Location: Parker County, TX and Santa Fe County, NM
Posts: 4,030
Re: Reasons why CBers should consider HAM Radio
Quote:
KD7NAC_07FJ previously said:
Yes you can - in fact I do exactly that with mine. I use my HF antenna mount and swap to a 62" whip with an SO239 adapter for the CB. My VHF whip on the bandi mount on the other side is my 2m/multi-band mount. Both will be on coax switches when they arrive Friday.
Thanks for the answer and info.
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N5MUD
TLCA # 16550
High Desert Cruisers
I read all posts on the thread before I posted this question. Pardon me if I missed something. Here's my post again:
All your posts on the subject simply state that it is illegal to use HAM equipment to operate in CB freqs. I am asking why that would be the case, given that, in theory, a HAM enthusiast should be able to build their own equipment (as you state yourself on an early post). So you could build a device that transmits in both HAM and CB frequencies (as long as you keep yourself to authorized frequencies), given that your HAM license wouldn't preclude you from transmitting in CB frequencies (which require no license).
I am being very courteous, you would get a much hotter flame just about anywhere else on this or any other board. I and others on this thread have tried to explain a number of times about "type rated radios". If you don't understand what that is then that should probably be your question. After repeating one's self time and time again it gets frustrating when people continue to ask the apparent same question when the answer was posted on the previous page of the same thread.
So lets take another swing at it. FRS(Family Radio Service)/GMRS(General Mobile Radio Service) is a good example. Anyone can go to WalMart and buy either type even though GMRS still requires a license according to FCC regulations (there is rumor they will do away with that requirement also). And yes I have a GMRS license also not that I don't think that was a waste of money since I only know 1 or 2 other people our of the many I hear on those frequencies, but I digress.
An FRS radio is rated for FRS frequencies, according to FCC regulations even if you were able to modify an FRS radio to receive and transmit on any other frequency outside the FRS "channels" in the 462.5625 MHz to 467.7125 MHz frequency range it is illegal. Even if say you were able to "get" 462.6 MHz which is within that range, that specific frequency is designated for GMRS not FRS and would be an illegal transmission. The interesting thing is a GMRS radio is rated for both FRS & GMRS.
Limited HAM rigs can be modified to operate on AM frequencies in the 26.965 MHz to 27.405 MHz but those freq are specifically designated for "Citizens Band" channels and operating on them with anything other then a "CB" rated radio is illegal.
If you look at any device that transmits RF radiation it will have and FCC ID identifying it as, among other things, rated for a specific frequency "Band" if not a designated single frequency. For instance my little Midland handheld CB has an FCC ID:BBO19DXIV. If you were to look that up in the FCC database it would show it as a CB rated transceiver.
As for building a rig from scratch, the frequency bands are restricted to their registered types, your home built super rig has no rating so technically you can't transmit on it at all. There are/were some kits that you could actually build a type rate identified radio but I don't even know if Heathkit is even in that business anymore.
As for the "Bureaucratic red tape BS" comment look at it this way. If there were no regulations you would not be able to watch TV, talk on your cell phone or how about get emergency services, fly an airplane or even get supplies to troops in the field. Without regulations everybody would be transmitting over everybody else and no-one would have a "clear channel".
HAMs police HAMs to keep the airwaves open and free of garbage. There are actually volunteers designated as Amateur Auxiliary to the FCC which are Amateur volunteers who are formally enlisted to monitor the airwaves for rules violations. (That might be a question on - oh the General test )
O.K. In all reality when is the last time you were asked to produce your ROL? When is the last time someone using a GMRS was charged operating outside of the FRS frequencies?
When I say the regulations are lax I mean that no one cares anymore, so do what you want, but face the consequences. As long as your not K-Fed ripping off Janet Jackson's Bra, or rebroadcasting Howard Stern's Sirius feed over public airwaves you should be fine.
You missed my other post too;
Quote:
KD7NAC_07FJ previously said:
In the last year there have been 6 people in my area investigated for illegally transmitting off frequencies. 5 were justified and even so one of those people lost a radio and one person lost their ticket, all their equipment and was fined on top of it so believe me it does happen.
The FCC doesn't just sit there watching TV waiting for the wardrobe malfunctions, though there are very few agents, they actively pursue FCC violations constantly. The odds are in the public's favor of not getting caught true but to me it is not worth loosing $1000's worth of gear to talk to someone on a CB frequency with my HF rig when I can spend $40 and have a legal CB.
The "what if, emergency" argument doesn't really hold water. If you are in a situation where you are trying to call for help your HAM frequencies have much more range the a CB meaning it is very likely that someone with a CB does not have the power to get back to you. Even if you could get to 911 "dispatch" with your radio out in the mountains it is more then likely you will be talking to the computer if being received at all since most emergency agencies have/are converting to 800MHz systems which even modified radios cannot transmit on.
You are much more likely to get help broadcasting a mayday on your local repeater if you can't call 911 on your cell phone.
