Connex 3300HP-ZX

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by Anonymous, Nov 10, 2005.

  1. Anonymous

    Anonymous Forum Retiree

    84
    23
    Feb 8, 2004
    0
    I bought one of these 5 years ago, plus or minus.

    Did I read these radios have been outlawed?

    Please clairfy.

    Thanks
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. kc0rey

    kc0rey Medium Load Member

    536
    85
    Jul 5, 2005
    Macomb, IL
    0
    They always have been illegal here. Within the last 2 years the FCC has started going after the folks who sell them (Pilot was fined $125,000. TA and Petro paid fines that have not been disclosed) and those who own them.

    The best way to tell if a radio is legal is to look on the back. A leagal radio will have a sticker or plate with the FCC ID Number.

    The really laughable part about these radios is that they are sold as Amateur Radios. Amatuer Radio is far more advanced then these radios are.
     
    rabbiporkchop Thanks this.
  4. Anonymous

    Anonymous Forum Retiree

    84
    23
    Feb 8, 2004
    0
    I looked and there is NO fcc number or id on the back.
     
  5. DeadManWalking

    DeadManWalking Bobtail Member

    10
    5
    Mar 7, 2006
    Alabama ... WAR EAGLE
    0
    Please supply us with proof that they are coming after owners.

    There have been rumors for years about the FCC coming after drivers with illegal radios. Please. They are concerned with TV and radio stations. That's where their focus is and always will be.
     
  6. kc0rey

    kc0rey Medium Load Member

    536
    85
    Jul 5, 2005
    Macomb, IL
    0
    Here ya' go. These are just 2 of hundreds of letters to companies as well as drivers:


    February 7, 2005

    Landstar Transportation, Inc.
    13410 Sutton Park Drive South
    Jacksonville, FL 32224-9137
    ATTN: Mr. Herman Fauss
    Vice President for Safety

    Subject: Advisory Notice--Unlicensed Radio Operation
    Case # EB-2005-2703

    Dear Mr. Fauss:

    Information before the Commission indicates that your vehicle bearing Illinois license plate P525662, DOT # 241572, and driven by Perry Pokolm, a Canadian citizen, was noted by U. S. Customs officials to contain a 10-meter Amateur Radio transceiver. While many truckers use the Citizens Band radio service units, use of Amateur radio equipment requires a license issued by the FCC. There was no indication that your driver possessed an Amateur Radio license.

    Please be advised that operation of radio transmitting equipment without a license is a violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Section 301, and will subject your drivers to fine or imprisonment, as well as an in rem seizure of any non-certified radio transmitting equipment, in cooperation with the United States Attorney for the relevant jurisdiction. Monetary forfeitures normally range from $7,500 to $10,000.

    You are requested to contact me at 717-338-2502 to discuss this matter.

    CC: FCC South Central Region

    February 7, 2005

    Celadon Canada, Inc.
    280 Shoemaker Street
    Kitchener, ON N2E3E1
    Canada

    Subject: Advisory Notice--Unlicensed Radio Operation
    Case # EB-2005-2703

    Dear Sir:

    Information before the Commission indicates that your vehicle bearing Ontario license plate PR5 304, U. S. DOT # 749731, and driven by Krzysztof Nowakowski, a Canadian citizen, was noted by U. S. Customs officials to contain a Ten Meter Amateur Radio transceiver. While many truckers use the Citizens Band radio service units, use of such Amateur radio equipment in the U.S. requires a license. There was no indication that your driver possessed an Amateur Radio license.

    Please be advised that operation of radio transmitting equipment without a license is a violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Section 301, and will subject your drivers to fine or imprisonment, as well as an in rem seizure of any non-certified radio transmitting equipment, in cooperation with the United States Attorney for the relevant jurisdiction. Monetary forfeitures normally range from $7,500 to $10,000.

    You are requested to contact me at 717-338-2502 to discuss this matter.

