Citizens band radio (often shortened to CB radio) is a system of short-distance radio communications between individuals on a selection of 40 channels within the 27-MHz (11 m) band. In the United Kingdom, CB radio was first legally introduced in 1981, but had been used illegally for some years prior to that.

In December 2006, CB radio became licence-free or exempt of the fee. However, Ofcom still regulate CB radio under CEPT and MPT specifications. Since 27 June 2014, Ofcom has also permitted AM and single-sideband (SSB) operation on the CEPT channels alongside the original FM mode, subject to power limits (see § SSB and AM legalisation below). Although the use of CB radios in the UK has declined from its peak, it is still popular, especially with the farming community, Land Rover owners and Mini-Cab services. It is also fitted as standard to 'Street Glide' and 'Electra Glide' models of Harley Davidson touring motorcycles sold in the UK.

History CB radio was first introduced into the United Kingdom around 1968. Early use was known around the international shipping ports in the UK, particularly Liverpool, London and Southampton in 1968. As citizens band radio has been advertised in the US since before 1962,American Radio Relay League, QST, Volume XLV, 1961, February, p111. it is possible that a number of these radios were brought into the UK and used illegally.Norman McLeod MPs put a final-twenty on CB, New Scientist, 12 July 1979 pages 92–95 In the period 1976–1978, CB radio in Britain was much popularised by novelty hit songsNovelty songs praising CB in 1975/1976 were:

C.W. McCall's "Convoy" (1975) which climbed to Number One in the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1976 and No. 2 in the UK Charts in the spring of 1976, inspiring the 1978 movie of the same name. The White Knight, a novelty country music song made famous by Jay Huguely, who – recording as Cledus Maggard & The Citizen's Band – did not chart in the UK. BBC Radio One dj's Dave Lee Travis and Paul Burnett covered the song "Convoy" with an altered UK applying song text, released as Convoy GB under the moniker name Laurie Lingo & the Dipsticks, peaking at No. 4 in the UK Charts a month after the original in the spring of 1976. "'Round the World with the Rubber Duck" is a sequel, made by C.W. McCall to his song "Convoy", released in late spring 1976, however it did not chart. "One Piece at a Time" by Johnny Cash, also charting, in the early summer of 1976, peaking at No. 12. "Teddy Bear" by Red Sovine, again charting in 1976, during late summer, peaking at No. 6. and its use in the film Convoy and the usage of illegal CB radio peaked in 1980. Companies in Britain sold US equipment quite openly, and equipment was readily available in car accessory shops. During this time, a great many CB clubs emerged in the UK and they became centres of protest in the march towards legalisation, in the hope that existing equipment could be used legally.

In response to the popularity of CB Radio, the government commissioned a white paper proposing a CB service called "Open Channel" around 860 MHz.

The big problem for the UK was that the 27 MHz band was already licensed legally to radio control model aircraft users. They were paying for a licence to use the band, and interference resulted in loss of control of the aircraft. Many expensive models were written off, and the safety implications were obvious, but there was no practical way to police a separation, and the government did not rate the protection of model flying as an important issue.

The UK Government eventually legalised CB radio, and on 2 November 1981 a CB service was introduced on a frequency band and offset that is incompatible with the imported American radios. At the same time the ownership of non-UK approved 27 MHz transceivers was made illegal except for those obtained by UK radio amateurs holding a UK "A" (HF) licence, for conversion to the 28 MHz (10-metre) amateur allocation. Given that virtually all illegal CB radios were contraband, this concession required the licensed amateur to pay outstanding import duty and VAT. A licence to operate these new radios became compulsory, and this could be purchased from most Post Office counters for £10. The original licence permitted three CB Radios to be operated at one time. One person would be the licence holder and there could be two others in communications with the holder. A few years later the licence was increased to £15 p.a. and required any operator to have a licence except those sitting and using a radio in the company of a CB Radio licence. Unlike that required to qualify for a radio amateur licence, no proof of technical competence was needed. As of 8 December 2006, a licence is no longer required to own or operate a CB radio providing it complies with one of the 3 type approval conditions currently permitted by Ofcom:Citizen's Band Radio Information Sheet Ofcom website. Retrieved 10 April 2013 FM only, 4 watts power output and operating on either or both UK and CEPT (EU) 27 MHz bands only.Bands:UHF SSB HF Modulation:AM FM.

In the early stages of the run up to the final legislation, most of the pro-CB lobby wanted the government to legislate around the US standard CB system, primarily due to the large user base that already existed. The UK government made it clear from the outset that legislation for use of this equipment would be unlikely. Interference problems associated with badly calibrated amplitude modulated (AM) or Single-Side-Band (SSB) equipment were cited as the main factor,Chippindale, P. (1981, p74) The British CB Book, London: Kona Publications. and it was made clear that if any system was legalised it would be frequency modulated (FM). The CB lobby argued that interference from AM was unlikely to occur from the use of original unmodified AM radio equipment, a view initially rejected but later accepted by the Ministry of Defence.Town, R. (September 1981) Strike Command Condemns CB. CB World. Volume 1. Number 7. p6. Many active and potential users continued in their insistence on a 27 MHz system, although for a locally available Citizen's Band system, the 27 MHz concept was not universally endorsed.

