What Is a CB Radio?

Citizens Band, or CB radio, is a short-range, two-way voice service that lets people talk locally without a carrier contract or a personal license. It runs in the 27 MHz band with 40 shared channels, it is simple to use, and equipment is inexpensive. Truckers, off-roaders, overlanders, RVers, and small businesses use CB for quick coordination when cell service is spotty.

Table of Contents

🧭 How CB Works, The Basics

Band: 26.965 to 27.405 MHz
Channels: 40, shared, no exclusivity
Mode: AM on all channels, optional SSB on many sets for longer range
Power: up to 4 W on AM, up to 12 W peak on SSB in most regions
Licensing: no individual license in the US and Canada, follow local rules

🔊 AM vs SSB, What is the Difference

AM is the standard, push-to-talk simplicity, everyone hears you.
SSB, single sideband, uses your power more efficiently, often gives a noticeable range boost and cuts through noise better. SSB sets can still talk to AM users if you switch back to AM.

🛰️ Real-World Range, What To Expect

Range depends on antenna quality, mounting, terrain, and interference.

Handheld with short antenna: 0.5 to 2 miles in town
Mobile with tuned whip: 2 to 10 miles, more in open country
Base station with tall antenna: 5 to 20+ miles line-of-sight
During rare ionospheric conditions, skip can carry signals hundreds of miles, but that is unpredictable and often not allowed for routine communications in some countries.

📡 Antennas Matter Most

A good antenna and proper tuning beat raw radio power.

Length: 1/4-wave is about 102 inches at 27 MHz, many mobile whips are loaded to be shorter.
Mounting: metal ground plane helps, center of the roof is best for vehicles, mirror or bumper mounts are fine with good bonding.
Tuning: use an SWR meter to adjust for a reading near 1.5:1 or better, poor SWR wastes power and can harm the radio.
Coax: quality 50-ohm cable, keep runs short, avoid tight bends.

🗺️ Popular Channels and Etiquette

Ch 19, 27.185 MHz, road info and trucker traffic in North America
Ch 9, 27.065 MHz traditional emergency and traveler assistance
Keep calls brief, leave gaps for others, avoid talking over ongoing conversations, do not use foul language, identify by handle, not personal data.

🧰 What You Can Do With CB

Convoy coordination for trucking and road trips
Off-roading and overlanding group comms where phones fail
RVs and campsites for parking and setup
Farm, warehouse, or event crews for local tasks
Scanning local chatter to learn about road hazards ahead

🛒 Choosing a CB Radio

Handheld, all-in-one, works best with an external antenna in a vehicle.
Mobile 12 V units for cars and trucks, most common.
SSB capable models if you want more reach and quieter contacts.
Features to look for: ANL/NB noise filters, RF gain, squelch, weather channels, scan, PA output, front-facing speaker for tight dashboard installs.

🔧 Quick Setup Checklist

Mount radio where the mic and display are easy to reach.
Install the antenna as high and clear as you can, bond the mount to metal.
Route coax away from engine noise and sharp edges.
Connect directly to the vehicle battery for clean power, add a fuse.
Tune SWR, adjust squelch so background hiss just disappears.
Do a radio check on a less busy channel, then join channel 19 or your group channel.

🐞 Troubleshooting, Fast Fixes

People say you are weak: check SWR, antenna mount ground, coax connectors, RF gain setting.
You hear noise: enable ANL or NB, try RF gain back a little, check vehicle bonding straps.
No transmit: mic wiring, PTT switch, blown fuse, high SWR protection.
Short range: move the antenna, retune SWR, try an SSB model for tougher paths.

🆚 CB vs GMRS vs Amateur, Which To Pick

CB, free to use, very low cost, big community, slower audio and larger antennas.
GMRS (462, 467 MHz), license required in some countries, small antennas, repeaters extend range, clearer audio.
Amateur radio requires a test, gives many bands and higher power, best capability for emergencies and long range.

🧠 Safety and Legal Notes

Use approved power levels, stay on legal channels for your country, keep your mic use safe while driving, and never transmit with a badly tuned or damaged antenna.

💬 CB Lingo, A Few Classics

Break, request to join a channel
Copy or 10-4, message received
Bear or Smokey, law enforcement
Smokey report, ask about speed traps or hazards

✅ Bottom Line

CB radio is a practical, budget friendly way to talk right now without towers or apps. Pair a reliable mobile radio with a properly mounted and tuned antenna, learn the local channel customs, and you will have dependable comms for convoys, trail rides, and travel days.