CB RADIO Newbie. Getting started on SSB. (Single Sideband) 

As someone who hasn't been on cb for over 10 years when it was just 40 channel ,this is great video.your one of best I seen showing people how to start for first time or coming back to cb. Well done.keeep up good work.

Revisiting some of your earlier videos Fred! I cant believe this video is 5 years old! It was these videos that brought me back to radio!

Brillant run down... Ohhhh the early 80s, Ham International Multimoede II, yards of RG213, an Avanti Sigma IV... And a signal processor. A wonderful period and experience.

Very good video, very informative. I'm in the US but it's fun to see how CB In the UK and Europe works.

What I like about CB sideband is it's ability to skip very long distance on low power. I always had barefoot non amplified radios and I never could shoot skip on AM. Its near impossible without lots of power. But on sideband my 32 watt radio can talk all over the country. My first transmit on lsb I made contact with Canada from here in southern USA. And to make it even more impressive I'm doing it on a Mobil and magnet mount antenna on my pickup truck. It's amazing how much better ssb works for long distance with barefoot low power and small Mobil antenna. I should have bought a ssb radio years ago Anyone reading this debating on upgrading to a CB with sideband...just do it. It's worth it

I wish i had seen the movies about this CB radio a lot sooner... That would have saved me money!!! ;-)

Iv learned more in this video than any other video on RU-vid, great 👍

Hi Fred, just returned to radio from 80s got 69900 v FOUND THIS VIDEO EXTREMLY HELPFUL, THANK YOU

I recently picked back up the hobby(that’s because in my home country Romania, a lot of drivers use ch 22 on EU). I’m only 30 yo, but in my early teens I used to go to extracurricular school of electronics(that’s the rough translation from Romanian). I can’t wait to return to The UK and use my radio as a base station. Thank you very much for all the information you put up on RU-vid, it really helped me to update my knowledge in a short time. Hope to catch you on CB. Cheers

lol old codgers love it fred I dont have fb dont want to know what people had for dinner but you have made me think. great vid as usual.

Great video Fred, I was into CB back in the early 80's, got my Ham ticket in the early 90's and stopped it all due to working/raising family etc, so after a 26 year gap have started re-building the shack. Time to get over the mic shyness all over again :) Keep up wit the great video's 73 :)

Nice to hear you Fred long time since the days I was active, with base station 2 on the mike 1 nightwing would have been the handle and VP02 the call sign on 11 mtrs just come back on from cyprus new call sign 110 TD 02 so will keep my ears open for you and others that may still be about like frank VP07 or the WT group 73s and 51s to you and family ..

Hi Fred, I have listened to you for several sessions and enjoyed you presentations helping new people, I am ZL3 JMC In New Zealand. back in the good old days (to punt a phrase,) I was one of about 2000000 CBers. maple leaf was my first handle then became 41 ALFA TANGO. then 20 years 17 ago became a radio Ham. When all restrictions of covet are lifted here in NZ will be back to UK for 3 or four years on the canals. I plan on getting a (UK) CB and I will bring my yaesu FT-900. keep the good work up Fred... John

Fred top post you’re a comms guru.

Hi Fred I’ve now got my 6900 up and running getting some good contacts. As I said I’ve got a 3m with a silver rod tied with luggage straps to the garden fence post works great and easy to get down for adjustments. Very pleased with the setup since coming back into Cb.

Just come across your video Fred. Blimey, this takes me back. Not been on CB since the mid 80s. I am a ham now, but tbh, I don’t use that much. Much get into CB radio again, and see what’s happening. I do have a few radio’s but no antenna as yet, apart from an old Silver Rod, which hasn’t been connected since the mid 90’s! I have been looking at the Antron 99. You have a new subscriber.

Very well done! Thank you.. Old timer here trying to get back into the modern electronic style radios and the states here changed it to where fm is allowed on the cb now, just wish President would do a am/fm/lsb/usb all in one radio here like they do for the UK. Actually sent a email to them and they replied and said " we expect to have an all mode CB in 2023". Its either am/ssb or am/fm for a radio choice here in the states for now, and far as trying to get someone to work on a 10 meter radio to allow the cb range is hard to come by these days. Also going to pass this video around to some people whom are just getting into the cb/ssb, going to send them here because i think you make a good teacher for the new person just getting into it! Enjoying your channel here in the states/ 73!

VERY helpful... thanks!

