CB Radio citizens band 27MHz 11 metres 27.555 SSB AM FM

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It’s 2023 and CB radio is not dead!

CB isn’t amateur radio, obviously, but I feel that it deserves a mention. Whether we’re talking about the pirate ships in the North Sea, 6.6 megs Echo Charlie, clandestine radio stations from certain countries, CB radio… As far as I’m concerned, it’s all radio. Long gone are the so-called bucket mouths and the music. Now, you can enjoy sensible conversations and even make new friends on the mostly-quiet legal FM channels. As we approach the sunspot maximum, predicted in 2025, propagation is really beginning to open up the 11 metre band. More about the sunspot maximum here. So, it might be worth dragging your old CB radio out and firing it up. The UK now has 80 channels so there’s plenty of room for everyone.

The 11 Metre Citizens’ band:

The 11 metre band now appears, unofficially, to cover anything from 25 to 28MHz. Warning: It is illegal to use frequencies and modes not specified for use in your country by licensing authorities. Here is a very useful document from Ofcom concerning CB spectrum use, information and operation in the UK. Although SSB, FM, AM and various digital modes are used world wide on frequencies between 25 and 28MHz, I strongly suggest you stick to the legal channels in your country.

Bands and frequency list:

Here you’ll find a lidt of the various bands and frequencies.

26.285MHz and 27.555MHz:

These are SSB calling frequencies which, by the way, are illegal to use in the U.K. The most popular world wide calling frequency is 27.555MHz. However, 26.285MHz is preferred by some as it’s so much quieter.

The Superbowl on 27.025MHz AM:

The Superbowl is a gathering of friendly competitors trying to come out on top by running massive power. It’s fascinating, and annoying, to listen to!

The 11 Metre broadcast band:

There is a short wave broadcast band covering 25.670 to 26.100MHz. Unfortunately, there is very little broadcast activity on this band, if any. I’ve listened to the band many times and heard nothing but, it is still officially a world wide broadcast band.

11 metre nets?

I monitor 27.815MHz which is channel 19 on band D known as the ‘mids’. I’m not aware of any nets in my area. Are there any in West Sussex? If you know of a net, please let me know.

The President Ronald:

I have a President Ronald 10/12 metre FM AM radio which, when opened up, as mine has been, covers 24.700 to 30.100 MHz. That’s all CB channels plus the 10 and 12 meter amateur bands. On FM, the RF output is a healthy 35 Watts (*note1).

President Ronald 10/12 metre CB transceiver

President Ronald 10/12 metre CB transceiver
Cybernet Beta 2000 + Burner:

Just found this is the loft. It’s a Cybernet Beta 2000 strapped to a Ham International LA60 linear amplifier. I’ve tested it, on a dummy load, obviously, and it works! I’ve had a listen around the channels and the receiver is lively enough.

CB radio with Ham International Linear

The Anytone AT5555 transceiver:

This is a lovely rig covering the 10 and 12 metre amateur bands. The frequency coverage is approximately 24.890 to 29.700MHz. Transmit power: AM : 12 Watts, FM 30 Watts, SSB 30 Watts PEP. Modes: AM/FM/LSB/USB. Frequency steps: 100Hz/1kHz/10kHz/100kHz/1MHz.

AnyTone AT555 10 metre all mode

CRT-SS9900 Superstar 9900 radio:

This is a fantastic little transceiver. All modes, AM FM SSB, covering the 10 and 12 metre amateur bands as well as all 11 metre frequencies in between. I’m thinking about putting this one in my car.

CRT-SS9900 CB 10 metre radio

What are mids, lows and highs:

There’s some confusion over which bands are legal in the UK. 1981 saw the introduction of 40 CB channels.  The radios were FM only with a maximum of 4 Watts and were labeled CB27/81.  The daft thing was that our 40 channels were from 27.60125 to 27.99125MHz which is completely different from any other country in the world. These radios are still in use today. Later, we were allocated an extra 40 channels. These are in line with European CB channels and are known as CEPT, 26.9650 to 27.4050MHz. I believe it was 2011, or was it 2014, when Ofcom allowed SSB and AM modes to be used in the UK. FM and AM max power is 4 Watts, SSB is 12 Watts. I believe that the original 40 U.K. channels are still FM only. It can be confusing!

The real confusion sets in because many CB radios have six 40 channel bands. Band A, B, C, D, E and F. The original UK 40 FM channels are not part of the six bands. The only bands we are allowed to use, totalling 80 channels, are the UK and the EU, known as the mids. Radios such as the Anytone AT555 shown above are not allowed to be used in the UK. Neither is amateur radio gear! However, anarchy seems to rule world wide as thousands of operators use whatever gear they like on whatever frequency they like running whatever power they like.

Band A Band B Band C Band D Band E Band F UK
Name Super Super Low Super Low Low Mids High Super High Crazy!
From 25.615 26.065 26.515 26.965 27.415 27.865 27.60125
To 26.055 26.505 26.955 27.405 27.855 28.305 27.99125

CB Bands list:

11 metre frequencies from 25MHz to 28MHz have been listed in six 40 channel bands – A to F. Thanks to Ed for this bands and frequencies list here.

