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hillbilly hippy
| | Posted on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 7:26 pm: | 
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C.B.Radio in a sorry state.
C.B. Radio,Freeband,and Sideband(SSB) in particular are in a sorry state at the moment.A tour around the C.B. band (which now would include any where from 26.000 to 28.00) and you will not find much activity.Unless you speak spanish or something.The sideband channels 36-40 are about as dead as anything I have ever seen.There is some activity during band openings,and DX communications.In this area there is no local SSB chatter to be found anywhere.(Valdosta,Ga.)There are some activity on 26.785,26.765,and26.915 locally,but it is all late at night,and all AM.What has happened to the C.B. band?Have we all just given it up?Has SSB gone the way of the Dinosaur?Have we all just taken to chat sites on our computers and forsaken something that has given us hours of enjoyment?There used to be all kinds of activity above 40 on SSB,now it is almost non existent,even on 36-40.All these 10 meter radio's running around and no SSB?Why would we fork out all that money not to talk SSB,not to mention no FM.Why didn't we just buy the no frills Galaxy DX 55,or the Superstar 3700,neither have SSB,and both are great radio's,that can be had pretty cheaply.I had asked around to some C.B.ers and this is what was told to me.They didn't talk SSB because they didn't like having to clarify anybody in.With all the radio's out there with freq counters built in to them there should be no problem with this.Everybody should be on center slot no problem.SSome said that SSB'ers used a different language,than AM'ers.Not really just q-codes which is nothing to learn,all you have to do is go to just about any ham operators web site and they have a copy on their site.All that money spent,and you can't learn a few codes?Another reason was am'ers are always trying to talk the AM side of the channel.Well if there was any SSB activity this wouldn't be a problem either,as most AM'ers won't try to talk over a SSB QSO(conversation).Even if we were to talk just on AM,there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of activity there either.What has happened?I know one reason we are experiancing a decline in operations is because we haven't gotten our kids involved in the hobby.They seem to be pre-occupied with video games,computers,and the television.We need to get them involved in a worthwhile hobby.Something that will give them self satisfaction killing a bunch of aliens just won't give them.When you go out and buy that first radio,put together your antenna,get it up,and key that mic for the first time it is exhilirating.The satisfaction that you put something together yourself,and put it on the air gives you a rush that is not easily replaced by something else.Then when you decide to make improvements to that station,like a power mic,better antenna,or whatever and reach out further.Maybe try to shoot some skip,nothing like that first DX contact to get the heart pumping.This is something we need to get our kids into,instead of the blood and guts video games they seem to be so fond of,or those chat rooms where most kids don't belong anyway because of the other idiots who are on there with them.It is also quality time spent with your child,working stations far away,or just local.Teaching them about how it works,putting projects together,showing them good operating procedures,or just whatever.To coin a phrase,Radio $225.00,antenna $70.00,time spent with your child-Priceless."Later on you and your kid may want to explore tricking radio's out.Learning this together could be fun,as long as you learn the right way.There are many technitians out there who have never learned the right way,but got them a "golden screw driver"this is not the right way.Yes there are some good operators still out there,but it has gotten where we all just get in say hello,get out,and listen.No one really just shoots the breeze anymore.We all just sandbag,and wonder where everybody is.I can remember the days that 3 or 4 guy's wouid be in there discussing a subject whether it be Radio,politics,or whatever for hours.If someone in to the conversation,or to give someone a shout,they would let them break in,but there was activity on the band.Not dead air,with 10 stations listening.I know of a few operators who have quite a bit of money rapped up in there stations,who rarely turn the power switch on.This makes no sense to me.It maybe because when they did turn it on they heard dead air,and assumed no one was on.At least make a call to somebody to see if the channel is dead,or has someone on it.
I have also noticed that a lot of C.B.Radio sites have gone dead,or haven't been updated in a coons age.Even the C.B. oriented chat sites have gone under.C.B shops are going under,or changing to another line of products.What is a truck driver going to do when all the shops are gone.I do know this some of the best technitians don't even have a shop and work out of there house,but that doesn't do a truck driver any good,or anybody else who doesn't know they are there.The shops which do quality work shouldn't have a hard time getting work,and they shouldn't skimp there prices because things are slow either.Do good work,charge accordingly,and don't be sorry about it.Those shops who charge huge rates,and do crap work,are one of the reasons why a lot of C.B.'ers have decided to give it up,or go Ham radio,or whatever.I know quite a few shops like that.I have had owners of truck stops ask me to run a shop out of there establishments because I do good work at reasonable rates.I do not try to get rich off the customer,because I want that customer to come back.But most of all I want to hear that customer on the air.This is the best way for someone else to know about my work.I run a Galaxy Melaka,D-104,a Solarcon A-99 antenna 40 feet up,and It is one of the "loud"radio's on the channel.I do not run excessive power,and I have talked all over this country,as well as local.I did the work myself,and those who have heard my radio have either come to my shop for work,or have at least inquired.I know a lot of shop owners who don't even get on the radio,except to whistle,or tune up a radio.This I have never understood.Some of these shop owners of course are lousy tech's and don't want anyone to hear their radio.I have heard shop radio's that sound horrible because they have turbo tuned it with the "Golden Screwdriver",clipped it,and overdrive their linear to the max.This could be one of the reasons so many have gotten out of the hobby.Rotten tech's who have butchered their radio's.Another thing could be high shop prices on radio's,and accessory's.I know of one shop who really took a customer for a ride in Lake Park Georgia.She went in to buy a anniversary present for her husband,30 minutes later,and $500.00 dollars poorer she walked out with a Galaxy DX-99,converted,and tuned.I am sure her truck driver husband enjoyed the radio,but she will never buy another radio because of the simple fact she got taken in by a shop who wants to take advantage of their customers,and she found this out,and now will have nothing to do with radio.That same shop also ruined a nother truck drivers radio after they supposedly tuned it up,and a hundred miles up the road it quit working all together.We should do our homework before we invest in a hobby,and also ask around about good shops.Don't get burned and give up on the hobby.Let's hear some activity on the bands,AM,SSB,FM whichever your choice is let's hear you.Let's bring our hobby back to life.If you hear me on the radio give me a holler.I monitor 26.785 AM,27.385 LSB,and 27.475 LSB the handle is Hillbilly Hippy,or Romeo Sierra 742 on SSB.Hope to hear from you.