[Short version] nice easy video to follow Fred. Well done.

I drifted away from CB in the early 90s when I got my ham ticket, G0RJI,back then you needed something like the hy gain V for SSB which was totally illegal,26.285 lsb was just as popular a calling frequency as 27.555 usb ,the sunspot peaks were much stronger than more recent highs and Stateside and even Australia was much easier even on something like a Thunderpole,no Yagi needed,but recently 10,11 meters seem to be mostly sporadic E openings. The risk of SSB use and the need to keep overs short and figuratively keep looking over your shoulder for the DTI officials was a good incentive to get the ham license. It was only recently I found out that SSB was legalized for CB,wow what a privilege,things have moved onwards and upwards.

Great information. Watching from Kentucky “ The Bluegrass State “ in The U.S.A Thanks my friend

Really enjoyable and informative Fred. Thank you

another cracking video fred look forward to the nxt one

5 or 600 views??....or 41 thousand? well done Fred

Hi Fred. I left the last message before I watched this video. You explain quite a lot that I wanted to know. I just picked a random video to message you on. It pays to watch a video before sending a message :).

Enjoyed your video....I learned a lot! Thanks for the upload.

Hi Fred! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and knowledge . Since I am pretty much confined to mostly my house these days I have been thinking of and learning about ham radio and refreshing what little I remember about cb transmission from my youth in the 70s.

Hi Fred, well done buddy.. its a long way from my Harrier CBX.. great content..

Another helpful one Fred. Keep up the good work. I never had ssb back in the day (in the 80s), but am seriously thinking I'll be dabbling if/when I return.

Thanks for posting Fred xx

Very well explained Bro.. That was a massive information upload.. And for sure ,stay away from Negative signals...

Dude thank you for sharing. I sincerely hope you are blessed.

Thanks Fred this vidio was really useful I' am having the same problem with mine

Great video and I have this radio its fantastic.. Cheers 73's

Hi Fred . Thanks for a great video. You certainly get a fully equipped radio for your money. I have priced one up today , can't believe the price . Ordered one today fully loaded with PC interface and software.£ 158.00p . can't go wrong. I have moved away from amature radio seems dead around my area and moving more to the CB radio . As CB looks more easy going and less expensive too. Good tip on Facebook setup neaver thought about it. 73 David

Hi Fred the video was a great help I was getting frustrated in till I see your video thanks

Hi Fred, just found your excellent channel. Yes i am in my 50s and I loved my radios in the day. Time to dig them out of the attic I think!!!

Brilliant Fred keep it up 👍

The E-layer is important in the propagation of 10 & 11 Meters, the more charged the E layer is the more the band is open. Another important layer for 10 & 11 is the F2 layer with sunspots of which you can get double-hop F2 propagation and have worldwide contacts via the F2 layer. We are in a low cycle, however that does not mean the band won't open, but it might not open as much and the openings could be very brief in nature.

Such a good vid we'll overlook the bit about fb.

Brilliant video thank you I’ll start off looking at all the videos

Thank for quick reply

not been on a cb radio since the 1980, just looking at getting one again

Brilliant video! I learnt alot.Thanks.

i got one Fred, it's brilliant, got all the channels tuned as i want. good video. thanks.

Good video as always, thanks

Absolutely great video Fred👍👍 and yes my own mother going on for 80 is also more active on FB than me !!

Thank you helping me get there

Another great video Fred, All the best, 73 to you and yours

Very helpful thank you

Cracking vid mate, just setting up again after a 25 to 30 year break - very useful :)

Another great video - Thanks Fred :)

CB-radio is a great fun, but the CRT6900N is illegal for CB use, the power is to much. But, the differance between 4 and 40 watts is just a few s-points, anyway,.. i had one a few years ago, and i had lots off fun with the radio. Now i am using an HF-set, 10 - 160 meters 120 watts all-mode,.. works pretty nice. Secondhand on e-bay, same cost as a new 6900, so, i have now also the 45 meterband, great fun.

They'll experience propagation on UK40 as you frequently get foreign stations calling for contact on the 19. But SSB is where its at.

I needed this! Thanks 👍

Another good video as all ways Fred take care hope you family OK mark from Loughborough Leicestershire ct 2674

nice one Fred

Hi Fred just getting back into CB after 40 odd years probably spent a little too much but who cares dont suppose it will be anywhere near as good as it was but willing to give it a try see how it goes ..am enjoying your channel so keep up the great work

Just ordered a 6900. Looks like a fun unit. I have a nice collection of classic cobras, uniden, and Midland radios.

remember the cobra 80 ussb lssb am fm 80 channel American cb great for lessening to the American's. you could not talk to them, but you did get the odd conversation .