    CC: FCC Northeastern Regional Director
     
  7. DeadManWalking

    DeadManWalking Bobtail Member

    10
    5
    Mar 7, 2006
    Alabama ... WAR EAGLE
    0
    See a pattern here? I don't get anywhere near the Canadian borders so I must plead a bit of ignorance about that process. However, any dummy who leaves an illegal item up on his dash while going through customs deserves a fine for being stupid! Of course they will take issue of it when it is shoved in their face! Although these examples could be authentic, I question the authenticity of any letters posted on the internet. We've all heard the wild stories over the CB from drivers. What makes anyone think this medium will be any different when many of the same people access it?

    I guess the safe bet would be to purchase a standard CB radio and not worry about how loud you are to someone 5 miles away! Now, to find a good, standard CB radio...

    Any suggestions?
     
  8. kc0rey

    kc0rey Medium Load Member

    536
    85
    Jul 5, 2005
    Macomb, IL
    0
    These are from fcc.gov. They are made available on the web. Go to fcc.gov and search for Enforcement letters. Also search for the Banned Radios list.

    You'll see hundreds of warning letters and NAL (Notice of Aparent Liability). The NAL just tells you what the fine is.

    You'll also see that US Customs is only 1 tool they are using. Sometimes they pop up at the truckstop (or Yard) and request to inspect your equipment. Refuse and you'll earn an emmidiate NAL. Comply and you may lose your illigal equipment but you'll only earn an Enforcement letter and not the fine.

    Also they are training the DOT and State Patrols. Some believe the cops have better things to do. I think they will enforce the regs because they want the revenue. You decide.

    You see how much the fine is in the letters I posted.

    Another method is this:

    Your talking on your illegal radio and either splattering onto a licensed services frequency or actually on the licensed services frequency and if it is Ham Radio frequency 3 or 4 Hams will get together and triangulate on you to find out where you are. One may even talk to you to keep you talking, until they find you. While they are doing this they record you, and once they find you they will write down your company info, license plate and truck number. They will send it all in to the FCC and you'll get an Enforcement letter with a request to call in 20 days. You call and tell them the radio equipment is gone and you'll never do it again and you avoid the NAL. Ignore the call, or as some drivers do, call them and tell them they cant have your radio and how important you are, and how it is your right to do as you like and you'll recieve a NAL and pay the fine or as Jack Gerritson form LA recently discovered go to prison for 3 years.

    I support the FCC's efforts. WHy?
    I earned the priveledge to transmitt on Ham radio frequencies as did 600,000 hams in this country. The other licensed services payed millions of dollars to use the very limited frequencies that they do.

    Ham radio is all about Emergency communications. That is why we are allowed the huge RF Bandwidth. If you should ever interfere with Emergency communications (Even accidentaly) your looking at 10 years. Even emergency communications on the CB.

    You earned no priveledges in any part of the RF Spectrum. You bought a radio and probably allowed some retard in a CB shop tune it up (screw it up). YEAH BUDDY! I GOT SWING!

    I test ever CB shop I come accross. It is a simple test. I aske questions about basic electronics. In 20 years (off and on) of driving I have seen 2 CB Shops who passed the test. The CB/Ham shop in Ontario, CA and Walcott CB in Walcott, IA. Both sell illegal radios though and both use Hams as techs.

    I have built my own radios and build all of my own antennas. I know how to use an O'scope and know that no watt meter (however expensive) is accurate. I know what happens to a signal when a mod limiter is removed or clipped out of circuit.

    Most drivers believe it is thier right to run as much power as they like and run whatever frequency they like. If asked most of the radio mindless will tell you that channel 19 is for truckers only. It is not.

    There are many CBers who run legal, clean systems and know that their antenna is the most important part of their system. Then there are those (most drivers) who have no clue and have no idea of the damage they do.

