CB Radios

When did the use of CB radios become widespread in our country?

The history of CB, or Citizen's Band (personal radio), dates back to the United States and the 1940s. The service, which was launched overseas in 1945 to support residential communications, quickly gained enormous popularity. So it was in our country, albeit a few decades later. In Hungary, CB radio was in its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s. Because of the general lack of telephones, many people used hand-held CB radios as an alternative. Today, of course, there is hardly any shortage of telephones, but CB radios still play an important role in many areas. It is certainly a popular piece of equipment among radio amateurs, but it also has practical uses on the road. Truckers, for example, use the USB40 channel to cover as much distance as possible.

Is CB radio use subject to authorisation?

To answer this question, let's take a step backwards: in Hungary, only CB radios that comply with the CEPT (European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations) standards, i.e. EU standards, can be marketed. These devices can be divided into two broad categories. The 4W CB radios can be used by anyone, while the 25W SSB radios require an amateur radio licence. The latter are therefore a good choice for radio amateurs.

The DND Telecom webshop offers a wide range of CB radios

Albrecht and Midland mobile CB transceiver radios. Mobile CB radios cover the types that can be built into cars and trucks. It may be important information for companies involved in international transport that in Germany only hands-free CB radios can be used while driving. This requirement can be fulfilled in two ways: either by purchasing a VOX-capable radio (e.g. Albrecht AE 6120 VOX) or by retrofitting an existing CB radio (e.g. Albrecht VOX CB microphone). Mobile CB transceiver radios meet today's requirements. For example, many models are equipped with an LCD display that shows the current channel, power, mode and noise sensitivity. Models with a USB charging socket allow you to charge your phone or navigation, while some mobile CBs can also provide AM and FM modulation. We highly recommend these top-of-the-line devices for any truck, caravan or SUV, as they allow easy and fast communication!

Albrecht and Midland handheld CB radios

Lightweight, even belt-mountable, handheld CB radios are built to stand up in a variety of situations. They allow for easy communication on a major hike, while they support security communications at an outdoor event. Professionals working in the field, such as electricians, carpenters, joiners, etc., can radio their company headquarters or office, and of course a handheld CB radio is ideal for hobbyists. The Albrecht and Midland branded CB radios in our range are typically 40 channels, with AM/FM or AM/FM/SSB modulation. Some radios also offer automatic channel scanning or even dual channel monitoring, as well as digital noise cancellation.

We have a wide range of CB radio accessories in our online shop

.

You can make your CB radio experience more complete by choosing quality accessories for your device. In our webshop you will find, among many other things, CB brackets and screws for mounting radios, power cables, CB amplifiers, as well as magnetic, retractable and roof-mounted antennas. Our staff will be happy to help you choose, but as well as offering advice, you can also leave the desktop or in-car installation to us. Remember, the DND Telecom webshop has the right CB radio for your purposes, whether handheld or mobile.

What is the maximum output power of a CB radio and what range can you expect?

As mentioned above, we distinguish between handheld and mobile CB radios. Handheld CB radios have a maximum output power of 1 W for AM signal and 4 W for FM signal. However, for mobile CB radios this value is much higher, but let's look at the details. The output power is 4W for AM modulation and 4W for FM modulation, and 12W for single sideband modulation. However, the devices are capable of much higher power.

What extra features does a CB radio offer?

Today's modern CB radios have a number of features that make them much easier to use. For example, AM/FM modulation, automatic channel search, dual channel monitoring, a channel scanning function, or perhaps a PA function. What does this last mode mean? In this case, the CB radio acts as a loudspeaker. This means that when you press the transmit button on the handset, your voice is not heard through the CB band, but through a speaker on the roof of the car. But we should also mention the VOX function. If you switch on this mode, you don't have to manually press the radio's transceiver button to get the CB radio's transmission to work.

What is the range of a CB radio and what factors can affect it?

CB radios have a long range, which is why they are so popular. If there is nothing to prevent proper reception, they can be used to communicate properly at distances of up to 50-60 kilometres. Previously, to ensure good reception, so-called repeater stations were used. Because reception was perfect in the vicinity of these stations, neither the weather nor geographical conditions or other negative factors could affect the transmission of CB radio.

What types of antennas can be used with CB radio and what effect does this have on performance?

CB radios operate in the 27 MHz frequency band. Due to the characteristics of this frequency band, it is important to have a well functioning antenna connected. A much larger antenna, up to 15 cm in length, can be connected to a handheld CB radio. For mobile CB radios, use a CB car antenna. These antennas greatly increase the power of the CB radio, which can reach up to 50-60 kilometres.

How many channels are available with a CB radio?

When using Albrecht and Midland handheld or mobile CB radios available in the DND Telecom webshop, you can usually achieve 40 channels.

Find the CB radio that suits your needs and contact us if you have any questions!