[Hallicrafters] Thank You to all that have responded.

[Larry A. Walker]

Anyone licensed at that time (I was licensed in 1956) well remembers that
for all intent and purpose, 11 meters was a worthless band for
communications. The reason was that medical diathermy machines worked on
those frequencies and virtually blanked the entire band. I don't remember
any hams making a big to-do about giving the band to CBers as I don't recall
any ham operating on 11 meters. These machines were used for producing heat
deep in muscle tissue. As the use for these units decreased and other
devices developed to do the same thing came into being, the band cleared up
and eventually became a very "Clean" band to operate from.   WHO NEW??

Larry
KW4A

-----Original Message-----
From: hallicrafters-admin at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:hallicrafters-admin at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Oliver J.
Dragon
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 10:44 AM
To: hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] Thank You to all that have responded.


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
>
>Web sites
>
>http://home.comcast.net/~k9sth
>http://home.comcast.net/~zcomco
>
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