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Colt
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 12:08 am: |
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Hillbilly,
I have been frequenting this discussion board for about 4 or 5 months now, and that was, by far, the best post I have read on here.
It is now 10:48 P.M. and if I write all I really want to on this subject, I'll be here till midnight, at least.
I too, am saddened by the present state of CB radio in general. I remember when I first got into CB radio back in 1975. To tell the truth, I can't remember how I even became aware of the hobby. I was a 17 year old kid working at a local restaurant that was parked right in the middle of Interstate 65 not far from Louisville. There was an old man (old men are priceless in this hobby) who let me borrow one of those old Midland mobiles(I don't remember the model number) that had the channel indicator and meter on the top edge of the radio. He also let me use a mobile antenna and an old 12v battery. I wanted to set up as a base station. My brother proved invaluable in my endeavor as he came up with a way to mount that mobile antenna on the house temporarily. Well, after my first transmit (after a terrible case of mike fright ) I was hooked! I simply could not believe that my voice was being transformed into electronic signals that magically came alive in someone else's house, car, walkie-talkie etc. This was,of course, in the middle of the boom of the 70's when you didn't have just a bunch of over 30 men jawing on the airwaves, but whole families would gather around the radio at night and join in on the good, clean fun(those were the days....especially the "clean" part).
I had found a hobby that I could see no end to the enjoyment of. Everyone, it seemed, either participated or had a relative who did. I remember that someone in my little home town printed up a "handle sheet" which was about three pages of handles and the corresponding names. Can you imagine that? THREE PAGES of handles in a small town area with a population of about 2500. The channel was always busy, whether it was a dozen or more folks, in their houses or their vehicles, having a ball, or just a couple of guys, late at night, talking about everything under the sun, or moon in this case! I was one who enjoyed both types of jawing sessions. I used to spend a lot of time yakking with a guy by the handle of "Weedhopper". What did we talk about? I have *no idea*, but I remember having a ball talking, didn't really matter what the subject was, I was, and still am, amazed with the fact that the darned things even do what they do...allow you to visit by way of signals that you can't see with a person you have no idea what they look like or what their name is. You could "see" them in that signal meter somehow. Somehow or another, that S-meter was alive, I KNOW it was! It was my only visual connection with that voice "on the other end". Your voice, your personality, also came into their home or car for a visit. And back then, the visits were most always pleasant and plentiful. That good ole radio was a wonderful gadget. The perfect toy for the little boy, even after he's not so little anymore! Something about all those knobs, dials, switches to play with! Beats a stinking remote control, or even a computer, for that matter, to smithereens......at least it used to when it was in it's golden era. I never really understood what happened when "the bottom dropped out". It was, to many, more than a fad. It was practically a way of life. I don't know how it lost it's appeal. Somehow I think it was between the skip cycle peaking out to where you couldn't talk and the lack of operator discipline when the FCC dropped the licensing and enforcement. Foul language was getting far too common.
After the 70's boom was over, all of us old true-blue operators knew it was time to put the old 104 in the closet, but secretly wondered/hoped it would all come alive again someday. Some of us never got out. I'll admit, I did, only to get back in years later. By then, it was limited to the "over 30 male" crowd. That was fun too, not the hoot that it was before, but fun. I dropped back out, and since then have gotten back into it, mobile only, two more times, including now.
But, Hillbilly, I want to address a subject you brought up that I wonder about myself, and that is, the future of the hobby overall considering the fact that the kids don't seem interested. This really came to light for me when I was in electronics school back about 9 years ago. I was 34 years old at the time, and I had always been fascinated with electronics. Of course, therein lies my amazement with radio and how it works. I was happy to be in electronics school because of this fascination. I thought every good all-American boy understood that. Seemed as natural as liking fishing, guns, or girls for that matter!;)
Anway, I said that it was in electronics school that kids lack of interest came to light. One occurance in particular stands out above all others. My telecommunications instructor had a slide he wanted to show all of us. Now, be aware, that what was on this slide belonged to one of the most brilliant electronics engineers in the field. I don't remember the gentleman's name, but I remember that he was a pioneer who helped develop television back in the 40's. The slide was a picture of a beautiful amateur radio station all mounted vertically on a rack that looked to be about 7 feet tall. Besides the slide, there were also a couple of binders filled with QSL cards from all over the globe! This man had DXed every country I do believe! Well, anyway, you can imaging what this station looked like. All hand made. All tube-type. All those dials! All those switches! All those knobs and meters! It was what you might call "bodaciously gorgeous"!!! The instructor had it in one of those little viewers. When I looked at it, I think my tongue hit the floor! I'd have given a share in Texas for that outfit! Beautiful!
