I think im done with CB.

OK, I don't get all the animosity between ham and CB. I went and got my ham license and I LOVE it. I am usually on 2 meters or the 440 band. Never been on 10 meters. I still have my CB and I do still use it, but 2 meter goes a lot farther and the repeater system is AWESOME, especially if you a re near an echo-link station. The other morning, I talked to a truck driver in Great Britain for a while. I do still talk on CB, though.

A caution about using your CB on 10 meters, though. A lot of the drivers from one of the big LTL outfits that was doing that here and got into trouble. For a while, the company would only allow them to run barefoot CB's. NO EXPORT RADIOS. They hated it, but that's the way it was, I guess.

Also, I've heard, but am not sure, that a CB antenna is very difficult and almost impossible to tune properly for the 10 meter band. I heard that some guys (from the company I was talking about) burned up some Galaxy's and Connex radios by not making ABSOLUTELY SURE that the SWR's were set right and calibrated ON THE 10 METER BAND.

HAte to see anyone mess up a radio and waste their hard earned money.

 

I agree there. I USE my CB as a tool to help me in my operation, as well as for conversation.

Very much in disagreement there!! I have used my ham radio to get directions from locals who live in the area when an unexpected detour came up due to accidents more than a few times.

More trucks than you think have ham radios in them.

Listening to the weather spotters kept me out of the way of a tornado this past Friday night in Texas. That aspect alone has really helped me out.

I listen to the cops all the time. Not really too useful, but it's kind of cool knowing what's going on when you see them fly past you running hot.

One time, I had a company trailer break down. I had NO cell service in the boonies where I was and I was the ONLY truck anywhere around. An old guy sitting up talking on the ham relayed a message for me and got road service out to me.

Over the last couple of years I've had my ticket, I've found my ham to be enjoyable, as well as very useful.

Interestingly enough, I used to sound just like you, until a buddy of mine convinced me to take the test. I wish I had done it at the same time I got my CDL, and not waited 15 years!

 

I guess what I should have said was that it doesn't matter what the radio is, just make sure the antenna is tuned correctly. My understanding is that most CB antennas aren't designed to be used on 10 meters and don't tune well for it.

And you'll need a ham license to talk on ten meters, legally. Although, I think lots of guys do it, anyway.

I think something like an Emperor 5010 or one of those Ranger radios might do what you're talking about with the easily switching bands, they just don't have the classic CB look and are a little different to operate. I had a Emperor 5010 years ago and it was a KICK ##### radio!

 

I don't know about that. Its been a while since I been down that way.

 

Yeah, thats what I do when I'm running with another driver. We'll go a few chanels away from any talk. I wish some of these base stations would do that. 17 is almost useless between Sacramento and Fresno on the 99 from what those guys do. I often can't even talk to the truck next to me because some guy 50 miles away has to tell us all about his big radio.

 

I haven't seen many CB antennas that will not tune 10 meters.

 

I think it has to do with several things...

Some hams think if you use a CB, you must be one of those guys that's more concerned with "how much more power can i run to help me get out there" and in the process cause problems with people's TV's, phones, etc.

Some hams claim they've never used a CB in their life and also have this "holier than thou" attitude about it. They also view those who have or do use a CB that also have a ham license as "not a true ham".

Some hams also believe that the only people you will find on CB are backwoods southerner types that have a heavy drawl that talk about stupid things...i.e. not having any panties on and such.

Also some hams think if you use a CB you must be stuck in the 60's or 70's because CB is ancient technology and other forms of communication have surpassed the CB.

On the flip side, some CB operators view hams as nerds with too much time on their hands in which they'll chase you down and rat on you if you end up on the 10 meter band.

And some CB operators think of hams as snobs, again with the "holier than thou" attitude, all because they possess a ham ticket. I have personally met a 70 year old man that owns and runs a CB shop that I thought for certain was a ham, but claims he has never been a ham nor will he ever be...he went on to tell me a story on how he was on the 11 meter band doing some chatting and a licensed ham came over and was trying to run some of the users off....now why a ham would do this is beyond me.

I have heard that some hams are still peeved that on September 11, 1958, the FCC took away their 11 meter segment for the CB band. Sure is an awful long time to have a gripe with Uncle Charlie.

The way I see it, radio is radio, and most hams got their start on the CB. Not everyone who uses a CB is focused on power or noise toys. Just like not all hams are snobs. CB is free to use for anyone. It might be outdated technology but it is still simple, inexpensive and it works.

 

I stick to cell. That way I only deal with one ####### at a time.

 

IF you can find a HAM licensed on Sept 11 1958 he is 70 years old now ...

That MAY have been true 40 years ago but Here in the south some people are saving DIXIE CUPS because they are waiting for the south to rise again.

Your right I GOT my start on CB as did 99.44/00 percent of other hams. Nothing WRONG with that you have to get started some how ......

No matter what you hear 10 meters is not some extra channles and requires a license and is HAM ONLY world wide ... you hear people talking about the FCC somehow giving it to the CBers another internet myth and would be illegal too.

Have fun on the radio ....