There it an etiquette that CB radio operators follow in order to be “polite” and courteous to the other CB radio users. The following rules should always be followed.
- When two or more people are talking on a channel they are said to “own the channel”. FCC regulations require they give other users an opportunity to use the channel so they should not hold the channel hostage for more than several minutes.
- CB radio users should not “step on” other units. “Step on” means to transmit at the same time another radio operator is transmitting. They should also never key over someone else.
- If you hear one unit break for another unit, give some time for the unit to respond before you say anything yourself. It may take a radio user time to grab the mic or get from the kitchen to the living room radio unit.
- After your break has been acknowledged, keep the next transmission short. For example, a break might go something like this: “Break one-nine for Super Trooper. Super Trooper, do you have your ears on?”. if Super Trooper does not answer after a minute or so, it is nice to acknowledge that you are finished by saying something like “thanks for the break”.
- If you are carrying on a conversation and someone “walks over” you, you have one of two options. You can ask the person you were speaking to to repeat. For example, “10-9, you were stepped on. Please repeat”. Alternatively, you can hand the channel over to the breaker.
- If your break is not acknowledged, wait several minutes before attempting to contact them again.
