Citizens band radio
Citizens band radio (sometimes called "CB radio") is a radio service. No license is required in the United States for the use of CB radio.
CB radio was a popular fad in the 1970s. Today, it is used primarily by truck drivers.
Frequencies and channels
CB radio frequencies run between 26.965 MHz and 27.405 MHz. They are organized into 40 "channels." Channel 9 is reserved for emergency communications and traveler's assistance.[1]
REACT
REACT (which originally stood for Radio Emergency Associated Citizens Teams), now known as REACT International with the C standing for Communications in place of Citizens, is an organization promoting the use of CB radio for emergency communications. REACT was founded in 1962. They pioneered the use of CB channel 9 as a special emergency-use-only channel, which was later officially adopted by the Federal Communications Commission in the early 1970's. Between 1969 and 1975, REACT was sponsored by the General Motors Research Labs. They reorganized as an independent nonprofit organization in 1975.[2]
Today, with the decline in the use of CB except by truck drivers, and the popularity of cellular telephones, REACT International although they still monitor CB channel 9 nowadays spends most of its effort on the emergency applications of amateur radio.
Illegal activity
Illegal activity is popular on CB. Modifications to CB radio transceivers are often done for purposes of increasing transmitting power beyond the legal limit.
"Skip shooting" refers to on-air conversations which make use of Sporadic-E "skip," a condition in the atmosphere which increases the range of transmissions on certain portions of the radio spectrum. According to FCC rules, one may only communicate with a station up to 250 kilometers (155.3 miles) away.[3]
"Freebanding" refers to transmitting on nearby frequencies outside of the official channels. This is done using illegally modified equipment.
CB radio is governed by Part 95 of the FCC regulations.
References
- ↑ "FCC Rules for CB Radio" on REACT Web site
- ↑ http://www.reactintl.org/react_histry.htm
- ↑ Ibid.
External links
- CB Channel to Frequency Guide Lists CB channels and their associated frequencies.
- REACT
- FCC Rules for CB Radio The complete text of Part 95. From the REACT Web site.