The operation of Citizen Band
(CB) radios is authorised under
the
Radiocommunications (Citizen
Band Radio Stations) Class
Licence 2002.
This information paper provides
details of this Class
Licence.
Under a class licence,
all users operate in the same
spectrum segment on a shared
basis and are subject to the
same conditions. A class
licence
governs the frequencies that may
be used, commonly prescribes
equipment standards, and may
specify other technical and
operational parameters. class
licences
do not have to be applied for,
and no licence fees are payable.
Class licences
are 'issued' by the Australian
Communications and Media
Authority (ACMA) by a notice
published in the Commonwealth
of Australia Gazette. Class
licences commence on the day
after they are registered under
the Legislative Instruments Act
2003. the Citizen Band Radio
Stations Class Licence was
gazetted on 13 February 2002.
The Citizen Band Radio Service (CBRS)
is a two-way, short distance,
communications service that can
be used by any person in
Australia, whether it is for
recreational or domestic
purposes, or in connection with
work or business.
The service may be used for:
-
any form of voice
communications activity,
including those activities
related to voice
communications (ie selective
calling); and
-
telemetry and telecommand
applications.
CBRS repeater stations, however,
need specific frequency
assignments and are licensed
individually under
apparatus licensing
arrangements and are subject to
licence fees.
Operating
Frequencies
The CBRS operates on
designated channels in two
distinct frequency bands:
-
HF - 26.965 MHz to
27.405 MHz (inclusive);
and
-
UHF - 476.425 MHz to
477.400 MHz (inclusive).
CB radios must only be
operated on the channels
that are detailed in the
class licence.
Operation on a channel that
is not specified in the
class licence is a breach of
a licence condition. An
earlier equipment
specification, RB249,
allowed the use of two
channels, 27.095 MHz and
27.195 MHz these are no
longer approved for use.
CB radio equipment must not
exceed the maximum output
power that is specified in
the class licence. The
attachment of any external
devices, such as linear
amplifiers, to CB radio
equipment, for the purpose
of increasing the power
output of the transmitter,
is not permitted. This type
of operation is a breach of
the licence conditions.
Interference to television
and radio receivers and
other electronic equipment
may occur when a CB radio
transmitter is operated
nearby.
If operators find that their
CB radios are causing
interference to a nearby
radio or television
receiver, there are a number
of steps that can be taken
to minimise or eliminate the
problem.
To assist operators and
their neighbours to resolve
interference problems, ACMA
has produced several
booklets / information
brochures. They are:
These booklets / information
brochures are also available
from
Regional Offices.
CB and Amateur radio
operators should be prepared
to cooperate with the
affected television viewer
or radio listener and take
reasonable steps towards
resolving the problem.
Selective calling is a
technique used to enable the
reception of calls from
particular CB radios without
having to listen to other
users. Selective calling
uses the transmission of
audio tones that are
recognisable to receivers
fitted with a compatible
decoder.
Some CB radios come fitted
with a selective calling
facility using Continuous
Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS)
techniques.
The use of CTCSS is only
authorised on UHF CB bands.
HF CB radios may only use
SelCall.
Telemetry and
Telecommand
Telemetry is the process of
obtaining measurements and
relaying them, for recording
or display, at a distant
point. Telecommand is the
electronic remote control of
equipment.
Examples include:
-
monitoring water levels
in dams;
-
controlling equipment
such
as irrigation
pumps; and
-
opening and closing
gates.
The class licence authorises
the use of telemetry and
telecommand applications on
UHF channels 22 and 23.
Devices operating under the
class licence, must comply
with all
radiocommunications
standards applicable to
them. 'Standard' in this
context means a standard
made under section 162 of
the
Radiocommunications Act 1992
(the Act).
It is important that CB
radio users comply with each
condition in the class
licence. Section 132(3) of
the Act provides that:
'Operation of a
radiocommunications
device is not authorised
by a class
licence
if it is not in
accordance with the
conditions of the
licence.'
If any condition of licence
is breached (eg, operating
on a frequency not mentioned
in the class licence
or using an emergency
channel for non emergency
purpose) the operator is no
longer authorised to operate
under the class
licence.
In this instance, the
operator would be liable for
prosecution.
As well as specific
conditions spelt out in the
class licence,
operation of a CB radio is
also subject to the
provisions of the Act.
Uses not permitted
Other types of data
operation, such as Packet
Radio, are not permitted on
CB bands.
Voice communications is not
permitted on UHF CB channels
22 and 23.
Telemetry and telecommand is
not permitted on any channel
other than UHF CB channels
22 and 23.
Under the class licence system,
CB radio stations may operate
through a CB repeater station in
the UHF band.
Because UHF CB repeater stations
are usually located at hilltop
radiocommunication sites, their
frequencies are co-ordinated
with the frequencies of other
radiocommunications services to
prevent interference. They are
required to be covered under
separate
apparatus licences, not a class
licence.
When in range of a repeater
station, CB operators must only
use the repeater's assigned
channels for the purpose of
operating through that repeater.
Channels 1 to 8 are designated
as repeater output channels,
with channels 31 to 38 the
corresponding designated
repeater input channels. For
example, a repeater that
transmits on Channel 1 will
always receive on Channel 31.
When operated in duplex/repeater
mode, the CB radio automatically
selects corresponding
transmit/receive frequencies.
Repeater channels may be used
for single frequency
communications where they are
not used in the locality for
repeaters. Channels 5 and 35,
however, are dedicated for
emergency communications only.
Under the class licensing
arrangements, callsigns will not
be issued to individual users.
However, ACMA recommends that
operators use some form of
identification when
transmitting.
In the two CBRS bands, specific
channels have been set aside for
making initial contact with
other CB users. Under the class
licence, channel 11 (AM)
(27.085 MHz) and channel 16 (SSB)
(27.155 MHz) are the calling
channels in the HF band and
channel 11 (476.675 MHz) is the
calling channel in the UHF band.
The channels are to be used only
for initial calling.
Once a caller has made initial
contact with another CBRS
operator, he or she should move
to another channel to continue
the contact. This leaves the
call channel available for other
CBRS operators to establish
contact with each other.
There are specific channels
in the two CB radio bands
available for use in an
emergency. These are channel
9 (27.065 MHz) in the HF
band and channels 5/35
(476.525/477.275 MHz) in the
UHF band.
These channels are
designated for emergency
messages only and, under the
class licence, must not be
used for other purposes.
Although ACMA does not
monitor these emergency
channels, there are
organisations that do so
voluntarily - but not on a
full time basis, nor
Australia wide. These
organisations can assist in
contacting the appropriate
emergency service.
In an emergency, any CB
frequency may be used to
attract attention.
Where a CB radio station is
to be connected to a Public
Telecommunications Network,
it must be done in
accordance with the
Telecommunications
Labelling (Customer
Equipment and Customer
Cabling) Notice 2001
. For further information on
this matter, please contact ACMA's
Telecommunications Standards
and Compliance Team.
If you have any additional
queries relating to the
Citizen Band Radio Stations
Class Licence please
contact any
ACMA Office.
AM - Amplitude Modulated
SSB - Single Side Band