SSB FM AM modes:

It is now permissible to use SSB and AM on UK CB frequencies. This Information from Ofcom explains everything.

Country call sign prefixes:

Each country has its own CB call sign prefix. For example, the prefix for England is 26. Thanks to Ed for this call sign prefix list here.

CB Antennas:

I use a Sigma Venom 5/8 wave vertical. Considering the base is only 6 feet above the ground, it works extremely well on the 10, 11 and 12 metre bands. See photo below.

Sigma Venom 5/8 wave vertical

A video about the 11 metre band:

Calling frequencies and channels:

This is something I’ve put together that you might find helpful. Don’t rely on its accuracy! I’ll be adding to the list as I discover more.

Country Frequency Modes Channel Band
EU 27.265 AM – FM – USB 26 D
EU 27.315 FM 31 D
UK 27.275 USB 27 D
USA 27.385 AM – LSB 38 D
INT 27.385 LSB 38 D
INT 26.285 USB 19 B
INT 27.555 USB 12 E
The ‘mids’ 27.815 FM AM SSB 19 D Calling
UK 19 27.78125 FM 33 E
USA super bowl 27.025 FM AM SSB 6 D
UK net 27.305 USB 30 D

American CB channels and frequencies:

You might be interested in receiving American CB stations when the band opens up. It’s great fun listening to the American CBers. I’ve found that, if they are using SSB, it’s usually lower sideband. Stations today, 21st Feb 2023, have been very strong from the Gulf of Mexico, and many east and west coast states. Have a tune around and see what you can hear. You may have noticed that the USA CB frequencies are the same as the EU CB frequencies. This makes it difficult to work European stations here in the UK when the band is open to the USA.

1 26.965 AM/SSB
2 26.975 AM/SSB
3 26.985 AM/SSB
4 27.005 AM/SSB Off-roading
5 27.015 AM/SSB
6 27.025 AM/SSB Considered the “Super Bowl” channel.
7 27.035 AM/SSB
8 27.055 AM/SSB
9 27.065 AM/SSB Emergency
10 27.075 AM/SSB Truckers on regional roads
11 27.085 AM/SSB
12 27.105 AM/SSB
13 27.115 AM/SSB Marine & RV
14 27.125 AM/SSB Vintage walkie-talkies
15 27.135 AM/SSB
16 27.155 AM/SSB Off-roading
17 27.165 AM/SSB Truckers traveling north or south
18 27.175 AM/SSB
19 27.185 AM/SSB Truckers traveling east or west
20 27.205 AM/SSB
21 27.215 AM/SSB
22 27.225 AM/SSB
23 27.255 AM/SSB
24 27.235 AM/SSB
25 27.245 AM/SSB
26 27.265 AM/SSB
27 27.275 AM/SSB
28 27.285 AM/SSB
29 27.295 AM/SSB
30 27.305 AM/SSB
31 27.315 AM/SSB
32 27.325 AM/SSB
33 27.335 AM/SSB
34 27.345 AM/SSB
35 27.355 AM/SSB
36 27.365 AM/SSB
37 27.375 AM/SSB
38 27.385 AM/SSB LSB calling channel
39 27.395 AM/SSB
40 27.405 AM/SSB

EU and UK CB channels and frequencies:

We now have 80 channels in the U.K., which include the EU channels. For your reference…

Channel EU + UK UK
1 26.965 27.60125
2 26.975 27.61125
3 26.985 27.62125
4 27.005 27.63125
5 27.015 27.64125
6 27.025 27.65125
7 27.035 27.66125
8 27.055 27.67125
9 27.065 27.68125
10 27.075 27.69125
11 27.085 27.70125
12 27.105 27.71125
13 27.115 27.72125
14 27.125 27.73125
15 27.135 27.74125
16 27.155 27.75125
17 27.165 27.76125
18 27.175 27.77125
19 27.185 27.78125
20 27.205 27.79125
21 27.215 27.80125
22 27.225 27.81125
23 27.255 27.82125
24 27.235 27.83125
25 27.245 27.84125
26 27.265 27.85125
27 27.275 27.86125
28 27.285 27.87125
29 27.295 27.88125
30 27.305 27.89125
31 27.315 27.90125
32 27.325 27.91125
33 27.335 27.92125
34 27.345 27.93125
35 27.355 27.94125
36 27.365 27.95125
37 27.375 27.96125
38 27.385 27.97125
39 27.395 27.98125
40 27.405 27.99125

Old UHF 934MKz CB channels and frequencies:

Channel  FX MHz
1             934.0125
2             934.0625
3             934.1125
4             934.1625
5             934.2125
6             934.2625
7             934.3125
8             934.3625
9             934.4125
10           934.4625
11           934.5125
12           934.5625
13           934.6125
14           934.6625
15           934.7125
16           934.7625
17           934.8125
18           934.8625
19           934.9125
20           934.9625

*note1: The maximum power permitted on CB frequencies is 4 Watts. This restriction does not apply to the amateur bands.

Warning: It is illegal to use frequencies and modes not specified for use in your country by licensing authorities. Here is a very useful document from Ofcom concerning CB spectrum use, information and operation in the UK.