Well, the other students (most all of them in their 20's) saw me going ga-ga over this station. They had already seen it. They looked at me like I was from Mars. 
I thought, "If you can't appreciate a thing of beauty like this, what in the @$*^# are you doing in electronics school?!!
So it is now with the so-called "Gen X" bunch. They don't seem to have a clue about a lot of things, the CB hobby being one of them. I have a 13 year old son, and I can tell, at least as of now, that he doesn't get it either. But, he may be too young. Perhaps I should give him a few years of exposure to the hobby as it should be practiced, that is, with responsibility and a healthy dose of humor.
I have to mention this, Hillbilly. Yes, I feel the same way you do. Now we all know it will never be like it was back in the 70's, but to have a band full of good ole boys would suit me just fine. I have even entertained the thought of making up a bunch of flyers to distribute around the area to perhaps entice some of the good ole boys who used to operate to get themselves a cheap outfit and give 'er a spin again! Yeah, right, I'll never do that.
But, you're right, Hillbilly, it's up to us to keep it alive.
We gotta stop copying the mail, and get in there and flap our ol' jaws, dagnabbit! ;)
Maybe I spend too much jawin' time on this stinking computer, anyway!
73's! And the good numbers all around the household!
Colt |
Ncrebel
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 12:08 am: |
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Hello,I do agree with you on what you have said.It's funny how some places will over-charge you for a radio that you can go somewhere else just about 20 miles OR LESS down the road and get it for 30-40 bucks less.I see that a lot around here.Also it's funny how some techs act.They treat you like a dumb you know what if you ask them a question but if you try to explain something back to them they get confused and act like you don't know what you're talkin about when in fact you do.There's a fellow that runs a cb about a 1/2 hour from here.He knows a good deal of information but at times I can say something about a radio and he acts like it completely blows him out of the water.It's almost kinda funny.As for all the "mudducks" out there,it's like you were sayin,there's people that will get on and won't even hardly break.If all they wanna do is listen why don't they get them a good scanner?A good scanner is a heck of a lot more interresting to listen to than a CB if you not gonna talk.Well,I could easily ramble on and on but I'm gonna back on off now.73's have a good one. |
bruce
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 7:48 am: |
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hillbilly you are so right! the problem is the kids are not getting into radio the average age of a ham in the US is 54 and going up the same is happing to cb radio. All you have to do is look at when the internet got started and when radio stoped growing and gee they are the same hummm. The elimation of code will not have any effect on incoming numbers heck doing away with licenses probley would not do much either except to shift the people useing radio from cb to the ham bands. Radio shops are going under ... well computer shops are too... here in pinellas county florida we had in 1977 27 cb shops now there are none. To get this hobbie rooling again you are right we must pass along our love of radio and the excitement of working a voice from far away on to them. In the 60's when i got my ham licence i was a teenager and to build and make work a WW2 SCR-522 or ARC-5 or 3 or take a old modorola rig and bring it back from the dead and TALK to someone on it was a thrill. I sure many cb users here on this fourm feel this way too ..... now to get the kids going and away from just computers.... and killing aliens. Rip offs are another problem the lack of consumers has driven many shops to bilk as money out of each person as they can not good. You know the feeling of being taken .... and it can kill the spark of intrest and once it dies its unlikly that you will bring it back. Bad shops illeagal mods poor mods and in general butchering up a radio is not going to help either. This is somethin all of us have in common no kids no radio cb or ham it needs to be addressed before the average age hits 99....
bruce |
Blackhawk
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 9:04 am: |
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Hillbilly,
I have to agree with you 100%.I to have noticed to much white air(quiet). I live on the East Coast and usually this time of year Conditions are not favorable. Way to much non English speaking A.M. traffic in my ears. I have been Ragchewing for many years now on S.S.B. and find this is always the bad time of year for ragchewing unless you have a lot of people who chat nightly with one another. I am lucky I have atleast 9 folks who are on the Radio every night at the same time to talk for atleast One hour. Most all live within 50 miles. All I can say is thank you for the Four Seasons. Summer is upon us here in N.Y and would rather be outside than listen to something I can't understand.
Great post by the way, hope conditions are favorable for you soon.
73's and G.B.A
Blackhawk |
Phineas
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 10:50 am: |
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>C.B.Radio in a sorry state.
I think Radio as a whole has gone down the tubes no matter what the band.
>C.B. Radio,Freeband,and Sideband(SSB) in particular are in a sorry state at the moment.A tour around the C.B. band (which now would include any where from 26.000 to 28.00) and you will not find much activity.
I think lately the bands have been pretty bad. Even on the HAM bands. Not to mention the fact that everyone hangs out in the same place mostly(19, 36LSB, 37LSB, 38LSB, 27.555, etc...), and there is always some knuckle head causing interference.
>Unless you speak spanish or something.The sideband channels 36-40 are about as dead as anything I have ever seen.There is some activity during band openings,and DX communications.
