Collection: UHF CB

IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING UHF CB RADIO

The use of the Citizen Band radio service is licensed in Australia by the ACMA radio communications (Citizens Band radio stations) Class Licence. A General User Radio Licence for Citizens Band radio and operation is subject to conditions contained in those licences. The class licence for users and equipment operating in the CB/PRS 477 MHz band has been amended. This radio meets the new 80 channel standard.

In simple terms the same amount of spectrum is available; however, radio transceivers can now operate in a narrower bandwidth and hence use less spectrum. These radios are generally referred to as narrowband or 12.5 kHz radios. By using 12.5 kHz channel spacing instead of 25 kHz, the 40 channels originally allocated can now be expanded to 80 channels thereby doubling the channel capacity and relieving congestion in the UHF
CB/PRS band. Original 40 channel wideband Radios will continue to operate on the original 40 channels, however they will not be able to converse on the newer channels 41 – 80.

The newer narrowband radios will be able to converse with all older 40 channel wideband radios on all channels 1 to 40 as well as the newer channels allocated from 41 to 80.

The mixing of narrowband and wideband radios in the same spectrum can cause some possible operating issues of interference and varying levels of received volume.

When a new narrowband radio receives a transmission from an older wideband radio the speech may sound loud and distorted – simply adjust your radio volume for best performance.

When an older wideband radio receives a signal from a new narrowband radio, the speech may sound quiet – simply adjust your radio volume for best performance.

Depending on how close your receiving radio is to another transmitting radio, there can be interference from the transmitting radio if it is using a channel adjacent to the channel you are listening to. Simply try going up or down a few channels from the currently selected channel.

The above situations are not a fault of the radio but a symptom of operating wideband and narrowband radios in the same bandwidth. This possible interference will decrease over time as the population of wideband radios ages and decreases.

Further information and updates are available from the Australian Communications
and Media Authority (ACMA) at www.acma.gov.au