[Elecraft] CB band TX? - I'm shocked!

[Goody K3NG]

David Pratt wrote:
> In a recent message Goody K3NG <goody.k3ng at gmail.com> writes
>> >>I'm not in favor of breaking the law, but I think the chances of 
>> running into the FCC today are slim to none.  If you don't identify 
>> with your ham callsign while using a ham rig on FRS or CB 
>> frequencies, it's unlikely anyone, even the FCC will know a 
>> difference, or even care.
>
> >It is the tendency these days for radio amateurs of all nations to 
> self-regulate.  So let us do just that and use equipment which is 
> legal. A CB transceiver can be bought for just a few $, so let's act 
> responsibly and keep the hobbies separate without complicating the 
> issue any further.  It is fortunate that the CB bands can be disabled 
> in K3 firmware.


My point is not that the K3 should be a CB transceiver, nor am I 
encouraging someone to use it regularly on CB bands or "combine the 
hobbies".  The point is it would be prudent to have the capability there 
if you need it.  I'm not disputing that in normal situations "legal" CB 
transceivers are cheap and readily available.  The reality is in 
abnormal situations (i.e. emergencies) they're not readily available.  
It doesn't matter to me if I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere that 
Walmart is selling  CBs for $15, I don't have a Walmart that I can get 
to.  It doesn't matter that I own a cheap CB if it happens to be at my 
house if I'm a hundred miles away.  While we can preach with blue skies 
that everyone should be prepared and carry a CB, the fact of the matter 
is that we can't carry in our vehicles or on our person at every moment 
every possible tool needed in an emergency.  CB disabled on the K3 is 
like the little saw removed on a Swiss Army knife.

Jim Cundiff KB3GFC wrote:

 >If you can afford $3K for a radio and have the time and desire to 
volunteer, spend a hundred bucks and buy the CB if you want to TX there!

<sigh> It's not about the money.  If it was, anyone could buy a ham rig 
already on the market cheaper than the K3 that can TX in the CB band and 
amateur bands.

In summary (to the group), it seems the point of this no-TX-in-the-CB 
band "feature" isn't to keep law-abiding amateurs legal, it's to keep 
non-hams from using it for a glorified CB.  As I've mentioned earlier, 
the price point, appearance, marketing, and features of the K3 take this 
so far out of the law-breaking CBer demographic, it's silly to think 
there would be widespread use of K3s on CB bands in areas where it was 
illegal.  The potential benefits of having CB TX available far outweigh 
the risks.  Not to get mellowdramatic, but it seems often in amateur 
radio today, we've thrown out common sense and practical reality for 
legalistic and/or idealistic principles.  That is what several of the 
arguments here are doing.

Everyone (in the US) should keep a paper copy of Part 95 and 97 with 
them for emergencies -- it makes a good fire starter.

73
K3NG
Goody

-- 
Blog: http://thek3ngreport.blogspot.com/