I dont know hwere you are, but I always hear activity there.
>In this area there is no local SSB chatter to be found anywhere.(Valdosta,Ga.)There are some activity on 26.785,26.765,and26.915 locally,but it is all late at night,and all AM.
Its has always been like that, except for the Local SSB clubs. And dont forget the fact that most CB operators do know anything about the use of SSB except it is a switch on the radio, and makes people sound like they inhaled Helium...lol
+Snip+
Radio is just not the in thing right at the moment. Plus, when was the last tiem you went to a CBer, or SSB club meeting or picnic. These things just dont exist anymore like they use to. There are not even HAM clubs doing anything in the community anymore. Another thing to consider is the fact that the fad now is Amplifiers. No one gives a •••• about shooting skip with 4 watts anymore, its all about the kicker. Who is the big man on 1 frequency is what its all about. Amps, however, cost money. That being the case, even when the band is open, people are still out there pumping up the power, which doesnt make it fun anymore for the people who dont have it. These and many more things are keeping the activities down on SSB. Last year freeband was jumping until these kids in Phoenix started playing music, and using foul language on the air., and people just acting crazy while you are trying to make contact. I can go on and on.
>I have also noticed that a lot of C.B.Radio sites have gone dead,or haven't been updated in a coons age.Even the C.B. oriented chat sites have gone under.C.B shops are going under,or changing to another line of products
Amps are in, radios are out...and the FCC is starting to crack down on that.
>What is a truck driver going to do when all the shops are gone.I do know this some of the best technitians don't even have a shop and work out of there house,but that doesn't do a truck driver any good,or anybody else who doesn't know they are there.The shops which do quality work shouldn't have a hard time getting work,and they shouldn't skimp there prices because things are slow either.Do good work,charge accordingly,and don't be sorry about it.Those shops who charge huge rates,and do •••• work,are one of the reasons why a lot of C.B.'ers have decided to give it up,or go Ham radio,or whatever.
Some of those wonderful shops you are talking about are ripoff joints and should be closed down. I personally became a HAM to expand my horizons, not really to get away from CB. I think this is the case for most radio hobbyists that go from CB to HAM. I have also learned alot more about radio, and how it works, also how much to pay for good radio, equipment. If I would have known when i was on CB that all I had to do was have 2 trees 20 feet apart, 2 pieces of wire and some coax and I could have had a base station, I would have done it a long time ago. They just dont teach that to CB people. All they do is advertise, and over price gear. Not saying the HAM is all of that either.
+SNIP+
Education is the subject you keep bringing up. I use to own Galaxy radios. I paid at least 400 for a Galaxy 99. When I found out that i could have gotten an old Kenwood, Siltronix, or an old Icom706 and had it converted for the same money, and got 100 watts barefoot, I could have screamed!!!!! Some of the export radios are fun, but very over priced. Then after you spend 400, you spend another 200 for a kicker, and another 100 for an antenna. That is all because of a lack of education. Could have gotten better results out of a 300 dollar Kenwood, and a 20 dollar antenna, no kicker...lol...(Spent 500 for a used TS50S, and got 150 watts no kicker!!!)
>We should do our homework before we invest in a hobby,and also ask around about good shops.Don't get burned and give up on the hobby.Let's hear some activity on the bands,AM,SSB,FM whichever your choice is let's hear you.Let's bring our hobby back to life.If you hear me on the radio give me a holler.I monitor 26.785 AM,27.385 LSB,and 27.475 LSB the handle is Hillbilly Hippy,or Romeo Sierra 742 on SSB.Hope to hear from you.
Bottom line, people like to do things that are cool. Bring the local clubs back, expose children to radio, use a radio instead of a cell phone in your neighborhood. Explore not only CB, but FRS, GMRS, and MURS. Make it cool, make it economical, make it fun, people will get back into it more and more.
Just my .01
Phineas |
BATTLESTAR
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 11:26 am: |
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A VERY SAD AND DESPRESSING POSTING |
Znut
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 12:29 pm: |
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Hillbilly,
As soon as I get my antenna up to about 30 ft. or so we should be able to QSO. I'm in wartown, a couple hours north of you, just south of Macon, you know where. I still think we could possibly talk on SSB.
I'll keep an ear out for you on 38 LSB.
Znut |
Freezerman
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 2:42 pm: |
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Stay free dont give in to the goverment and get that "ticket(ham)" FREEBAND FOREVER!!!!! |
Scrapiron63
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 11:15 am: |
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Hey folks, y'all are missing something here, Radio is far more popular, in one way, than its ever been, in fact 1000's of times more, its called a cellphone, which of course is a radio. With that little old low wattage handheld, you can talk around the world, to millions of people, no skip, no "gettin' up, gettin'up", little interferance, and mostly private. And for getting the younger generation interested in CB, or ham for that matter, forget it. With a fairly low investment in todays computers, you can send your audio and vidio around the world, so where is the fun in the hit or miss of old radio. Its just for a select few of the young people, and us old timers. And, speaking for this old timer, I spend lots more time on the computer than the radio, how about you??? We're here now, right??
