What I never understand is why HAMs even care about 11 meters, or are compelled to act as the radio police? Don't hams have many other bands to talk on that CB'ers, even with a 10 meter can't touch? Why don't they just let the idiots on 11meter do their thing, they don't have to listen. If CBers want to splatter all over 11 meters what's the harm to the average HAM? A CBer with a modded 10 meter radio can't talk on 2 meters can he? And I run a stock CB and have never had trouble breaking in on the high power guys to get a bear report or traffic info... it just seems to me like the fun of 11 meters is that it's wide open. If those guys want to get into their power wars on channel 6, I don't care. I think it's entertaining.
I been studying radio since I was 6 years old. Back in WW1 and WW2 the military used those freqs even the Germans did to there detriment, because we could hear the Tank Commander's jabbered away from thousands of miles away, then in 1957 the FCC allocated 11 meters to the general public, which was part of the HAM band. Do some research and you will find that they want 11 meters back so they can use it. but it will never happen.
Well, I haven't had the time to read the rest of the thread, but... I am a ham. But I am not like the older generations that are demanding the 11 meter/CB band back, which the FCC allocated to the CB band back in the '50s. Hams are also bitter over CBers running illegal amps and modified equipment that leaks over into the other bands and such. No, I don't think that the FCC should give 11 meters back to the Hams. Illegal operation practices happen in any band, so it is not the sole domain of the bad CBers. I do wish, however, that users of CBers would clean up their act some, because on this site, too, there is much animosity torwards CB users with filthy mouths and no manners. Just go onto one of the ham boards, they HATE CBers. And this is a much friendlier board than any ham board I have visited, too. They are VICIOUS! Even to fellow hams! And they wonder why their numbers are dwindling...
This is a famous and erroneous myth that is often trotted out in the CB world. In 1959, there were about 600,000 hams. In 2008, the population has certainly grown and the ham population is.................................... around 600,000. Gadfly
I agree, I read the Ham board every day and this forum is very well mannered compared to the HAM forums.
I didn't know the stats, Gadfly (thanks for posting them, too) But I can tell you that I don't see much new blood in the ham world. Most hams are old men, and not many younger people. I got my license because I figured it could be useful later, but I am not heavily involved like some people get, either...I stick to the 2 meter and VHF/UHF bands, and I don't do the HF distance bands...
Well, those geezer hams who remember the FCC taking 11 meters from them can't last much longer anyway. Seriously though, I find it hard to believe that the hate hams have for CBers is all spawned from that old event. THere's plenty of CBers who hate the moron CBers too. And I realize that one overzealous HAM, as well as one crude idiot CBer can give each of their respective hobbies a bad name each in their own way. I think the FireMarshalBill type ham who tries to threaten CBers with the FCC is really more upset about the social issue of disrespect that CBers show to radio rather than the actual law they're breaking by wattage or splattering, etc., or he's jealous of the illegal CBer's 32 pill amp, or, he's doing the same thing on the ham bands and hates himself for it so takes it out on idiot CBers... and the CBer who hates hams is jealous because he's too stupid to even think about getting a ham ticket...lol. Wait, what am I saying, like it's hard to get a ham ticket anymore? AAAH! No wonder hams are pi$$ed.
Oh, they are mighty pissed about the easier requirements, too. Especially since the Morse Code requirements were dropped...if you check out the ham sites and boards, there are plenty of hams that hate Techs almost as much as they hate CBers...
Dropping Morse code seemed to turn Hams against each other in a weird way, most Hams have fun when they can same with CBers, most are good operators also, there will be rotten apples in the bunch, enjoy life while you can is what I always say. :smt058
Guns dont kill people, But it makes it a hell of a lot easire that running them down and stabbing them with a bayonett. A Marine Major to us Seabees 1967, just before my Sr. trip to Nam.