CB radio usage

If we could get all RVrs to turn ch13 on when on the road we could talk and not listen to the truckers. Put letters on back of rig CB 13, lets see how many do it.

This is how I understand 'Shooting Skip'.

"Shooting skip" is the ability to have communications from a far greater distance than is usually considered to be the normal range from the CB radio.

This is made possible , not by the output power level of the radio , but by an uncommon condition of a upper section of the Earths atmosphere called the ionosphere.

When the ionosphere is excited by solar radiation (when sunspots are found on the Sun) it becomes somewhat refractive.

So when radio signals comes up from the earth when transmitted , they hit the ionosphere and are progressively turned around and returned back to earth at some distant point back on Earth.

At this place your signal can be then heard., however , stations closer than this place are skipped over and they cannot hear you.
This is called the 'skip zone'.

As an example then, you might be able to have a conversation with a another radio operator 500 miles away, yet, someone 50 miles away cannot hear you at all.

The problem with skip type of communications is that the effect is short lived.
As conditions change the long distance signals will fade away and contact will be lost.

Because the ionosphere is well above the clouds they are not affected by rain,or other earth level weather systems.
What plays the biggest part of whether or not long distance communications are possible is the amount and intensity of the sunspots.

At present,sunspot activity is quite low , but over the next year or so this will pick up again and long distance communications will become much more common,and signals will become stronger.

Source(s):

http://www.swdxer.co.nr

Now granted this article was written in 2009 and YES solar activity has increased since then, hence causing more radio interference and also the opportunity to 'shoot the skip'.
Mike

Yes, solar flares affected AM low-power transmissions and the FCC cut power in exchange for more channels, a double-whammy death knell for the hobby. Today's user is better off just getting a license and going 10-meter and have actual power in their rigs. Brownmht is correct, "Shooting skip" has nothing to do with solar flares, it's about using a high-power AM signal (illegal amps or "heaters") to bounce off the ionosphere and curve with the shape of the earth. If you're interested in communication, why not subscribe or buy an issue at your local bookstore to point you in the right direction:
http://www.popular-communications.com/index.html

Wasn't it back in the 70's or 80's that the flares and interference were so bad that many CBers just gave it up and took their radios out. I know it was quite a stretch for some period. Along about that time the Government cut the signal strength as well?

skip refers to the propagation of radio waves reflected or refracted back toward Earth from the ionosphere, an electrically charged layer of the upper atmosphere

Skip

Flares or sunspots do not increase the propgation effects of skywaves bouncing off the ionsphere. During extreme conditions they may actually produce enough electromagnetic interference to render communications unacceptable.

See Solar Events

Oh it is true. Without the 'flares' we wouldn't have skip. Plus you make a valid point about increased radio interference or 'static'. The Wikipedia definition is just a lil' more in depth. Thank you for sharing with us.

rattleNsmoke wrote:
CB antenna range is largely based on line-of-site. Out west it's easy to reach out 15-20 miles or more. Here in the North East there are more mountains that block signal. The exception to the rule is when there's an extraordinary amount of sun spots and people 'shoot skip'. That happens when the sun gives off 'spots' or solar flares. Those flares shoot free electrons out into space making radio transmissions reflect off them like a mirror. That's why on occasion I can talk with another CB'er from Texas or the Bahama's from my driveway and without the 'skip' I can barely manage to reach 5 miles away here in CT.

Not entirely true. Skip is the act of utilizing the propigation characteristis of the frequency and bouncing radio waves off the ionsphere. Of course there are many varables which determine how far you can shoot skip. Solar flares actually cause interference. You can actually hear them sometimes in the form of static on your CB.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_propagation#Modes

CB antenna range is largely based on line-of-site. Out west it's easy to reach out 15-20 miles or more. Here in the North East there are more mountains that block signal. The exception to the rule is when there's an extraordinary amount of sun spots and people 'shoot skip'. That happens when the sun gives off 'spots' or solar flares. Those flares shoot free electrons out into space making radio transmissions reflect off them like a mirror. That's why on occasion I can talk with another CB'er from Texas or the Bahama's from my driveway and without the 'skip' I can barely manage to reach 5 miles away here in CT.

A word of caution about "Cheap" antennas. If you don't go thru with the proper installation of an antenna and set up the SWR on the antenna ---- You are risking burning out the transmitter of your radio. SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) is best when set with the proper meter and try to get it down to a 1-1 ratio on the mid channel usually 19. I had a very small gutter mounted antenna aon a car years ago for a trip to Califoria and was getting as far as 25 miles with it only because it was setup properly. This was out in SouthWest where there is MUCH less interference. This can be done by just about any radio show found at a truck stop -- Usually about $20 or so. I run a 4ft wilson 1000 and it works GREAT. Magnetic antennas are a plus for thier ability to be put out of sight when not in use.

I'm going to put those stick on letters on the back of our fifth wheel that says: CB 13.