CB was the "in thing" in the 1970s, everyone from Bank presidents to shoe shine boys owned one, even the high paid entertainers, I talked to lots of them on late night trips on interstate 40, like ol Hank William, Jr in his bus, his driver was the Midnight Wind, he loved the CB, I bet lots of drivers caught him late at night. Like most fads it slid some, then the skip of the late 70's pretty well killed it. In my area, CB became popular again for a new generation in the late 1980s, early 1990s. Every teenager wanted a cb in that car or pick-up. Then came the Cellphone, EVERY kid has to have one of them now. I don't think radio will ever regain its previous popularity, however it will never completely die either. In the meantime, we can listen to, 'I be gettin'up, gettin' up, big-brother, foe-ten'.
Or, if you prefer, some fine spanish speaking south of the border folks, who are always on the air. |
Metro
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 10:01 pm: |
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I think it takes a special breed to appreciate the aspect of being totally self sufficient in communications. When I first started DXing I would come into work on Monday morning and excitedly tell my boss about talking to Atlanta on the radio on friday night (I'm in Southern California). He would laugh and tell me he talked to his sister in Puerto Rico that morning on the way into work on his cell phone. For me the thought of being totally self sufficient is awesome, that if we lost all power and cell phone networks went down, ie. natural disater terrorist attack etc... I can fire up the generator turn on the base radio and have additional equipment to communicate from down the street to hundreds or thousands of miles away. This phoilosophy also applies to camping and backpacking for me, to be a hundred miles from civilization and at 8,000 feet on a mountain peak talking to someone 3,000 miles away is astonishing to me! But I guess I'm just a big NERD!!!
Metro
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Colt
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 10:45 pm: |
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I'm with you, Metro!
This morning I was telling a co-worker about how exciting it was for my son and I to talk to someone in a portable in California the other night. He was able to appreciate that. I said something about this subject we are discussing here; about how it's not so popular anymore. He said something about cell phones and how folks can talk to California anytime they want. I said, "But where's the challenge in that? Where's the victory? What have you really done?"
To me, the real fun in DXing is doing it barefoot. Sort of like catching big bass on ultralight equipment! |
707
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 11:43 pm: |
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Metro/Colt-
I've run into that particular apathy towards radio for 30 years! The thing is, like many hobbyists, we find out hobby to be Waaay more exciting than someone who has no inclination toward electronics or shortwave listening. Part of the magic of radio comes from some deep-rooted quirk which gives us pleasure when we are able to project our voice, comments, observations and general chatter to a wide forum. Cellphones are a closed loop. Radio is broadcasting. Thats just part of it, IMHO, and certainly, the urge to radiate is more complex. For me, it started with walkie-talkies, playing Spy, Army, or just "How far can I ride my bike away from the neighborhood and still talk to my buddy in his backyard". It's almost an affliction. I'm sure those who find my radio hobbying uninteresting and weird also wonder why I don't enjoy "regular" hobbies, like fishing, woodcarving, sports fanaticism, needlepoint or gardening. |
Metro
| | Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 12:52 am: |
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Colt,
I have found the barefoot aspect came to play soon after I began DXing also. I mentioned this to someone else on another post, I was all stoked on the DXing with a 100 watt amp for a little while but it soon started to become too easy. Then one morning my neighbor comes knocking at my front door "Mark, are you broadcasting?, I have had some problems then this last weekend after I saw the new antenna (Skylab, 30 feet in the air) I put 2 and 2 together" Before the Skylab it was just the Wilson 5000 on the roof and he could'nt see it! Well, from that point on I was limited to legal power before 10 p.m. It opened up a new world! My woman, who is from a little town northeast of Dallas Tx. laughs at me when I come runnin in and tell her I DXed at 3 watts to Dallas or ask her about some little town near there I have never heard of. She'll say "Oh yeah my brothers fish a lake there" Or she'll tell me a story about that little dot on map town. She really is honestly impressed though when I explain that 3 watts is 1 watt less than that standard CB in the truck her daddy used to drive. Another super cool thing is looking at the map and finding that little town in "Anywhere" USA where that good'ol boy is from that you just chatted with about the hunting, fishing and weather. Barefoot Dxing is like building a hot rod, sure you can go out and buy a Corvette and do 160 but thats no challenge!! The challenge is in building that 327 smallblock and tunning that suspenssion to get to 160!
Metro |
Metro
| | Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 1:02 am: |
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And hey 707, what the heck is wrong with needlepoint!! What else am I suppossed to do when the skip is down?!?!
Metro |
bruce
| | Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 4:53 am: |
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Guys One of my mentors was a man who worked at bell labs in the 1940's on developing the transistor. This man was flat smart when it came to anything to do with rf and had been a licensed ham since 1919. He ran a battery powered radio on 2 meters running on low power .05 watts and full boor .2 watts and from his home in new york city worked 17 states and canada. Power does not realy do that much the diffrence between his radio and 100 watts is 4 s unit's. I watched him work north carolina one night and he was only a s unit under me and i was running a bunch of power.... yes he had a good antenna up 90 foot. Skill is just as important as power and when the bands are open you would be suprized what you can do. |
Taz
| | Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 2:12 pm: |
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Well, I live in phoenix.
Are the people you are talking about kids?
Or do they just act like kids?
