Monthly Archives: October 2013

Today is a special day for Citizens Band enthusiasts. It's National CB Radio Day!

On October 2, 1978, President Jimmy Carter issued a statement proclaiming October 4 (10-4) as National CB Radio Day. He acknowledged the use of CB radio for emergency communications both on and off the road and noted that the use of radio enabled citizens to actively participate in the enhancement of public safety.

Carter said, "While CB is primarily for emergency use, the nonemergency channels bring enjoyment and companionship to millions of Americans" Carter said, "including my own family."

Carter's family was not the "first" First Family exposed to the Citizens Band craze of that era. First Lady Betty Ford was also reportedly an avid CB radio operator. Her CB "handle" was "First Mama".

In honor of National CB Radio Day (or "10-4" Day as it is also known), Buy Two Way Radios is giving away a FREE T-Shirt and CB Radio Quick Reference Card with the purchase of select Galaxy and Uniden CB radios! No promo code needed. Your free items will automatically be shipped with your order.

The CB Radio Day promotion is valid from October 4 through midnight October 7. If you are looking for a new CB radio, antenna, hand microphone or other accessory, now may be a great time to pick one up!

For the complete presidential statement, read Jimmy Carter: 10-4 Day Statement by the President, October 2, 1978. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project.

Amateur radio operators are required to identify themselves over the air by their alphanumeric call signs, so its no wonder that many hams may know one another only by the sign instead of an actual name or handle. However, identifying the call signs correctly can be a challenge, especially when the letters in a sign sound similar to one another. For instance, the letter "M" sounds similar to the letter "N", "B" may sound like "D", and so forth. This can be particularly troublesome if the transmission is weak or encounters a lot of interference.

To avoid confusion and clarify communications, amateurs use the phonetic alphabet. It was not a unique concept, as phonetic alphabets were already in use by the British military during World War 1, but it was not worldwide standard. The first known international alphabet was established by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 1926. The ITU made various changes to the alphabet during the next twenty years until a version was adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1956 and finalized by the ICU. The phonetic alphabet in use today is now a universally recognized standard.

Here is the internationally recognized ITU amateur (ham) radio phonetic alphabet:

Chart courtesy of Buy Two Way Radios.

The Rock Hill Hamfest is coming and Buy Two Way Radios will be there!

Hosted by The York County Amateur Radio Society (YCARS), the Rock Hill Hamfest will be held October 5, 2013 at the Faith Assembly of God in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The annual event is now in its 61st year, and YCARS has special events planned to make it a memorable one, such as an ARRL open forum with a special guest speaker, VE testing, prize drawings, food and several industry vendors, including Buy Two Way Radios, with a selection of amateur radios and ham radio accessories. Hamfest attendees can buy, sell and trade while they enjoy some face-to-face "ragchewing" and general fellowship with other hams.

There will also be prizes to win. Prize drawings will be held every hour and a Grand Prize will be given away at Noon. The Grand Prize? A Baofeng UV-5R Dual Band Amateur Radio, courtesy of Buy Two Way Radios!

In addition, The hosts of The Two Way Radio Show will be there to give away T-shirts, conduct interviews for upcoming episodes of the podcast and to cover the event "almost live". If you would like to meet the show hosts and have an opportunity to be on The Two Way Radio Show, now is your chance!

The 61st Annual Rock Hill Hamfest will be held Saturday, October 5, 2013 at the Faith Assembly of God, 2800 Faith Blvd. Rock Hill, SC 29730. The church is located off Cherry Road behind the Home Depot. Admission is only $5 per person and $5 per tailgating space. Gates open at 7:00 a.m. The ARRL Forum will be held at 9:00 a.m. and VE Testing will begin at 10:30 a.m. If you want to get your amateur radio license or upgrade your existing one, this is the time and place to do it!

The 61st Annual Rock Hill Hamfest is an ARRL Sanctioned Hamfest Sponsored by the York County Amateur Radio Society. For more information, including a schedule of events, directions, and contacts, download the official flyer or visit www.ycars.org.