CB's in Europe

kieran wrote:

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

Both.

You tell it what country you are in, and it enables the relevant channels.
Does UK FM, and Euro FM, and where allowed Euro and Euro2 AM.

there is an fm and an am button and i did notice that it said EU on the lcd screen that is what made me ask because i thought it was a uk cb but i havnt found anything in writing to say that, also it came with a guide book saying which channels in differant countrys are legal, im guessing that this means its an EU cb as well as UK

cheers kieran

kieran wrote:

there is an fm and an am button and i did notice that it said EU on the lcd screen

If you hold the AM/FM button for 3 seconds, it should change to UK.

There's a combination to set the country - try holding down AM/FM and SCAN, then turning it on. When it's set to UK, it will only use FM.

To answer my own question ...

andybloke wrote:

...does anyone happen to know what the rules are in Europe?

...ignore the word 'code' it's a formatting thing

Code:

UK:          No licence.  UK or CE channels, FM only.
France:      No licence.  CE/EU channels, FM or AM.
Belgium:    No licence.  CE channels, FM only.
Luxembourg:  No licence.  CE channels, FM only.
Germany:    No licence.  CE or DE channels, FM only.
Switzerland: No licence.  CE channels, FM only.
Italy:      Itallian licence is required.
Andorra:    ???
Spain:      No licence.  CE channels, FM only.

Radios on UK frequencies can only be used in the UK.
CE and EU channels are the same thing, but CE usually implies FM only, this used to be known as "Mid Band".
German DE band is CE (1-40), plus American "Low Band" (41-80).

Thanks for all your research andybloke :star: Are people considering applying for an Italian licence or just putting their equipment away in Italy?

Lu :bom:

I'm thinking for just a day or so putting the kit away, unless it's really simple, cant really see the need to get one.

A bit like buying English wine, great idea, but do you need to!

Lu and Tweedie wrote:

Are people considering applying for an Italian licence or just putting their equipment away in Italy?

I'll be putting a quick release on the aerial (port and ferry height restrictions), so just popping that off in Italy, and hiding away the handheld.

The quick releases are really handy, but you do need to chop three inches off of the aerial to make it the correct length again, and it makes it easier for people to steal.

PMR walkie talkies and mobile phones are allowed, so we'll be using those if we need them.

.a :@:

Yeah, i looked at quick release mounts, but the locals round here would probably benifit more than me from it!!

Just going to unscrew the arial and disconnect the rig and hide it away on approach to Italy. as you say PMR and mobiles allowed, so that will do.

:arrow:

theshortwayround wrote:

Yeah, i looked at quick release mounts, but the locals round here would probably benifit more than me from it!!

We're only fitting it for the trip for the same reason.

My van, however, has a quick release for the opposite reason - if it was bolted on, it would go missing, with the places I have to park up, but can easily chuck it in the back when in chavville, and it's been on a quick release on the drive at home for years.

On a slightly different topic ....

Anyone else have an Intek 520 handheld CB?

Picked one up at Billing. There are a whole load of countries that are disabled on the european model.
However, behind the middle batteries, just above a switch in the back, is a loop of wire. Lastnight I tried cutting it, to see what happens...

Now does 25.6 MHz to 30.1 MHz in 0.005 MHz steps, AM/FM, 4 watts, with just a few 0.01 MHz gaps. That covers ALL the HF CB channels in use on Earth today, nearly all the splits (not all the radio control frequencies though), some Maritime Mobile, 10M amateur band, space research and some other smaller services. If only it did duplex...

Ok, time to start speaking English please!!

Does that mean this Intek 520 thing is good? And cheap?

Further:
1. Do we need every channel on earth?
2. Even if you are supposed to have a license in Italy does it really matter if we dont? Dont think I could be arsed to disable / remove it just for a day - And a days silent driving could be a bit lacking. In this case, ignorance is bliss I thiknk!

VentureOverland wrote:

Ok, time to start speaking English please!!