They are most likly the east side losers. The like to operate on .555 and ch25. |
Kg4ryt
| | Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 4:05 pm: |
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I WILL TELL YOU ANOTHER SAD STORY, HAM RADIO ISN'T AS ACTIVE AS IT USE TO BE, THE ONLY THING I CAN FIGURE OUT EVERY BODY MUST BE ON THE COMPUTER TALKING ON FORUMS,YOU THINK? |
Freezerman
| | Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 10:53 pm: |
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Whoooo more "Ham propaganda" CB shall live forever as long as there is one of us (CB ops) lef
Stay free and remember FREEBAND FOREVER!!!!!FIGHT GOVERMENT REGULATION. |
Tech181
| | Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 12:02 am: |
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Kg4ryt,
I read the ham radio forums (qrz.com and others) and it's no wonder why people are leaving the hobby.
Every discussion thread on those forums turns into a bash fest, with nothing but complaining, moaning and crying.
If the hams act anything like they do on the air as they do on the forums I am not surprised one bit that people are losing interest in the hobby.
And from what I have heard and read, they certainly do act that way (some of them).
Steve
Tech181
Tech181@copperelectronics.com |
Kg4ryt
| | Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 9:31 am: |
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I AGREE STEVE, WE NEED TO CLEAN UP OUR HAM CLOSETS BEFORE WE WORRY ABOUT THE OTHERS!!
73'S JIM
KG4RYT |
Hillbilly_Hippy
| | Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 2:26 pm: |
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I have always wanted to get my ticket.I have studied all the material,up to advanced,learned the code,and was ready to take the exam,but after listening to where I intended to go,I thought to myself what is the difference?Yes I know there are good and bad operators,for both C.B.and Ham.(freeband included.)Case in point one of my neighbors has to run 1700 watts,just to talk to me.God help us if he ever gets his Amatuer Ticket.(And he is studying by the way.)Not to mention the D-104 cranked to the max,good thing he doesn't like echo!Just because we have something doesn't really mean we need to use it.What ever happened to QRP?Just listen some night on 26.785,or 26.765,and you will know what I mean.2000 watts to talk local.I still want to go ham soon,but I will still operate around 27.385-27.555 in hopes of talking to the decent operators there.Suprisingly there are many decent operators on these channels,and it is still enjoyable to talk to them.Maybe all the decent operators on those freq's should get together and have a roundtable discussion on good practice,and maybe Amatuer info.I have seen newcomers to the hobby stragle onto a freq above forty not really knowing the lingo and get blasted right of the air by some arrogant old timer who thinks he owns the channel,we need to encourage these newcomers,remember where we were when we started.I do not have a lot of high dollar or fancy equipment,nor do I want it,I run a Galaxy Melaka,RCI 2950,and I have a Galaxy DX 55 for a spare,with an Antron 99 ( which is getting replaced with a Maco v5/8)and I do have an old Courier BL-100 modulator which swings 100 watts.I use this on occasion,but usually I am flat barefoot.I have never had a bit of problem talking to anyone I call.The real challenge of DX'ing is getting someone with as little power as possible.What is the Challenge in it if you fire up the farm,and throw everything you have out there?I still encourage all of you to get someone new into the hobby,whether it be Amatuer,C.B.,or even freeband,after all it is the same thing no matter if your on the 75 meter phone band or rag chewing on 27.385.It's Radio.3's Hillbilly Hippy-Romeo Sierra 742 we are QRT |
BIG FOOT
| | Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 3:57 pm: |
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...personally I get a bigger thrill ( kick ) out of talking dx with a basic 4 watt radio than " blasting my way through " with 500 - 5000 watts.. it seems to be more to "brag about "...but to each his/her own way.... locally in north alabama there MAY be 6 cb channels on a average night from 8 pm till midnight...hardly ever any one on ssb 36 - 40... a few agitators "waiting " for a station they not like to accidently transmit so they can harass them with amplifiers... a few "music players " on a channel or two... cb is NOT like it was 5 - 20 years ago like has been said earlier... but then I am not perfect either. |
Triplecguy
| | Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 4:37 pm: |
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I hope that those of you who have children will introduce them into a very fun and educational hobby so that CB does not go the way of the dodo.
Dan |
bruce
| | Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 9:09 pm: |
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RIGHT ON TRIPLEGUY ! All thoes people at the ARRL who wil not lissen to what is comming down are going to soon ive been a life member for 30 years and im one of the YOUNGEST. We must intrest the children in radio cb or ham. Take a look at many hobbies stamps are a very good example ive been a collector since i was 5 Like cb shops the last stamp store is closing at the end if may in tampabay the owner is 82 and has few custmers under 50 and no children none. By 2025 the average age of a ham in the USA will be 72 it is 54 NOW the ARRL knows this and this is not a ham only problem look at cb how many kids ( except for taz) are comming into even cb radio? My world revolves around handicapped childen few have the abilty to obtain even the skills to use a cb set mush less pass any kind of test but they need someone too.... mentors.... elemers are needed to get them ( the others) interested and noone at a national level cares.
bruce |
keeper38
| | Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 11:23 pm: |
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I just got back into CB after 25 years away and an also going to take my tech test soon for a ham lic so I can get on 2 and 6 meters also.
ers |
409
| | Posted on Saturday, May 04, 2002 - 3:15 am: |
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I have been in CB since 1968. I considered HAM radio at one time, but to have a pretty good station, it costs an-arm-and-a-leg. The equipment is a little rich for my blood. I know you can get a "bare bones" set-up reasonably cheap, or build your own, but to do it right just costs to much. |
Tech181
| | Posted on Saturday, May 04, 2002 - 12:35 pm: |
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409,
That's how they keep the "Riff-Raff" out.
