CB's in Europe

As Ofcom scrapped the UK CB licence[1], which used to be valid in Europe, does anyone happen to know what the rules are in Europe?

Ofcom helpfully say it "is likely to be permitted" but "you must check with the
administration of the country concerned".

While we're on the subject, has anyone (Tom?) considered how people will know what band/channel to find other teams on? We could all just (illegally) use one UK channel the whole way, or pick an EU one in a morning and hope it's clear all day?




[1] They were kind enough to write to tell me the week after I paid for my last one.

hmmm intersting thoughts , i suppose as well, does everyone have a CB with the EU channels on?

i have, but a couple of mates have cheaper sets that only have the UK 40 on.

Probably be best a question to fishmac, he seams really clued up with eurpoean legislation.

as far as channel goes, prob best having a breaking channel, doesn't need to be 19, but a channel that is the home or default, and then if anything special goiing on, or people want to have a chat on their own, they select another one??

theshortwayround wrote:

does everyone have a CB with the EU channels on?

What, there isn't a Midland 78+ in every Landy in Britain? I thought they were the standard first addon.

lol, i don't have the 78... Have the
Midland 48 Plus Multi though... loads a channels!!

Well folks, gotta say I'm a real technophobe when it comes to CB's. For some strange reason I've never got into the CB craze, both in this country and when on 4x4 excursions abroad.

I realise they are bloody handy, but personally when in convoys have always made use of a dozen hand-held radios I bought for the Land Rover and 4x4 shows I organise. I just hand them out and everyone seems to be happy.

However, Landy Rally is another matter entirely, so I have to rely on the knowledge of other folk.

OVER TO YOU ... OVER!

Hi,

Only a basic cheapo 40 one here, goes with the landy. Over!

looks like we'll be using the uk channels then!!
Sure it will be fine, we're not exactly staying on one place long enough for any problems are we, and also this way it avoids and language issues or clashes with the locals!

Over

I've got a spare 78+ (all the UK and Euro channels), fully equipped with lots of velcro, I could bring if anyone wants to borrow it for the trip. May have a spare magmount aerial, too, somewhere.

i just bought a midland cb that has come with alittle booklet saying where cb radios can be used and cant be used and what channels to use in the countrys it looks like in most countrys they allow what ever 40 ch - 4w fm/am means
mines a cheaper 40 channel as well
cheers kieran

Monstar

CB...constant bit...cipher block...cheap bars.
Others know more than I do :
In general : No problem.
Most of the EU have agreed on the CEPT, which means as long as you have a
sticker on the equipment stating CEPT PR27 GB or similar cross-border traffic
without hassle and declaration. A ´Circulation Card´ ensures all´s easy.
Channels are similar all over the EU, e.g channel 9 for emergencies etc

BUT : it is the EU, after all.
Difficult to have any confirmation yet, but Italy is NOT in the game.
There are regulations entitleing the border police to destroy any equipment
carried without a license issued by the

Poste e delle Telecommunicazioni, Direzione (entrale Servizi Radioellectrici, Divisione VI, Viale Europa, 1-00100 Roma

According to my CB-nerd there have been cases where this actually happened -
I myself have never watched any driver or even the notoriously CB-eing truckdriver removing readioequipment from his car when approaching the italian border...

However, the permission takes months to process so I´ll get in touch with the
Italian embassy and update you asap.

George

Ouch, i always knew European union was a bit of a strange idea.

Destroying equipment without a licence? but here in the UK we don't have to have a licence, does that mean that as we're part of the EU that we don't need a licence anywhere? should do shouldn't it?

I guess i nworst case, on approach to Italy, we should all remove the arials (Esp long pingy ones - Kieran!! ) and cover or conceal our rigs, just so we don't upset the border patrols.

Tom, are we likely to be crossing borders in large groupls or in little trickles?

Failing that, i'll just grab a motorbike and head for the barb wire over the hill.......

(humming tune from the great escape....)

Over

not my aerial

we are building a box for mine because around here anything thats shiney doesnt last too long so it should be well hidden if needed.

cheers kieran

Monstar

i know Kieran, but i'm sure you can put it back on as soon as we leave Italy!!

I have a nice long one too......

Although i am looking at getting a slightly better one with a bit more range, esp as min is a little bit bent, and the paint is scratched where i park in a car hole so it's always getting bent over on the metal roof supports!

Little trickles; in fact we'll be doing little trickles all over Europe.

You'll be surprised how teams naturally split into small groups, so it's rare to have a mass processions - something that can easily wind up the locals. It's different at Start Lines or on the open road, but as in the UK, groups of several vehicles can often irritate the NIMBY's. Best avoided, especially at unfriendly borders!!!

uh, NIMBY's?

Not In My Back Yard.

Ahhh Cheers for that, it all becomes clear!!! Been a long day - actually, a long month!! roll on september!

Ill be buying a CB in the next few weeks for the trip, any tips on what is best, most decent set ups seem to be about £100. More importantly how do I avoid the temptation to turn into something from smokey and the bandit?!?!?!?

Too late!

advice, check back through the last few posts, suggest as many channels as you can get, make sure get along range whip and get a good ground plane, esp if it's going on a defender as the ally roof sin't great!

