Use of CB radio both convenient and practical Personal communications have come long way sincel Alexander Graham Bell ini vented the telephone Today thanks to recenti developments in electronics technology Citizens Band Radio is rapidly becoming one of North Americas most popular forms of communica tions In Canada alone there are an estimated onehalf million people using CB units notes Tom Graham publisher of Can dian Tranceiver magazine And this year consumers will spend between $60 and $70 million on equipment according to spokesman for Canadian General Electric presently in troducing line of 4ochannel CB units to Canadians me use of CB radio for pc sonal communications is both convenient and practical For example motorists are using it to pick up useful information on traffic jams as well as road and weather conditions Businessmen are using it to dispatch messages to their delivery trucks Farmers are using it to keep in touch with their workers in the field CB units come in variety of types For example there are CBs designed for use in your car truck or boat there are handheld units and there are those designed for use in your home BUYING TIPS Obviously with this many different types shopping can be bewildering experience especially if you are first time buyer of this type of equip ment So to help you get the best value when purchasing CB unit here are few tips on what to look for from Canadian General Electric The first thing to look foreven before product performanceis the Depart ment of Communications type approval This is digit number which may be printed on the name plate of the unit or found on label at the back This number means that the unit has met with all the re quirements set down by the Department of Communi cations in Canada Only CB units bearing this approval number can be legally operated here The next item on the top of your shopping list should be performance The transceiver as the nameimplies is com bination transmitter and receiver Therefore per formance should be looked at from both these points of view Since the transmitter sends out signals talk power or the amount of power being put out is important The more power the further your signal will travel Power output is measured in watts transl ceiver should put out watts which is the maximum legal limit Since the receiver section picks up signals sensitivity or the ability to pick up and separate weak or distant signals is equally important Sensivity is measured in microvolts per metre UV The smaller the number the more sensitive the receiver Transceivers use tuned cur cuits called intermediate fre quency IF circuits for this purpose SQUELCH Another feature of the receiver is squelch This is an adjustment which eliminates misc when your transceiver is not picking up signal Many transceivers also have an automatic noise limiter ANL The ANL clips out noise generated from an outside source for example cars ig nition sytem neon lights or electric motors All transceivers have numbered dial which is used to select the channel or frequency you want to use With 40 channel unit you can select any one of 40 different channels on which to transmit or receive So to make it easier to read some dials are illuminated while others the ones used on models of General Electric transceivers have LED Digital display Another standard item is the microphone Some micro bones are attached to plug or easy removal while others are wired directly into the set There are microphones which have noise cancelling characteristics while others will increase or amplify your voice Another item which you may notice is metre Although the metre in no way affects per formance it does give you visual indication of how well your unit is working In most cases you can read power out when transmitting and signal strength when receiving So now that you know something about transceiver and its performance ask yourself how youre likely to use it If youre looking for transceiver for your car or truck mobile transcriver will meet your requirements Mobile transceivers operate on 12 volts direct current This is the same voltage which is used in your car Mobile tranceivers operate on 12 volts direct cur rent This is the same voltage which is used in your car Mobile transceivers can be mounted under the dashboard or directly into the dash in the same manner as tape decks For under the dash mounting brackets are used to hold the transceiver in place Some are adjustable so that the transceiver can be tilted to more convenient angle for use There are brackets which will lock the transceiver in place while others will allow it to be removed completely if so desired BASE UNITS On the other hand if you want transceiver for use in your home you should consider base transceiver Base transceivers have all the same basic features of mobile The only difference bing that base transceiver operates on 120 volts AC the standard voltage found in your home Base units will also operate on 12 Volts DC for use in campers autos etc Like most consumer products on todays market transcievers come in variety of styles and have many addi tional features to suit almost any personal taste For exam ple mobile transceivers may have provision for external speakers or public address system Others have indicating lights for transmitting receiv ing or modulation Power op tions for ACDC operations are also available As with any other type of transmitting or receiving device an antenna is essential There are many different types on the market There are an tennas which can be used with towers for base station opera tions and antennas with special mounting brackets for use on the road or trunk of your car Since transceivers come under Department of Com munications regulations licence is required Application forms can usually be filled out at the time of purchase small fee is also involved Upon receiving your license you will probably notice series of numbers which start with the letters XM This is your call sign which is used to identify you to other operators and with the Department One final point to remember ask to see copy of the warran ty and check about the avail ability of both service and in stallation from your dealer Canadian General Electric for example has service facilities throughout Canada if needed reputable dealer Will be pleased to give you this in formation and answer any questions which you might have so that youll get the most en joyment and use from your new lochannel transceiver Fullcolor QSL card XM cover card He Charles Kelly of 222 Bradford St Barrie is an club member This is the front of his fullcolor QS Save 25 on Sears wheel alignmentbalanCe Treadsaver wheel alignment Includes wheel balance Plus pom Moat cars Reg 2895 Mlsaligiment wears out tires fastl Sears wheel alignment gves you better steering control and longer tread life Well adjust caster camber set toein and bars Also adjust steering box centre steeringwheelandroadtestoar Partsand installation 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