How do you, uh, "call CQ" on CB?

[JayMojave]

Hello All and Gene: Yeah calling takes on many ways.

Gene Said: Never underestimate the power of simply answering a call on any radio."

Yes good call, all ways being a good guy and friendly is a big plus.

Back in the 60's, I got a set of Knight Kit C-100 walkie talkies, in kit form, and butchered up all the components and circuit board as I didn't know how to solder, did get one to receive tho.

Dear ol Dad bought two Lyodds 901 walkie talkies that took only a single 9 Volt transistor radio battery, but didn't have much range. While hiking up on a near by Hill with a great view I was able to talk all over the place, even a couple miles away!!! I was hooked.

Great posting Gene.

Jay in the Mojave

 

[mitbr]

To call cq on cb here is what you do......say cq dxland cq dxland this is number 365 from wherever standing by.....to do this properly call on a channel that has multiple people on it in the middle of a conversation preferably in a life and death situation...this makes it more exciting.
While doing this turn the mic modulation to 11 on the dial and splatter all over the band and across the ten meter band as well because we don't like each other that is hams and cbers,

You wont have much luck with only the wattage output that the typical cb has so make sure to turn on that 100000 watt boot and blackout half the USA power grid. This gives you a better chance at getting out assuming you have a backup generator, because you have eliminated allot of the competition the blackout and all. Then you realize that no one is answering you because no one has power in a 1000 mile radius because of the power outage and all so you throw your mic across the room and turn off your cb and try again tomorrow and get a bigger boot in the meantime so you can talk to people beyond the blackout area....

This of course is a joke I hope it made you chuckle...10-4 and out.

 

[TheSpaceMann]

It goes like this:... "Breaker By, any of you Mud Ducks out there got a copy on this station? I'm looking for a radio check! Breaker By!!"

 

[SpectreOZ]

But, being a ham, I don't know how to do anything without prowords and a callsign. Do people still use handles on CB? Do you just yell out whatever you have to say, or what?

Do what most beginners used to do after purchasing a new radio (back during the 80's) listen... you will quickly pick up on who is a trouble maker just as easily as how most of the locals phrase their terminology, personally I haven't bothered with AM for years.

 

[bobmich52]

In The Days Of When I Shot Skip On SSB, President Washington Base 12 watts off a star duster antenna, Normal elevation

I Live It Ct

I Used Charlie Tango & The Last 3 digits of my Cb license 415

cq dx cq dx Charlie Tango 415 Connecticut calling cq dx & standing by

It Made Me Stand Out in the pileups Without Being OBNOXIOUS Like They R today

Best Confirmed QSL Was From Yugoslavia, About 20 European countries confirmed, 42 Usa states confirmed

Skip Was GREAT back in the day

So Use The State You Live In abbreviation & Choose A Few Numbers On The End & Off You Go

 

[jonwienke]

Short answer is that there isn't' any one "official" way to initiate a conversation on CB. There are numerous local variations. You can simply key the mike and ask if anyone is out there if you don't feel comfortable yapping about mud ducks or whatever. You can use your name, any non-profane pseudonym, or your ham call sign. Refrain from using the cow moo roger beeps and excessive reverb and modulation. Follow the same good radio etiquette you would use on any other band, and you shouldn't have too much trouble finding someone have a pleasant conversation with, assuming there are other CBers within range.

There are a bunch of retards on CB running way too much power and yapping like a pack of rabid Chihuahuas. But they aren't the majority. There are a lot of nice people on CB who aren't idiots.

 

[k8krh]

Stick with ssb channels 36, 37,38, want to work skip just say dx land, dx land and give a number out, not much to it. The band has been open daily since SPRING and still is, when 10 is dead, 11 is open.
DOCTOR/795

 

[WB4CS]

Stick with ssb channels 36, 37,38, want to work skip just say dx land, dx land and give a number out, not much to it. The band has been open daily since SPRING and still is, when 10 is dead, 11 is open.
DOCTOR/795

Not to turn this into a Ham VS CB peeing match (kind of already has) but I wonder how much of that 11M band opening is due to operators running 1000+ Watts of power.

I always joke about CB ops running illegal power, but I really don't know what the "standard" CB operator uses. I know the legal limit is 12W PEP for SSB, but I wonder if those ops that can be heard when the band is "open" are running 12W or more. I also know that 12W PEP is a US rule, I'm not sure what the legal limit is in other countries, if there is a limit.

 

[soderlund416]

Used to kind of look down my nose at CB, being a ham, but hey a radio is a radio and it's something I haven't tried.

