The use of a CB radio-to-telephone interconnect for motorist aid communications

The increased installation of citizens' band (CB) radios in private vehicles has provided the opportunity to consider new methods of communications for motorist aid purposes. With channel 9 reserved as the emergency and assistance channel of CB radio, numerous volunteer and government organizational units throughout the United States have established networks to monitor this channel for these urgent calls. However, the extent of the roadway system in the U.S. makes total coverage of the highway system 24 h/day impractical, leaving major coverage gaps in both time and location. The technical and operational feasibility of a system which could provide wide area 24 h/day coverage with low manpower requirements is discussed. The system is called Citizens' Band--Automatic Interconnect Digital System (CB-AIDS) and uses unmanned remote stations to provide an automatic interconnect of a CB base station to a response network through the dial telephone system. Access to the system is provided by use of a digital adapter attached to the user's CB radio. This system has been installed on an experimental basis in DeKalb County, GA, through funding by the Federal Highway Administration, in order to determine the technical and operational feasibility of the concept. During the program, 100 digital adapters were produced and provided to volunteers who travel in the areas covered by three remote stations. The remote stations provide dial telephone access to either the DeKalb County Police Department Communications Center or to a volunteer Dual County Radio Emergency Associated Citizens Teams (REACTS) monitor based on user push-button selection. Following the telephone connection, voice communications proceed on a push-to-talk basis in the same manner as normal CB communications. The system was placed in operation in April, 1978, and is presently active.