I have an idea how to end the CB vrs. ham war:)

I think it's too late for the FCC to try anything with regard to regulating 11m. I think it's enough to make sure what happens on 11m stays there.

Are there some first class operators on 11m? Hell yes there are, but there are also a lot of horrible operators who routinely try to block transmissions, run ridiculous amounts of power splattering all across the spectrum, and every other word is some sort of profanity.

Unfortunately there are too many of the latter sort of operators on the band, and just too many users of the (11m) band to attempt to regulate it with licenses. These days they don't have enough funding to increase enforcement.

A technician license is easy enough to aquire. If it were made any easier, the only thing they'd check the applicant for is respiration and a heart beat. General is even (relatively) easy these days now that the morse code requirement has gone away.

Giving things to people for nothing is a bad way to do business. It applies with things like social welfare just as easily as it applies to radio licenses/privelledges. If you give somebody something for nothing, they won't respect it nearly as much as if they had to work for it.

I have no problem with the 11m operators who are respectful, don't run excessive power and try to block other users, and so forth. I happen to be a HAM. The only thing I dislike with certain 11m operators isn't where they operate, it's how they operate. I don't think I'm better than a CB or 11m operator just because I have a license. As has been mentioned, there are hams with class and without class, just like 11m operators. I try to be one of the classy ones, and prefer to talk to those with a bit of class. Beyond that I don't have a preference for HAM or CB if a particular operator is one or the other, as long as they have the class to not try being disruptive or annoying.

I have been a ham for almost 25 years. I also have been a truckdriver for over 20 and yes I have used CB, it was nice traveling along the highway talking to friends. But, over the last few years it has gotten to bad for even me. I have gotten rid of my CB radio's and switched to 2 meters. I no longer have to hear the backbiting and profanity and the like.

I don't think there is any hope for CB. Nothing against anyone who wants to us it legal or illegal. Maybe as I get older I just got tired of the daily riff-raff. I would much rather have an intellegent conversation with a ham than hear every 2 minutes wheres the bears or is the chicken house open.

Hello i've been on 11 meters for 20 years and at one time held a general class ticket. there is good and bad in every aspect of life. lots of hams around mid michigan THINK there better than everbody, so when my ticket expired i just let it go. there are still channels on 11m that people run respectful, peaceful and only allow decent conversation. yes the drakes come and bother you but thats what the rf gain and squelch are for. kinda get a bad taste in your mouth when you monitor the ham bands and theres always one catagorizing people. then you have the hams who come to 11m use profanity on the channels then go back to redeem themselves on the ham bands. bottom line hobbies are hobbies. to each his own , you earned it, use it. have a good day.

Well i have no idea on how to win the war but i still enjoy 11mtrs. in the early morning with the old timers over coffee from time to time, after 7am time to shut it down.

CHARLEYMARBLES said:

As the code requirement has been droped why not just licence CB opps as an entry level (no test) ham opperator?

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To be honest, that would create more tension. Why? Because ham's have to take tests to show they know the basics of radio operation, basic skills surrounding the hobby. That doesn't mean a typical CB'er does not, but it proves through a certification process, much like earning a degree or "passing a test". [see comments that follow later in post]

RF and eletrical safety also come into play when dealing with a higher RF power such as 1200 or even 1500 watts, if you have ever received an RF burn (which I have) you respect such power levels. While I believe that there are many things that need improved upon for these ham tests, such as an electrical safety course, basic radio knowledge, basic PC skills, beyond these entry exams. Could a CB'er know or obtain this same knowledge? Absolutely, we are in the information age after all. Question is... what motivates one to do quality research.

Wouldn't that make for a better pathway to the higher levels of licence? And I bet you would see MORE people climb the ranks of hamdom as they would allready have a call and they would just have to test to advance? Then you could see greater oppertunity for the GOOD hams to elmer to the new radio enthuisist as they learned to have good opperating practices.

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Not sure I agree totally, because if one is not motivated to test and receive more privileges in the first place, the likelyhood could be that one may not want to advance any further. Many of the CB only folks I talk to are quite content where they are at, some actually may have no clue on the licensing process. To each his own. Opportunity knocks. I think there is great opportunity already for hams to elmer the new comers, sad fact is that some only focus on the negative experiences in both the CB and ham hobbies. I have had bad experiences on both sides, but still I continue without the chip on my shoulder. Yes I still occasionally use CB radio, when I can find someone on that is (demographics).

SO say entry level 11 meter band (no test) BUT hams who wanted to would not need to use a differant radio to use 11 meters just fallow the power requirements of the band they were on ? Not any differant than they do now with the other bands?

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I see what you are saying now (I think) are you suggesting licensing CB operators much like it was before, but only limiting them to 11 meters? Interesting, but not sure how the CB community would be for using call-signs for traceability. That may create more tension within the CB community, and assuming one would want to take on the responsiblity of self-policing--not so much vigilante groups. In other words, it could be difficult to make CB'ers obtain this call-sign and actually use it over the air if there is no enforcement. That may sound as if I am skeptical, but what I am inquiring is that how do you generate the call sign for someone that really does not need one to use the equipment they already use?

I don't know maby I'm useing a bit to much common sence here but we have all got to accept that 11meter is just as much a hobby service as any of the other bands, and like it or not the vast majority of hams DID start there so why not have it as a sanctioned testing grounds for folks who would like to see if radio is for them ?

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Basically CB is just that, it allows for one to test the waters with no requirements or licensing. Yes, I started in CB. Ham radio kicks the doors wide open as far as frequencies and mode of operation, you take it as far as you want (legally of course). I personally like the community service, just as CB'ers have REACT, but how many do you know actually sign up for REACT in your area?

And I think you would find that the wild 11 meter band would settle down a whole lot in the process.

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I am not sure of that, at least in my area. Most of the rhetoric that goes on in my area has nothing to do with CB vs. ham but more of an ego trip or being mischievous most likely due to the demographics (speculation on my part). It seems to work both ways in this scenario (in my area) for CB'ers and hams alike. For example, if I tell some local CB'er I am a ham they get defensive and may end the QSO, and if I tell a ham I am also a CB'er I may at times get the rubber hose treatment. So what, I like both, but perfer the ham hobby more because of the possiblities of modes of operation.

kb8ygc

park said:

I did'nt know there was a war.....

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Me either, mabye back when the 11-meter band was donated/delegated from the ham bands for CB perhaps?

RF and eletrical safety also come into play when dealing with a higher RF power such as 1200 or even 1500 watts, if you have ever received an RF burn (which I have) you respect such power levels. While I believe that there are many things that need improved upon for these ham tests, such as an electrical safety course, basic radio knowledge, basic PC skills, beyond these entry exams. Could a CB'er know or obtain this same knowledge? Absolutely, we are in the information age after all. Question is... what motivates one to do quality research.


I'm not so sure about that,,,I know some CB'ers that run more rf and know more about electronics than some hams.

It's simple, if you want to get on a ham band then you have to get the licsen.

Again its not what you know, so much as being properly trained, which is what I think is lacking in the licensing process (as others have pointed out). I know plenty of CB'ers and Hams and techs (maybe myself despite my degree in EET) that think they know about electronics but if had to take a test such as the CET exam, they may not pass it.

I know of a certain Extra Class ham (licensed long ago) that lives a couple of blocks from me that has never and does not know how to solder a PL-259 connector onto a coax cable. I guess that keeps people like me in business. (LOL)

I guess that puts things in perspective eh?

I have been around self-made millionairs that can't get the chips from the bag to their mouth with out dropping half of them !!