If you have seen at least one truck -themed Hollywood film, you will certainly not be completely unknown to CB radio. In this post, we go to this topic.
Brekó-Brék! CB radiation is a special area of radio technology. It has spread primarily in communication between road vehicles, especially trucks and truck drivers, and has played a decisive role in road security over the decades. We are now introducing how CB radio has evolved, why trucks are still used today, and how the future may be ahead of continuous development and smart devices.
The beginning of the beginning, or the brief history of CB radio
THE CB-radio history until the mid-1940s extends back. It started from the United States, at first, as a kind of residential communication service. Imply A CB, ie “Citizen's Band ” name also which is nothing but “residential band ” mean. The CB operates in a specific frequency range, the 27 MHz band. This frequency band is 450 kHz, which is divided into 45 pieces of 10 kHz, of which 40 can be given for civil use, that is, at a time, 40 taxes can be given at a time without disturbing each other.
There is another data for technical data: a range. The installed antennas can cover a circle of up to 100km. Using the mobile antenna mounted on vehicles, this distance is reduced to about 20km, but the length of the geographical conditions (eg relief) or the length of antenna used can strongly influence it. Anyone who wants to achieve greater access and coverage in CB radiation is worth obtaining, for example, Antenna capable of receiving a stronger.
The appearance of CB radio made it possible for individuals communicate through short distances without permission with each other. Thanks to this, he quickly gained a huge popularity. It can be considered as its golden age in the 1970s, when it was used mainly in America. The oil crisis played a major role in its spread and the 55 miles per hour of the US. To their impact, more and more people began cb radio to replace traffic information, to avoid speed measurements and police certifications to apply. It has become so part of truck culture that it was included in almost every truck and car films, just think of the 1977 Smokey and the Bandita, the 1978 convoy, or the 1979 Lords of the 1979 Háld County, in which a significant part of communication is complicated by CB. Finally, CB-wandering so much into pop culture that at that time a truck cab CB-set without.
In Europe the 27 MHz lane in 1967 It was opened at first for industrial and scientific use. Thanks to international success and a large number of illegal CB radio, the user layer of "civilians" quickly formed. CB in our country also started to become really popular at this time, because at that time Due to the general phone shortage Many have used handheld CB radio as an alternative. At these times, complete "channel clubs" emerged, spontaneous friendships and acquaintances were also created through CB radio.
Later the carriers and taxi drivers They also started to order their orders with the help of a CB radio, which over time pushed the civilians. The CB was almost unrestricted at that time, so it also played a big role in the fact that so many carriers joined the '89 taxi block. According to Legend, this was also due to the fact that in 1991 Hungary joined the international CEPT (European meeting of postal and telecommunications management), which introduced a unified regulatory environment.
Most of the companies dealing with passenger transport and logistics after the nineties are subject to license For 160 MHz URH frequencies or to use so-called Poc radios He switched. The latter devices communicate with each other through the system of mobile phone service providers and combine the main benefits of CB radio through the achievements of modern technology.
As a result of the development and gaining the various other communication solutions, this technology has become increasingly worn out. It is also true that today we are surrounded by more and more devices that can disturb the radio frequency in some form, even an LED lamp. Nowadays, only hobby radio and carriers are used more widely, but we can often meet on domestic highways multi -meter antennas They carry themselves, typically foreign license plates, trains.
Why is CB radio widespread among trucks?
The spread of CB radio has contributed to truck drivers form a strong community between each other. Through the radio, they had the opportunity to efficiently share road information, traffic obstacles and possible route changes, as well as quick aid calls. This is secured To avoid more efficient work, to avoid road accidents and possible checks too. Not to mention that in the lonely hours of CB-radio entertainment He also provided truck drivers.
The golden age of CB also had its own heroes, the drivers who, thanks to their radio style, their message, and their frequent speeches, gained great popularity among colleagues. They were followed and listened to by many, so in retrospect, we can even look at the big old people as flu.
It is worth noting, however, that the use of CB radio has not only become popular with trucks. As mentioned earlier, among other things taxi drivers, rescue services and hobby groups This form of communication has also been applied, and although CB radio is quite different than it was a few decades ago, many people still use it to this day as it offers a good opportunity to this day For direct, short -term communication.
What rules apply to CB radio?
As the number of CB users has increased, it has become important to lay the basic rules in order to keep communication between one another. In Hungary these requirements It is determined by the National Media and Communications Authority. The regulations ensure that CB radio is not disturbed by other communications tools and that CB radio is respected by frequencies. In other countries of the European Union, regulations similar to domestic are subject to the domestic.
The devices Production, Modification is subject to permission, placing on the market is subject to notification. THE launched devices Without modifications are free to be purchased, sold and held in operation. As Hungary has joined the CEPT Convention, in Hungary only the radio compliant with the CEPT regulations cannot be held in operation or no permission for such devices.
In addition, it should be noted that transport is becoming more and more regulated. For a long time, we know that you should not drive with a hand -held cell phone. Reflecting on this in Germany, for example, it is forbidden to communicate with CB radio since 2021 on the fly, exclusively with a speakerphone usable. We would not open the debate about what is more dangerous if the driver's eyes are on the road, but the tax receiver is in his hand, or trying to change the heating strength in the third sub-menu of the central display. Fortunately, there are technological developments in this area, so Many accessories are available Already to radios on the market.
Radio etiquette briefly
There is no written rules for radio communication, but it is worth paying attention to some things. For example, after turning on the radio, it is to go to the channel and inquire about that Does anyone use the frequencies we set. If no response is received within a few seconds, use the set channel. However, when an answer comes, we may be disturbing the conversation there, so it is worth changing the channel.
