Show Posts
16
10/11 meters / Re: Truck Drivers On 26.735 MHz AM Truckers On Free Band CB 1855 UTC 15 March 2024
« on: March 22, 2024, 1548 UTC »
Hearing truckers on 26.735 MHz AM right now 1130 local / 1530 UTC. Multiple carriers noted on frequency.
And yep, they're all over the band. Some activity on 27.905 MHz AM and 27.915 MHz AM, U.S. stations, but could be base stations vs. mobiles.
Most export rigs are 6-band radios (25.615 MHz - 28.305 MHz) with the bands labeled A-B-C-D-E-F, and a band switch in addition to the usual 40 channel selector. There's usually also a +10 kHz switch that allows access to the 5 skipped channels in each band.
The legal CB band is "Band D", so there's more available channels below channel 1 vs. above channel 40. Since there's more SSB activity above channel 40, it makes sense that more activity is on bands A/B/C.
This is true for the classic export radios like the Connex 3300 series, General Lee, General HP40W, Galaxy DX29, Galaxy DX33, Superstar 3900 etc. Some of the nicer radios like the Galaxy DX99 are 8 band radios (25.165 MHz - 28.755 MHz), either with the bands labeled A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H and the legal CB band being Band E. Some of these rigs have a LOW BAND/HIGH BAND switch plus a band switch (A/B/C or A/B/C/D or A-D/B-E/C-F). The Galaxy DX99 is a good example of this, with the legal CB band being High Band A.
Other radios, like the Superstar 121, General Grant Export, Superstar GR, etc. are 3-band radios. That is, LOW/MID/HIGH (or C/D/E). Mid band is the legal CB band, 26.965 MHz - 27.405 MHz. High band (Band E) is 27.415 MHz - 27.855 MHz and low band (Band C) is 26.515 MHz - 26.955 MHz.
There are variants of the Superstar 121 that were sold to the hunting market, the Connex Deer Hunter and Connex Coyote Hunter. The Deer Hunter is a three band radio, with the bands labeled B/C/D. So that highest band is the legal CB band - coverage being 26.065 MHz to 27.405 MHz. The Coyote Hunter is identical except it has four bands, A/B/C/D, you guessed it, D is the legal CB band, coverage is 25.615 MHz to 27.405 MHz. This fits with hunters and truck drivers and other users usually using the lower channels (as there are more channels to work with - 120 channels (3 bands of 40 channels, 3 bands of 45 channels if you count the +10 kHz switch), vs. around 65 channels available on the higher bands (and more SSB QRM).
Confusing, I know. Extra confusing when the radio does not have a frequency counter or frequency display. The standard 6-band 25.615 MHz - 28.305 MHz format is common enough that it's become the de facto standard.
There are, or were, truckers involved with logging in my area that hung out on 25.835 MHz AM. That's Channel 19 on band A. Local operators often use their home channel up or down one band as a "secret" channel...examples include using 26.885 MHz AM instead of 27.335 MHz AM (Channel 33 down one band). Another one is locals who use "Channel 50" (27.505 MHz AM) as a "side channel". Of course, its actually Channel 8 up one band.
Really helps to have a frequency display...or at least a printout of the channel plan.
I've been listening to two groups of truckers on 26.735MHz AM as I've been typing this. It's now 1147 local time - 1547 UTC and 26735 is very much active.
And yep, they're all over the band. Some activity on 27.905 MHz AM and 27.915 MHz AM, U.S. stations, but could be base stations vs. mobiles.
Most export rigs are 6-band radios (25.615 MHz - 28.305 MHz) with the bands labeled A-B-C-D-E-F, and a band switch in addition to the usual 40 channel selector. There's usually also a +10 kHz switch that allows access to the 5 skipped channels in each band.
The legal CB band is "Band D", so there's more available channels below channel 1 vs. above channel 40. Since there's more SSB activity above channel 40, it makes sense that more activity is on bands A/B/C.
This is true for the classic export radios like the Connex 3300 series, General Lee, General HP40W, Galaxy DX29, Galaxy DX33, Superstar 3900 etc. Some of the nicer radios like the Galaxy DX99 are 8 band radios (25.165 MHz - 28.755 MHz), either with the bands labeled A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H and the legal CB band being Band E. Some of these rigs have a LOW BAND/HIGH BAND switch plus a band switch (A/B/C or A/B/C/D or A-D/B-E/C-F). The Galaxy DX99 is a good example of this, with the legal CB band being High Band A.
Other radios, like the Superstar 121, General Grant Export, Superstar GR, etc. are 3-band radios. That is, LOW/MID/HIGH (or C/D/E). Mid band is the legal CB band, 26.965 MHz - 27.405 MHz. High band (Band E) is 27.415 MHz - 27.855 MHz and low band (Band C) is 26.515 MHz - 26.955 MHz.
There are variants of the Superstar 121 that were sold to the hunting market, the Connex Deer Hunter and Connex Coyote Hunter. The Deer Hunter is a three band radio, with the bands labeled B/C/D. So that highest band is the legal CB band - coverage being 26.065 MHz to 27.405 MHz. The Coyote Hunter is identical except it has four bands, A/B/C/D, you guessed it, D is the legal CB band, coverage is 25.615 MHz to 27.405 MHz. This fits with hunters and truck drivers and other users usually using the lower channels (as there are more channels to work with - 120 channels (3 bands of 40 channels, 3 bands of 45 channels if you count the +10 kHz switch), vs. around 65 channels available on the higher bands (and more SSB QRM).
Confusing, I know. Extra confusing when the radio does not have a frequency counter or frequency display. The standard 6-band 25.615 MHz - 28.305 MHz format is common enough that it's become the de facto standard.
There are, or were, truckers involved with logging in my area that hung out on 25.835 MHz AM. That's Channel 19 on band A. Local operators often use their home channel up or down one band as a "secret" channel...examples include using 26.885 MHz AM instead of 27.335 MHz AM (Channel 33 down one band). Another one is locals who use "Channel 50" (27.505 MHz AM) as a "side channel". Of course, its actually Channel 8 up one band.
Really helps to have a frequency display...or at least a printout of the channel plan.
I've been listening to two groups of truckers on 26.735MHz AM as I've been typing this. It's now 1147 local time - 1547 UTC and 26735 is very much active.