Citizen Band radios?

[beppington]

BTW, some cities/counties, including some in CA, have laws against listening to local public service (police, fire, etc) radio conversations, but I do not know if they have been given permission by the FCC or Congress to do that.

Very doubtful that that's enforceable. Just needs somebody to actually challenge it as a law, but why would they?

 

[jdonovan]

I keep promoting the HAM because it's so usefull and the more licenses the harder it is for the feds to take our frequencies away for big corporations.

+1

Just cant convince the XYL to get her ticket.

 

[chucko]

I have not used one in years and years. It seemed lake there for a while every one wanted to prove they know more bad words than the next guy

 

[JamesHW]

Obligatory:

You just listen to the words of the old Porkchop Express and take his advice on a dark and stormy night when the lightning's crashing, the thunder's rolling and the rain's falling in sheets as thick as lead. Just remember what Jack Burton does when the earth quakes, the poison arrows fall from the sky and the pillars of heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton looks that big ole storm right in the eye and says: Gimme your best shot pal, I can take it."

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I'm a HAM operator so I never needed a CB-if you can study a little about bands and some electronics you can get one easily. No morse code reuiments now and they eased up on what you can use a HAM license for now. You can even use it to remote control a device, or, order a pizza now I keep promoting the HAM because it's so usefull and the more licenses the harder it is for the feds to take our frequencies away for big corporations.

I live at the bottom of a narrow valley, and can't even get commercial radio reception, so imagine SW would not work well from a base station. Are there mobile rigs that would be suitable?

I suppose I could run power up the hill a quarter mile or so and mount a transmitter up there. The extra 800 feet of elevation makes a big difference.

 

[RobertN]

My Grandfather was a long time HAM, and WWI vet. He was talking to Pearl City when the attacks on Pearl Harbor started. He was one of the first on the mainland to know. He is long since passed. But, My Uncles, who were pre-teen, said the Army came out later in the day, questioned him, and took his HAM gear for a few days.

My understanding, was HAM's went silent during the war?

My Grandfather had thousands of QC cards. Unfortunately, after his last stroke and move to another house, they were boxed up and put in a shed. They got damp and mildewed. Shame; they were from all over the world, and collected over a few decades.

This discussion reminds me of my grandfather urging me at about 8 years old to learn Morse code in order to begin the licensing process. I wish I would have had to focus back then to have stuck with it. I remember my grandfather speaking of his brother (great uncle) who was disabled thereby keeping him from serving in WWII, but he was able with his ham radio to allow folks to come from miles around and have contact with those stationed overseas. I can't remember his call numbers/letters, but he was quite well known over the waves.

 

[RobertN]

My Grandfather, Mom, and Uncles were on CB long before the "craze" of the 1970's. They said it used to be great, everyone was polite, many were on first name basis. Everyone had a license. Although, my Grandfather used to hot-rod those old tube radio's; not sure how he never got in trouble for high wattage...

I mentioned earlier, my Uncle still has those radio's; one Pace base station and two mobile/car units. Monsterous huge boxes. I don't know how the tubes held up in the car, or how the car had enough power for the tubes.

Since cell phones and cheap FRS radios have come in, the CB band has cleared up nicely. In the '70s a CB was virtually unusable, but it's not hard to find a clear channel now.

 

[edlegault]

Another advantage of ham radio is the many open repeaters available to use to extend your coverage. If you live in the bottom of a canyon or valley it would be possible to put a solar/wind powered repeater up on top of the hill to get your signal out to others.

-Ed-
NX6ED

 

[flyerdan]

You folks reminded me of the old base units that when you keyed in mike it make a noise like a door opening up---- Can't remember the names of those though.

Boone

I believe that would be the Browning Golden Eagle, I remember growing up in northern Idaho someone had one and you'd know who it was as soon as they keyed up. Nice quality signal, too, it was the set everyone wanted to have. I still have about 5 units kicking around; an SBE Console II base, an old tube Realistic base, the first cb my dad got (Raytheon) and a couple other mobiles. Everyone had radios back then, especially out in the sticks because it didn't take much weather to take the phones out.

 

[themartaman]

As a licensed Amatuer Radio Operator I can tell you it is illegal. The law states they can confiscate your vehicle and they have done so in the past. does not mean they will now. As for operation a properly tuned antenna is needed. Do a search for 11 meter antennas and read about them. A whip on rear is bad. I used a mag mount in the center of vehicle roof for best operation. Hams never used the band because it was so bad. For short range communications I use FRS/GMRS radios. Hunting and fishing as most of my friends don't have a license.