But, being a ham, I don't know how to do anything without prowords and a callsign. Do people still use handles on CB? Do you just yell out whatever you have to say, or what?

Cb is easy, basically just used something that will get the persons attention. Channel 19 is the main one used. When I was doing otr trucking if someone was trying to get my attention they would a lot of times say flatbed, or east bound kw ect. If you need info, like whats going on with a highway or whats causing a traffic back up just ask. Cb is very casual compared to ham radio. Also what tv and movies concider "CB lingo" is way over exaggerated. Very few use term breaker or good buddy. Although things like 10-4 and copy are commonly used. Also dont be surprised if you get refered to as "driver" alot. Truckers tent to assume its another driver there talking to. CB handels have gone by the way side for the most part. Those who have them will still use them in extented conversations or with other drivers they know, but as I said most of the time we refer to one another as driver, or (if in a rig we can see) by company name or trailer type.

 

[PrimeNumber]

Not to turn this into a Ham VS CB peeing match (kind of already has) but I wonder how much of that 11M band opening is due to operators running 1000+ Watts of power.

Actually very little. Mostly the extra power lets some users shout over other users. Step off of 38LSB and 12w will let you talk coast-to-coast when there is an opening. If there isn't an opening, 10kw won't help.

I always joke about CB ops running illegal power, but I really don't know what the "standard" CB operator uses. I know the legal limit is 12W PEP for SSB, but I wonder if those ops that can be heard when the band is "open" are running 12W or more. I also know that 12W PEP is a US rule, I'm not sure what the legal limit is in other countries, if there is a limit.

You'd be surprised at how much you can do on legal power. Years ago I had a just-barely chat with a guy in Scotland, with both of us running 12w. He did have a beam antenna though (add 10 dB). If I'd had one too, it would've been a pretty good connection.

Now that I am *ahem* enlightened and licensed, it is very easy to talk all over the country on 10m ham while running 100w or less. Sometimes I'll dial down to 12w, just to emulate what a stock CB puts out. If the opening's there, it's good, otherwise forget it, and no amount of amplifier will help.

All that said, a big enough amp will let you light up everything within 20+ miles on a regular basis, no matter what the ionosphere's doing that day. Who knows why people run those things, but that's between them and the FCC.

 

[SCPD]

On AM scream "Audiooooooooooooooooo!" as many times as possible. Be sure to key on top of people when they are talking. It would also be a good idea to brush up on as many variations of four letter curse words as possible. Don't forget to scream "Audioooooooooooooooo!"

On SSB, while you're calling CQ, take a moment to pause and realize that you're only about 1 MHz away from the Amateur 10 Meter band (that you're licensed to use) which will provide much better communications than 11 Meters. Then shut off the CB radio and start calling CQ on 10 Meters.

Great response, just about fell out of my chair reading it.
Do they still use the audio echo?. I remember that fine feature many moons ago in my CB youth.

 

[iMONITOR]

My question is this: why can't a CB Radio forum be a CB Radio forum? If certain Amateur Radio Operators don't like CB Radio, why and how do they make their way to forums titled "CB Radio Forum"? I'm not talking about just this thread, but several scattered about this forum.

Just asking.

Texas Old School

1- They're mad because they spent $3,000 for their radio, and yours cost $159.

2- They had to get a license.

3- They're bound and restricted by numerous rules/laws, some of which make no sense.

4- Operation on VHF/UHF normally requires repeaters, and operating within the range of the repeaters, as well as the repeaters being operational.

5- They often need to attend meetings, join clubs, pay fees, communicate in a structured fashion.

6- They can only communicate with other licensed hams.

7- They have to use call signs.

8- They spend most of the time on-air, signing in, signing out, and identifying their station.

9- The CB'er is a free spirit, enjoying the fun and freedom of the hobby!

10- They're jealous! :wink:

 

[WB4CS]

1- They're mad because they spent $3,000 for their radio, and yours cost $159.

2- They had to get a license.

3- They're bound and restricted by numerous rules/laws, some of which make no sense.

4- Operation on VHF/UHF normally requires repeaters, and operating within the range of the repeaters, as well as the repeaters being operational.

5- They often need to attend meetings, join clubs, pay fees, communicate in a structured fashion.

6- They can only communicate with other licensed hams.

7- They have to use call signs.

8- They spend most of the time on-air, signing in, signing out, and identifying their station.

9- The CB'er is a free spirit, enjoying the fun and freedom of the hobby!

10- They're jealous! :wink:

I probably shouldn't do this, but I'll take the troll bait.