Does that mean this Intek 520 thing is good? And cheap?

Seems a nice radio. £120 with a complete car kit. More expensive than car rigs, but fits in a pocket and has all the same features (except PA).

Quote :

Do we need every channel on earth?

Probably not, but it's the most versatile handheld I've found for under £200, and works everywhere. Personally, I'm interested in the other non-standard frequencies and was amazed at the ease of 'unlocking'.

So Andybloke, our rally hand held is now illegal in most of Europe!

BJ the pessimist

bj wrote:

So Andybloke, our rally hand held is now illegal in most of Europe!

Nooooo...... Out the box it worked on frequencies that are illegal on the continent (the UK ones)....

Hi, talking about CBs. Iwuold not register anythig in Italy since it is quite unlikely to get stopped by the police anyway. Specially with a foreign number plate. That's my experience in the last 8 years. Got stopped once w/italian plate, but rather cause the cop wanted to talk to me.

Antenna: there seems to be a great discussion in a german forum as where to put the aereal! Where do you put it on the Defender and what type?
Thanks, Kaya

kaya wrote:

Antenna: there seems to be a great discussion in a german forum as where to put the aereal! Where do you put it on the Defender and what type?
Thanks, Kaya

Mirror mount attached to the roofrack, in the middle at the front. Long springer aerial. Would actually work better in the middle of the roofrack, but it makes the space less useful.
The closer to the corners the mount is, the more directional it behaves. Bumpers are a definate no-no. Gutter mounts don't work terribly well, and you risk ripping the gutter off on a tree.

If you can get the mount on a horizontal front roofrack bar, at least it just twists backwards if it gets snagged on a tree.

I plan on attaching mine to a spare light bracket on the front of the roof rack.

Talking with Jon of Venture Overland about CB’s, he mentioned he had “one a long while ago… never liked it much”.

Then he said “had one in Africa – it was fab… Ended up talking to other vehicles on the trip about all sorts of things en-route!!!”



That prompted me to reply …



“Identical experience in Malaysia. Funniest was "Piss stop, piss stop" in a Chinese accent over the airwaves. Unwritten rule - blokes lined up to the right of the vehicles, girls squatting next to each other on the left. Simple yet effective”.



What do you reckon girls, think we could adopt same on Landy Rally?”

Tom Mc wrote:

“Identical experience in Malaysia. Funniest was "Piss stop, piss stop" in a Chinese accent over the airwaves. Unwritten rule - blokes lined up to the right of the vehicles, girls squatting next to each other on the left. Simple yet effective”.

What do you reckon girls, think we could adopt same on Landy Rally?

You've got one of these, then, Tom?
http://www.stickypod.co.uk/video_camera_mount.html

now i like that! if only i had a cam corder....

More good news! I just received the following info from Scottish ex-pat George McLaren-Thomson based in Germany, who I have to say has been a busy bee finding out about this and that legality-wise plus seeking written permission from the local burghers so we can all pass through their regions ‘hassle-free’. No half bad when you consider George isn’t even an Official of Landy Rally, but simply the former co-driver to Kaya who unfortunately had to drop out due to other commitments. Helpful or wot? Typical of the people connected with this event I’d say, it certainly seems to bring out the best in folk!!! Anyway, this particular snippet refers to Italy:-

As to the italian CB, so long as no one sticks a handset mic into any officials face, the embassy says it will be tolerated - unless there are five 10 ft arials on the car ...

Cheers George and thanks again, you’re working well mate!

Maybe honary offical status there??

What a great bloke.

Bravo! Thank you.

Maybe a co-driver for someone?

Unfortuanately he can't make it this year, but hopefully in the future. You'll like what he said as a footnote to his email:-

As for a quick drink during the Rallye : I am in France the week before and then have to take the daughter back to University in Scotland and return to southern Germany the next day- quite a tight schedule. If I can fit in a bottle of Bordeaux at some stage I will give you a call.

Yet another wine-drinker