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For those new to trucking, learning to drive your rig or training with a company might seem hard enough. But what do you do once you get on the road and you need to communicate with your fellow drivers? There is no license or test to run a CB radio but learning the ins and outs of the tech and etiquette can be just as important to your safety and the safety of others. Here are some frequently asked questions on getting started with your CB.

What type of antenna do I need?

That is a pretty broad question. Mobile antennas come in a wide variety and several styles. There are magnetic mounts, gutter lip mounts, trunk lip mounts, mirror mounts, and permanent mounts. All of the mounts have their advantages. The best place to mount the antenna is in the center of the roof of the vehicle and if that does not work out, then in the center of the trunk. Try to get the antenna with the highest "gain" rating. For big trucks, the best location is on a mirror mount-side does not matter-unless you have a rig that still has an all metal cab. For all metal cabs, which are very few, the best location is on the passenger side mirror. For newer trucks, you need an antenna that creates its own ground plane. The K40 antennas do this very well, the Wilson antennas do not create their own ground plane but a ground plane enhancer will allow this antenna to perform almost as well as the K40. Remember that the Francis and FireStik antennas were originally manufactured to work on metal cab trucks, therefore they may not perform as well as the K40 or Wilson antennas.

How far can I reach on my CB?

Once again this is a pretty open question. All things being equal, you can expect anywhere between one and fifteen miles between mobile units. There are all sorts of variables including terrain, a crowded channel, or even types and numbers of buildings around the transmitting/receiving units. Base stations can expect about five to ten miles between base and mobile and ten to thirty miles between base units.

What is channel 9 all about?

The FCC has designated CB channel 9 as an emergency contact channel. However, this designation is only valid in the United States and other countries do not have this "official" designation for the channel, so it would not be uncommon to hear stations conducting non-emergency radio traffic on this channel when skip is in. There are stations across the country, including many police and rescue agencies that actively monitor this channel for those who have a problem ranging from medical emergencies, accidents, vehicle breakdowns, to being lost.

What is skip?

Normally CB radio transmissions are "line of site," or considered to be short range. However, there are times when the earth's atmosphere acts as a mirror would to light and will bounce signals to distant locations. Remember your CB signal also goes up as well as out and away from your antenna. When the conditions are just right, it is possible to bounce (or skip) the radio signal off the atmosphere and have it received hundreds to thousands of miles away. Therefore, it is not impossible for someone using a CB in New Jersey to communicate with another person in California. You should note though, that this practice is currently considered to be illegal per FCC regulations.

Can I use my CB in my business?

There are no restrictions on using a CB radio to aid in the operation of your business.

Am I allowed to use a linear amplifier?

Absolutely not! CB radios are only permitted to operate at 5 watts (input), which is about 4 watts out. Using any additional power is illegal and can many times cause interference to your neighbor's electronics appliances including such things as TVs, VCRs, stereos, and even telephones. It will not make you popular with your neighbors to say the least, and since you are operating illegally, they could file a complaint against your operations.

Is channel 19 an official channel like channel 9?

Channel 19 is an "unofficial" trucker's channel. The FCC has not designated this as an "official" trucker's channel but truckers are about all you will hear on this channel. When traveling, this is a good channel to monitor in order to keep up on traffic jams, accidents, and traffic enforcement.

Where can I get accessories?

Your local electronics store (including Radio Shack) is the best location to find accessories for your scanner. Anything from antennas to external speakers can be found there. You can also check the internet. You will find many online stores for CB equipment.

What does the squelch do?

The squelch quiets the background radio noise when there is no signal present. Simply turn the squelch until the noise goes away. The background noise can get pretty annoying after awhile and the squelch will keep the receiver quiet unless there is a signal present.

What is sideband?

Sideband, known as single sideband (SSB) is a more effective use of the existing channels on a CB radio. If you think of the standard AM CB channel as a floodlight, think of sideband as a spotlight. It will travel farther on a narrower beam just like light. The signal does not sound as clear as an AM signal and that is why when you use this mode you must also use the clarifier in order to clear up the sound of the transmission. That being said, you will get a greater distance using SSB as compared to AM.

Copyright © 2000 National Communications Magazine Revised from http://www.nat-com.org/cbfaq.htm

This article is provided by Truckstop Electronics, Inc. Stan Wells has been involved with repairing and selling CB radios for over 30 years. He's also involved in product development and testing. For more information visit http://thecbshop.com/ or email Stan at cbshop@layover.com.