CB radio stations, transceivers, and transmit-receive equipment. Glossary of radio communication terms and abbreviations

CB radio stations – transmit-receive units in the Citizen Band (CB band) that are available for use by private individuals without the need for authorization from regulatory bodies. CB radios are widely used by taxi services, long-haul truck drivers, as well as hunters and forestry workers.

CB radios are available in handheld (portable), mobile (vehicle-mounted), and base (fixed) configurations. Mobile CB radios are the most common. Portable radios operating in the CB range are relatively inefficient due to the low efficiency of shortened antennas. Fixed CB radio stations, when used together with base station antennas, are widely employed for dispatch services and amateur radio purposes. The most well-known manufacturers of CB radios include Alan, Maycom, MegaJet, Yossan, and Dragon.

Advantages of CB radios – low cost, license-free operation, and widespread popularity among motorists.

Disadvantages of CB radios – congestion and high noise levels in the CB band, low efficiency of portable radios as well as vehicle-mounted units in dense urban areas, and the relatively large dimensions of both antennas and transceivers.

Related articles: CB frequency band, Truckers’ wave, LPD , PMR frequencies, UHF (ultra high frequency), VHF (very high frequency)