CB Radios vs Shielded Signals

Citizens Band (“CB”) has been around for a long time. Popularized in the 1970’s and 1980’s through songs, TV, and movies, it is still a widely used mode of communications due to it’s generally low equipment cost and the lack of a license requirement. CB radios are typically mobile or base station radios. Handhelds do exist, but they can be cumbersome due to the requirement of a large antenna.

CB radio does not offer the ability to encrypt transmissions. Everything transmitted can be heard by everyone else with a CB radio or a receiver that picks up CB transmissions. Furthermore, CB radio often feels like the “wild west”, where the operator with the loudest signal is the one who runs a channel.

Feature	CB Radio	Shielded Signals (PRaaS™)
Frequency Band	27 MHz Citizens Band (HF)	Licensed VHF under FCC authorization
License Required	✘ None	✔ Covered under Shielded Signals’ FCC license
Encryption / Privacy	✘ None — all traffic is public	✔ AES-256 encryption, unique keys per customer
Range	Can vary widely depending on radio power and skip; generally 2–5 miles	VHF handhelds typically a couple of miles depending on terrain; extendable via repeaters
Infrastructure Dependence	None, but easily jammed or interfered	Independent, interference-controlled licensed spectrum
Typical Use	Hobby, truckers, short-range chat	Private, secure coordination for families & teams
Reliability	Subject to noise, skip, and over-talk	Controlled network with managed channels
Professional Legitimacy	Unregulated / open to abuse	Governed by FCC rules and Shielded Signals oversight