The government initially proposed an FM system on a 928 MHz band with an RF input power not exceeding 500 mW. This was unacceptable to the CB lobby partly because the low power would give a short range but mainly because the cost of equipment to operate in this band would be prohibitive.

The more knowledgeable CB enthusiasts made a counter proposal to use a frequency around 220 MHz. This was immediately dismissed by the government who pointed out that it was a reserved military frequency band.Nichols, R. (1995, p20): The Complete CB Radio, London: W.H. Allen & Co. It was subsequently discovered that the frequency had been unused since the Second World War. The government initially refused to relent and continued their insistence on legalising the 928 MHz band. The CB lobby continued to insist that any CB system had to use the 27 MHz band, be AM and a maximum output power of 4 watts (i.e. the US system).

Ultimately, the government hinted that they were going to give in to the CB lobby but, as it turned out, only up to a point. CB was eventually legalised on a 27 MHz band but not the band used in the US. Whereas the US used a band occupying the range 26.965 to 27.405 MHz, the UK system was to operate on 27.60125 to 27.99125 MHz. These awkward frequencies would prevent illegal US sets from being modified outside of the type approval system, though it was possible to have existing A.M. radios modified to comply with the new F.M. standard.Town, R. (September 1981) Medics Need Their Ears On. CB World. Volume 1. Number 7. p23. The choice of frequency would also give the UK electronics industry a head start in the production of unique UK only radios. The system was FM as expected, but one initial surprise was that the power limit was set at 4 watts. The surprise was short lived when it was realised that antenna restrictions would limit the real radiated power to little more than a 500 mW system. A further restriction on power applied if the antenna was elevated by more than from the ground. The antenna restrictions were largely ignored and, in the main, unpoliced.

The government of the day had hoped that UK-based manufacturers would be able to compete on a level playing field with foreign (notably Japanese) manufacturers for a share of the potential market. As it happened: the awkward choice of frequencies conspired against this ideal. The frequencies were such that, initially, only one manufacturer in Japan had the capability of producing the frequency synthesiser chips capable of producing the transmission frequencies and the local oscillator signals for use in receive mode. This manufacturer, not surprisingly, refused to supply any UK based manufacturer while it was attempting to keep Japanese manufacturers supplied. In the event, the UK market saturated within a few months and many Japanese manufacturers and UK importers were left with vast amounts of unwanted stock. Within a year of the introduction of CB to the UK, CB radio sets were being given away free with some purchase or other by many of the major retailers.

In addition 20 channels in the 934 MHz band were also legalised, but equipment was considerably more expensive than the well established 27 MHz sets. At first the range was limited, but as antenna restrictions were lifted and better equipment started to appear, the number of UHF CB operators grew. In 1988, it was announced that the manufacture of 934 MHz equipment would be prohibited, though the use of existing equipment would remain legal. Its use largely confined to enthusiasts and amateur radio operators, the type approval specification for this band was finally withdrawn on 1 January 1999 and it is now illegal to use this equipment in the UK.

An additional frequency band was introduced on 1 September 1987 giving a further 40 channels in the CEPT Band, (26.965 MHz to 27.405 MHz) also some antenna restrictions were lifted, over the past few years all antenna restrictions have been removed and planning constraints now restrict antenna size rather than regulatory compliance. It is not permitted to add the CEPT channels to existing 27/81 equipment, the only radios permitted to operate on this band are purpose-made 80-channel or CEPT-only sets.

Associations and groups

Countless CB related clubs and groups have existed over the years, including some more notable organisations: NATCOLCIBAR (NATional COmmittee for the Legalisation of CItizens BAnd Radio) REACT UK (Radio Emergency Associate Communications Team – later changed to Radio Emergency And Citizens Teams) MSGB (Monitoring Services of Great Britain) THAMES (Traffic Help And Monitoring Emergency Service) REVCOM (Radio Emergency Volunteer Communications)

NATCOLCIBAR

The National Committee for the Legalisation Of Citizens' Band Radio was a pro CB lobby consisting of interested parties and (at one point) up to 60 members of Parliament.Nichols, R. (1995, p25): The Complete CB Radio, London: W.H. Allen & Co.

REACT UK

REACT UK was formed in 1982,O'Mayes, R. (July 1987). 25 Years of REACT History. the REACTer. Volume 21. Issue 4. p5. under licence from REACT INTERNATIONAL in the United States, its teams were located across the UK. It was noted for its members signing on and off monitoring on Channel 9. REACT UK also provided members equipped with mobiles and handheld to provide radio coverage for marathons, fun runs, county shows – it also obtained a Private Mobile Radio (PMR) licence so its members had a secure private radio channel.