The History and Use of CB Radios.

CB Radio means Citizens Band Radio. Disigned for short distance communication between individual people, CB's can be used without a license and for either personal or business use.

History of CB Radios.

The CB Radio was invented in 1945. Al Gross, the inventor, also invented the walkie-talkie. He was the founder of the Citizens Radio Corp. In the late 1940's, the company sold Class B handheld radios for the public. During this time , UHF technology was not advanced enough to be able to sell mass numbers of radios to people at affordalbe prices. In 1958, the Class D of CB Radios was released. Class D was opened at 27 MHz. This versio nstarted out with 23 channels. The 40 channels came out in 1977.

In 1973, a petition was unsuccessful in creating a Class E CB Radio service at 220MHz. It was declined by amateur radio organizations and others. There are numerous more frequencies were developed for remote control use and other things.

In the 1960's CB Radio service was quite popular, being used by small businesses like carpenters, plumbers, and electricians. The radio was also used a lot by truckers and hobbyists. The cost when down a great deal when the solid-state technology grew. The size and weight also decreased with this. Know instead of only professional workers using the CB, the general public could but them too.

CB clubs were formed and so was a special code language. The languange consisted of code words and the 10-code system. Some CB slang is listed below.

The 1973 oil crisis caused the gas prices to go up considerably. The United States government issued a 55 MPH, nationwide speed limit. After this fuel shortages went crazy. CB's were usedto notify other drivers of gas stations who had or did not have gas. With the speed limit change, CB users would also nofity other users if they saw any police cars.

At first, CB radios did require a license to use, but numerous people ignored it. Handles (nicknames) were created for people so that actual names were not being overheard by other people listening. Eventually, the law requiring a license was dropped.

In 1969, channel 9 was used for emergencies, and channel 10 was the preferred highway channel. However, because of interference with channel 9, channel 19 became the most commonly used highway channel.

During the 1970's and 1980's, the trend of CB radios was similar to online chats or text messaging today. When people did this, they developed friendships with other people on CB's, and while their real names remained anonymous, their handles were well known names.

Unfortunatley, with advances in technology like cell phones and the internet, the CB phenomenon has died down from its original appeal. However stores such as Radio Shack, still sell the fun little CB radio, and it makes for a fantastic hobby!

Using the CB Radio.

CB Radios today are used mainly for telling your buddies or other CB users about Smokeys up the road and to watch out for them. Also, CB's are used to report emergencies or traffic accidents in front of other people (Channel 9 mainly). Yes, you can use a CB for chatting with other people, but it is not courteous to have a constant conversation for more than a minute or two; give other CBer's a chance to put their two cents in (epecially on channel 19). I hear it occasionally (usually by one grouchy trucker :) ), but cursing is frowned on while using a CB radio. It's pretty much impossible to stop people from doing this. People use this for conversation on long road trips. Friends who want to talk on the way somewhere, but are in separate cars, can use the CB for talking easily.

One time not too long ago, there was a conversation between to pals and one said he couldn't afford a new radio in his truck, so his friend started playing ZZ Top through the CB! It was too funny! :)

Talkin the Talk.

Smokey - Law officer

Bear - Police Officer

Bear with Ears - Police officer listening to a CB radio

Bear Taking Pictures - Police officer with a radar

Bear in the Grass - Speed trap

Black and White - Highway patrol

Paper Hanger - Officer giving a ticket

Customer - The person getting the ticket

Mama Bear - Female law enforcement officer

Polar Bear - All white police car

Boy Scouts - State Police

Smokey - Law enforcement officer

Smokey in the Bush - Law enforcement officer hiding

Disco Lights - Flashing lights on a police car

Plain Brown Wrapper - Unmarked police car

Portable House - Camper, RV

Kiddy Car - School bus

Little Cheese - Smaller school bus

Pony Express - Mail truck

Salt Shaker - Snowplow

Mobile / Portable Parking Lot - Car carrier

Bear Bite - Speeding ticket

Bear Bait - Speeding driver

Go-Go Juice - Gas

Got Your Ears On? - Are you listening?

Handle - Nickname

Breaker - Someone wanting to join a conversation on a certain channel

Jabber / Jabbering Idiot - Soeone speaking a foreign language on the CB (Illegal)

Jibber Jabber on Channel 9 - Foreign language on channel 9 (Illegal too, channel 9 is for emergencies)

Rubbernecker - A car that slows down and watches the wreck next to them as they pass

Sandbagging - Having the ability to speak, but does not and just listens

Movies!

Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry - 1974, Breaker! Breaker! - 1977, Smokey and the Bandit ( One of the greatest movies EVER!!!) - 1977, The Shining - 1980, Smokey and the Bandit II - 1980, Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 - 1983, Die-Hard - 1988, Dazed and Confused - 1993, The Brady Bunch Movie - 1995, Twister - 1996, American Pie 2 - 2001, Austin Powers in Goldmember - 2002, Without a Paddle - 2004, The Dukes of Hazzard - 2005, The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning - 2007, Live Free or Die Hard - 2007, Transformers - 2008.

Music!

Johnny Cash - One Peice at a Time, Jerry Reed - East Bound and Down (Theme song to Smokey and the Bandit), Merle Haggard - The Bull and the Beaver, Beck - Novacane, Weird Al Yankovic - The Truck Drivin' Song.

Thanks for reading!

Parker

www.theparkinggarage.webs.com