    Then we have the idiots with power. They think they are the "Channel Master" and say stupid stuff like, "Don't make me throw this switch". What they have no idea of is the fact that unless you take precautions, RF power will take your sight, your testes, and cause cancer. That is because they are uneducated and worry about what their cell phone is doing to them but don't consider for a moment what their CB might be doing.

    What I am saying is it is just a CB and ownership of one does not give anybody the right to act like an ignorrant buffoon and be irresponsable. Somebody always has a fsater truck, is tougher and meaner and has a bigger radio.

    I am not a spectrum cop but if you tresspass onto my frequencies I will collect evidence and turn you in. I earned the priveledge to talk here. If you want to talk here go learn radio and take the test.

    I will also happily help you make your radio work better. I can teach you to make a legal radio talk and sound like one of the so called big radios. All it takes is education.

    Nobody really cares what you do on CB's 40 channels. Just stay on the 40 channels your allowed and keep your spurrious emmisions there as well.
    You do know what spurious emmisions are don't you?

    Please pardon my spelling errors.
     
    DC10 and bossboy2 Thank this.
  9. DeadManWalking

    DeadManWalking Bobtail Member

    10
    5
    Mar 7, 2006
    Alabama ... WAR EAGLE
    0
    Maybe you mistook my post or I simply came off as an ##*. I am not arguing with you here. In fact, I completely agree with everything you said!

    BTW, I do know what "spurious emissions" means. You won't find me doing any such thing and you won't find an illegal radio in my possession as I don't own one!
     
  10. DeadManWalking

    DeadManWalking Bobtail Member

    10
    5
    Mar 7, 2006
    Alabama ... WAR EAGLE
    0
    Now I would like to pick your brain, if you don't mind, about which CB radio you would recommend. Please keep in mind that the company I work for does not provide a mounting bracket on the dash, I am not allowed to drill holes in the dash and the hole in this Freightliner above the dash is just big enough for a radio with Cobra 29 dimensions.

    Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
     
  11. kc0rey

    kc0rey Medium Load Member

    536
    85
    Jul 5, 2005
    Macomb, IL
    0
    Pick my brain? No problem. That is why I asked for this part of the forum to be added.

    I'd recommend any Uniden (I always recommend Uniden because they are well built) or Cobra that fits the space you have. If you'll use SSB then pick one with SSB otherwise any of the AM models will work for you. All of these radios have the same power capability. Cobras built since around 1993 have some quality problems that are easily corrected. Before that they were built by Uniden and were rock solid.
    For an antenna, save your money and leave the big coily jobs on the rack. By a 5/8ths wave antenna. It will have gain over the 1/4 wave antenna and will out perform almost everything available. Firesticks and the Wilson Silver Load are 5/8ths wave antenna and are inexpensive.

    I recently took a 5/8ths wave Skip Shooter and lengthened it almost 3 feet and made it a 1/2 wave antenna. This gives a gain of around 12db. It is now too long for the truck and will have to live on my Bronco. :(

    BTW, 3db gain is the same as adding 10 times the power to your radio. Every 3db doubles your signal.


    The hard part:

    Every manufacturer expects you to run to the CB Shop for a tune up. Therefore, your new radio will not be set to it's legal limits. Now you've got to find a good CB shop aqnd tell them you want a 4 Watt dead key and 100% Modulation. This should be done on an oscilloscope and not a meter. A good shop will have a scope and will know how to use it. Tell them you do not want the Modulation Limiter clipped. And watch them. They should not get near your radio with wire clippers of a soldering iron (except to unsolder the speaker to facilitate case removal).

    Buy the best coax you can afford and keep it short. Any excess, Coil it up near the antenna or the radio. They tell you not to and say it creates a choke. What it does do is create a crude Balun (matching device) and will not allow RF to travel on the shield back ito you cab.

    Now I've got to go play in the snow in Utah. I'll check back here tomorrow sometime.
     
    darthanubis and rabbiporkchop Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.