The rest of the discussion is completely academic.
Dont like the rules, If I want to cuss , burp, sing drunk, and talk trash over the radio CB allows me HAM its illegal . I want the freedom to do that on any channel. My dad is a HAM has a great set up. So I hear him talk a lot, the conversations arent my cup of tea, and the conversations I have on my CB arent his.
understood, to each his own, thats why i like HAM
Quote:
1leglance previously said:
don't worry flyndrive I won't stop you doing what ever you want with YOUR radio, however anytime someone ask what they CAN do I like to let them know what the legal & proper way of doing things are...if they choose to do otherwise I would hope they would be smart enough to lay low about it.
As stated elsewhere in this thread and on other threads Amat. Radio is mostly self policeing and has stayed that way due to a RESPECT for the law and a desire to keep the freq we currently have by not giving the FEDS any excuse to take them away and sell off to comm interest.
Again you can get an all band radio and setup a few antennas and Tx all over the spectrum...hey you can even buy all that equip w/out any paperwork other than the paper money in your pocket...
However I would hope that just like with regards to Tread Lightly and our leading ny example when we are offroad....can't we lead by example in other areas too....or is the redneck cb spewing 4x4er just too good an image to pass up?
+1 to that
Quote:
KD7NAC_07FJ previously said:
As for the "Bureaucratic red tape BS" comment look at it this way. If there were no regulations you would not be able to watch TV, talk on your cell phone or how about get emergency services, fly an airplane or even get supplies to troops in the field. Without regulations everybody would be transmitting over everybody else and no-one would have a "clear channel".
This is the kind of history and context that you learn as you study for the test, i dont remember if this was in the book specifically, but we spent time on it in class (i only was able to make 2 of the 5 session course, but what i got was good info, but largely in the book too)
PS. thx to KD7NAC's fingers for keep us all straight
look for ham shops near you
online hamradiooutlet.com
I like yaesu
and I have heard good things about Icomm & kenwood
prices depend on what you want but the most popular offroader radio right not seems to be the yaesu 7800 2m/70cm dual band on sale for $250 w/ free sep kit so you can remote mount the head anywhere...
search here, expeditionportal.com forums and ih8mud.com forums for lots of info
Thank you for the suggjestions. I will checkout hamradiooutlet.com , as well as the yaesu radio.
Quote:
KD7NAC_07FJ previously said:
Come one guys!!!! I'm sorry but you really need to actually read the thread. Both of these questions have been answered in this thread and some more then once.
I've got at least three posts talking about type rated radios and 1leglance posted up not only prices of a good set-up but a place to get Ham gear and talked about a group buy.
Umm,... ya. Only one radio was suggjested, as was one place to buy. Like i said, iv'e heard of many using the IComm's, so was just wondering if anyone here had any experiance with them. Just looking for some options.
Last edited by 5150 Cruiser : 09-13-2007 at 11:16 AM.
I've used Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, and Standard - they're all good radios. It really comes down to price, features, and design. I like Yaesu becuase they're usually extremely small relative to the others. They are priced very competitively as well.
I've used Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, and Standard - they're all good radios. It really comes down to price, features, and design. I like Yaesu because they're usually extremely small relative to the others. They are priced very competitively as well.
Quote:
5150 Cruiser previously said:
Only one radio was suggested, as was one place to buy.
in that one post.....
In reality you need to know what you are going to start with. 99.9% of Hams start on the 2m band and it is the most popular and busiest by far. So as was posted earlier most people get a 2m or a dual band 2m/440 or my preference 2m/6m with 2m being the most common and 6m having much better "legs" (can transmit and receive a lot farther at roughly the same output power).
I started way back when with an inexpensive ADI 2m that cranked out 65w. It was a nice little radio but I quickly outgrew it. Now I've got a Yaesu Shack. VX-7R, VX-6R, FT-857D, FT-8900D & the one that originally replaced the ADI, an FT-7900M. Why Yaesu? I like the interface, good construction, good clean TX/RX, a little forgiving with respect to SWR and tuning antennas but most of all because it is the format I'm very used to. As with all things Jeeps and FJ's included you will have champions on all sides. There are Kenwood and Icom rigs in some of the search trucks and I use them often. Not bad radios but then they were installed and tuned by the county shop.
I will have to sub to this thread and read more info later.
I have ran CBs since 1975, and currently have a nice setup in the FJ for trail use and highway use to see where the wrecks are to avoid traffic.
I do want to add a ham unit down the road.
I use to listen to hams and more on my Hallicrafters S 129 tube shortwave (I think that was the model) back in the 60s when I was a little squirt.
Long time CB'er, and have thought about HAM many times, but have never acted on the thought.
I guess a little research on the topic of frequency, and most commonly used frequencies is in order. Not to mention checking out the radios and all their features.
). And yes I have a GMRS license also not that I don't think that was a waste of money since I only know 1 or 2 other people our of the many I hear on those frequencies, but I digress.
)
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