CB's for TEOTWAWKI ?

Over the years I have had many questions asked like “Why not just use CB radio? “ Here is one answer that I have given:

I have talked about CB vs. Ham a little bit before but here it is in review. Actually, CB radio was once a HAM band that was taken away from the HAM radio group in order to make a band for people not interested in anything but short range communications and no Morse code requirement. The FCC dropped the power requirement to a maximum of five watts to allow for local use, and then set the frequencies, originally by crystal to channels. So that people could only use those frequencies that the FCC allowed. It is the same today. There are some who will use "heaters" or "sliders" to boost power or transmit between the set channels, but for the most part, it still remains the same.

Some time ago, FCC allowed the use of SSB (single side band) on CB, which allowed for power to increase to 12 Watts PEP. This increased the distance a little, but not much. It is still AM and still power limited. And yes there are numerous people today who are monitored and are ticketed accordingly for over power and out of frequency violations by the FCC. It is an expensive fine. They pick up numerous truckers each month who like to slip out of band, or use a ham radio on the CB band which increases their power. There are local and regional monitors listening especially around the CB band for these violations.

The problem with CB is “SKIP”. During the day, especially on solar active days, the skip is usually very long (>400 miles) and it changes minute to minute as the ionosphere changes. It causes such problems, that people cannot talk to each other just a mile or so away, but they can talk clearly to people hundreds and even thousands of miles away for a minute or two, and then it fades out. These idiosyncrasies make this mode of communication less than stable for local communications: Which is what you really want in case of emergency, and squirrely at the least for long distance because you are relegated to talking to where the skip is coming in from (which usually is not where you want to talk to). This can be fixed, just like the surrounding HAM frequencies, by adding power, and antennas and VFO's (tuners), but then you are right back in the HAM radios again, and not CB's.

As to licensing, true post TEOTWAWKI there will be few if any people interested in enforcing the FCC laws. That's not the problem. The problem is, that just like anything else you do, there is a learning curve. To think that you will be able to sit down and set up a HAM type station post TEOTWAWKI by simply going down to the store and purchasing the equipment and the antenna etc. is not clear thinking. They just won't be available. Even now in the Salt Lake City metroplex there is only one small store. Most equipment is purchased over the internet and has to be shipped from hundreds of miles away. You must have practiced with the equipment so you know how to run it so you don't burn it out when you set it up and begin transmitting and you need to know the frequencies that people are going to be on where you are to be useful to yourself and more importantly your family and neighbors. So until that time if you purchase the equipment, why not use it legally and enjoy it.

If you try to use it without a call sign though, you will be exposed very quickly as most HAM's will not talk to you without a call sign and usually check on the computer to see if it is a valid sign on QRZ.com etc if they are not familiar with it, just to see where you are located and who you are.

Another consideration is within a few hours or days; the CB will be useless for most people who have no large battery or external power service or supply. As you know, there has to be two sides of any conversation for communication to exist. Therefore, if you are expecting CB'ers to be ready for TEOTWAWKI like HAM's, they won't. I believe most of the old timers realize the limitations of their equipment or think of their radios as toys, and as such aren't really planning ahead to use them post TEOTWAWKI. The newbie’s on the other hand don’t have any idea anyway.

Like most things in life, if you want to do something, do it the right way and you will be much farther ahead. Take the class or read the books. Get active in the local club and have a great time while getting ready to be of service.

CB or HAM, it doesn't matter to me, I have done both, and do have both. I prefer the unlimited (it seems like) HAM experience, to the limited channel master life of CB; But it is your decision.

73's
Saddleup