http://www.popularwireless.com/cbweb/cbeditorial.html

The Keydown - The Ultimate Abuse of CB Radio

"CB Web and Popular Wireless Magazines encourage you to notify the
Federal Communications Commission if you are aware of a scheduled
Keydown happening in your town."

There is an abuse of CB radio taking place that many probably wouldn't
believe if you told them about it. A small number of high-power
junkies hold tournaments they call, "Keydowns." CB enthusiasts that
run in the tens of thousands of watts of power - illegally of course -
meet in communities all over this nation to challenge each other. The
winner is capable of transmitting with the greatest amount of radio
frequency energy than all of the other competitors.

These clowns have taken the illegal CB power amplifier several steps
beyond what you might expect. To achieve power levels like this
automobiles must be outfitted with multiple batteries, several heavy
duty alternators, and antennas capable of handling thousands of watts
of power.

These events are often sponsored by the pirate radio shops that sell
the equipment the competitors use.

Why?

The magazine is taking an active interest in exposing and high
lighting this illegal activity. I believe that the misguided souls
that participate in these events are horrific examples of the types of
abuse that are responsible in part for the decline of CB radio. This
extreme unlawful activity is the CB pirate's way of legitimizing his
or her unlawful behavior.

The operation of mobile radio transmitters, often tens of thousands of
watts more in power than a typical LEGAL Amateur Radio operator, has
the potential to interfere with everything and anything.

You can hear many of these clowns on CB channel 6. They tend to
congregate on channel 6 so they can impress each other with their
signal strength as they talk across great distances.

We think that after you have read more about Keydowns, and the culture
that promotes the competitions you will want to do something about
them if they occur in your area. CB Web and Popular Wireless Magazines
encourage you to notify the Federal Communications Commission if you
are aware of a scheduled Keydown happening in your town.
Want more information about Keydowns?

Visit the newsgroup rec.radio.cb to learn more. Proponents (known as
Key Clowns) and opponents (known as Anti-Key Clowns) debate the merit
and lack of same at this Internet location. The Key Clowns read
Internet sites like Keydowns.com.

I cannot think of a riskier, more wasteful, or more foolish activity
than building an illegal thirty thousand watt mobile radio system that
one uses on CB to say, "You got the Big Banana in Nawlins, give us a
comback ya'hear?" Why?

Cherokee Driver
Unit 9830