Citizens Band Radio or CB radios, as they are known for short, have been primarily associated with truckers. However, many other people including motorcyclists, off-road vehicle enthusiasts, RV owners, and radio hobbyists have found CB radios useful. They are great for keeping track of local events, getting the latest traffic reports, and contacting emergency services when you are in harder-to-reach areas. 

Major Benefits of Owning and Using CB Radios

If you have long been curious about CB radios, or are only just finding out about these wondrous pieces of equipment and are interested in buying one, they offer many benefits.

Inexpensive

Compared to other types of mobile and radio communication CB radios still use the same, very basic, technology back from when they were first introduced in 1945. As a result, the production line has since been optimized greatly and some of the best CB radios on the market are available for around $100 or even less.

Compact and Very Portable Size

One of the things that have changed about CB radios over the years, is the size. During the 70s, if you wanted to invest in a very powerful CB radio, the unit you would have to install beneath your dash was very cumbersome and heavy. Thanks to the advancements of technology, though, they are not incredibly compact and portable and often no bigger than a modern smartphone. 

You Don't Need a License

There are many other forms of personal radio services such as ham radios and the General Mobile Radio Service, or GMRS for short. However, to use these you need to have special licensing issued by the Federal Communications Commission. As all CB radio manufacturers design and build their devices to meet the FCC standards, there is no need to go through the hassle of applying for a special FCC license for using a CB radio.

You just need to pick out the radio you want, hook it up wherever you intend on using it and get on with it. 

Variety of Additional Features to Choose From

It's not just the size where there have been advancements in CB radios. Like all things technological and electronic, many improvements have been introduced to CB radios, in the form of special features. This includes things like improved speakers with enhanced and clearer, crisper sound quality, improved mic quality to offer the same results, and increased antenna range.

Full Community of Users

Interestingly, lots of people look at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, and other similar places online to feel like they are part of a wider community of people with shared opinions, likes, dislikes, views, and interests. 

However, long before social media and long before computers were widely available in homes and smartphones that both offered access to the internet, CB radios were used by a wide range of different communities. Motorcycle clubs, trail riders, truckers, RV owners, and lots of other niche sections of society often used CB radios to communicate. 

Different Types of CB Radios

As you have undoubtedly come here to learn as much as you can about CB radios, you will probably find it helpful to understand the different types of CB radio devices out there. These include:

Mobile CB Radios

Mobile CB Radios

The most commonly available and popular form of CB radios, mobile CB radios consist of a single, small box with a number of gauges and knobs on them that attaches to your dash and sits below, and features a corded handset. One thing you need to bear in mind when installing and mounting a mobile CB radio is it should not obstruct you from using your vehicle properly and safely but should be positioned so you can hear it properly. 

Handheld CB Radios

Handheld CB radios look very similar to walkie-talkies and are essentially mobile devices powered by the battery and use a USB attachment or cigarette lighter charging cord. The biggest advantage is it can be taken with you. 

All-In-One Handset CB Radios

Although they sound like two very similar things, the biggest difference that separates the all-in-one style handset CB radios from mobile CB radios is the majority of the controls are incorporated into the handset. This means the handsets have to be a little bigger but are more ergonomic as they have to sit in your hand comfortably. If you don't have space in your car or vehicle, then these are some of the best alternatives to a bigger unit.

Features to Look Out For

Now you know a little more about CB radios and the different types of products you can buy, to help you further, we have outlined some of the most important features to look out for. 

Automatic Noise Limiter

As a fairly self-explanatory feature, the automatic noise limiter on CB radios is designed to clip the audio signals coming into the device to reduce the impulse noise amplitude. Why? It helps to eliminate those ear-piercing noises that can damage your ears and the speakers. 

Channel Nine

The FCC set aside channel nine on CB radios in 1969 specifically for emergency use. Since then, channel nine has retained that purpose and CB radios have a switch that will set your device to that channel immediately. 

RF Gain

This is perhaps one of the most crucial features to look for. RF gain essentially lets you quiet your radio by simply opening and closing your receiver rather than using the special squelch control. This provides you with better reception when you are communicating with people over a greater distance.

Channel Scan

In-line with FCC rules, all CB radio users must stick to their 40-channel radio limit. You can search through all these channels for any active users by using channel scan. This means you don't have to stop and park up or take your hand off the wheel while trying to find an interesting conversation or some news and traffic updates.