What is the difference between Ham Radio and CB Radio?

Ham radio is another name for amateur radio. To be considered ham radio, the government issues a license and a call sign to whoever passes the examination. CB, on the other hand, stands for citizens band radio. CB is a public radio and an easy way of communication. CB is not as controlled by the government, and you do not need a license for it.

A key difference between the two is that CB equipment can legally broadcast at power levels of up to 1.5 KW. Ham, on the other hand, can be broadcasted worldwide. CB may only transmit for a couple of miles.

Ham radio operators also have a much broader choice of frequency bands, and ham can be used for almost any application, including television, microwave, satellite communication, and even high-speed data access. CB radio users are prohibited from building and repairing their equipment.

Ham radio is for those who are more experienced with radio communication. The reason for this is because ham radio requires a licence from the government and a passing score on an examination. CB radio stands for citizen band radio.

It is open to the general public and does not require any type of licensing or tests to use it. Another difference between the two is the power levels of the radios. Ham radio has more power level than CB radio does.

The equipment that CB radio uses is limited by law to 5 watts, while Ham radio can go all the way up to up to 1.5kW.

The common knowledge of the term 'Ham' is that it is used mostly for amateur radio and its operators. Ham radio is available for people who understand how radio operations are done. These people will need to be tested by the government, after which a call sign will be allocated to those who are able to perform very well.

This is needed before they can be licensed as radio operators. CB Radio or Citizen Band Radio, on the other hand, is available for the citizens and does not require that you are licensed before it can be used.

However, CB radio is regulated by the government. Citizen band ratio usually transmits at power levels of 5 watts, whereas it is higher in ham radio since it can transmit up to 1.5kW. As a result, Ham radio supports worldwide transmission, whereas the transmission coverage of CB radio is not as high as that of Ham radio.