CB or Business Band Radio: How can you tell?
Have you ever surfed the Internet trying to buy a CB radio only to get confused by the different types of two-way radio’s that are out there?
For someone not to familiar with this technology, it could be a little frustrating. There are some visual ways to tell the difference between a CB and a business band radio, without having to connect them to a power source first.
First of all, check the face of the radio for obvious markings that may distinguish what type of radio it is. For example, if wording such as Citizen Band Radio, or CB radio appear on the radio itself, which would be a dead giveaway that it is a CB radio.
No markings that can help you make that decision? Then try yet another approach. On the front of the radio in question; Does the radio have a SWR meter on its front panel? Or a digital display of LED lights that look like they would operate in a similar fashion to a VU meter. A SWR meter or LED audio type lights are a dead giveaway of an AM band transceiver radio (a CB radio). Business band radios won’t have these devices.
The back of these radios can also tell a story. Look at the back of the radio in question. The antenna connector can also narrow down the identification of the radio.
Though business band radios use different types of antenna connectors such as TNC, BNC, Mini UHF, and the ever so popular SO-239; A citizens band radio only uses the SO-239 antenna connector.
The SO-239 antenna connector is only compatible with a PL-259 antenna cord and plug. There is no such thing as a CB antenna that uses anything other than PL-259 cord and plug. These are large screw plugs with a diameter almost as wide as an American nickel.
On the back of the radio, the presence of TRS outlets accompanied by a SO-239 may also lean in the direction of a CB radio. Most CB radios use TRS outlets for hooking up external speakers or public address speaker-horns. Most business band radios won’t have these outlets in a TRS form.
Lastly, look at the microphone. Sometimes the microphone can tell a story too. If it is a DTMF microphone (telephone keypad on the microphone), it is most definitely not a CB radio, but rather a type of UHF or truncking radio for business or fleet use.
Reporter Joseph Toth
Washington Micro Bank BBS
