ALOHA
Welcome to the Maui Citizen Band Radio (CB) Club Webpage!
There are a lot more people than you might think enjoying this hobby in the Hawaiian Islands.
The Maui Citizen Band Radio Club helps people learn about CB radio and get involved in the hobby.
The local Maui channels are
11 AM
38 LSB
Join us every Thursday on channel 11 from 5-8pm to talk story.
Did you know that when certain changes happen in the atmosphere we often will be able to hear the US mainland and Australia on our CB radios?
Did you know that on certain days we are able to talk between the islands?
CB is once again becoming a thiriving form of communication and an exciting hobby.
A CB radio + antenna combo can be found on ebay for less than $30.
Never in the history of Cb radio have you been able to buy a radio so cheaply and start talking!
Visit EBAY and search for a cheap CB radio to get you started - click HERE
Many people ask - what good is a CB radio in Maui?
- We use CB radio for friends to keep in touch
- We use Cb radio as a way to meet new people
- As a service to the community in the case of a natural disaster
- To report an Emergency or contact someone about a traffic or auto problem
- To keep in touch in areas not serviced by cellular telephones
- When off roading with other vehicles in remote areas
- BUT mostly just to talk story :)
And remember - THE BEST part of using a CB radio is that it's FREE!
No worrying about how many cell phone minutes you have left. It's always Free.
Talk as long as you want to your friends, neighbor or the other islands.
SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK!
For more information about CB radio visit the DX ZONE
Citizens Band (CB)
Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service is a private two-way voice communication service for use in personal and business activities of the general public. Its communications range is from one to five miles.
Licensing
License documents are neither needed nor issued and there are no age or citizenship requirements. As long as you use only an unmodified FCC certificated CB unit, you are provided authority to operate a CB unit in places where the FCC regulates radio communications.
Operations
You are provided authority to operate a CB unit in places where the FCC regulates radiocommunications, as long as you use only an unmodified FCC certificated CB unit. An FCC certificated unit has an identifying label placed on it by the manufacturer. Read more about restrictions of operations and usage of channels
Equipment
You must use an FCC certificated CB transmitter at your CB station. You can identify an FCC certificated transmitter by the certification label placed on it by the manufacturer.
Territorial Limits
You may operate your CB unit within the territorial limits of the fifty United States, the District of Columbia, and the Caribbean and Pacific Insular areas ("U.S."). You may also operate your CB on or over any other area of the world, except within the territorial limits of areas where radio-communications are regulated by another agency of the U.S. or within the territorial limits of any foreign government. You may also be permitted to use your CB unit in Canada subject to the rules of Industry Canada. Travelers to the U.S. may operate a CB unit within the U.S. as long the unit is FCC certificated.
Linear Amplifier Ban
Users may not raise the power output of their CB units. That would be unfair to the other users sharing the channel by raising the level of radio noise. You must not attach a "linear," "linear amplifier" or any other type of power amplifier to your CB unit, Moreover, you must not modify your CB unit internally. Doing so cancels its certification and you forfeit your authorization to use it.
Antennas
There are no height restrictions for antennas mounted on vehicles or for hand-held units. For structures, the highest point of your antenna must not be more than 20 feet above the highest point of the building or tree on which it is mounted, or 60 feet above the ground. There are lower height limits if your antenna structure is located within two miles of an airport.
Ten Codes
Ten-codes are operating aids used by public safety and other professional communicators. The FCC does not regulate the meaning of the ten-codes. You may use an on-the-air pseudonym ("handle") of your choosing.
Channels
There are 40 shared CB channels used on a "take-turns" basis. There are no channels authorized in the CB Radio Service above 27.405 MHz or below 26.965 MHz.
No CB channel is assigned to any specific individual or organization. Be cooperative. Keep your communications short. Users must never talk with another station for more than 5 minutes continuously and then must wait at least one minute before starting another communication. Channel 9 is used only for emergency communications or for traveler assistance.
HOW A CB ANTENNA WORKS
A citizens band (CB) radio antenna is a device designed to do two things: It captures radio-frequency signals that are then converted to electrical signals by the receiver, and it takes electrical signals from the transmitter and converts them into radio-frequency signals. This second function is where tuning comes into play, because an antenna has to radiate radio-frequency signals, something that's done best when the length of the antenna precisely matches the wavelength of the transmitted radio frequency.
You can determine the proper length of an antenna by using a formula:
Wavelength (in feet) = 984 / frequency (in megahertz)
The CB portion of the spectrum begins at 25.01 megahertz, so a full wavelength antenna would be a bit more than 39.34 feet long. That's obviously a little long to attach to your bumper, so people tend to use antennas that are a fraction of the wavelength: 1/2, 5/8, 1/4 and 1/8 are all common wavelengths for antennas. In the case of CB, the 1/4 antenna at just under 10 feet long is the common "whip" that you may see on cars and trucks.
The trouble is that there are 40 channels on modern CB transceivers, each corresponding to a different frequency. It's not practical to have a separate antenna for each frequency, so antenna designers have to compromise, usually picking a frequency in the middle of the spread and choosing the antenna length to correspond.
When a compromise like this is made, you have to see whether it's a good compromise. This is done by measuring the Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) of the antenna and cable between the antenna and tuning the antenna until the SWR is acceptable.
