Subj : Re: CB experiments
To : Ginger1
From : Weatherman
Date : Sat Feb 08 2025 02:28 am
-=> Ginger1 wrote to All <=-
Gi> A few quick questions for someone almost completely new to this:
Gi> 1. What is the general chat channel? What is the emergency channel? Any
Gi> others of interest?
That's a local thing. Local chat channels vary from town to town. 19 used to
be the "trucker" channel so in smaller towns that might be a good place to
start. Larger towns use different channels. It's been so long since I was
active that I couldn't say.
CB channel 9 is still by FCC regulation the emergency channel. In
practicality CB is so rarely used it's debatable whether it's useful in that
role or not.
Gi> 2. Can I make my own antenna out of any old bit of
Gi> wire? On the back of the CB is a 1/2 inch screw fit jack for the
Gi> antenna, with a central female port. With a homemade antenna, is this a
Gi> case of a long wire connecting these two parts (i.e. the female port
Gi> and the outer threaded part).
You CAN, but it's usually easier to purchase a ready-made antenna for 11
meter/27 MHz use or modify a 10 meter antenna. Most (might as well say ALL) CB
traffic will be vertically polarized so a vertical or vertically polarized yagi
will be the way to go if making your own. 1/4, 5/8 and 1/2 wavelength antennas
are common and if you know a source for used aluminum tubing are not TERRIBLY
difficult to build on your own. I'd still recommend a manufactured antenna for
11m, however.
Gi> (My previous experience of CBs was in the 80s, where my childhood
Gi> friend had one in his room - he had an approx 3 ft commercial aerial in
Gi> the loft of his bungalow - nothing very sophisticated - but we had
Gi> people from probably a 2 mile area+).
Gi> Hoping the answer to these questions is not "CB frequencies have now
Gi> been reassigned for 5G" or something dreadfully depressing like that.
No, there's no way the 11 meter band could support 5G communications. You're
safe...
... Internal Error: The system has been taken over by sheep at line 19960
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
� Synchronet � The Lost Chord BBS - Cheyenne, WY
