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The Rise And Fall Of CB Radio
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Younger generations today might think Myspace or Facebook invented mass social networking, what they dont know is CB Radio has been around for decades. CB Radio.
Even Though CB Radioreally came to fame in the 1970′s, with over 7 million CB radios sold in one year, the Citizens Band (CB) radio service was establishedall the way back in 1945. The original CB radios were UHF, they operated in the 460-470 MHz frequency range, and were rather expensive for the average citizen. In 1958 part of the CB service was moved away from the UHF range to 27 MHz, where it remains to this day. The remaining CB services on UHF later evolved into the GMRS and the FRS.
Shortly thereafter businesses began to use the CB service for communication; anyone who needed to make service calls found CB useful, including electricians, plumbers and repairmen. Back then the service was regulated by the FCC and everyone needed a license to operate. As time rolled by, the technology improved and became both smaller and more affordable. In what seemed like an instant CB clubs were formed and a completely new type of slang evolved for CB users, an adaptation of the ’10′ codes used by emergency services.
An explosion of popularity occurred in the 1970′s when President Nixon signed the 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act. This law prohibited speed limits higher than 55 mph, effectively creating a 55 mph maximum speed on all US roads. Despite of the ongoing oil crisis, many drivers were upset by the new law believing that the right to set speed limits should belong, as it always had in the past, to the individual states. 29 states had to lower their limits, some, like Nevada and Montana had previously had no speed limits on some rural roads. Fuel rationing was a problem and CB radio came to the rescue as a way for travellers to warn each other of empty gas stations or police speed traps. CB radio was also used to organize protests. The craze
even spread to film with ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ and TV programs like ‘The Dukes Hazard’ as well as popular songs (Convoy) and the CB phenomenon spread across the world. Many people ignored the regulations, operating without a license and using made-up names rather than an authorized call sign. These ‘handles’ as they were called, were similar to the names many use on the Internet, and allowed for a certain privacyas CB users could chat anonymously. Shortly they dropped the license requirement and in 1977 the original 23 CB channels
were extended to 40.
Now people are pushing the envelope again ignoring the requirements to operate a 10 Meter Radio or “ham” radio. Many flock to the 10 Meter Radio because it offers more broadcasting power. However CB Radio is not done yet. New technology like a Handheld cb radio promises to ensure a bright future for CB Radio
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