CB radio was promoted for short range communication, whether for business or personal use. In 1958, Class D CB radio service at 27 MHz began, including a band for public use. Requests from truck drivers and others for a cheaper mode of communication led the government to allot 18 channels for CB radio communication. During the 1960's, CB radio service was popular among indicate trade people, such as plumbers and electricians, and transportation services, like taxis and truckers.
The popularity of CB radios during 1970's was mainly due to films, television shows and popular songs. Public service codes that were initially used by police and fire services were allowed to be used for short acknowledgement services. The codes were often used in shortened form, and gradually slang terms developed. The advancement of technology also increased the popularity of CB radio services. The equipment became cheaper and smaller. This gave regular people access to technology that was previously available only to experts. These CB radios were mostly plug-in quartz crystal-controlled and AM only.
CB Radio Service in the United States
In the United States, there were initially 23 CB radio services. During the 1960's, channels were categorized by intra-station and inter-station communications. In the 1970's, channel 9 was designated for use only for emergency purposes. Channel 10 was promoted for use in highway communications, while for general purposes, channel 11 was used. Later, channel 19 was switched to highway communications use.
From the beginning, CB radio services didn't require licensing, but the use of a call sign was required. Soon, people ignored these basics and started using nicknames, or "handles," as they are popularly known. These handles were primarily used by truck drivers to send road condition or traffic warnings to other truck drivers. There were still many restrictions on antenna size and the distance the signal could be sent, but gradually the call sign regulation was dropped.
In 1973, several groups in the United States campaigned for allocation of frequencies near 220MHz for Class E band services. Although initially opposed, the government sponsored the Multi-use Radio Service in the 1980's, Family Radio Service, and General Mobile Radio Service.
CB Radio Service in Australia and Britain
CB radio service was a world-wide phenomenon during the 1970's and 1980's. In Great Britain, CB radio service was finally legalized in 1981. In Australia, CB radio services began in the 1960's when American walkie-talkies became available at selected outlets. The 27 MHz was intended to be temporary, with the users required to move to the UHF band within five years, but due to its popularity the Australian government included all the 40 channels in the band.
At present, CB radios have lost many users due to the presence of mobile communication services and the popularity of the Internet, but it remains widely used on American highways and, most likely, always will.
The low cost and easy-to-use design gave the CB its much-needed popularity push. Initially, the CB was popular in the United States, but later the British, who began illegally operating them, imported the equipment. The UK government was forced to legalize CBs in 1981 while CBs gained popularity in
Australia during the 1970's.
The CB radio and its uses were always regulated by a governing agency in Australia. Restrictions on the equipment, like antenna height and the maximum output power, had a damaging effect on its popularity. Apart from this, there were illicit users who modified the equipment to interfere with signals sent out by licensed users. Despite these illegitimate developments, the CB always had a loyal and growing following.
CB Radios Today
The 20th century focused on many different technological advancements, including the CB radio. Even with the advent of mobile services and the Internet'if you feel the CB radio craze has died down, you are mistaken. To those living in remote areas, especially those without a telephone line, CB radios offer the best communication system. For truck drivers, CB radio is still the preferred mode of communication. They are also popular among hunters and farmers and, in rural areas, CB radio is popular as somewhat of a party line.
Commercial truck and cab drivers still use CBs for communicating among themselves. While channel 19 is used to send emergency signals, some parts of the United States have dedicated channels on specific routes.
Today, most users have moved to the UHF band because of the clear performance it offers. The popular services in vogue today include FRS, GMRS in the UH frequency band, and multi-use radio service in the VH frequency band. FRS and GMRS are the perfect choice for those who intend to communicate with others living in the vicinity, and the equipment used for this service are of higher quality and can be used within the city as well as in dense areas.