CB Radios offer access to a variety of channels and frequencies which can be accessed by a CB scanner. These include police, fire, emergency, civil aviation, maritime, and other channels. We’ve detailed the different CB radio channels and frequencies, as well as the most common use of some of them, so that you can use your CB radio safely, securely, and throughout the US.
It is important to note that Channel 9 is the designated emergency channel, while channel 19 is used as the highway channel.
Channels 13 and 14 are the nearest to the 27.12MHz frequency and are used for high-power industrial devices.
Besides the regular channels, there also are R/C channels, which stands for radio control. All these specific frequencies are utilized for industrial use and radio control.
Low-power FM walkie talkies, near-field transmitters, as well as several other communication devices also share the R/C channels. The frequencies of R/C channels are 26.995, 27.045, 27.095, 27.154 and 27.195.
The “Typical IF” frequency, often referred to as the receive frequency”, is used with 455 kHz amplifiers.
CB radio range can be increased by bouncing or “skipping, the ionosphere signal. The two skipped channels are 24 and 25 and therefore have a lower frequency than the others.
Table of Contents
List of Channels and Their Frequencies
As CB radio offers the availability to transmit on 40 different shared channels, it’s vital that you know them all. Though it should not take long to remember them, as there is a sequence that the frequencies follow, here is a list which you can always refer to.
| Channel | Frequency | Channel | Frequency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26.965 MHz | 21 | 27.215 MHz | |
| 2 | 26.975 MHz | 22 | 27.225 MHz | |
| 3 | 26.985 MHz | 23 | 27.255 MHz | |
| 4 | 27.005 MHz | 24 | 27.235 MHz | |
| 5 | 27.015 MHz | 25 | 27.245 MHz | |
| 6 | 27.025 MHz | 26 | 27.265 MHz | |
| 7 | 27.035 MHz | 27 | 27.275 MHz | |
| 8 | 27.055 MHz | 28 | 27.285 MHz | |
| 9 | 27.065 MHz | 29 | 27.295 MHz | |
| 10 | 27.075 MHz | 30 | 27.305 MHz | |
| 11 | 27.085 MHz | 31 | 27.315 MHz | |
| 12 | 27.105 MHz | 32 | 27.325 MHz | |
| 13 | 27.115 MHz | 33 | 27.335 MHz | |
| 14 | 27.125 MHz | 34 | 27.345 MHz | |
| 15 | 27.135 MHz | 35 | 27.355 MHz | |
| 16 | 27.155 MHz | 36 | 27.365 MHz | |
| 17 | 27.165 MHz | 37 | 27.375 MHz | |
| 18 | 27.175 MHz | 38 | 27.385 MHz | |
| 19 | 27.185 MHz | 39 | 27.395 MHz | |
| 20 | 27.205 MHz | 40 | 27.405 MHz |
Illegal CB Radio Frequencies
There are certain frequencies of which use is not permitted and using them may gain the attention of the Official Observers, also known as the OO’s.
This is somewhat contradictory, as, in order to warn you to abandon the use of the forbidden frequency, they have to access it themselves.
Voice broadcasting is not allowed even if you are a licensed radio user. Upon notifying you, they will provide audio evidence to the FCC together with the violation report. The FCC usually follows up on this by issuing fines to truckers or anyone else guilty of illegal use of frequencies.
Don’t cause yourself unnecessary complications and stick to the 40 channels accessible to you, they are more than enough.
