Long-Distance Communications With CB Radio
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Did you know it is against the law to make overseas (DX) contacts on a CB Radio?
CQDX, CQDX, CQDX... The letters CQ mean "Seek You" and DX stands for Long Distance or Overseas. So the Ham calling CQDX would have sent those letters in Morse code originally, meaning "I'm calling for anybody overseas who wants to chat with me". That's the way hobby radio operators call out over their two-way radios in the hope of talking across the world. Now most of us use voice and send SSB or single-sideband transmissions. But some still get a kick from using rigs that send morse code. It is perfectly legal to make "DX" (that's long-distance, overseas) radio contacts when you're a licensed Amateur Radio operator. We amateur radio ops to talk around the world almost every day by using propagation that CBers call 'skip'. But FCC regulations strictly forbid American CBers from talking to anyone outside of the United States and US territories. You need to become a Ham to do that.
CB Radio DX
Making DX contacts with people in foreign countries is an exciting way of making new friends.
When I was first getting into two-way radio as a hobby back in the late 1970s, the Sunspot Cycle, which affects radio propagation, was very good and I could and did talk around the world with just 5 Watts of power on a CB radio.But as I write this article in March 2009, the Sunspot Cycle is so low and bad it is almost nonexistent, and Amateur Radio operators (Hams) have all but abandoned the higher HF frequencies because they just aren't making the journey to distant places anymore.
So most Hams content themselves with making long distance HF contacts on the 20 meter band (14 MHz) or lower frequencies, where the signals still go up a few hundred miles and bounce back to earth once or twice, and make it possible to talk to radio enthusiasts in exotic foreign countries.
But Hams are allowed 100 Watts power, 1000 Watts power (using amplifiers) or even more. And many of them have radio towers to hang their antennas from - thus getting more distance. CBers are limited to 5 Watts AM transmission (12 Watts PEP if using Single Sideband transmissions), and may not place their antennas so high. So the chances of making DX contacts with a CB radio are much less.
What are your options?
Well, Good Buddy, you could go and get yourself an illegal linear amplifier (known as a "kicker" in CB lingo) and try to boost your signal. But chances are high you'll cause a heap of interference to other radio users. And if that happens, you can expect to be tracked down and pinpointed pretty quick. The FCC will confiscate your radio gear and hit you with a stiff fine to boot. Not a great choice, really.
Or you can find your local Ham Radio club, tell them you want to learn enough to get your Ham ticket (your radio operator's license), and they will be sure to welcome you and give you a hand. And nowadays you don't even need to learn Morse Code, although many hams still use it!
There is a whole world of radio activities you can do in Ham Radio, and reading this page is a good start.
Good Luck in your quest, OM!
73 de David, VK2DMH
CB Radio DX and Other Hobby Radio Pages
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Sep 21, 2011 @ 1:21 am | delete
- Used mostly by long-haul 18-wheel truckers to get road conditions and to provide company on lonely roads, the CB radio was made popular for "civilian" use by the movie "Smokey And The Bandit" in 1977. Starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Fields, Jerry Reed and Jackie Gleason, it's about a trucker and his friend transporting illegal beer cross country to a high-paying customer. These radios, and a black Pontiac Trans Am, played an important part in that movie, and the public bought them (and Trans Ams) in droves.
cb radio
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doodlebugs
Sep 3, 2010 @ 9:04 pm | delete
- I've been a ham since I was a kid, but have used CB on occasion. I still have a SSB CB radio in my truck and it's fun to see how far signals can travel. There are also GMRS repeaters around the U.S. that can retransmit walkie talkie signals over long distances. Here is an article about long range GMRS.. http://ehelpfultips.com/extra_long_range_gmrs_radios.htm
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JaysLens
Jul 15, 2010 @ 4:02 pm | delete
- Very helpful information, amazed that you were able to talk around the world with just 5 watts! Something that is so unheard of today.
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jon514
Jul 31, 2011 @ 10:09 pm | delete
- Hi Jays Lens; are you a radio operator ? yes some days you are amazed at distance we can talk on 5 watts on am radio and ssb on 12 watts. God bless you and your family. 73.
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More Radio-Related Pages
- Long Range 2 Way Radios
- Long-range two way radios send their signals a long distance because they choose the right frequencies for the band conditions and the place they need to send to. It has little to do with how much power they have, though that helps a little.
- American Radio Relay League | Ham Radio Association and Resources
- The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting to hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.
- Radio Society of Great Britain - Amateur radio news, information and resources
- Home of the RSGB, the UK's national amateur radio organization
- The Wireless Institute of Australia
- Thw Wireless Institute of Australia was the first society of licensed radio amateurs (radio hams) in the world.
by vk2dmh
vk2dmh
I got the CB radio craze in Sydney the late 1970s, before CB was even legal. A little bit of "pirate radio" led me to the real Amateur Radio operators... more »
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