot $40.00

Baofeng UV-3R Mark II Dual Band Display VHF/UHF 136-174/400-470M FM Ham Radio $26.00

Vintage RCA Three Way 3 Band Radio VHF Receiver / Scanner 8 Channel Model 16S300 $9.99

2 Realistic 2 Way Radio 40 Channel Citizens Band Transceiver TRC 216 222 CB $40.00

Vintage Pace P5514 external CB citizens band radio speaker $4.99

Vintage Sony CFS-65S 4 band Radio-Cassette Recorder Boombox with Shortwave Radio $59.99

ICOM IC-91AD VHF/UHF Handheld Dual-Band 2Way Radio 91AD D-STAR $339.00

Emerson MBR-1 AM/FM Short Wave CB TV VHF Weather Citizen Band Portable Radio $25.00

Hallicrafters S-120 4-band Shortwave Radio – Tested & Working condition – AS IS $39.99

UNIDEN BEARCAT 210XL SCANNING RADIO SCANNER 18 CHANNELS 6 BAND COVERAGE VINTAGE $9.99

AM/FM/SW 10 Band Shortwave Radio World Receiver 848 $5.90

Yaesu, FT-726r Tri-Band Satellite Radio w/2 Meter, 440, 6 Meter Modules $525.00

Hallicrafters S-38E Vintage 4 Band Tube Type Shortwave Radio – Nice $49.95

Motorola Radius M214 Low Band Mobile Radio w/Voice Inversion Unit. $0.99

Kenwood TM-D700A Dual Band 2m/70cm Amateur Mobile Radio w/Extra’s $300.00

“LOT” COBRA 40 CHANNEL CITIZENS BAND 2-WAY PORTABLE RADIO(MODEL HH-35) VERY NICE $40.00

SEARS OWNERS MANUAL CITIZENS BAND TWO WAY RADIO CB BOOK RULES REGULATION 1977 $7.95

GE Low Band 6 meter MLS Mobile 2-way radio-Free Programming $20.45

UNIDEN BEARCAT BC 245XLT Trunk Tracker II Radio Scanner 12 Band 300 Channel $25.00

HF Portable all band antenna ham radio shtf marine super antenna for QRP or Hpwr $107.00

SONY FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio: ICF-SW7600GR $159.95

MURS GMRS DUAL BAND BASE RADIO ANTENNA VHF UHF SURVIVAL 2m 70cm UV-3R UV-200 $48.00

Midland Model 13-876 23 channel CB radio, antique citizens band radio $8.99

NEW TECSUN DR-920 DIGITAL FM MW SW 12 BAND RADIO DR920 $16.90

Realistic TRC 435 CB Citizens Band 40 channel for parts radio $4.99

Vintage 1975 Robyn SX 102B CB citizens band radio mobile tranceiver 23 channel $19.99

USA Seller! Wouxun KG-UVA1 Dual Band Two Way Radio $129.95

USA Seller! Wouxun KG-UVD1P Dual Band Two Way Radio $119.95

Radio Shack Multi-Band AM/FM/Air&VHF SW-RCVR, Radio Shack cat 12-795 $65.00

CB or Business Band Radio: How can you say?

Have you ever surfed the Internet trying to buy a CB radio, only to be confused by different types of two-way radios that are out there?

To someone unfamiliar with this technology could be a little frustrating. There is some visual form to tell the difference between a CB and a business band radio, without having to connect to a power source first.

First, check the face of radio for obvious marks that can tell what kind of radio it is. For example, if an expression as a citizen band radio, CB radio or appear on the radio itself, which would be a clear indication that he is a CB radio.

There is aa brand that can help make that decision? Then try another approach. On the front of the radio in question, "Radio has a SWR meter on the front panel? Or a digital display of LED lights that seem to work similar to a VU meter. An SWR meter or audio type LED lights are clear indicators of a transceiver AM band radio (CB radio). Band radio to companies will not have these devices.

The back of these radios can also tell a story. Look at the back of the radio in question. The antenna connector may also reduce the number of radio identification.

Although business-band radios use different types of connectors antenna, such as TNC, BNC, Mini UHF, and the ever popular SW-239, a citizens band radio only uses the SO-239 antenna connector.

The SO-239 antenna connector is only compatible with a PL-259 antenna cable and plug. There is no such thing as a CB antenna that uses nothing but PL-259 cable and plug. These are big screw caps with a diameter almost as wide as the American nickel.

In the back of the radio, the presence of TRS outlets along with an OS-239 can also be supported in the direction of a radio CB. Most CB radios use TRS outputs to connect external speakers or public address speaker horns. Most radios trading band will not have these outlets into a form of TRS.

Finally, look at the microphone. Sometimes, the microphone can tell a story too. If this is a DTMF microphone (phone keypad on the microphone) is definitely not a CB radio, but rather a type of UHF radio Truncking or business or by the use of the fleet.

The journalist, Joseph Toth

Washington Micro Bank BBS

About the Author:

I was raised in Wisconsin as a hard working individual. As a teenager I worked on a farm until I became a adult. I have never worked less than two jobs at a time until I turned 44.

I don’t, … (and never have) smoke, drink, drug or gamble. In 2005 I successfully gave up caffeine entirely and haven’t had any since.

My hobbies are automobiles, electronics, driving and photography.

I have many friends, and I am well known in the tri-village area I live in.

My adult careers that stayed with me long term are ‘commercial driver’ and ‘loss prevention agent’.

My dislikes in life include bullies, the civilian ownership of ‘exotic’ firearms, organized crime, pornography and people who beat females and children.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – CB or Business Band Radio: How can you tell?