So, you’ve decided to install some kind of radio communication on your motorcycle… Where to start, what to buy, how to install it, how to use it, and why you might want it at all?



How to do it

So, you’ve decided to install some kind of radio communication on your motorcycle… Where to start, what to buy, how to install it, how to use it, and why you might need it at all? Read this FAQ and you’ll find out.

The first question: what exactly should you install? Sure, you could swipe or buy some military or police radio, but there are plenty of drawbacks: first, you’ll have no one to talk to on those bands (unless you plan to chat with the police), and second, you won’t be able to register such a radio anywhere and it will be confiscated right away—with a hefty fine on top.

To avoid all that hassle, I recommend using the so-called CB radio. I’ve been using it on a motorcycle for two years (JAWA 638 with an ALAN 100+ radio) on long trips and around town. And generally I’ve been active on CB from home for 5 years (callsign 39 in Luhansk).

But let’s take it step by step…
The first question that comes up—what is CB, anyway?

Spelling it out: CB stands for “Citizen Band”—a citizens’ radio band (26.970 MHz to 27.850 MHz). In Russia this band is allocated by the radio inspectorate specifically for everyday public communications. Accordingly, these radios are fully legal and can be registered and used without issues (I’ll cover registration later). Lots of people in different cities use CB, so whenever you arrive in an unfamiliar place, you can always get useful information.

To contact someone, your motorcycle needs to have:

  1. The radio itself
  2. An antenna
  3. An amplifier (optional—used to extend range)

Radios come as handheld (carried in the hand), mobile/vehicle (installed in cars—or in our case, on motorcycles), and base (used at home). Each type has its own typical range. Here are approximate distances for reliable communication (very rough, as many factors apply):

Between two motorcycles we get about 12–15 km along the highway.

So what kinds of radios are there and which one should you choose???

Radios vary—expensive and cheap, simple and feature-packed. Here’s how they differ:

  1. Number of channels. Sets range from 40 up to 600 channels (a major price driver). For a motorcycle I’d recommend a 40-channel radio because most traffic in most cities happens within those 40 channels (e.g., Channel 20 is a general call channel in many cities—you can always find someone there. And on the truckers’ channel you can get up-to-the-minute road info). Also, 40-channel sets are compact (very relevant for a bike) and fairly inexpensive.
  2. Modulation type AM or FM. Usually radios support both, but some still come AM-only—avoid those because almost everyone now uses FM.
  3. Output power. Typically 4 to 15 W. There isn’t a huge real-world difference—a 15 W radio often talks nearly as far as a 4 W unit.
  4. “0” and “5”. There are two channel raster standards—European (“5”) and Russian (“0”). They may also be labeled E and R. Radios usually come set to either “0” or “5”, but ideally you’ll have both. Why? There’s no single rule for which raster to use: most chat in “0”, but some services (see below) operate in “5”, so it’s handy to have both. Shops can usually add the missing raster for a small fee.
  5. Extras like memories, scanning, dual watch, etc. Trust me—on a motorcycle you won’t need them (unless you’re into showing off).

So the radio is settled. And yes—install a mobile (vehicle) radio, not a handheld: handhelds are inconvenient while riding.

Now about antennas

Antennas also vary: short and long, pricey and not so much.

Base antennas (not relevant for us) and mobile/vehicle antennas (that’s what we need). Let’s look closer. Vehicle antennas come with magnetic mounts (not ideal for us—unless someone mounts it on a sidecar) and through-mount (“inset”) types. Through-mounts always perform better than mag-mounts. Heads-up: CB antennas are quite long—anywhere from 90 cm to 2 m. Generally, the longer the better. In my opinion, anything shorter than 1.2 m barely qualifies as an antenna. Naturally, you’ll mount it at the rear—plenty of room for creativity there. Important: the bracket you mount the antenna on must have a reliable ground bond to the motorcycle frame. Mine is on a DIY bracket by the right rear indicator stalk. A cable comes with the antenna—about 4 m, enough to reach the radio. You’ll need to buy the radio-side connector (it costs pennies).

