Thinking of getting HAM radio for truck

It is a good thing and smart decision for a OTR Truck Driver to obtain a Amateur (ham) radio license. Although they are similar, both are quite the opposite. If I was asked to give a example of the difference, I would have to stat that the CB radio is used by Truck Drivers (and few others) and requires no significant learning to operate;whereas the ham radio, requires taking a 35 question examination (Technician License) and requires knowledge of radio theory and practice. In others words, the cb is for Truckers and ham radio is more the educated (willingness to learn new things) or those significantly into electronics and technology.
Radios that are still available and are used by today's truck driver are as follows:

discontinued but still available
ALINCO DX 70 TH
KENWOOD TS 50 S
ICOM 706 MK II G
YAESU FT 100
YAESU FT 450 (with multi color display)

discontinued recently (or rumor mill)
KENWOOD TS 2000 *the only mobile Satellite radio marketed
ICOM IC 7000 *replaced the 706 MK II G
YAESU FT 897 D *if true this would be a shame for Yaesu


widely available
YAESU FT 857 D *I own one and have it mounted (w/LDG YT 100 Tuner) on a US Army Alice pack frame
KENWOOD TS 480 HX or SAT *I also own but have not mounted it in my truck yet
ICOM IC 7100 *replaced the IC 7000
ALINCO DX SR9T & SR8T
YAESU FT 450 D *replace FT 450
ICOM 718

Some American made radios I have seen in trucks:
TEN TEC 599 AT EAGLE
ELECRAFT K3

These are just some of the radios that fit quite well in your semi truck. I will address antennas later

Do aimhigh

 

Not trying to be argumentative but who said this and where is it in the regs?

I've searched and searched and searched but ...

OK I got it, that's right, I wasn't talking about the radio itself but I'm sorry to mess up what you meant.

Et tu Brute?

I hold an AE plus another license and a bunch of other certs too.

I agree, I can't understand why I can't bring into the country HF rigs made in China to sell (OK they are cheap but they work) because they are not type accepted but some distributor can bring in container full of these junk radios that are passed off as 10 meter rigs. I can't find them accepted by the feds for any reason.

 

RL maybe you should read why something was said. The reason was because of a Driver wanting to add a Ham radio in his truck. And for the person who only post about Stryker radios who told him to buy a Stryker to use as a Ham radio. My comment was to him that the radio would not do. And you start talking of other things. Those radios are not what you want for Amateur radio. So Please read why something was said. Because what you say could still provide the wrong info to the Driver who asked the question. And the reason I said about my license is because of you saying about where one can talk on 10. Well I would love to see him talk to many people on 28.300-28.305 AM or FM.

The FCC will let you use some of the non-type accepted radios. If not converted to do 11 meters. Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH said that several years ago. So go for it. Just like you can build your own radio. Is that type accepted? I guess it must be. You can call Laura and ask about the radios.

Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH Retired FCC Enforcement Division watchdog over the Amateur Radio Service. He would also knock off CBer's. CBer's around here know him as the FCC Hitman.

 

Look I'm stuck on this idea of the channel selector thing, not saying you made it up but this is the first I've heard that the FCC doesn't allow ham gear to have channel selectors, Nothing in the regs say that it can't have one nor can they create such a rule that states that there can't be one. The spectrum as you know isn't made up of channels so even if there are fixed frequencies used on some equipment, it doesn't make it illegal to use or even make.

I learned working with the FDA, that regulatory agencies have people with their own interpretations of regulations so if Hollingsworth said it, it isn't gospel.

As for type accepted equipment or certified equipment, the point that I am making is that the '10 meter' radios seem to come here passed customs without being FCC "approved" then sold to anyone who wants one - containers full of them. While I can't import maybe a few HF rigs that are not certified or approved for my own use or to sell to fellow hams, see the issue?

 

Well Riley is who was Head Enforcer for the FCC laws when he told me this. So to me it will stand as being their law. I did not say that you must obey it. I don't care what your anyone else runs on any band. So you do as you please. Like said before you can always as Laura Smith who is current Enforcer for them. And see what she says about it. I would if it worried me. If I want to know something about legal radio stuff. I just call her.

And why can't you import HF radio to use on the Amateur bands? You may use any radio you desire as long as it meets the spectral purity requirements in the Part 97 regulations. You, as the licensed operator are responsible for ensuring the radios you operate meet these requirements. If it doesn't then you'll have a problem.


laura.smith@fcc.gov

 

Big_m
Do not forget about the Official Observer's and the Auxiliary Members (who are just regular licensed ham operators worldwide) who happily volunteer (police the airwaves regularly) to bust "#####" for operating outside the allocated CB channels/bands on these export 10m radios.
aimhigh

 

So true Aimhigh. I think that some of them only live to do that.

 

Most amateurs don't care if people go outside the allocated CB channels. But when they encroach onto the amateur bands, they then get a mite "indignant"! I was looking at those baofeng VHF handhelds at a hamfest yesterday. Super cheap. Go about anywhere on VHF. But I won't buy one because we seem to forget that these people are our enemies. By buying one of these things, one is undermining the economy, promoting slave labor, hurting the businesses and countries who are America's allies! We cut our own throats when we buy these things and provide aid and comfort to the enemy. So I ain't buyin'!~ Additionally (getting back on track), I am no fan of the so-called "10 Meter 'amateur' radios" that permit unlicensed people to FILCH the 10 meter band! If they stay OFF the ham bands and the military bands for which I have authorization, I don't care what they do. If I find someone in the local area yappin' on 10 Meters where they don't belong, YUP! I'll go a-foxhuntin'!

 

I run the kenwood ts570dg have for 15 years cant hurt that radio i also run a heil gold line mike on boom with vox or button on shifter my antenna is a texas bug catcher

 

I've still got a couple of those laying around. Used 'em until the screwdriver came along. I spent the afternoon building a new impedance matcher for my Carolina Cyclone screwdriver. I was using the little matching coil that came with my Tex. Bugcatcher, and some fool just couldn't leave it alone. Gave it a twist and busted it. This time, the one I made will be HARDER to twist or break, dad-durn 'em! And I'm gonna to put it inside a p-box. You know, outta sight outta mind. I guess these stupes, not knowing what the antenna is, much less a little coil at the bottom, just can't resist messin' with stuff that ain't none of ther' business!!!