CB Radio, finally modernized.
Channel guide, legal power limits, 10-codes, skip conditions, and gear that's actually worth buying — built for the CB band, not a 2004 forum.
Don't Have a Handle Yet?
Every CB operator needs an on-air nickname. Generate one, or roll again till one sticks.
Nervous About Keying Up?
Every "just got my first CB" forum post is someone scared of doing it wrong. Practice the real scenarios here first — no one can hear you mess up.
Full 40-Channel Guide
Frequencies are fixed by the FCC nationwide. Channel uses below are widely-observed conventions, not law — regional norms vary, especially outside trucking corridors.
| Ch | Freq (MHz) | Common Use |
|---|
What's Actually Legal
CB is one of the only two-way radio services in the U.S. you can operate with zero license, zero test, and zero fee — as long as you stay inside these limits.
Measured at the transmitter output. This is the ceiling for standard AM CB operation — no license needed.
Single-sideband is legal on channels 36–40 and gets more range per watt than AM, at the cost of needing an SSB-capable radio.
Unlike GMRS ($35) or Ham (test required), CB has been license-free since 1983. Callsigns are optional, not mandatory.
SWR Doctor
The #1 thing every CB operator struggles with — and every guide answers with a wall of text. Enter your two SWR readings and get an instant, specific diagnosis: what's wrong and exactly what to do about it. Direct link to this tool →
Which Antenna & Mount For My Ride?
Wrong antenna for your vehicle is the #1 reason installs disappoint. Answer two questions and get the right setup — plus the ground-plane warning nobody tells beginners until it's too late. Direct link to this tool →
Is My Radio Actually Legal?
"Export" and "10-meter" radios are sold everywhere with no warning label. Owning one is legal. Transmitting on CB channels with one usually isn't. Search your model to find out. Direct link to this tool →
10-Codes That Still Get Used
CB borrowed these from police/emergency radio in the '60s and '70s. Half the original APCO list never caught on with hobbyists — here's the set that's actually still live on the band.
Today's Skip Outlook
Pulled from NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center feeds and translated into a CB-specific score — no other CB site runs this. Refreshes automatically; no need to reload.
Fetching current solar flux and geomagnetic data…
It's usually Sporadic-E, not solar skip
Most CB/11-meter skip is Sporadic-E (Es) — dense, patchy ionized clouds ~60 miles up that reflect 27 MHz easily. It's mostly a seasonal phenomenon (peaks May–August) and largely independent of the solar cycle. True F2-layer solar skip on 11m does happen, but only during strong solar-maximum periods with sustained high solar flux — it's the rarer of the two mechanisms on this band.
When to listen for it
Watch Channel 6 (26.965 MHz + freeband) first — nicknamed the "Superbowl channel" because that's where skip-hunters congregate. If Ch. 19 suddenly fills with unfamiliar accents and calls from three states away, that's your sign. Es tends to open in short windows, often mid-morning through evening.
Listen Live Before You Key Up
Public KiwiSDR receivers are general-coverage radios that happen to cover 27 MHz for free — you can hear real CB traffic (and check if skip is actually running) straight from your browser, no radio purchase needed. Receive-only — you can't transmit through these.
Skip Spots
The CB hobby has never had a live spotting network like ham radio's DX clusters. This is the first. When skip is running, post what you're hearing and see it appear for everyone else in real time.
Skip Log
Track every long-distance catch and watch your states-worked map fill in. Nothing leaves your browser — no account, no server, no ads on your data.
| Date | Ch | Worked | Dist. |
|---|
Gear Worth Your Money
No sponsored placements — these are the sets and antennas that consistently show up in long-term owner reviews, not the ones with the biggest ad budget.
About CB Radio HQ
Hey, I'm Michael Smith. My love for radio started when I was 7 years old, and honestly, it's never stopped growing since. I'm a licensed ham radio operator, and over the years that's pulled me into pretty much every corner of the radio spectrum — CB, shortwave, GMRS, you name it. If it transmits, I'm probably interested in it.
This site is a one-man operation. No team, no investors — just someone who thought the CB hobby deserved better tools than a 2004-era forum wall of text. Everything here — the SWR Doctor, the live skip outlook, the antenna picker, the hands-on reviews — I built by hand because I kept seeing the same questions asked over and over with no straight answer.
It's not my only project. I also run hqshortwaveradio.com for the shortwave listening side of things, and pocradiohq.com for Push-to-Talk over Cellular radios — different corners of the same lifelong hobby.
Since it's just me running this, I actually read what comes in. Found a bug? Got a feature you wish existed? Think I got something wrong on the channel guide? Tell me — I'm here for any suggestions or issues. This site gets better because the people who use it tell me what's missing.
Glad you're here. Now go check your skip conditions. —Michael
Scheduled Nets
Ham radio has net directories. CB never has — the few that exist are UK/EU-focused and charge for it. This one's free, US-focused, and starts with whoever submits first. If you host or know of a real recurring CB net, add it below.
Know a real recurring CB net? Be the first to submit it and it'll anchor the whole list.
The Guestbook
Old CB tradition, brought online: leave your handle, where you're transmitting from, and what you run. No login, no account — just like signing a logbook.
Be the first signature — sign above and it'll appear here once reviewed.