|
         
|
|
|
You are here:>> My Interests >> Citizen's Band equipment
As mentioned, there are different types of radio dependant on the consumer's
requirements. They range from a basic 'rig' with minimal controls, to
the more sopisticated looking with more controls than is necessary for
normal operation.
Basic controls on a 'rig' are Volume, Squelch and Channel changer. The
volume control and channel change speek for themselves while squelch on
the other hand doesn't. The squelch dial is used to gradually mute out
the sound of a radio set not recieving a signal. The sound to which I
refer is commonly called 'white-noise', 'pink-noise', shhhhhhhhhh, whatever!
Squelch is used to tune it out but allows signals carrying a voice through.
Further controls include;
 Mic Gain -
which adjusts your microphones broadcasting volume to enable you to have
others hear you without distortion or quietness
RF Gain -
which decreases the 'rig's' recieving sensitivity when it is turned down,
used to give local people signal reports and usually remains near maximum
sensitivity
Delta Tune
- which allows you to tune in an incoming signal incase they are broadcasting
slightly off your frequency (+/-10kHz for example)
Tone controls
- which adjust the tone of the received audio through your speaker, usually
consists of low, mid and high tone settings.
CB/PA - which
allows you to connect a PA broadcast speaker. Good fun if you are mobile
in a busy area and want to amuse yourself (not to say that I have done
it, but I did bare witness one time a while ago)
Power - which
will allow you to decrease your output power, incase you are interfering
with televisions, radio, or other local breakers on adjacent channels,..
and the list goes on.
Aside from controls radios also offer other perks like;
End of TX
beep - which beeps everytime you release the talk button on your mike,
these vary from a single 'pip' to nine tone melodies and digital samples
of sounds. The less known the better...
SWR meter
- which will give you a reading of output/feedback ratio which will indicate
if your antenna requires adjusting, some radios have this device built
in while others require a second device, it is not something that is necessary
all the time, only when your antenna is first installed
Frequency
displays - which shows you your broadcast frequency in MHz rather than
just a channel number between 1 and 40, these are usually built into radios
that have hidden tricks that can make them potentially illegal even though
they have passed trading standards with regard to CB radios.
Everything mentioned above is legal and usually comes standard on most
new rigs. However to make sure you don't purchase anything illegal here's
what to watch out for.
AM - a radio
which says on the front of it that it is capable of AM broadcast is illegal
for a CB operator in the UK. AM is a different mode of transmission to
FM and can enable an operator to transmit across the international borders
frequently. AM has an advantage that FM doesn't with regard to the 'shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh'
sound that the squelch eliminates. On AM it is virtually non existent.
Many operators in other parts of the world use AM and when the conditions
are good UK operators can conversate with those abroad as it they were
down the road. The less said about this illegal aspect of Citizen's Band
Radio the better!
SSB/LSB/USB
- a radio which says on the front of it that it can broadcast on Single
Side Band (Upper or Lower or Both (USB/LSB) is illegal for CB operators.
SSB is much like AM but in either broadcast mode, USB or LSB, operators
can virtually split a channel in half and double their output power on
the half they choose to broadcast on. Just as many, if not more, overseas
operators use this mode of transmission and when the atmospheric conditions
are right continental contacts can be made.
CW - if a
radio has 'cw' on the front then you wouldn't really want it. Morse Code
people use this and send beeps to each other, sometimes over greater distances
than the audio power of a microphone.
Burners/Linears/Boots/Kicker
- whatever you want to call it it doesn't matter, it's illegal. These
devices are used to boost you output power beyong the legal limits. The
legal limit is 4 watts but these boxes can increase your power to a couple
hundred or even thousand watts. Running at 1kW (1000 Watts) is not ideal
for anyone living in a heavily populated area since everytime you press
your microphone to broadcast every thing in the radio spectrum will blank
out momentarily in you local area, this includes peoples terrestrial television
reception a few streets away.. With expensive bits and pieces one could
probably get away with it and filter out some of the problems that cause
interference, but if the Radiocommunications Autority arrive at your door
then you'll need a pretty good excuse for operating more that 200 times
the legal limit.
Pre-Amplifiers
- These devices do what linears do but the do it on the received signal.
A pre-amp will boost an incoming signal, but a drawback is they also bring
in much of that 'shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh' sound on FM. Though on AM and
SSB where there is less 'white noise' Pre-Amps are very useful..
Power Mics/Speech
Processors/Audio Clippers/Echos and Reverb Boxes - these are illegal and
some of them are annoying. Having crisp sounding audio is a key point
to making a distant contact. Reverbs and echos can sometimes help on SSB
type QSOs (conversations).
Directional/Beam
antennas - an antenna that looks like a huge TV antenna (probably 18 foot
wide mounted horizontally) is illegal for CB use. These types of antenna
have something called gain. This gain can be sometimes like using a linear
amplifier but only all of your signal is leaving your antenna in one direction.
These types of antenna are good for single distant conversations but not
for talking with many people at once spread in different geographic areas.
Even though some of the above illegal equipment has been deemed unsuitable
for use on Citizen's Band, it is all widely available from most CB stockests.
For links to CB dealers go to my section on CB Equipment.
|
|
