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If FCC gave CB 50 watts

JHC, just take the damn test and you get everything mentioned. CB was intended for short-range communication. Unfortunately, they put on a part of the spectrum that is open to skip. I love the complaining of people, it's like I want this and that, yes I know I can take the test and get all I want but I don't want to so give it to me here...blah blah blah.
 
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Bow said:
You are correct, it would be quieter, better audio.... No more BS "PEP" watts, no pissing contests about "Look at that SWING!"

I like AM as well, but for local comms, FM would rock....
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I'm from the UK, we've been on FM since legal CB came out. It isn't quieter with better audio. The only thing you don't have is the pissing contests about swing but overdriven modulation is still a thing as is noise including electrical including car ignition noise and noise from electrical fences and power lines.
 
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w9cll said:
I love the complaining of people, it's like I want this and that, yes I know I can take the test and get all I want but I don't want to so give it to me here.
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They don't understand that radio as a hobby is all about discovery, finding things out, actually learning some stuff. You are very limited in all that if just staying on CB. Some will find the motivation to go far beyond that and some will not. Shooting skip on CB doesn't even begin to hold a candle to chasing DX on 20 meters, or any other band for that matter.

There is SO much more to get involved in with ham radio whether on the air stuff or on the bench stuff.
Just sitting here I have in front of me an MFJ Cub for 40 meters, a Bitx40, and a Survivor 75 phone QRP rig to repair that a friend sent to me to troubleshoot. Then there is a WSPR unit I still have to wind the torroids for and put together. A lot of goofy radio stuff you'd never be introduced to if stayed on CB.

It could also be a matter of having a lot invested in CB radios and equipment and not wanting to reinvest in ham gear. It is tough to sell things off that you do not feel you got your moneys worth out of yet.
 
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We already have FM cb in the states. How many of us actually use 10m repeaters? It's a mess of hetrodynes and multi machines. Useless till you get down to the simplex channels. Then you'll just squashed by a wide band AM rig.
They should open it up to FM, digital. President petitioned the FCC last year for just that. It would certainly bring down the cost of radios if they could keep them more standard.
If the FCC was smart....and that's impossible since it's part of the government. They would sell licenses for 250-500w pep amps. I think most people would buy them legally since it be cheaper then having someone building in the garage. Or paying some meth head with room and board to solder them..
People get them anyway and always will. And most would stay below 500w anyway due to other related costs. Then the FCC could kinda keep track and make some $$.
 
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Mustang 131 said:
Then the FCC could kinda keep track and make some $$.
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Please don't give Uncle Sam any bright ideas on another way to pilfer our pockets. The last thing I want is any more of big gov't. Just open it up some. The legal limit seems to diminish the potential of 11m, though have made contacts far away barefoot due to skip, sometimes.
 
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Redbeard U812 said:
Please don't give Uncle Sam any bright ideas on another way to pilfer our pockets. The last thing I want is any more of big gov't. Just open it up some. The legal limit seems to diminish the potential of 11m, though have made contacts far away barefoot due to skip, sometimes.
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I think if they “opened” it up any then companies like Cobra & Uniden would have to redesign their products for higher output. They’d give up on it because I don’t think that’s their bread and butter, so then you’d be left with just export rigs. You wouldn’t really want that, would you? Some wouldn’t.
 
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Redbeard U812 said:
The legal limit seems to diminish the potential of 11m
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No that is exactly as 11 meters was envisioned. Want more power and options move up. It's that simple! This is what I did, I felt constrained on 11 meters so I moved up after being on 11 for almost 20 years, now I have almost every radio option before me. Want to run FM? Got that! What to run high power? Got that! Want to run digital? Got that? Want to broadcast TV? Got that! Want to work satellites? Got that! Want to talk to any country in the world? Got that! I don't blame people if they don't want to move up but stop asking to change things to suit your wishes when all your wishes are available elsewhere.
 
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w9cll said:
No that is exactly as 11 meters was envisioned. Want more power and options move up. It's that simple! This is what I did, I felt constrained on 11 meters so I moved up after being on 11 for almost 20 years, now I have almost every radio option before me. Want to run FM? Got that! What to run high power? Got that! Want to run digital? Got that? Want to broadcast TV? Got that! Want to work satellites? Got that! Want to talk to any country in the world? Got that! I don't blame people if they don't want to move up but stop asking to change things to suit your wishes when all your wishes are available elsewhere.
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So you would be in favour of having fcc enforce the 4 watt rule. I would. I think the best thing that could happen to 27 mhz, is strict enforcement. Back in the day I had a license for my cb xm4910930. Maybe what is needed is to request the government enforce the rules they have created. This would be good for all radio, it would encourage people to move up.
 
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request the government enforce the rules they have created. This would be good for all radio, it would encourage people to move up.
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It's not worth their time nor money. Enforcement goes primarily to the concerns on the broadcast bands where big money is concerned and they have more responsibility to look after those concerns.

I would imagine that their policy is not to care about anything on CB as long as it stays on CB.

Just don't put up an illegal FM broadcast station for your neighborhood or create any interference on a broadcast band!
 
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