Illegal Radio

Keep the 10 meter, just don't run blast the heck out of everybody with it. I wouldn't be concerned at all about having it. I have a couple of them, and the there are plenty of other people out there running them as well.

 

The problem with the "10 Meter" radio IS the fact that it is illegal to use on CB. Period. It has attracted attention from the amateur radio community because people are using those "band" switches to go places where they don't belong. Namely, the 10 Meter band which is the territory of LICENSED radio amateurs who took the time to OBEY the law for the privilege of using those frequencies!. Angered by the presence of illegal persons on their frequencies, the hams are quietly driving along listening to the activities of these bootleg operators and writing down the info of the truck. It just happens that the majority of these operators are truck drivers, and this info goes to FCC. The hams DO have advocates within FCC and these, in turn, send warning letters to trucking companies who then have the illegal radios removed and BANNED! Much quiet maneuvering is going on in Congress and up at FCC to increase penalties and punish people for operating where they don't belong! See "Tennessee
Steel Haulers" thread for an example of a truck driver who was seen operating on the 10M band and got turned into "THE MAN"!

I applaud the gentleman for getting rid of the "10 Meter" radio and respecting the law AND other radio users! There are 40 distinct channels set aside for CB radio, the majority of whom go begging, and there is NO need to go to a so-called "freeband", nor 'extree channels'. These DO belong to other users who deeply resent finding these outlaw operators on their frequencies. Thanks again for NOT doing that!


Gadfly

 

I am a ham and I can say this weather or not you have a license. It doesnt matter the radio is still illegal to operate. Even now on the 10 meter portion since it has been moded.
But I will say this the chance of getting busted is very slim..

 

I have several moded radios. Most of them cannot go on the 10m bands but one of them will. I have no reason to go there however, so I don't.
I also have a few old amplifers that I dont use anymore.

This is all to say that allot of extra power is not needed. I see the conex radios that have been tuned and clipped for an amp out on the market still, as well as ones that are tuned up for max output without the amp. Most of these luckly will not do much over 60 watts fully tuned and swinging there but off.

Is allot of power needed on a CB? NO
The problem is that many drivers are allmost forced to have there radios tuned up because so many others are out there with larger mods and amps bleeding over several channels. This is not as big an issue as it was a few years ago, but it is still a problem.
You would be hard pressed to find a truckstop without at least one "Super Trucker" on a highly modded radio talking allot of smack over top of the many needed conversations that are going on.

 

This is something that really annoys me. Not the "super trucker", but those carrying on conversations on channel 19. When you start carrying on a conversation, drop to another channel and keep 19 open.

 

Use it with caution, keep the power low and stay off the 10 meter band and you probably wont get caught, but keep in mind the radio IS illegal and you can get popped at a random DOT check at customs or a scale.

The problem with using just on the CB channels is that using more than legal power it is probably bleeding over many channels and frequencies.

I had one before i knew they were illegal and sold it as soon as I found out

 

AMEN , BULLWINKLE !!
Hey there's forty channels and truth be told ....there's not alot going on, on the other 39 !!! PLENTY of room to talk there!

 

I don't mind people talking on ch 19 but i hate it when people start singing, or test 1 2 3!

 

Yeah I would certainly suggest getting a Cobra 148 or 29. Uniden might still make good CBs and, in fact, use to make all the Cobras and Presidents; they still might.

Oh yes we hams can be a crazed bunch when it comes to having non-hams on ten meters. I suppose some might be old enough to remember when the FCC reallocated the 11 meter ham band to CB and are still reeling. However this ham was and still is a CBer and wants to help others make the most of using CB radio.

You asked about a good CB setup...

After my preliminary simulation with two cophased CB antennas, I certainly suggest their use on trucks. Put them on the side mirrors. Use a good cophase harness and do not modify the length of the cables.

The ideal CB antenna is 9 feet long. That's too much for high trucks. However, I would not get an antenna less than 5 feet in length. Any shorter and tuning difficulties present themselves.

Check to see if your side mirror mount is electrically bonded to the metal of the truck body. If not antenna tuning may be very difficult as the antenna really wants a good conductive connection to the metal of the truck.

Using a virgin CB without mods provides the best quality sound. Those who try to "push" their modulation to get "more power" are really just pushing the radio beyond its design limits quite often resulting in distortion which will never get through like a good clean, albeit weaker, signal.

Consider a good noise cancelling mike like a Turner or Astatic. They require a battery, but I think they are more comfortable to use. Keep your radio's original mike stored nearby in case your amplified mike battery dies.

John