Out-of-control operators in d.c. Area!!!

The FCC was trying to take the 70cm (440Mhz) band from the Hams.

 

Not trying to start an argument, but...

Your statement is not accurate. The hams do not have an inalienable right to those frequencies. They belong to the general public and their allocation and use is administered by the FCC. The fact that the FCC has permitted use of the band by licensed amateur operators does not prevent them from reassigning it to another user group in the future.
I am not advocating giving away the 70cm band to another group. I used this as an example to show that something really could be done to offer an alternative to the mess that 11 meters is in. A solution could be found if there was the political will to do so, and the answer may be to kill a sacred cow or two in order to accomplish it.

 

I also noticed while messing with my cb earlier that channel 6 is nothing but ham operators hollering at each other from all over the country. Loud and clear too. That doesn't strike me as fair at all considering how vigorously ham channels are defended.

 

How do you know it was ham operators?

 

I hate to break your heart, But a C.B. radio is one of the worst tools a driver can have. NEVER believe in anything! Get off your behind, read a map, Use a phone! Ask someone! The girl that means well sends you down a two lane road with a 10' 3" bridge. Her Mini Van fits! Call Dispatch, Call the reciever! Ask first. Then act.

 

That's a lame excuse, the CB can be a useful tool, but don't completely rely on it.

The OP needs to contact the FCC, if those guys are doing what he says, they could interfere with emergency communications if one occured. The FCC needs to get off their #$$ and go after these clowns and make an example of them.

 

They had call letters and referred to themselves as "stations." One was in Oregon, one was in Florida, I'm in Texas, and they were talking to each other. It sounded like they were parked right next to me. I don't know much about the equipment, but whatever they were using wasn't even close to the regs that govern cb traffic.

Now I'm not complaining about it. I thought it was pretty cool. These guys were crystal clear. And they weren't bothering anyone way down on 6. But it might be time for some tweaking of the system.

I mean they recently hacked up all the old TV broadcast frequencies, citizens band could have gotten a slice of that to set up a better 19 for everyone to use.

 

That doesn't necessarily mean they're hams. A "station" can be anywhere you have a radio/antenna set up, even in your truck. Do you remember what their call letters were? Most hams have a 4-6 letter call sign with one number in the middle somewhere. i.e. K9DOG or NX04.

Channel 6 is known as the super bowl of CB. Most of the operators on channel 6 run tens to thousands of watts of power. Most of those stations on channel 6 use a "made up" call number for distance talking (skip) purposes. It's usually a 3 digit code followed by a slang name. i.e. "929 in the sand hills" (North Carolina) or "354 in the sunshine state". (Florida) Their call numbers are not issued by the FCC at all. Here lately the 11 meter band (CB) has been open for skip shooting. When it's open, then yes it's not uncommon to hear strong sounding stations on channel 6. When the band is really open, all 40 channels will sound almost like the opposite party is within a mile from you.

For giggles and grins, one day I was driving home and had the radio tuned to channel 40. My radio was nothing but a 32 year old Cobra on a Wilson 1000 antenna, running 4 watts of power. I was able to talk clear as day to a guy in West Virginia from my driveway in Missouri. It's all about where mother nature puts your signals.

 

Ah, I didn't know that. Yeah, the call letters fit. I wasn't paying much attention with my cb hanging half out and messing with my antennas. I blew the fuses out a minute later. Oops, truck wasn't wired for 100 watts. It is now.

I thought the old radios ran 10 watts or better. The 4 watt limit (which I think is ridiculous) was a recent thing.

 

i wouldnt be able to enjoy my job without my CB.... im not radio rambo but listening to the various convo's and inserting your two cents and having (at times) a nice convo really helps your day out...