Hey guys.

First, I want to give a big thumbs up to the folks here that have spent time (many times) answering question from new folks asking about CB's and HAM radios. There's lots of knowlege here, and lots of people willing to share it.

I did notice that there's a sticky FAQ here, but not that much info in it. Perhaps we should start making some contributions to it. That would provide some good, clear answers for new folks. I'd suggest that we use this thread to talk about what belongs in the FAQ and develop the contents, and then one of the mods can cut and paste our "developed" info into the acutal FAQ thread.

Here's the outline of the topics that I would suggest:

The Basic Questions:
-What is CB Radio?
-What is FRS?
-What is HAM radio?

CB Radio:
-Do I need a license?
-What should I look for when buying?
-How much range will I get?
-How do I tune my antenna?
-What about these "high powered" CB radios? (how not to have problems with the FCC)
-What about handheld units?
-Where should I install the radio?
-Where should I install the antenna?
-Who will sell me everything I need in one kit?

FRS:
-Will I need a license?
-Can I talk to a CB radio on this thing?
-How much range will I get?

HAM:
-What is HAM radio?
-How do I get licensed? (US and Canadian to begin with, others to be added)
-What is the difference between HF, VHF, and UHF?
-Where should I mount my radio and antenna?
-What do I really need for a radio in my Jeep?
-What's a repeater?
-What's Echolink?
-What do sunspots have to do with anything (this won't go into too much detail about the ionosphere, it will just mention the basics about different types of propogation)

What do you guys think?

 

X2 good idea Also mention that American and Canadian laws are different

 

...and state laws are different too...

 

Are they different with regards to HAM licensing? I know the Canadian laws, but I'm only familiar with the very basics of the licensing procedure in the states.

I thought that amateur radio and citizen's band were regulated in the US by the FCC just like they are both handled by Industry Canada up here.

 

I do not know all the ins and outs of regulations here.

I am not a radio aficionado, someone else with more experience would be better to ask, I just know my brother drove semi interstate for years and was cited for his radio setup in different states on a number of occasions, what exactly it was for i cannot remember in detail, but he was legal in NY (his setup was professionally installed here) but wasn't so elsewhere.

 

Hmmm...

I know that there are a lot of places that cater to long haul truckers that do "professional installs" of rigs that completely illegal. I certainly don't mean to imply that your brother knowingly did anything illegal - he may have been mislead by the person that installed the radio.

As I said before I am no expert on US radio law, but I do know that the FCC has a limit on transmitter power of 4 watts when transmitting within the CB bands. It doesn't matter if you're licensed to run 1000 watts on the 11 meter band, you're limited to 4 watts within the CB section of the 10 meter band.

Despite that, there is a booming business in selling radios that transmit between 50 and 150 watts on CB channels. This is normally how long haul truckers get "dinged" by the FCC.

 

that is entirely possible, my brother is an idiot.

I remeber going with him to a shop and having it checked here (dont know if it was the same place that installed or not ) for a statement to send in with his ticket from another state, stating the install was legal. He did that a couple times. He may have known it was illegal or not, i have no idea. I just know he got the tickets, and it was supposedly legal for this state. I assumed therefor that other states laws where different?
Wish i could help more, but radio isnt my thing.

 

......you cracked me up with that one....!!!

 

Yeah.......many/most truckers run amps as well as the illegal "Freeband" freqs.....ie, 40 above and 40 below the normal CB channels. So much so that the FCC has pretty much gotten out of enforcing mobile ops, and has pretty much let the local law enforcement take over. From what I've gathered, the FCC is mostly just watching out for illegal operations from home bases.....CB and HAM alike. And like you said, having it "professionally" installed doesn't mean it was legal. It "may" have been legal until his brother found that "great deal" on that nice little kicker....!!!.........lol

 

Back to the point, yes! Update/Upgrade the FAQ by all means. I read this area frequently absorbing info as I go and I am sure others do as well.

And yes, I enjoy side banter too, one learns a lot by listening.