The hypocrisy of HAMs.

Well compared to other builders, it is junk,

 

I keep my CB on at all times to monitor traffic, weather, accidents, etc.
But, I know and accept that it's MY responsibility to operate that rig in a safe enough manner so that I can stop it within my line of sight.
It's not optimal to go blasting over the crest of a hill at 70mph not knowing what may be lurking on the other side.
The days of generally getting frequent reports to alert others of possible hazards ahead are long gone. You can blame cell phones, iPods, and satellite radio for that.
Ham and Base stations have been around for many moons blasting 19/17 from coast to coast and it's never been more than an aggravating hindrance to our sanity.

 

I have to ask a question here, it seems to me that you guys don't know what a ham is so here is my question - how does a ham blast anything on 19/17?

 

I also included Base stations.
Perhaps that will alleviate your concern and add clarity.

The OP is railing about HAM which broadcasts on frequencies that should never affect Citizens Band.
I included it for continuity.

 

Your complaint seems to be about Ham radio guys but the examples you give are of base stations running big power illegally .

I don't care one way or another but I would think you would be using actual Hams as examples .

About your problem getting out with your antenna . I will just say this a perfect SWR does not mean that your antenna is actually resonant . A dummy load has a 1:1 SWR .

When it comes to radios and trucks each one is its own set of problems .

As for this being a trucker forum and not a ham forum truckers in my experience are many things and a very diverse bunch .

I have found Hams to be allot of help when it comes to radios and their quirks .

Hams are like any other group in that they have their old grouchy curmudgeons and holier than thous just like any other group .

 

I get that as you do but obviously some don't.

I never heard a ham operate on the "cb" bands since 1958.

However, I have heard CB'er on 10 meters.

I've been dealing with that crap for years, being 15 and interested in Ham, I was shut down by a lot of old farts back then who never liked young people getting involved. My next door neighbor was a ham when he was a kid back in 1909 (and tried to teach me code but I could not get the hang of it), he even commented that there were people then that discouraged others from being involved.

OMG, one of the biggest turn offs for me and a lot of others is the ECOMM craze and the bullsh** that is involved with it.

 

So are you saying, hams who are truck drivers aren’t aloud on this open cb forum? Which forum would you suggest then? I bet most ham operators who are truckers, have and use cb radios in their trucks.
1. Because it’s a very useful tool at times, and 2. Its a hobby for most people. You make it sound like all people running lots of power on 11 meters are hams. Are the big boys on channel 6 hams??

I’m pretty confident that the majority of people who are ham operators, started out using a cb radio. Over the years I’ve been in several ham and cb clubs. I’ve made some great friends in both clubs. Yes, there are jerks in both hobbies, you just learn who they are and don’t associate with them much (if they really bother you). Hopefully you’ll get over whoever has stuck a burr under your drivers seat. Life’s too short as it is.

 

I am a HAM and a CBer and I hate parts of both communities.

There are so many issues with the original post it hakes my head hurt.

1. 10 meter band is not "channelized." Actually there is only one ham band that is channelized (60 meter) and that is because the band is very narrow and using it is very restricted. Hams can use any frequency within any band authorized. If you see a "10 meter" radio that has channels it is an export radio and/or designed to be modified for CB. Actually any 10 meter radio that does not have SSB is pretty much worthless on 10 meter anyway and any 10 meter radio that does FM but doesn't do split frequencies is worthless on 10 meter repeaters. The biggest problem with converted 10 meter radios is that it opens up frequencies that even Hams aren't supposed to use, including military frequencies and people who don't know what they are doing can find themselves interfering with military communications.

2. AM CB is outdated and to noisy for normal use. I remember when the CB channels were much quieter and range was much better. Actually if you get off of 19 the channels are much better. Most other countries have gotten away from HF AM and are either using FM on HF or VHF/UHF now. We could do the same, legally and have much better communications ability. GMRS(UHF) is legally capable of 50 watts on many channels. There is also MURS(VHF) but power is limited there as well. the VHF and UHF channels allow clearer communication with existing radios.

3. If all you want is more power, buy an amplifier. They can be used on any CB and the cost of a CB and amp is cheaper than buying a crappy 10 meter radio anyway. A 100 amp amplifier can be found on Amazon for around $150 and can be hooked to a $30 CB. Problem solved.

4. All the super base guys will be around no mater what, for reasons I will never understand. They and the people who cut limiters in radios (aka CB shops) are the reason the CB freqs are so bad today. All of these "big" radios that splatter all over the channels create all the noise that you can't get through to hear about the accident up the road. Adding more power just makes the noise worse. The standard is supposed to be to use the least amount of power needed to communicate effectively but when was the last time you ever heard anyone turn their power down?

 

I hear you about these HAM base station guys. They absolutely ruin 19 in the Baltimore area. Need some local? Forget it! Because they're on there stepping all over everybody. They do it on purpose and it's obvious how much they enjoy it. I find it extremely disappointing and it's prompted me to get into HAM radio without any sort of the required licensing just to anger them in return. Maybe if more people started crapping in their world they might get the point.