Very nicely explained mate , i really like this rig, value for money and really does a lot, just purchased one myself with cable and software which i didn't really need because i already had it downloaded, anyway should be fun. Yup i am a returning cb'er from the 80's, QSO's from all over the world on a standard ssb rig from the car, skip was insane then mate. So this one really appealed to me because i prefer the knobs to pushing buttons, a bit old school, but still plenty of menu functions to let you know where things are. Cheers and beers!

great job.

Nice one fred

Enjoyed the video Fred. CT2625 Keep it up.👍🏻

You are worth your weight in gold my friend thank you

Nice video. I started on Side band on the CB. Then i got my Ham ticket W2CSI.com it is a lot of fun.

The Radio looks a lot like a Cobra I could be wrong but that's fine it's what I see Enjoyed the the Vlog keep going WAVEN from So.Cal

Great video as usual Fred. Thorough and easily understood for newcomers. Face book:Fred your right, its mostly anonymous old farts like me. I was talked into joining by my daughter. Fun if you use the old adage No Name No Pack drill LOL. Thanks again Fred for the memory refresher. Take care.

Hi Fred. I acquired from a ham radio enthusiast a couple of years ago a Galaxy Big Rig DX95t2 which has never been used and is still in it's box. I was thing about setting up another antenna where I had one 20 years ago but are the frequencies dead, just don't want to go all through the agro to find nothing out there. 73's

thanks for taking the time ;O)

After early problems with a bad a99 base, I'm thoroughly enjoying my 6900.

Cheers fred

i remember reading 25 years ago that Sideband is 10x more efficient when transmitting, so 10w sideband is like 100w FM

Just bought this radio as a newbie to the hobby, problem I’m having is the dc hi warning beeps when the engine is running but not when turned off, I have had my alternator and battery checked and they are ok, running at 14 and 14.3v. Radio bought from jabber on eBay.

if you press in the clarefer you can tune without the clicking for a short while.

If the signal is being bounced off the ionosphere then it shouldn't matter transmitting on low ground. Mountains would be no obstacle.

Very good Enjoyed

hi i really like your videos. ive built your power supply in a tool box. its great. thank you

Hey Fred, 4W188 hear. Question, do you have the 50 abbreviations in the hidden service menu of the 6900 or the 5555 plus, deciphered into full words and if so would you be kind enough to share it with me?

Thanks for an extremely helpful video, Fred - I’m new to the hobby and this was just what I needed. I have one question (and forgive me if you’ve already covered this), is there a recognised calling frequency/channel for local contacts? I see you often use 27.305 on some of your videos, is that a calling channel or a commonly used local frequency? All the best from Dave CT3382 in Cheshire.

Hi.. thank you for this video 👍🏻 subd

Is your single sideband a phase locked loop radio? I used to modify phase locked loop single sideband radios to go above channel 40 and below channel 1 and modify the clarifier to swing the transmitter with the receiver. Ah, those were the days in the mid 70's for single sideband radios. I had a 250 watt linear base station with a hole drilled in the top of my radio with a tuning wand stuck in the oscillator so I could swing it either up or down depending on if I were above 40 or below channel 1. The most desirable radios back in the mid 70's were Sears and J.C. Penny's single sideband radios that were phase locked loop radios which could be modified very easily with just a cut in the trace on the circuit board and a couple of SPST switches to choose the frequency. I had a Fluke freq counter set up on my base station with an SWR meter so I could tell where I was (frequency) and maintain my standing wave ratio at nearly 1:1. I had a 1/2 wave ground plane antenna and could talk around the world with my rig. Sold it all when I moved from the Atlanta area to Tennessee. My dad (age 95) still has some of his old radios and linear amps that I plan on getting. I've got his old freq counter so, if I can round up an antenna, I just might put up another base station. I stayed just below the 10 meter HAM band usually around channel 60 on the upper side band. I talked to more HAM radio operators than CB radio operators 'cause most people had 40 channel radios. It sure is a lot quieter upstairs than it is on channels 1 to 40. I kinda miss those days. I liked using the Q codes rather than all that 10-4 good buddy crap. After QSK you should report QRT and QSX--quit transmitting and listening.

great 👍

having trouble getting the swr right on my crt xenon, any advice would be great or how you made the antenna you tried in the loft fred , thanks

I used SSB on a CB many years ago in the late 70s early 80s using a Cobra 148GTL DX, haven't used CB for a number of years. Quite an informative article Fred but you seem to be saying you can only use SSB for DX conversations when the propagation is right. What you've overlooked is SSBs use in the UK over longer distances than FM or AM, I used to regularly set up on top of a hill or high point and have conversations with other CB'ers many miles more than with the usual FM.

