CB Radio

Citizen Band Radio Licence

Where you aware that to use a CB radio requires a licence, No!, neither was I.  It came up on the GLASS e-mail forum recently, even if you only receive but do so on equipment that is capable of transmitting then you require a licence.  Not to fear though the licence is available to anyone over the age of 14, with parental consent up to 18. You have to fill in a form, simply your name, address and date of birth, and send off complete with a cheque for £15.00, which covers you for one year.

Dave Codrai    February 2000

UPDATE - as of December 2006, it is no longer a requirement to buy a CB licence. Full details on the Ofcom website.  Ofcom also offer some common-sense advice on CB use, as well as an explantion of some of the technical terms and equipment markings, in an information sheet.

updated Ross Kennedy Dec 2006

AM / FM ?
The early CB sets illegally brought in from the USA in the 1970s (we called them "rigs" back then!) used AM - which describes the type of radio signal.
When CB was legalised in the UK, the government chose to allow FM sets only.   AM & FM sets cannot communicate with each other.
FM is technically superior - less prone to interference either in reception, or caused to other people. All sets offered for sale in the UK should be FM.
In both cases the base radio band is called 27MHz

40 / 80 channels ?
The 27MHz band used by CB is divided up into a number of channels, so several users can conduct radio chats on different channels at the same time. Bear in mind any number of people within range can listen on the same channel, but only one can talk.
The European radio agency CEPT adopted a slightly different set of channels to the UK, though still 40 in number in both cases.  The two sets interlock like the teeth of two combs - a UK only set cannot communicate with a CEPT (EU) only set.
80 channel sets have been on sale for some time - these are dual compatible and will operate on either standard.
Be aware that as of March 2003, the proposal is to DROP the UK-only channels in around 2010.  Any old UK-only sets would then become illegal. Best advice then, is to only purchase 80-chan sets from now on.

Reserved channels?
By convention, chan 09 is reserved for emergency SoS use.  But few monitor it for that reason nowadays, so a call for help may go unanswered.
Chan 19 is used for mobile users to contact each other, who may then move their conversation to another channel.  This is the so-called "Truckers channel". It is handy for finding your "good buddy" and even getting impromptu traffic reports, but also be aware of the high level of (illegal) foul-mouthing.
Chan 14 was used for base station (i.e. non-mobile) users to make contact, but that seems to no longer be in vogue.
The other channels are free for any use; just which one a group of laners may use seems to vary widely around the country.
Just make sure you all agree before setting out !!

Ross Kennedy    March 2003

More Info

This link is for a COMMERCIAL website, which isn't in any way endorsed by GLASS.

It does contain a wealth of useful information though !

www.4x4cb.com