Steve
Tech181
Tech181@copperelectronics.com |
RCI2990
| | Posted on Saturday, May 04, 2002 - 4:29 pm: |
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Well at one time CB was that way too. A browing mark 4 new in 1977 cost almost 1000.00 clams! No anybody and their brother can get a CB and thats why so many people on the air are well, losers!
Too bad we cant keep the Riff raff out like the hams do by making CB stuff pricy! |
bruce
| | Posted on Saturday, May 04, 2002 - 6:07 pm: |
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sush dont talk too loud copper may rase their prices! |
409
| | Posted on Saturday, May 04, 2002 - 11:43 pm: |
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Don't kid yourself.....even when CB's were expensive there was the "rif-raf" as you call it. Price never kept anyone from making a fool of himself on the air. Cheaper prices may indeed promote MORE of them, but there has always been that kind of problem. I really think most HAM equipment is more expensive because of the smaller market for sales. There's really not that big of a sales base for HAM radio equipment therefore,the higher prices. |
ROCKET
| | Posted on Monday, May 06, 2002 - 9:35 am: |
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I WAS GOING TO GET MY TECH BUT NOW AFTER READING AND HEARING WHAT THEY DO TO TECHS ON 2 METERS AND 440 I WILL JUST STAY ON THE CB BAND AND FREEBAND WITH ALL THE PIRATES!! |
SIDEWINDER
| | Posted on Monday, May 06, 2002 - 1:07 pm: |
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I cannot beleive what i'm reading just listen to 37 and 38 lsb,it is always active. The dx is great and why most locals wont talk ssb is beyond me. It is better in range and noise level also cheap.
single side band all over the land!!! |
bruce
| | Posted on Monday, May 06, 2002 - 6:57 pm: |
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Rocket what are you talking about??????? |
707
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 4:28 am: |
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Rocket, what did you hear about 2m and 70cm Amateur radio? I've had nothing but good experiences with it. Let's see:
1. Repeaters allow me to reliably extend the range of my 4w handheld to around a 100 mile radius, and even further through linked systems.
2. I learned to communicate via satellite using voice and packet radio.
3. I've talked simplex DX exceeding 600 miles on VHF, with just a minimal setup.
4. I've made 3 Space Shuttle contacts on my handheld.
Thats just an overview of the enjoyment I've experienced on 2m and 70cm. Don't listen to those who are NOT licensed, telling you how bad the Amateur Radio service is. Instead, why not spend the 4 evenings studying, get your ticket, spend $100 on a handheld and try it for yourself. You won't be sorry. |
ROCKET
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 2:41 pm: |
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WOW, THE SPACE SHUTTLE, THATS GREAT,WHAT AND HOW DID YOU DO IT 707 |
Freezerman
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 5:26 pm: |
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How many times do I need to say it. DONT GET THAT TICKET!!! It is just one more way that the goverment keeps tabs on us citizens. Look at the form you have to fill, what does it ask??? See what I mean?? If you get taht ticket you are risking that the feds came walk into your house or car anytime they wish, without any type of warrant, but a warrent IS needed for them to enter your home if you dont have a amature license. |
bruce
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 6:01 pm: |
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international space station is on too |
707
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 11:14 pm: |
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Rocket-
Although it is certainly possible to get a good, but short contact using just a rubber duckie on a handheld, I made my contacts using a short handheld 3 element Yagi(homemade), knowing ahead of time the Shuttle path(from Jtrack). |
707
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 11:41 pm: |
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Freezerman, you are cracking me up... The truth is, if the "danged gummint" wants to come in, they will, regardless of your radio status.
The pleasure I derive from Radio exceeds my concern over the FCC. I'm not doing anything to irritate my neighbors, interfere with commercially licensed radio services, or otherwise compromise my security to the point where the "Feds" are gonna come bustin in...
