5 watt limit question

Long story short here gents. If you are still concerning yourself with these antiquated laws, you need another hobby. The laws are decades old, the technology is as old. The FCC could care less about the common CB'er in the year 2010. The have more important things to worry about, cell phones, cable, internet... I know a guys who work for the FCC and they have 4 & 6 pill amplifiers on their trucks and they tell it like it is... "Who cares"

LOL Just hook it up and let it talk.

 

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Ya mean like this one? It's in 2010, ya know
VIA CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

February 24, 2010
Mr. David Perkins
(Address withheld)
(City/State withheld)

RE: WARNING FOR UNLICENSED RADIO OPERATION EB-10-GB-0016

Dear Mr. Perkins:
It has come to the attention of the Federal Communications Commission that at various times in the last several months you have operated overpowered transmitting equipment on 11 meters that has interfered with the consumer electronic devices owned and operated by your neighbors.

The Commission's rules require that you operate your CB station with an FCC certified CB transmitter. The rules also prohibit the use of external radiofrequency power amplifiers (sometimes called linears or linear amplifiers). The rules further provide that use of a non-certified CB transmitter and/or a power amplifier voids your authority to operate the station."

Operation of radio transmitting equipment without a valid FCC authorization is a violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and may subject the responsible parties to substantial monetary forfeitures, in rem arrest action against the offending radio equipment, and criminal sanctions including imprisonment.


Because unlicensed operation creates a danger of interference to important radio communications services and may subject the operator to severe penalties, this warning emphasizes the importance of complying strictly with these legal requirements.

UNAUTHORIZED OPERATION OF THIS RADIO STATION MUST CEASE IMMEDIATELY. You have ten (10) days from the date of receipt of this warning to respond to this office. The response must contain a statement of the specific action(s) taken to bring your CB station into compliance with the Commission's rules and should include a time line for completion of pending corrective action(s).

You are directed to support your response with a signed and dated affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury, verifying the truth and accuracy of the information submitted in your response. Your response should be sent to the following address:

1270 Fairfield Road,
Gettysburg, PA 17325 and reference the listed case number.

In an inquiry of this type we are required to notify you that under the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. S: 552a(e)(3), the Commission's staff will use all relevant information before it, including information you disclose in your reply, to determine what, if any, enforcement action is warranted in this matter.

Sincerely,

Laura L. Smith
Special Counsel

Cc: Norfolk Resident Agent
Southeast Regional Director

47 C.F.R. S: 95.409(a). 47 C.F.R. S: 95.411(a)(1). See 47 C.F.R. S:S: 95.409 (a); 95.411(b). 47 U.S.C. S: 301. Fines normally range from $7,500 to $10,000. See S:S: 401, 501, 503, 510.

 

Oh god, here we go again...

 

No we don't: I just thought it was funny!!

GF

 

The reason they told you an older radio would be more powerfull is alot of guys did run 10 meter radios instead of regular cb's, way more watts allowed but you need an amateur radio license to operate them, and if you dont know much about cb's it will be difficult for you to set up a 10 meter. And dodgem250 did you ever think about any consequences of people that dont know what there doing? A guy know had a big base station in his house that was illegal, it put out so much wattage that it interfered with medical equipment at a nearby hospital, almost killed people, he got 10000 fine, 4 years in jail, and EVERYTHING he owned confiscated by the fcc, tvs radios microwave toaster...... you get the idea. Not trying to be a jerk but there is bad things that can come of it if you are inexperienced with big radios.

 

If you check the FCC Web site looking for operators who have been Fined or warnings handed out for running illegal equipment over the last 10 years. You will notice in every case that those guys were all running Base Units, and messing with their neighbors electronics...You will be hard pressed to find anyone who has ever been Find running power or a Export Radio in a Mobile...Unless it was someone just being a jerk and purposely trying to mess-up stores intercoms or just causing havoc and terrorizing people in some way.

 

Like I said stay off 10 meters .....

 

Jessejamesdallas is partially (and mostly correct)---except for the part about the "mobile" thing. Yes, it is more trouble----but only by a bit! This thing about "I can't be found because I am in a mobile" is another of those myths. Man, have you NEVER HEARD of all the GPS/satellite stuff being used today? IF FCC wants you, and you DO cause enough trouble, they most certainly CAN find you----and do it so easily you won't know what hit you! Technology can do awesome things that weren't possible just a few years ago. If you have a GM car with OnStar, they can shut down a stolen vehicle by disabling the engine with a few computer keystrokes!

The equipment that FCC uses is much like OnStar on steroids: IT-IS-AWESOME!!!!! I've done a ride-along with an agent (Norfolk, VA) and it is just amazing. NO antennas, no visible marks, and the agent may be in a non-descript Tahoe, or a Ford Taurus--or a "mommy van"! You won't KNOW!!!!! Their technicians do a redesign of the dash and much of the equipment is built in and incorporated INTO the dashboard. The agent I was with carried a spectrum analyzer and a handheld radio; the rest was at his fingertips on the dash. COOL TOYS!!! If there is someone running too much power, for example, the equipment analyzes the suspect signal, gains a bearing TO the offending signal, compares the strength of all the other signals present on the frequency relative to the one of interest, and keeps a running "tab" on the vehicle (or base) and its position. It shows on the dash a map of where the offending signal is and the route TO intercept. HOW to defeat that? Simple. Just don't TRANSMIT!!!!! But most folks aren't going to KNOW that---unless someone snitches! And that very thing happened when the agent asked directions to a certain house! The news spread like wildfire and the signals from the station stopped. We KNEW where he was; we drove right by the house. The agent stopped and asked to inspect, warning the gentleman (CBer) that failure to allow inspection would cause a fine (You MUST permit inspection of radio stations--even mobiles because it is codified in US law)
The guy got a verbal warning.

Base or mobile: it doesn't matter.

Again, JJD is mostly right. The mere USE of extra power ON CB is not likely to cause a problem for you unless it is ridiculously high and causing problems for others.

However, excessive power is harmful not only to others (interference, blockage of important communications), but to the untrained users themselves.

Just don't make the often-heard mistake of "They can't find me because I am mobile" (a popular CB myth). If they WANT you, they can FIND you!

GF