Ham Radio question

Do you have a amateur radio license?

 

First of all, visit www.arrl.org and www.qrz.com. At the top of the pages you will find links to study material, requirements, even practice tests to help prepare for the actual amateur test.

If you are speaking of simply buying one of the so-called "10 meter 'ham' radios", these are highly illegal & can result in warnings and FINES of up to $10,000 PER occurance. As stated here a number of times, there are NO alleged "extra channels" outside the 40 CB allocation. If you decide to buy one of these radios with the "band" switch (A,B,C,D,E), you may find yourself up in the actual 10 Meter band, and the licensed people, who DO operate there, will actively seek you out and report you to the authorities (FCC). (See the reports of warnings to trucking companies on these pages!)

On the other hand, if you are seriously desiring to pursue the Amateur Radio License, you will find it surprisingly easy, yet presenting a light challenge to you as it unfolds a whole world of radio that PALES in comparision to CB radio! Amateur Radio is ideal for the trucker who spends long hours alone in his truck, and it keeps him company (and more alert) as he drives those miles while keeping in touch with other hams---even staying in touch with "home base" (if others in your family are licensed) The equipment is FAR advanced beyond the CB equipment you see in the truck stop and offers features often unheard of to the CBer who is not familiar with the ham technology of today.

So, please, look into Amateur Radio and find out how you CAN participate in this wonderful hobby (and do it legally as opposed to the 11 Meter 'hobbiest" who often revels in his outlaw ways!).

Gadfly

 

Ya know Ray, it's getting old no matter where you go.

 

It may be old but it's the truth and that is the way it will always be. Accept it. Bustin chops won't ever change that because he will always be right when he posts that information. If you aren't willing to obey the law, you will get fined if ya get caught. Guaranteed just like the sun rising in the morning.

 

Who's bustin chops? I'm just making a statement.
Is he correct? Lets examine.

Is it the actual purchase of the ten meter rig that is illegal or is it the USE on CB of the 10 meter rig illegal?

If the actual purchase is illegal, why do so many Hamsters have them?
Do Hamsters have special dispensation?

What does "per occurance" mean here?
Does that mean per purchase or does it mean per transmission of the unlicensed operator in the 10m band?

I could argue but it's not worth it.
You'd just have to know Ray from other trucking venues where he posts the same trivial info.
It's just Ray's lil retirement campaign to make himself feel better.

It really hasn't got much to do with 10m.
He portrays himself as the guardian of all frequencies between cb & 10m.

It's not his domain to guard nor that of other Hamsters to concern themselves over.

They just self-appoint each other in efforts to justify their virtually meaningless existence in hopes of sustaining that tid-bit of life left in the dwindling "hobby" we knew as ham radio.

His doom & gloom tales have worn very thin in each venue he's been part of.
Most everyone see's him as "chicken little".
The sky is falling!..The sky is falling!
You'll go blind if you don't stop playing with that 10m CB.

Please! The few Hamsters that actually use those last couple of frequencies at the bottom end of 10m's for CW just ignore the voice traffic & move slightly in freq. The self-appointed Hamsters that hardly ever use that portion of the band just look for any reason to put their hackles up to justify their "cause de jour" & get up on a soap box.

It's ok Ray. Keep giving your hobby the mouth to mouth resusitation. You might keep it alive a little longer..but it's not ever coming back to full health.

I vote whenever I can to remove some more of your little used frequencies so I can put them to use in a more advantagous venue.

I'll say no more about it.

 

LOL whenever you state "Ya know Ray, it's getting old no matter where you go." It's bustin chops. It may be part of "making a statement" but a rose by any other name is still a rose.

That is a debatable point. At this time there is no clear ruling on the law. At this point, it is illegal for dealers to sell or purchase these radio's. (There are links posted by others in the forum to back this up. I just don't have the time to look for them.)
Now as to possessing the radio's by private citizen's, There is no ruling that I am aware of. I think it's similar to some of the OLD seatbelt rules. If they see you, they couldn't issue a ticket based solely on that. However if you get caught speeding or driving recklessly, they add that punishment in.

Now as to the operation of the radio in frequencies other then 28.000-29.700 by these modded radio's, That is also technically a violation of the law but it hardly enforceable. This is due to what is called "Type Acceptance"

Basically what type acceptance means is that the radio is subjected to a certain set of rules for operation. In CB Type Acceptance, it must follow part 95 rules which include :
Frequencies or channels of operation - 27.965 mhz to 27.405 mhz.
Mode of operation - AM or Single Sideband
Power - AM is 4 watts carrier, 7 watts audio. SSB is 12 watts.
Power reading is at the point of where the signal leaves the radio and before it gets to the antenna.

If the radio meets these very simple requirements, then it is not considered to be in violation of the part 95 rules.

