[Hallicrafters] Thank You to all that have responded.

[Oliver J. Dragon]

Just to note a couple of side issues associated with the CB details so well 
described by Glen...

1. The opening of the 11 meter band to CB in 1958 coincided with the peak 
of the solar sun-spot cycle (it was among the highest, if not the highest 
recorded) which resulted in the new CB band being a great place to "work 
dx". The new CB'ers rapidly became more interested in dx'ing than using 
their equipment for it's original intent. The new CB band and the amateur 
band were open to all parts of the world all day and into the night, and 
while U.S. hams could work worldwide, I don't think the U.S. CB'ers could 
work outside the U.S. only because they were the only inhabitants of the 11 
meter band.
The dx enticement brought a huge influx of people into the CB ranks, and 
things got out of hand as far as rules enforcement was concerned.

2. It was my understanding that the U.S. was signatory to an international 
agreement that a technical proficiency test, including sending/receiving 
morse code was required for any operation below 30mc. (Maybe this was part 
of the Communications Act of 1934?) If true, I don't understand how CB was 
granted 11 meters in the first place.

73,
Ollie



At 11:11 AM 03/23/2004, you wrote:
>The Class "D" Citizen's Radio Service was created
>primarily as a means for the corner drug store, the
>local gasoline service station, etc., to be able to
>have short-range inexpensive radio communications.
>Unfortunately, the FCC also put in the provision that
>it could be used for "personal" communications.  It
>was not long before many people realized this
>"loophole" and started using it as a "hobby" band.  In
>fact, when the service was first created, the FCC even
>pointed out that it was NOT illegal to work stations
>of different licensees.  This opened "Pandora's Box"!
>
>Originally the FCC issued licenses for no charge.  The
>applicant had to fill out form 405A.  However, the
>callsigns that the FCC was issuing were illegal under
>international treaty!  They were issuing licenses that
>had the FCC district (not the amateur radio district
>but the FCC district office number) followed by the
>letter "W".  For example, someone in the Chicago area
>might get a call 18W1234, someone in the Dallas area
>might get a call 10W1234.
>
>Unfortunately, those blocks of call signs were already
>assigned to various foreign nations.  As such, the FCC
>had to rescind those call signs and start issuing the
>call signs like KWH1234 and KWH12345.  Previously the
>3 letter and 3 number call signs were only issued to
>commercial FM two-way radio stations.  Thus, since the
>Class "D" Citizen's Radio Service was a land mobile
>service, the FCC just added a number, or two to make
>the "new" call signs.
>
>At first there was no charge for a license.  Then the
>FCC went through various license charges.  Finally,
>when the entire band got so "out of hand" in terms of
>enforcement, the FCC just threw up their hands and
>said that no license was required!
>
>The various letters to the editor of the magazines
>from 1959 until 1961 exhibit the same complaints that
>are about the band today!  Unlicensed operation,
>"shooting skip", too much power, profanity, etc.
>Basically, nothing has changed in the over 45 years
>since the Class "D" Citizen's Radio Service was
>established!
>
>Glen, K9STH
>
>
>
>--- "Duane Fischer, W8DBF " <dfischer at usol.com> wrote:
>
>Now, why was Citizens Band created, by whom and for
>whom? Then how did one get a license before 1969 when
>it cost twenty dollars (KCS75650) and why did the FCC
>simply not bother to enforce regularions in the early seventies?
>
>=====
>Glen, K9STH
>
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>
>http://home.comcast.net/~k9sth
>http://home.comcast.net/~zcomco
>
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