After installation, the antenna must be tuned with a special meter—an SWR meter. You can buy one, but if you’ve never tuned antennas, better let a specialist do it (ask for contacts where you buy the radio). Note—an untuned antenna simply doesn’t work: your range will be roughly ten times less than with a properly tuned antenna.

Place the radio under a fairing (or don’t ride in the rain). Every radio comes with a mounting bracket—installation is straightforward. There’s also a mic hook bracket—install it too, or the mic will flop around while riding. I have a mic and headphones installed in a helmet kit—very convenient, you can talk on the move. It did require some radio modification, though.

If you don’t want to modify anything—you can still listen while riding with headphones (there’s usually a rear panel jack) or via the built-in speaker.

At last, the radio and antenna are installed, the antenna is tuned, and power is connected. What now???

Now you need to register your radio (* this information is no longer current today). If it’s not registered and you don’t carry the permit—any police officer can confiscate it. Registration isn’t scary.

In Moscow go to the State Radio Inspectorate (if not in Moscow—find your local radio inspectorate): Seleznevskaya St., 21 (by the Soviet Army Theater, opposite the “Bogatyr” store), reception Mon & Thu 9:30–17:00. A notice lists fees (224 rub as of 20.10.98) and application forms. It says to pay via postal order, but the post charges ~10% extra. To save that, pay via Sberbank: step out of the inspectorate, turn left, around the corner left again, and once more left around the next corner, cross the tram tracks—there’s Sberbank. Lunch break at the inspectorate 12:00–13:00, at Sberbank 14:00–15:00. Fill out the application and submit it with your receipt. You can get either a purchase permit (almost no one does) or, if you already have a radio, an operating permit right away.
The permit is valid for one year. After a year, pay the operating fee (145 rub as of 20.10.98).

Now you’re a full-fledged radio owner. What can you do with it? You can kit out a friend and chat, set up a base at home and keep a constant link (base radios are a separate topic), or chat with locals in other cities. There are also various CB services that provide useful assistance. In Moscow, for example, 3cE, 9cE, 19cE, 21dE are emergency/info channels (the number is the channel; the lowercase letter is the band grid—most 40-channel sets use grid “C”; the uppercase letter is the raster standard). These dispatch services share/accept reports about jams, accidents, etc. It’s best to report accidents and emergencies on 3cE (“Petrovka”) or 9cE (“Rescue Service”). Channel 9cE is reserved exclusively for emergencies. Outside the city on the highway, use the truckers’ channel to reach long-haul drivers. If you register with “Krik” (Petrovka, 3cE, subscription 300 k rub/year) or the “Rescue Service” (19cE, 21dE, registration free but required), you can ask dispatchers to place a phone call and pass a message, or use it like a pager—call dispatch and have them announce your message for the needed person (assuming they carry a CB). Likewise “Polet-27” (9dE) — free of charge.

To increase range, people use amplifiers, but for motorcycles they’re not very practical: they’re bulky and draw a lot of current (8–20 A). If you must, I’d suggest amps up to 50 W output (they’re smaller and draw “only” about 4–5 A).

Now for prices and where to buy. There are many CB vendors, but for Moscow I can recommend Anton Medovoy. He sells at Mitino Radio Market daily 10:00–17:00 at spot J22. You can also reach him at +7-(095)-458-12-35 from 20:00 to 23:00. He has fair prices for all CB gear, can tune your antenna, and can modify/repair radios.

Here are some of his prices (only the gear I think suits motorcycle use):

Let’s total that up: a simple kit (ALAN 100+ + AT1500 antenna) — $71.

An advanced kit (YOSAN 2204R + SIRIO 4000 antenna) — $125.

By the way, FidoNet users get a discount…
That’s about it.

This FAQ compiled by Oleg Matvienko 2:4615/71.55

Special thanks to: Anatol Leskowski 2:5020/241.8
Aleksandr Kuznetcov 2:5020/69.8
for their CB FAQ, excerpts of which I used.

addendum (2016):
At present, obtaining permits for using CB radio has been abolished.

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