Citizens Band 2 way Radio in India

[misra_rakeshin]

Hi guys,

CB radio is now available in India on 27 Mhz frequency. To use it, you don’t need to pay any license fee and/or monthly rental/service charges to the Govt. Just buy and use it. It has 5 watt power which could give you 1-10 kms communication range depending on the type of CB Radio you use. It’s basically a peer to peer communication which means if there are 2 CB Radio's anywhere across India within communication range, they can communicate with each other. Great tool, useful and fun, for adventure excursions!

Let me know guys, if you need more information.

Enjoy.

[thakur]

Hi Rakeshin,

Where can we source this CB radio? Any website regarding this?

Regards.

[misra_rakeshin]

pl. go through the website- www.meracb.com

Rgds,

[mundaire]

I've been exploring this for a few weeks now. There are multiple reasons for someone to have such communication tools, no need for me to get into those here.

Citizens band is a license free HF band with a limit of 5 watts of power on AM/ FM.

However, before buying be sure to buy an India specific radio as our channel frequencies are different from other places. International brands like President, CRT, Uniden, etc. are being retailed here. My advice would be, don't buy online (the prices on Indian websites are unreal), in stead contact the local dealers/ retailers and ask them for offline quotations - they are much more realistic!

So, ordering something from overseas may/ may not work here. There is of course a bit of a premium to pay, while comparing with the overseas prices for the same models.

That said, one can always order some of the other accessories from overseas and save some money. You can buy appropriate 27 MHZ antennas, SWR meters etc. All of which will work just fine here.

For shorter range comms (under a mile or so), there is also the option of buying/ using 446 MHZ UHF license free PMR radios (with a 0.5 watt power limit).

Once again, the frequencies which are legal in India are not the same as for overseas. So either you buy India specific radios or buy something which can be reprogrammed using your computer, to comply with the Indian standard allowable frequencies/ channels.

Citizens band being a longer range option, has multiple uses, including but not limited to, convoy driving in areas where other comms may not be available.

PMR 446, due to its limited range, can be useful for comms in a factory/ farm/ other short range environment. Usually they are substantially cheaper as well.

[Able]

Interesting topic, I have been eyeing to get HAM licence but because of my rather remote location, the closest exam center is a bit far. I got some Chinese handheld radio though which I use to listen FM radio mostly.

[spin_drift]

Instead setup a LoRa network. if you like texting.

[drlizard]

Interesting topic, I have been eyeing to get HAM licence but because of my rather remote location, the closest exam center is a bit far. I got some Chinese handheld radio though which I use to listen FM radio mostly.

Please do that! !! Get licensed.. you just have to do it once...
I cleared the exam and got my callsign "VU2EHC".
I made a ton of HAM operator friends all over India..
It's an amazing hobby.. You learn something everyday and make new friends and contacts all over the world everyday.
I sat in my living room in Guwahati and talked to another HAM who was from Cape Town on the 10 metre band. That was my longest contact, nearly 9000 kms, long path.
We also have a VHF "Net" in Guwahati, we all chime in with our callsigns and chat for an hour or so at 9 or 10 PM. Some of us use handhelds with an external antenna on the roof.. Others use a base station with more power.

Go for it
You'll love it..

73 de VU2EHC
(Best regards from VU2EHC)

Dr Ankur Baruah
Guwahati.

[mundaire]

Instead setup a LoRa network. if you like texting.

You mean something like Meshtastic?

[mundaire]

Interesting topic, I have been eyeing to get HAM licence but because of my rather remote location, the closest exam center is a bit far. I got some Chinese handheld radio though which I use to listen FM radio mostly.

Please do that! !! Get licensed.. you just have to do it once...
I cleared the exam and got my callsign "VU2EHC".
I made a ton of HAM operator friends all over India..
It's an amazing hobby.. You learn something everyday and make new friends and contacts all over the world everyday.
I sat in my living room in Guwahati and talked to another HAM who was from Cape Town on the 10 metre band. That was my longest contact, nearly 9000 kms, long path.
We also have a VHF "Net" in Guwahati, we all chime in with our callsigns and chat for an hour or so at 9 or 10 PM. Some of us use handhelds with an external antenna on the roof.. Others use a base station with more power.