Nice video..I was on the air in the 90s i remember the super star 3600 and cobra 14 gt dx were the radios most people wanted for DX there were said to be the same radio different cover i see now there is the radio you CRT Superstar 6900 and a Ranger version of the SSA 3900 I was wondering if it was CRT who made the SS 3600 way back in the day and if its the same company making the SS 6900 I ask because i am thinking of setting up a radio again and i thought i will try and get a cobra 148 or ss 3600 if im lucky get 1 in good shape but it looks like it would be a safer and better choice to get one of these new crt ss radios

Just curious but what is that piece of gear mounted underneath your radio? Wondering if its an antenna tuner ?

I like your radio with the built in freq counter. Does your transmitter swing with the clarifier frequency? Easy mod if it doesn't.

Hi Fred. Been away from CB for years now, marriage got in the way and so did work! What are the legal frequencies and antennas we can use these days. My power supply exploded th last time I used it, so that stopped me and then the missis came along and then family! Power supply needs a new electrolytic capacitor which I did get but have moved housed twice since then. I have seen bits of the power supply still waiting on the repair, but only bits of it :-(( so I might have to do something about it. I have been around Ham radio a bit more than CB, but I never bothered to get my licence either, just to busy! Now I am am not busy I don't have the money anymore! Such is life. Anyway, your guide is not bad and is well good enough to start with. What I would suggest for a starter is just to talk to some locals having a chat until they get a bit of confidence. I remember my first time way back in the AM days. Then I got involved in Pirate Radio, but that is another story. I have worked a lot of Europe and quite a bit of it on legal UK stupid channels, thankfully a lot of others had Ham Jumbos in Europe and was able to slide the transmitter across to UK FM. Anyway, a nice video for beginners Fred, keep up the good work.

I'd sooner chat this way Fred.

hey Fred. did you make a video about that rf pre-amp? or a video about preamps? personaly i am woried you get more qrm and that you overload the receiver.

On 11 meters in the USA we use LSB not USB, so if you are trying to make a contact in the USA it will be LSB. I have a Galaxy 93T and a Stryker 955 HPC that I run. Usually I use the Stryker, but I like my Galaxy the most, it is more of a collectors piece now.

Hi Fred. Ssb is just another mode like FM, I think the distinction is ssb is probably better for long distance contacts. Fm can be used fo dx but it’s favourable to use ssb

Hi Fred.quick question.which is better for mobile use,keep in mind even doe going to use for mobile use .Cb unit won't be fitted to car.only setup mobile when in use then boxed in boot when not used so the size of unit not concern. Looking at 2 units as want to use ssb . looking at CRT ss9900 expanded and CRT ss6900n. The buttons on ss9900 are small but good unit .told gets hot with heat sink but be using mostly on ssb and ss6900n buttons ggod size and easy to use. The click not bother me . I'm at odds which one to get .

I'm in Switzerland... ever run skip with somebody here? What is the best practice if I were, for example in UK, should I have a Tango Charlie or just call with my Swiss CB callsign?

hi mate, what extension speaker are you using and any info on that toggle switch mod? cheers from OZ

Great video fred loved it OFCOM WILL BE SEEING YOU SOON all the best have a nice day

Nice Fred. What kind of antenna you used? And what happened woth your facebook?

Fred I've got a ss6900n ,are you best testing swr on uk40 ? If so what about side band ,and also if I set up my swr and its in range ,if you turn the rf power up it sends the swr out again,how do you go on with this ?thanks Ade ct3396

Hi Fred I used to be on cb years ago & I had a really good set up when I had house with my dipole up really high. 30 years later I live in a flat & in not aloud to put any dipole up. I bought a balcony aireal to try. I also live in a bit of a dip. Wat I want to know is the president Grant 2 the newish rig legal. Will I be able to pick up skip still on such a small aireal.