If the radio is tinkered with, or modified or has options factory installed which are not listed in the above requirements, then the radio is considered to an "Unlawfully Modified" radio and is subject to seizure and the operator/possessor is subject to up to $10,000 in fines
This includes factory radio's that are originally designed for 10M operation. For the radio to "modified" to operate on the 11m band means that is considered to be an "Unlawfully Modified" radio.

It's very simple to understand. The problem is that everyone tries to "spin" the rules to meet their personal situation. This just doesn't work. IF you get caught with an illegally modified radio (one that does not meet type acceptance) or a radio that is on the fcc's banned radio's list, you can and will be subjected to fines and seizure of your equipment. But ya gotta get caught first.

Ham's are allowed to modify ham radio's as we see fit. Just so long as we stay within rules. Ham radio operators are NOT exempt to part 95 of the rules in any way. If a ham purchases a CB radio and modifies it to transmit on any of the "freeband" or non legal frequencies, then the ham radio operator is is in violation. If a ham modifies his ham radio to TRANSMIT on CB, then the ham is in violation as the radio used on CB would be in violation of Part 95 and the Type Acceptance associated with it. Taking a 10m radio and modifying it to transmit on 11m is a violation regardless of the op being a ham or not.

One side note to the above, A ham CAN modify a CB radio to operate on ham radio frequencies as the ham operations and rules have no type acceptance for the equipment used on ham frequencies. The ham CANNOT modify the radio to operate in "freeband" frequencies.

So lets recount: A 10M radio is not type accepted for 11m as it does not meet type acceptance. Why does it not meet type acceptance?
#1 It has FM/CW options which are not legal modes to operate on CB frequencies.
#2 Every single "10M radio" has the factory capabilities to adjust power to exceed 4watts AM, 7 Watts audio and 12 Watts SSB.

That is the basic reason why these 10M radio's are considered illegal. Sales and possession by sellers are cut and dried. Possession by private individuals is questionable. If you get caught, best of luck.

Some folks are protective of their capabilities. I know a lot of Gadfly's different BBS he posts on. While I admit that he can be a bit overbearing at times, I have to agree with the message he is sending. If nobody says anything, then nobody knows anything. He is trying to help folks understand the possible punishment that is possible if you continue to break or "spin" or just plain ignore the rules. Rules are there for a reason. If you get caught (and thats a BIIG IF) you will get punished. It may be the "In Thing" to ignore the rules and be a rebel and be real cool by having the super radio, But the punishment is real. Laws are laws. Break them or no. It's your choice

Well actually it is from a moral standpoint. These illegal radio's splatter all over the band including the 10M ham portion. When conditions are right, a ham can work literally the world. A lot of signals are weak though. I have had so many weak signal DX or international QSO's interrupted by high powered CB ops. It is hard to deal with.

How would you like it if you were living in an apartment trying to watch TV and the neighbor cranks out his stereo to 11 on the dial? I don't think you'd like that much.. How about trying to watch TV and have a CB op start using high power and wiping out your TV signal? You may not care but a lot of other folks do.

It's not all about Gadfly and his stance on illegal ops. It's about politeness and being lawful. As a pro driver, you are concerned about not getting a ticket or driving rudely or unsafely (at least I HOPE not). It comes down to obeying the rules. Believe it or not, the CB rules have just as much relevance as CDL rules. They deserve the same respect. Most CB ops know this but they choose to ignore it.

And thats a shame.

*On edit* I have found a good resource for the rules online. This is a .GOV site so it is pretty reliable.
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_06/47cfr95_06.html
take a look through it. The only area that is NOT covered per this discussion is the list of "banned" radio's there is no list for them at this site. However, If you take the time to look and check things out, you will see how the FCC has rules set up in a manner in which a 10M radio would be in violation by having to be modified in a manner which violates the rules. The rules for legal CB modes, power, frequencies, etc are very explicit. To violate them is to break the law. Do as you will.

 

Tip, Another thing, don't take what this conversation has come to as a indication of what ham radio is really all about.

Ham radio is a fun hobby. It is something that takes a bit of dedication to to really understand and enjoy it.

You mentioned one thing in a previous post that isn't entirely true. IF your willing to learn about electronics and theory, then you don't need to buy expensive equipment. You can make your own radio's if you learn stuff. Some simple kits can run around $50-$70. It can be much more fulfilling to build and operate your own equipment rather then buy the most expensive playtoys around.

Ham radio is about experimentation and learning things. Not becoming an "appliance operator"

Most of the folks are alright. Some can be a bit of a PIA, but thats happens in every social hobby. Just gotta take the good with the bad and the ugly.

If you decide to join the ham radio ranks, then Welcome to the hobby! When you get your ticket, let us know so we can look for ya.