"Telstar Electronics" wrote...

there are several CB shops across the US (and I'm in the
process of arranging one in the UK)

There goes the neighborhood.

Listen carefully, Griff. I understand that, being a Yank,
you will not know about our systems, laws and issues
regarding such devices on FM CB.
So, please allow me to inform you of some very important
facts...


UK CB is FM only.

There is no "talk power" with FM, it is a constant carrier
level (unless some tw@t has f'ked the radio up).

Increasing audio level does NOT increase the distance
of your signal.

There are only 10KHz between channels.
FM withing 10KHz spacing is a f'king tight fit.

So tight that the legal deviation level was reduced
in an attempt to stop the splatter problems.

So tight, that the latest radios must have very narrow
receive bandwidth to pass the test - yes, they must be
tested by government approved labs before being
legal here.

This narrow bandwidth will distort the signal of anyone
attempting to increase their transmitted audio.
This distrotion will not show on an oscilloscope or other
test device, as it is generated within the legal FM CB
receiver.


We have had several years where such devices were used
on FM CB, and the results were distortion and splattering
of other channels.
One person I knew actually got complaints of "bleedover"
from 20 to 30 miles away... she became famous for it
across a large part of the next county.

While specific equipment may not be illegal here, radios
pass their test with the original microphone. Adding a speech
processor may invalidate that approval - making the owner
open to prosecution for any interference caused.


Read my lips...
With FM CB, speech processors are worse than pointless... they
cause distortion and interference without any real gain.


Regards,
Peter.