I use Thunderpole, they have a really good set up, and mark stuff suitable for 4x4.

ardvark2345 wrote:

Ill be buying a CB in the next few weeks for the trip, any tips on what is best, most decent set ups seem to be about £100.

I like midland rigs. Have a 1982 model still going strong. Never even needed to clean the insides of the controls.

Midland 78+ Multi - UK + Europe, just select the country you're in from the menu. £60 to £80. No PA (For shouting at people), but works well, and has a scan function to search for other people.

Aerial: Lots to select from, but pick one with a base load spring. If it's going on a landy roof it needs to be very flexible over its whole length. Not the most efficient design, but more likely to survive. £10 - £15.

Aerial mount: Pick one that will attach to a horizontal pole on the top of the landy, so if it gets snagged on smoething it's more likely to twist than snap (you don't want to find your radio leaping out of its mount because the aerial wire is now in a tree behind you...). For mounting lower down, this is less of a risk. Stud Mounts can be put through bodywork or bumpers, but make sure they are well waterproofed before wading. Never use a lip or gutter mount - they are often stronger than lip or gutter. £1 - £15.

Cable: RG58U - NOT tv coax. Plugs and cable for a landy should come in at about a fiver.

yeomanselectrical on ebay is where I picked up the gear we put in the landy. 78+, mount and Springer aerial for about £80.

Found these, may be of use, or amusment...

http://www.cbgazette.com/slang.html

10-1 = Receiving poorly
10-2 = Receiving well
10-3 = Stop transmitting
10-4 = Message received
10-5 = Relay message to _____
10-6 = Busy, please stand by
10-7 = Out of service, leaving the air
10-8 = In service, subject to call
10-9 = Repeat message
10-10 = Transmission completed, standing by
10-11 = Talking too rapidly
10-12 = Visitors present
10-13 = Advise Weather/Road conditions
10-16 = Make pick up at _____
10-17 = Urgent business
10-18 = Anything for us?
10-19 = Nothing for you, return to base
10-20 = My location is _____
10-21 = Call by telephone
10-22 = Report in person to
10-23 = Stand by
10-24 = Completed last assignment
10-25 = Can you contact _____
10-26 = Disregard last information
10-27 = I am moving to channel _____
10-28 = Identify your station
10-29 = Time is up for contact
10-30 = Does not conform to FCC rules
10-32 = I will give you a radio check
10-33 = Emergency Traffic
10-34 = Trouble at this station
10-35 = Confidential information
10-36 = Correct time is
10-37 = Wrecker needed at
10-38 = Ambulance needed at
10-39 = Your message delivered
10-41 = Please turn to channel
10-42 = Traffic accident at
10-43 = Traffic tie up at
10-44 = I have a message for you
10-45 = All units within range please report
10-50 = Break channel
10-60 = What is next message number?
10-62 = Unable to copy, use phone
10-63 = Net directed to
10-64 = Net clear
10-65 = Awaiting your next message/assignment
10-67 = All units comply
10-70 = Fire at _____
10-71 = Proceed with transmission in sequence
10-77 = Negative contact
10-81 = Reserve hotel room for ______
10-82 = Reserve room for _____
10-84 = My telephone number is ______
10-85 = My address is _____
10-91 = Talk closer to the microphone
10-93 = Check my frequency on this channel
10-94 = Please give me a long count (1-10)
10-99 = Mission completed, all units secure
10-200 = Police needed at _____


Enjoy!

theshortwayround wrote:

Found these, may be of use, or amusment...

10-codes are dead. I prefer the '13 codes' for comedy value:

13-1 All units can copy you and think you're an idiot.
13-2 Yes, I copy you, but I'm ignoring you.
13-3 You're beautiful when you're angry.
13-4 Sorry 'bout that, Big Fella.
13-5 Same to you, Mack!
13-6 OK, so I goofed, none of us are human.
13-7 If you can't copy me it must be your fault because I'm running 3,000 watts.

13-20 Is your mike clinking or are your uppers loose again?
13-21 Good grief are you being paid by the word?
13-22 Lady, is that your voice or did you install a steam whistle?
13-33 If you had spoken for another 30 seconds you would have been eligible for a Broadcast Station license.
13-24 Y'know, you made more sense last time when you were smashed.
13-25 Some of the local operators and I have chipped in to purchase your rig from you. Have you considered stamp collecting?
13-26 Next time you eat garlic would you talk farther from the mike?

13-40 Your signal sounds great, now shut off the set phone me so I can find out what you want!
13-41 Either my receiver is out of alignment or you're on channel 41.
13-42 Either my speaker cone is ripped or you better try it again when you sober up a little.
13-43 That was a beautiful 10 try it with your mike connected.
13-44 I love the way your new rig sounds, now I know why the manufacturer dis-continued that model so fast.
13-45 Your transmitter must have a short circuit because there's smoke coming from my loudspeaker.
13-46 That's a new antenna? could get a better signal out of a 6-inch piece of damp string!
13-47 What a fantastic signal-give me a few minutes to bring the mobile unit to your driveway so I can copy your message.

Excellent, never seen those ones before, i like 'em!!

hello,
does anybody know if the midland cb radio "alan 121" is uk channel or europe channel
cheers kieran