Accessory scams.

Speech processors:

AM and SSB use. A speech processor may give improvement on AM and SSB CB systems (illegal in the UK), but you will still need to be wary of incredible claims of massive gains. Any compression or clipping will result in your voice being distorted, more compression or clipping means more distortion. It is only worth the compromise if you regularly use an AM or SSB CB for long distance conversations.

Speech processors can help with the AM and SSB CB systems used in America and some other countries, but speech processors are not appropriate for FM CB.
There are many reasons, requiring a technical understanding, which I plan to cover soon in the technical area. However, here are some basic reasons why they should not be used for FM CB:
  * Designed for AM and SSB CB.
  * Claimed talk power does not apply to FM.
  * Claims of double your power do not apply to FM.
  * FM sound level not dependant upon signal level.
  * Not enough space between CB channels.
  * May distort your voice.
  * May interfere with other channels.
You may hear claims that broadcast stations use speech processing. While this may be true, broadcast bands are much better than CB. FM CB does not have the bandwidth that the broadcast stations are allowed - one FM broadcast station takes the same space as 30 CB channels. To do what they do, you will need to use up 30 CB channels with one conversation.

Power amplifiers:
Apart from being illegal, the problem with these devices is that they only boost your outgoing signal. You still will not hear people better, and you will be getting to people who you cannot hear shouting back.
Avoid these devices, a better antenna is always the best option.

Receive amplifiers:
There are several reasons why these devices are not as good as they may appear to be. Possible reasons include:
1. The reason that you cannot hear the distant stations is usually that they are no stronger than the noise. When you boost their signal, you also boost the noise - they still cannot be heard over the noise.
2. A CB receiver can only stand a certain amount of signal. Too much signal coming in will cause the receiver to stop working properly, and may even damage it.
3. Higher gain figures just mean that the device is more likely to overload your CB receiver, causing the above problems.
Avoid these devices, a better antenna is always the best option.

Fake approval stamp marks:
Legal UK CBs have always carried a stamp mark to show that they are legal to use.
In an attempt to fool the authorities, some people stuck false stamp marks on their illegal CB radios. This usually took the form of a paper sticker which, unless you looked carefully, could look genuine.
Beware of such stickers, check that any approval mark is part of the original marking - not a sticker. Remember that any CB that operates on AM or SSB is illegal in the UK. If such equipment has a stamp, it is not valid.

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