1- They're mad because they spent $3,000 for their radio, and yours cost $159.
The only thing mad about that is that you don't HAVE to spend that much. Plenty of ham radio gear that is at or below the $159 mark. Sure, there are ham radios that cost $5000+ but if you have the money, spend it.No matter the price of the radio, US amateurs can legally run 1500 Watts of power, VS 4W/12W on CB. I think that's worth some extra money spent on a radio.

2- They had to get a license.
So what? The Tech license has been dumbed down so much that anyone can get a license with barely any studying or understanding of the subject matter. General and Extra class license tests aren't all that difficult either, if you have the ability to read and comprehend words.

3- They're bound and restricted by numerous rules/laws, some of which make no sense.
CB has rules as well, granted they aren't followed as much, but they exist. And some of the CB rules make LESS sense than Part 97 rules for amateur radio.

4- Operation on VHF/UHF normally requires repeaters, and operating within the range of the repeaters, as well as the repeaters being operational.
Repeaters aren't necessary at all. Simplex communication on VHF with a good antenna can easily reach 100 miles, with just 50 Watts of power. There's also SSB, satellites, and IRLP/Echolink which connects stations via the internet.

5- They often need to attend meetings, join clubs, pay fees, communicate in a structured fashion.
Complete nonsense! Plenty of amateur operators do not join clubs. Totally at your discretion. As for "structured" communication, other than identifying your station there's not much structure to abide by. Sure, there is a certain lingo involved, but that's no different than the lingo used on CB. Most conversations I've ever been in on the air are a few people just yacking back and forth with no structure at all.

6- They can only communicate with other licensed hams
And your point? There are plenty of other licensed free radio services that people can use, such as CB and FRS. I think you just added this one so you'd have an even 10 items on your list.

7- They have to use call signs.
And CB'ers use a handle. Is there really a difference? On the air I go by my name, Brandon. I use my call sign every 10 minutes to ID my station, but I am called Brandon.I'd rather use a call sign over "Big Red Rubber Chicken" or whatever other immature CB handle people come up with. But that's just me.

8- They spend most of the time on-air, signing in, signing out, and identifying their station.
What's the point in owning radio equipment if you don't get on the air with it? I'm sure anyone that's actually into CB get's *on the air* with their radio as well.

9- The CB'er is a free spirit, enjoying the fun and freedom of the hobby!
So is the avid ham radio operator. There's plenty of fun and freedom in the hobby. While CB is "legally" chained to 40 channels, hams have the freedom to legally use hundreds of megahertz of bandwidth spread out across HF, VHF, and UHF, with many more modes of operation that just AM/SSB as with CB.

10- They're jealous! :wink:
Nope. Not at all. But I see you just threw this one in here too so you'd have an even 10 items in your list.

 

[iMONITOR]

It was a joke, seriously...oh wait. :wink:

 

[n9mxq]

1- They're mad because they spent $3,000 for their radio, and yours cost $159.

2- They had to get a license.

3- They're bound and restricted by numerous rules/laws, some of which make no sense.

4- Operation on VHF/UHF normally requires repeaters, and operating within the range of the repeaters, as well as the repeaters being operational.

5- They often need to attend meetings, join clubs, pay fees, communicate in a structured fashion.

6- They can only communicate with other licensed hams.

7- They have to use call signs.

8- They spend most of the time on-air, signing in, signing out, and identifying their station.

9- The CB'er is a free spirit, enjoying the fun and freedom of the hobby!

10- They're jealous! :wink:

11. Most of them came from a CB background and won't admit it.

I've had one fellow ham that REFUSED to ride in my car simply because I had a CB in it.. So, he drove the 45 miles to the Advanced Spotter course on his own.. And got caught in a beast of a traffic jam, that I avoided altogether because I heard about it on my CB.. I was on time, he missed just under half of the seminar..

I'm a ham, I'm a trucker.. I have, and use all radios I can to keep on top of things.

 

[ChetsJug]

CB Rules, HAM drools

KF5YDR...Just the responses from most of the Ham people keeps me away from becoming becoming licensed....

Yeah that and the fact that when I tune into ham on my scanner all I hear is the same nastiness. About the only freq I listen to is the famous Los Angeles (but back in Orange County now) 147.435... Now THAT's entertainment.

See, the US constitution bared Titles of Nobility, which is just your papers of privilege issued by the King. It's quite subversive really. We fought a war to get the King out of our business, and there are those (Loyalists) who keep running to the King for Privilege. Poor HAMers forgot this and ran down to the Title office and paid all kinds of money, took a test, just to do what CBers do for free... Talk to their friends.