Go for it
You'll love it..

73 de VU2EHC
(Best regards from VU2EHC)

Dr Ankur Baruah
Guwahati.

Doc, I'd be happy to give the exam as well! However, they haven't been conducting it in Delhi since COVID, per my info - apparently they have been begging off based on lack of staff. Closest venues are Dehradun and Lucknow, so I've been told. This being the capital of the nation, I can only imagine how the situation is in other places.

Cheers!

[drlizard]

Doc, I'd be happy to give the exam as well! However, they haven't been conducting it in Delhi since COVID, per my info - apparently they have been begging off based on lack of staff. Closest venues are Dehradun and Lucknow, so I've been told. This being the capital of the nation, I can only imagine how the situation is in other places.

Cheers!

Hello Mundaire, glad to hear you're keen on becoming a licensed HAM radio operator. From what you posted above, I see you're well on your way to becoming one and have been reading about radios etc. You already know about PMR446 and CB etc. I think you'll fit right in, into the Indian HAM radio community.
I dunno about the exam situation in Delhi.. here in Assam, in places like Guwahati, Dibrugarh etc, Amateur Radio Society of Assam (ARSA) conducts exams every year. There was another association named CARAC which conducted exams but now it's defunct due to infighting. It's founders formed another organisation, I can't recall the name. Meghalaya has been conducting the licensing exam also I believe. You could take the test in the any of the other places you mentioned. I'm a member of ARSA and am in their WhatsApp group and will be able to update you regarding exam dates here. But I guess it's a far throw for you, having other options which are closer to Delhi.
Otherwise you'd have to keep pestering the powers that be in Delhi and hope things take a turn for the better. There's a vibrant HAM community in Delhi . I've made contact with a couple of them. Maybe you could talk to the state association there.. see if they have any updates or positive news.

Either way, keep at it. Get that damn license.. I'm willing to bet money it'll be less difficult than getting a new arms license in Delhi

Lemme know if I can help you in any way.
Hope to see you on the radio waves someday soon.

[Able]

Doc, I'd be happy to give the exam as well! However, they haven't been conducting it in Delhi since COVID, per my info - apparently they have been begging off based on lack of staff. Closest venues are Dehradun and Lucknow, so I've been told. This being the capital of the nation, I can only imagine how the situation is in other places.

Cheers!

Hello Mundaire, glad to hear you're keen on becoming a licensed HAM radio operator. From what you posted above, I see you're well on your way to becoming one and have been reading about radios etc. You already know about PMR446 and CB etc. I think you'll fit right in, into the Indian HAM radio community.
I dunno about the exam situation in Delhi.. here in Assam, in places like Guwahati, Dibrugarh etc, Amateur Radio Society of Assam (ARSA) conducts exams every year. There was another association named CARAC which conducted exams but now it's defunct due to infighting. It's founders formed another organisation, I can't recall the name. Meghalaya has been conducting the licensing exam also I believe. You could take the test in the any of the other places you mentioned. I'm a member of ARSA and am in their WhatsApp group and will be able to update you regarding exam dates here. But I guess it's a far throw for you, having other options which are closer to Delhi.
Otherwise you'd have to keep pestering the powers that be in Delhi and hope things take a turn for the better. There's a vibrant HAM community in Delhi . I've made contact with a couple of them. Maybe you could talk to the state association there.. see if they have any updates or positive news.

Either way, keep at it. Get that damn license.. I'm willing to bet money it'll be less difficult than getting a new arms license in Delhi

Lemme know if I can help you in any way.
Hope to see you on the radio waves someday soon.

Hi Doc, your response really caught my attention. I'd be happy to take exam either in Guwahati or Shillong, if you could guide me in process. I suppose we could find study materials just enough to pass the exam.

[Anand]

Good to hear our own Abhijeet is interested in becoming a HAM. I was one for while in the USA(2000-2010), initially got the application and materials to take the exam a couple of times here in India, but never followed it up.
I was Technician Class Call sign KC8PAT (not active).
Regards,
Anand