CB JARGON
For many years in the early days of CB radio in Australia, the national publication "CB Action", published a page entitled, - "Beginners start here." For the new chum who had just procured a CB transceiver, a wealth of information was available to introduce him or her into the traditions and jargon that would be helpful to a new-comer to this means of communicating which would present itself as a fascinating hobby. Reproduced here is a slightly modified copy from an early edition of CB Action, in the hope that it will still serve to educate readers who are now entering into the wonderful world of the Citizens Band Radio Service. It went something like this…
Welcome to CB Action magazine - the only regular CB publication in Australia and also the oldest, having been first published In 1977. The Citizen’s Band is a form of radio communication, which is popular around the world, however, unlike amateur radio; it is not necessary to pass an examination to go on air.
CB Action, though, is a little more than just CB. While CB is the backbone of the magazine, it also has reports and reviews on scanners, antennas, short-wave radios and other areas of general interest to radio communicators and listeners. In the course of reading the magazine (and on air) it is probable that newcomers will encounter words, which mean nothing to them. This short Introduction is to help those readers understand CB terminology and its application.
It should be stated right now that there is no special CB language. Many newcomers believe that they require a lecture on the basics of CB language before they can operate on air. This is simply incorrect. While some stations use esoteric CB jargon, all Australian CBers understand English and this is all you need, to go on air. A hour spent listening before going on air for the first time will be time well spent as you will hear hw to initiate a contact and how pass the conversation back to the other station and, really that's about all there is to it.
Even so, while it is not essential that you know and understand some of the various abbreviations used and/or the amateur “Q” code, it can be helpful to you. That is what this Introduction is all about.
QSO
A
contact (or conversation) with another station.
DX
Long
distance as in contact, usually interstate or overseas
OSL
A
card sent from one station to another confirming that these stations have been
in radio contact usually exchanged after a DX
contact.
QTH
Location,
if you re asked "what's your QTH ",
it is where you’re located.
SWR
This
stands for Standing
Wave Ratio. Essentially it is a measure of the antenna's effectiveness and is
read off an SWR
meter.
CQDX
A
station calling CQDX only wants a long distance station and not local.
AM
Stands
for amplitude modulation.
SSB
Stands for single sideband.
QSB means that the signal has a tendency to fade from strong so weak and back.
OVER
When
said it indicates
that an operator has finished talking and is returning the conversation back to
the other person. Also means a person’s turn in talking.
SKIP
If there are a lot of DX stations being heard, we say “the skip is running.”
BEAM/YAGI/ARRAY
Antenna system that increases (legally) the power output of the CB radio and can
be pointed at the other station for improved communication.
ROTATOR
Is
used to turn a Beam, Yagi or Array.
LINEAR
AMPLIFIER/ BOOTS/AFTER BURNER/etc. Illegal
equipment to increase the power output.
POWER
MIKE An
after-market accessory which can improve your station's talk power. Whether
or not they are legal has always been open to question.
QRM
When another station is making it difficult for you to hear due to being too
close to you, having
a radio in poor condition, running illegal power, etc.
QRN
Noise
made by atmospheric conditions or more likely static caused by poorly
installed electrical power lines out in the street or electrical circuits in a
car.
SWL
Short
Wave Listener
XYL
Usually
the wife
YL
Young lady, usually unmarried
DOUBLE
BUBBLE
Is a police vehicle.
KOJACK
Police
GOOD
BUDDY Term
that applies to operators who use American style CB jargon such as, “what's
your 10-20?" (location) or "that's a big 10-4," (ok,
affirmative.)
BREAKER
An
operator who wants to get into an existing conversation by calling “breaker”
in between the overs of others.
ACKNOWLEDGE
THE BREAKER Means
that you have been heard and will be invited to join in when the stations are
ready - In other words standby.
ALLIGATOR
A
derogatory term describing a person who talks too much and does little listening
– all mouth and no ears.
SANDBAGGING
To listen to a conversation
but not join in.
DUMMY
LOAD A
device, which should
be used when testing or tuning your radio.
LONGPATH
Pointing
away from a station you are speaking with.
SHORTPATH
Pointing
towards the station you are speaking with.
PIRATE
An
operator who works outside of the legal channels or runs Illegal equipment.
ATU
Stands
for Antenna Tuning Unit (or commonly known as a matcher), which is used to tune
your antenna to a good match with your
radio if the SWR is incorrect.
RI
Radio
Inspector (Governmental) also called Red Indians
TVI
Television
interference
EYEBALL
When CBers meet or get together for a social occasion
COAX
Stands
for coaxial cable, the link' between your rig and the antenna
WHIP
Mobile
Antenna.
BARBACUE
Weigh
Bridge
CONVOY
Procession
of mobile operators en route