CB Radio; "US vs. THEM" & why it shouldn't be

WWW.QSL.NET/K4MBE/cbradio.htm -

Citizens Band (Class D) radio service

My humble opinion
(Isn't the 1st Amendment wonderful?)

The opinion expressed here is my own and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Web Server provider or anyone else.

Please forgive any grammatical or spelling errors.

Editorial: Soap box mode - on.

Statement:

CB Radio is a valuable, freely available, low cost means of communications for the general public.

Background:

I owned and operated a mobile CB station starting in 1975 under my Fathers' call sign (KDS-9049), got my own call sign in (KAZG-6863) 1977 and kept my "Class D" license active until the FCC deregulated the service. Before my Father allowed me to install and operate under his license, he insisted on my learning good operating techniques and memorize the rules of the Citizens Band Radio Service. He also taught me to "maximize the installation" using all LEGAL tricks under the rules, which include:

Use the best transceiver I could afford.
Have a licensed technician check the transceiver for maximum legal power output at normal volts input and 70-90% modulation prior to installation.
Use the best antenna I could afford.
Use the best possible cable for both the power and antenna leads.
Use the best microphone I could afford.
Mount the antenna in the best possible location.
Tune...Tune...Tune the antenna plant after installation using the proper test equipment.
Properly fuse the transceiver at all times.
DO NOT TOUCH anything inside the radio (internal modifications are not allowed under the rules).
Check the transceiver on a regular schedule for proper power output, modulation, voice intelligibility, etc.
Check the antenna plant on a regular schedule for cable failures and proper tuning.
Adhere to all the rules of the radio service RIGIDLY.

I have maintained a CB station at home and in my vehicle continuously since 1975. The lessons he taught me gave me a great foundation in radio theory/operations which helped greatly in the study process for my Amateur Radio license. I received my Amateur Technician class license in September, 1998 after studying only 1 month for the examination. My original call sign was KF4MBE.

In My Humble Opinion:

CB radio went through a period of serious decline in the late 1970's and throughout the 1980's during which I mostly left my radios OFF. I have recently noticed that most of the operators of CB radio stations have grown tired of the unacceptable language, behavior, and flagrant rule violations which was (seemingly) prevalent. Granted, there are a "few bad apples" in this service as there are in Amateur Radio and other services (yes, there are always rule breakers) which taints the opinions of many people regarding CB radio. These bad apples include CB operators who curse and disparage others on-air, run illegal external amplifiers, illegally modify their sets for "super modulation" and other things which are AGAINST THE RULES. Flagrant rule breakers should be notified and, if possible, prosecuted for the rule infractions which make any radio service unpleasant for everyone!

CB radio is not a "dumping ground", but another aspect of the radio hobby. Just because CB operators choose not to (or cannot) study for an Amateur license does not, as a rule, make them a lower class. Some CB operators feel that Amateurs are stuffy, arrogant, and just plain rude (believe me, some ARE!). We Amateurs need to realize that we CBers provide a valuable free service to the general public and help them, if requested, with the installation & maintenance of their stations. We are all Radio Hobbyists, just involved in different aspects of the hobby. We U.S. Amateurs need to take notice of the European Amateur community and emulate their attitude of "we are all Radio Hobbyists" attitude.

Outright bigotry wrongfully exists in both radio services. I have been told to "get your HAM butt off the 'Children's Band'" (their language - not mine) while providing assistance to other CB radio operators. On the other end, I was told "I can't believe you STILL have a CB in your vehicle" by Amateurs. Had it not been for my ethics of helping when and where needed, it would have been easy to switch off, terminate the assistance I was rendering, and let a person drown in the Potomac river! My question to both parties was "What price do you put on a human life?" The CB operator (reporting the emergency) was desperately trying to get help for someone floundering in the river, I was on channel and available. (By the way, the person in trouble was rescued without injury).

In the past, during an emergency or disaster, Amateurs and CBers have worked together to provide emergency communications for their localities. This co-operation helps everyone whether they are Radio Hobbyists or not.

Conclusion:

There should not be a "Us vs. Them" mentality in either service. We should help each other use the spectrum allocated to us as well as possible. We all will benefit

Soap box mode - off

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