It is important to know that channels can be used freely by anyone, so We cannot send anyone from a particular channel, just because we already use it. Due to the situation, we can ask the other person to switch, but we cannot oblige it. If we were to get into a conversation, we would like to get information or guide, Boldly let's get in, since talking radioists will most likely help us.
The specific language of CB-radio
Expressions such as “brother -in -law”Or the“reception“Many can be familiar at home. The former can also be considered a traditional greeting of CB radio. Its original form of English “break", That is, a word break or break, and the term originally served to speak on a channel where two or more are already talking. While the “reception"It means that the message from the ether has come to us and understood it.
CB radio-especially in the US- a number of codes and slangs developed, which makes communication between each other faster and more efficient. In the United States, for example, the so-called CB 10 code is used to shorten longer standard messages. In addition, as in all professions, there are "secret" terms, which are originally understood by trucks. Once again, with US examples, let's see a couple of interesting phrases:
- Alligator (alligator): A torn piece of rubber on the driveway where you drive over "bite" and can cause injury to your truck. The smaller piece of rubber Baby Alligator-called it.
- Bambi: deer on the road (can be live or struck)
- Bear (bear): Police
- Bear Bite (bear coat): speed check
- Bear Cave (bear cave): police station
- Bear Trap (bear trap): Traffipax
- Break Check (brake test): Warning to a sudden slowdown due to congestion
- Dragonfly (dragonfly): a weak truck moving very slowly
- Feeding the Bears (feed the bears): To pay the fine
- Fox in the Hen House (fox in the hens): Unlabeled, civilian police car
- Granny Lane (granny): A multi -lane road on the highway on the right, slow or handrail
- Hammer Lane (hammer lane): the left -hander bar for overtaking
- Kojak with the kodak (Kojak with kodak): People in the law measure speed
- Mud Duck (duck): weak radio signal
- Skins (leather): wheels, tires
- Smokey (smoky): Police, highway police
- TOO MANY EGGS IN THE BASK (Too much eggs in the basket): an overloaded cargo
From this little immersion, it can be seen that CB has been used largely for warning to police checks. In addition, the so-called ten codes, such as 10-4 (Ten-Four), are used, which means that I bought the message in order, but in the US, for example, larger cities were worried about the slang. If you are interested in the subject in more detail and you are curious about further terms At this link You can find quite a few more.
Reviews of CB
There are many who have the opinion that they never used the CB radio. In contrast, let's look at some reviews from those who used and use these devices:
- “CB radio is not essential but A great tool in the background if any problems happen. I suggest that you do not always have to hold it on, if the others are disturbed, turn it off, but you may be the one who can recently announce a senior on the road, which can be a great help to other trucks. ”
- “Every year we are more and more on the roads, so there are increasing accident accidents, which are due to sudden traffic, and conviction does not help. To these cases, a "brake check" code announced in a CB can immediately warn those coming from the back to the specific danger. This is exactly a case that navigation apps can only track minutes later. ”
- “This is the best opportunity for the case If there is a problem with the load, with the folder, such as the taillights, as the driver will not see them on the fly, but another truck's colleague can easily spot it, and instead of blinking, bumping, other attempts, it only speaks into the radio and has been successfully warned. ”
- “Those who still use CB, they are also usually more helpful With your colleagues, you have a feeling of belonging to the community. ”
- “Although many info is available on smartphones, it is still good to know the same through CB in the spirit of community spirit. Since truck is usually a lonely genre and man is an evolutionary social being, it may be can also contribute to our well -being by occasionally communicating with companions (trucks) like us. And even with foreigners in the case of proper language skills. ”
- “I usually go 1-2 km/h slower than the allowed maximum and I don't want to keep listening from the back of colleagues that go out for why not go faster. I rather moored my previously used device. ”
- “GPS is nowadays, but even more so Smartphones can replace CB radio in everything for me. Information on traffic conditions, road closures, truck rest, so all the information that is important to me is available, just have an internet connection. ”
- “The CB is now outdated, hardly use anyone, so I don't get one. ” This really decreases the number of active users.
The truth is somewhere between the two camps, not black or white. Everyone has to consider whether or not CB fits his habitus, style, working methods, but at the same time, perhaps in general, that It can't be a big problem if you have this option for safety's sake.
What could be the future of CB radio?
CB-radio is nowadays its popularity has been reduced a lot, thanks to the emergence of modern solutions such as GPS systems, smartphones with unlimited internet access and digital radios offering a clearer receiving. So many are skeptical whether the CB radio has succeeded in the test of time. Mobile applications downloaded to the phone are able to indicate changes in traffic (eg congestion, stuck vehicle), but there are apps for so-called push-to-to-to-to-to-talk. However, the fact that the With CB, you can give you an important information much fasteras the mobile app collects and communicates to users based on users' data. Similarly, the CB still speaks today that we can speak to everyone who is also on the channel at once, not just one by one, as on the phone.
However, the truth is that the popularity of CB in certain circles such as trucks and hobbies It remains, even if the range of users is much smaller than for a couple of decades. Today, there are still hidden parts of the planet where simple cell phones say bankruptcy, and in this case, a CB radio can still be a great help in any distressed situation. However, we do not have to be far from civilization to find a useful companion in the CB radio. It often happens in a disaster situation-and this was the case, for example, during the 2021 German floods-that the mobile network is damaged or overloaded, making it unusable. In this case, the existence of older technologies in both trucks and the population and disaster relief is appreciated.
CB radio may be a retro thing but As an accessory besides mobile and internet, you still have your own benefits and can be refreshing diversity in the otherwise monotonous work.
So this special way of truck communication has not completely died, however, in order to remain able to survive and move on, The drivers of the new generation also need to pick up the yarn, and join the network.
