Makes sense. Why would you have to take a test, then get an obscenely expensive radio and multiband antenna just to have to get help if needed? Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade my ham license for all the tea in China, etc., but back in the day, when I sold some of those toy CBs for a living, I had to get my CB call, early 70s I think when the FCC was so overwhelmed they resorted to having people use their initials and zip code for a temp license. Never used it beyond the showroom, and even there only when “required” to demo a CB to some fool. And back then I did use a “CB” radio, but converted to 10 meters AM in the car. An old Lafayette with tunable RX and crystal TX.

Howie WB2AWQ

Sent from Mail for Windows

From: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, August 5, 2023 4:43 AM
To: ARC-5 List
Subject: Re: [ARC5] dying hobby?

I listen to the bands with an SDR receiver or see if they are opened. When listening to the 10 meter band I see there is usually more SSB activity on the "Freeband" between 11 and 10 meters than 10 meters. It kinda makes sense; Hams have multiple bands to play owith but these Freebanders are limited to one band. Also most Ham "communications" these days is with FT-8/FT-4.

The freebanders see to have call letters; I wonder how they get them? Is this allocation legal for CB radio in some countries?

I do lots of portable operation and meet people who are familiar with Amateur Radio; I hear "My grandfather/father was a Ham". Some of them are traveling in RV's and tell me that CB and GMRS radios are popular for RV'ing these days.

Mike N2MS

> On 08/04/2023 11:55 PM EDT [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> >I guess the old 27 MHz CB band is pretty much real gone dead, maybe only a few logging operations out here still use it. I actually in recent history heard
> on some late night radio talk show ads for Uniden CBs, which amazed me.
>
> I've been seeing youtube videos aimed at preppers & similar folks that have been touting CB radios as a "must have" item.
>
> Wayne
> WB4OGM
______________________________________________________________
ARC5 mailing list