Every antenna and every antenna feed-line have a characteristic impedance, or opposition to electrical current. In an ideal situation, the impedances of line and antenna match perfectly, and 100 percent of the electrical energy sent to the antenna is converted to radio energy and radiated into the atmosphere. In a less than ideal case, when the impedances aren't perfectly matched, some of the electrical energy sent to the antenna won't be converted to radio energy, but will be reflected back down the feed-line. The energy reflecting back from the antenna causes standing waves of electrical energy in the feed-line. (An example of standing waves outside the electronics world is found in river rapids. When water passes around and between boulders it may form a wave that doesn't go up or down the river, it just stays in one place. That is a standing wave of water.) The ratio of highest voltage on the line to lowest is the standing wave ratio. In the perfectly matched system, the SWR is 1:1.
To tune an antenna, use an SWR meter attached between the transmitter and antenna feed-line. Depending on the meter, you can either use a button on the meter to generate a signal on the various channels, or key the microphone on the CB transceiver to generate a signal while you look at the SWR reading. In general, if the SWR never goes above 1.5:1, you're in good shape. If the SWR does go above 1.5:1, then watch the meter on different frequencies to see the trend develop: The SWR will be greater either on the higher channels or the lower. If the SWR is greater on the lower channels, then try gradually lengthening the antenna by moving it in the base. If the SWR is greater on the higher channels, try shortening the antenna.
Do be aware that the electrical ground of the antenna, the structure around the antenna and any other antennas near the CB antenna can all affect the antenna's impedance and the SWR. There are enough variables that tuning an antenna blends art and science, but your equipment and radio contacts will all be grateful if you take the time to tune up.
ADJUST YOUR SWR on your CB radio
Equipment needed: SWR meter, short jumper coax 3 foot.
Procedure: The SWR meter needs to be placed in line between the antenna and the CB. Connect the antenna (normally connected to the back of the CB ) to the connector marked "Antenna" or "Ant" on your SWR Meter. Connect one end of the short jumper coax to the "transmit" or "Xmit" on the SWR meter. Connect the other end of your jumper coax to the CB.
Assuming you have a standard SWR meter the switches should read as follows: REF or SWR, FWD, and there should be a slide switch marked "set" or "Adjust". If different consult your meter's owners manual.
With the radio on the lowest channel (1 on CB) and the SWR meters switch in the Forward (FWD) position, depress the transmit switch (key up) located on the microphone. While holding the unit in this transmit mode, adjust the meter needle to the set position using the Set or Adjust knob on the meter. As soon as the needle is in alignment with the corresponding mark on the meter face, flip the switch to the Reference (REF) position. The meter is now showing your SWR on channel one. Note the value and quickly release the microphone switch. Record this reading.
Repeat the previous step on channels 19 and 40.
How to read your results: If SWR on channels 1, 19 & 40 is below 2.0, your radio can be operated safely.
If SWR on all channels is above 2.0 but not in the "red zone" (normally over 3.0), you may be experiencing coaxial cable reaction (bad quality, wrong length, etc.), insufficient ground plane, or have an ungrounded antenna mount.
If SWR is in the "red zone" on all channels, you probably have an electrical short in your coax connectors, or your mounting stud was installed incorrectly and is shorted. Do not operate your radio until the problem is found, serious damage can occur to your radio.
If SWR on the lowest channel is higher than it is on the highest channel, your antenna system appears to be electrically short. Your antenna length may need to be increased.
If the SWR on channel 40 is greater than that on channel 1, your antenna is considered to be "LONG" and reduction of physical height and/or conductor length will correct this situation.
How does an antenna size affect my CB radio?
If you put 4 watts into a four-foot antenna, you will get the same power out of that antenna as if you were putting 2 watts into a 102-inch whip.
If you put 4 watts into a 3-foot antenna you will get the same power out as if you wre putting about 1.5 watts into a 102-inch whip.
If you put 4 watts into a 7.5 inch antenna on a hand held CB, it would put out as much power as a third of a watt into a 102-whip.
If you put 4 watts into a 102-inch whip antenna, it is the same output as if you put 11 watts into a 3-foot whip.
If you put 4 watts into a 102-inch whip antenna,, it is the same as if you put 14 watts into a 28-inch antenna.
If you put 4 watts into a 102-inch whip antenna, it is the same as if you put 54 watts into a 7.5 antenna.
What is a Citizen Band radio?
A Citizen Band Radio is an AM transceiver. A transceiver is a radio that can both transmit and receive. The "Band" part of Citizen Band refers to the "Bandwidth" or frequency range that has been reserved for use by your average citizen. You do not require a license to operate a CB which means anyone can pick one up and begin using it.
What do I need to operate on the Citizen Band?
First of all you will need an actual CB Radio. The CB radio itself can vary in size, function, and age. You can have a mobile (for your car), base (in your home), or handheld (in your hand) to choose from. For all CB's you will need some source of power. For a mobile this would be a 12 volt DC connection to your battery, for a Base you would usually have a plug for the 120V AC system, and most handhelds run on batteries. The last thing you need is an Antenna. They vary in size and function, and there are specific antennas for your car, home and handheld radios.
What do all the dials on the CB do?
Volume - Usually the on/off switch and volume of the internal speaker
Squelch - Helps you to adjust the radio to pick up only strong signals and shuts out the static that you will hear on most radios.
RF Gain - This adjustment can be used to adjust the strength of receive that a incoming signal has on your radio. If someone is right next to you and their radio is very loud you can turn down the RF gain and their signal will sound softer and their signal will register lower.
Mic Gain - Used to adjust the audio level of your voice into the radio.
ANL or NB - Used to cut out static on the radio
Fine Tune - Usually found on older radios, used to tune in the signal for clearer receptions
CH9 switch - Gives you instant access to channel 9, which often is considered as an emergency channel.
Meter - This shows you how strong an incoming signal is, or on some radios how strong your outgoing signal is, what your SWR is, or how your modulation is.
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