I don't know what YOU must be doing, but if you are so wary of the authorities, you should chill and maybe take up something more relaxing than radio
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Don123
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 11:42 pm: |
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Hello Hillbilly Hippy:
That was a great read!! I think you hit the nail on the head on that post. I too have been CBing since 1971 and I have always enjoyed the hobby and still do. I can remember learning as much or more from my CB mentor than most Hams could provide...used to be a hobby where you did experiment with radios, antennas and big Beam arrays and not only wait for band openings but work weak signal ground work at night...what happened? I don't see hardly anyone using Big Beam arrays in my area for CBs and putting out a signal is the key to be heard! Many now are just using vertical groundplanes with vertical polorzation and very little gain....so those CBer we used to hear 120 to 150 miles out and talked to just are not there...lucky to get stations 50 miles out "local" since many are on low gain antennas and are vertical....again being vertical picks up more city/man-made noise than horizontal. As far as kids go....would be great to get them interested in Radio....many are in things that are not good for them. I also must comment on your delema and tell you that going to the next step will prove to be something you wish you would have done years ago.....get your Ham License and you will not be sorry. Sure CB is simular to Ham as there are thousands of great people to meet and talk with....why limit yourself to one small segment of the radio spectrum and only a few modes of operation? There are many things to do with Ham Radio and if you like DX there is DX 24 hours a day on many different bands and modes! Again I love radio in general so I am still into CB along with Ham and even still do lots of SWLing also but I must add to your comments that you will notice on a SWL receiver (or if you have an export rig) once you are way out of the CB band it gets very quiet.....why?? Because it is illegal to transmit there. Why is the CB 1 thru 40 so noisy unlike it was back in the 70's ....well there were rules and regulations that were for the most part followed..or at least gentlemen that let each other talk one at a time and respected each other There was not this ciaos of everyone doing whatever they wanted and runnig whatever they wanted wattage wize....today if you turn your CB on when the band is open you can hardly make out anybody...why again..no rules. You will find even a different mode like SSB from 36 thru 40 the frequency there in that mode is better and you can hear more and work more people there (there are many many modes to operate on Ham and that helps you even more). If you listen to other bands besides the CB band you will find that it is crystal clear and the signals are just as loud but folks talk one at a time and respect each other and follow the rules and band plans. Again 98% of all the folks out there do respect each other but we all know it only takes two or three Radio Hogs in town to ruin it for everyone..and times that by 1000 when the CB band is open and you have a bee-hive. As far as the cost of Radios be it Ham or CB they have really gone down....I can remember paying $900 for a TramD201 and was happy to get one used spare one at $500 ..and a plain mobile AM CB mobile was like $195 that was 23 ch at the time..the radios today are much more stable, affordable and have tons of features....so for the same price of most CB radios today you could get a Ham rig for the same price and have more bands....and of course still use your CB to stay in contact with your friends on CB. I really think that if some folks believe everything they hear about some of the posts on how Hams treat CBers or New Techs then they are missing out on a great Hobby of Ham radio and 99% just are not true and you will find it is "hear-say" and they have no proof to back what they say up. So if want to learn more about Radio then give Ham Radio a try also and see first hand for yourself and be your own judge. Again I will never give up my CB friends as I have had them for some 30 years and like CB and have nothing against it for sure but I do see more of my CB friends taking their Ham tests and moving on to get more clear band space.
73 Don123 |
FREEBANDER
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 9:41 am: |
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FREEZERMAN,
Hang in there man!
i'm still with you!
FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-BANDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER
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RCI2990
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 5:51 pm: |
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Don 123.
The FCC shot themselves in the foot when they dropped the lisensing requirements in the early 1980s. Today the CB band is a free for all for everyone to do what they please. The availablility of amps and the proliferation of the new CH 6 mindset of running power "balls to the wall" also doesnt help matters. |
Don123
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 10:33 pm: |
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RCI2990
I have to agree with you but not so sure if it is even not having a license anymore that is the issue...I think "respect" for the fellow CBer has went by the way side these days...oh sure there are a few of us veterans left that no matter what will tolerate the behavior of a few and have to turn the beam the other way but why is that...we just have respect for our fellow CBers and radio in general...and btw most of us had the wife and kids listening. I can remember many a time that we would not discuss things to someone causing a problem on the air but off the air we would let them know in person that maybe they should change the way they operate and listen to some of the guys and how they operate and they would be better excepted and sure would be more welcome. There still are some great CB operaters here in my area but more and more it is going down hill....thankfully us oldies just hang in there and we have seen many of these types come and go over the years but really it was not that way back when. Thanks for the reply RCI2990 and have fun!
Don123 |
RCI2990
| | Posted on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 12:13 am: |
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LOL i guess im lucky were i live that CB is well, kinda dead! I dont have the idiots to bear with like some towns. |
BIG FOOT
| | Posted on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 9:08 pm: |
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---ahhh for the good old days when there was respect and common sense and courtesy on the cb channels ( those days are fading fast !! )--- was told more than once of there being so FEW cb stations in a given area that one used to CALL another on the telephone to tell him to turn his radio on so he would have someone to talk to...( hard to believe that part, but since I was told that by MORE than one older man, I can beleive that it DID occur ) |
RCI2990
| | Posted on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 11:15 pm: |
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.......and it STILL does!!! LOL! here were i live there are so few locals its actually still like that! ;-) Kinda makes it nice in a way but in a way its also kinda sad too........... |
Grumpy8220
| | Posted on Saturday, May 11, 2002 - 3:29 am: |
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I know in my area CB Radio is not what it used to be, there are very few local people on any more. Some get on late at night but not that many. Most people in this area still respect each other and use the radio in a proper manner. We have a few people on channal 21 that cause problems but that is slowly calming down. I have been in CB Radio since 1972, I sure would like to have all my cb freinds back again!! I have a 16 year old son that has know interest at all in radio,I have tried to get him involved but he shows no interst. I remember the weekly coffee breaks and the summer corn and doggy roast we had every year. Well so much for the good old days!!! |
RCI2990
| | Posted on Saturday, May 11, 2002 - 10:32 am: |
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its too bad too. When i was still in high school ( not all that long ago) there was a few of us that actually had a small CB club and it was fun! We would get on a certain channel late at night on a friday or sat night and talk until about 2 or 3 in the AM! But as soon as us seniors graduated the club died very quickly. Nowadays people are so self cconsious that theydd never even think of CB radio! People these days are so concerned about being "Cool" that stuff like CB Ham and other electronics stuff other than computers are considered "Geeky" and these days no one wants to be looked at as being "geeky". That doesnt get the "hottie" and hip girl or guy. |
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