History about CB-Radio in Germany

In 1974, the CEPT Lisbon passed a recommendation for CB-Radio in the 27 MHz range.

German CB-Radio-Station in 1976

In Germany, the CEPT recommendation was implemented by the Deutsche Bundespost (DBP) on July 1, 1975 through Official Gazette Order 393/1975, thereby introducing CB-Radio. Operation was permitted on 12 frequencies (channels 4 to 15) with a maximum transmission power of 0.5 watts PEP or 0.1 watts ERP (for handheld radios). 

German made handheld CB-Radios in the 70's

So-called mobile radio systems (mobile and hand-held radios) were free of registration and fees, thanks to a general permit.

CB-Radios at a German dealer with prices in Deutsch Mark.

However, fixed radio systems (home bases) had to be registered with the DBP; the monthly approval fee was DM 15. Home stations were assigned a nickname, which could usually be chosen freely. Radio communication between home stations was prohibited. Initially, the only type of modulation used was amplitude modulation (AM), but from 1978 frequency modulation (FM) also were increasingly used.

In 1981, the new Federal Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (BMPT) published decree 434/1981 in the Official Gazette 62/1981. This released radio channels 1 to 22 for operation with 0.5 watts in FM like it was allowed in the Netherlands. The fee for home stations was reduced to DM 10 and a so-called pilot tone barrier was to be introduced, with which the radio communication between home stations was to be blocked (but it was largely ignored by the industry). The old 12-channel AM devices were to be slowly withdrawn from circulation with a registration deadline of December 31, 1982. From January 1st, 1992, AM modulation was to be finally banned.

The BMPT had made its calculations without the CB-Radio-Operators and the CB-Industry.

CB radio operators wanted to keep AM and the industry complained that the new 22-channel devices could not be saled. On March 1st, 1983, a conversation took place between representatives of the authorities, CB radio operators, and the industry which resulted in the following compromise, which was published in Official Gazette 55/1983 dated April 12, 1983:

The registration ban for 12-channel home stations has been lifted. In addition, 40 channels of FM were released. This led to the strange German 40/12 channel regulation. For the first time, the obligation to pay fees was determined not only according to the type of device (handheld device, mobile or home station), but also according to the type of modulation:

Devices with 40 ch FM and 12 AM channels - whether mobile or home bases - cost a permit fee of 10 DM per month. 40-channel FM home base transceivers cost 5 DM, 40-channel FM mobile devices were free of registration and fees according to the CEPT regulationas, and old 12-channel devices became grandfathered.

A little later, in 1984, there was another change:

With Official Gazette Order 768/1984 dated September 18, 1984, the BMPT determined that all FM devices would in future be registration and fee-free. 40/12-channel mobile and home stations as well as certain handheld radios cost 5 DM/month. For this 5 DM monthly fee, up to five devices could be operated. This regulation lasted until the new Telecommunications Act came into force in mid-1996.

As before, all approvals relating to AM devices were limited to December 31, 1991. According to the wishes of the BMPT, AM operation should no longer be permitted from January 1, 1992 (see above). It was not until the end of 1988 that the BMPT moved away from this position and released AM again indefinitely.

CB-Radio in Germany has now been upgraded again.

The RegTP allowed the use of any type of antenna (up to now only vertical antennas without gain were permitted), for example dipoles or gain-generating directional antennas. In addition, 40 additional frequencies below the previous 40 channels were released for use, albeit with a certain and much-criticized restriction: A so-called protection zone to neighboring countries, which is 45 km for fixed stations and 25 km to neighboring countries for mobile and portable stations. The use of channels 41 to 80 is not permitted within this protection zone. This means that a large part of CB-Radio-Users still only has 40 channels available.

With Decree 289/1997, amended by Decree 50/1998, the RegTP now also released digital operating modes in CB radio. Packet radio is mainly used in Germany. But other digital operating modes such as SSTV or Morse telegraphy have also become possible. Decree 288/1997 was intended to introduce a call sign requirement in digital CB radio, which obliged every radio operator to use a call sign assigned by the RegTP for digital operating modes. However, this regulation met with fierce resistance among radio operators and associations, so it was withdrawn with Order 49/1998. The digital CB radio operator now has access to call signs from a series assigned by the ITU, but these do not have to be used.

Since May 29, 2002, the modulation type SSB has been permitted on channels 4 - 15 with a maximum of 4 watts of transmission power for a limited period until March 31, 2004 (Approval 268/2002). The individual allocation applies to frequency use by devices that comply with the European standard ETSI EN 300433 are provided with a CE marking based on a declaration of conformity.

The RegTP published new regulations for CB radio on September 10, 2003:

General allocation (Vfg 41/2003) in the Official Gazette No.18

The most important innovations:

The time limit until March 31, 2004 for SSB (approval 268/2002 - see above) has been lifted.

Furthermore 80 FM channels (4 watts), 12 channels SSB (4 watts) and 12 channels AM (1 watt)

CB-Radios no longer need to be registered with RegTP.

CB radio operators no longer have to pay for frequency usage or EMV fees retroactively from January 1, 2003.

Devices that comply with the R&TTE directive and bear a CE mark, or have a German approval mark, or have been approved in another European country are permitted for operation.

Fixed radio systems with an effective radiation power of 10 watts or more EIRP will continue to require a location certificate from RegTP in the future.

The CB channels 6, 7 were also released for data radio (previously: 24, 25, 52, 53, 76, 77). Data radio may only be operated in the operating modes F1D, F2D and G2D (frequency and phase modulation, FSK or AFSK).

There is no call sign requirement anymore. If call signs are used, RegTP recommends contacting the DAKfCBNF to (quote) "prevent misuse of international call signs".

The ban on using channels 41-80 in the protection zones (near the border) only applies to fixed CB radio stations (bases). CB handheld radios and CB mobile stations are no longer affected. CB base stations within these protection zones can still apply to the RegTP for a paid frequency allocation for the use of channels 41-80.

The new general approval is limited until December 31, 2013

Detailed information is available from the Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railways (formerly RegTP) at: www.bundesnetzagentur.de.

This text also is available in German language at the DX-Charly Tango hompage.