CB Radio Information and Installation

I plan on "amping". I do not care about legality at this point. Tired of all the red tape. Just want to get things the way I want them.

 

I will start reading.

 

I'm a member there. Those guys are hardcore and know their stuff.

 

I do not post on specialist boards til I read. I'm sure ALL my questions have been asked there before, I just need to search, read, and then seasrch some more.

 

Have fun but trust me it really won't make much if any difference and don't add power mikes or the likes and over modulate or they will come looking for you and the fines are very stiff like in the $10,000 range and your lose your nice shiny amp and radio.

 

Has anyone ever heard of someone being busted for something like that? Maybe back in the day. I just can't imagine the FCC taking any time or money now a days to care about someone with an amped up CB. I'm just curious if anyone has ever heard of someone getting fined or etc...

 

There is a saying in ham radio "if you can't hear them you can't work them" So there you are with your amp and your buddy is try to call you with his 4 watts now your amp does nothing for your ability to hear him sure he maybe able to hear you but what good does it do for you if you can't hear him? Now let's assume he has an amp and is close by it may make a difference but that is not why you bought the amp you wanted to make sure he could hear you or any one else if you were in trouble. Now here is what happens your signal goes right over top of him and he does not hear you, then it is reflected from the atmosphere, some one in England may have a great copy on your signal but in the mean time your still stuck in the mud. That is just the way it is with RF and nothing we can do to change it other that choosing another band so if you are looking for safety VHF/UHF would be a better choice no amp required.

 

There you'd be wrong. I know a few folks here in SoCal that have been raided, likewise the FCC was out in the Desert this weekend and from what I had heard a few folks wont get their vehicles back either.

 

fyi,

From public law 106-521: "
To authorize the enforcement by State and local governments of certain
Federal Communications Commission regulations regarding use of citizens
band radio equipment." the law also directs the FCC to provide training and technical assistance to local law enforcement regarding CB violations. It also allows States and local governments to enact their own laws regarding CB radio, in which case violators could be prosecuted by the State and the FCC.

This bill was signed into law by Pres. Clinton

 

Interesting. I guess its different out that way, because they are used more and can maybe be spotted easier.

I know for a fact that local law enforcement could care less about that sort of thing. Nor have I heard of the FCC around here doing anything of the sort.

 

Unless there is a complaint. The fcc usually wont do anything. So long as your not using it only in a pinch you'll be OK. Just dont turn your amp on in your drive way and splatter all yoyr neighbors with rf through there tvs and radios. I would suggest a good antenna and make sure you check your swr. That will do you more good and cost less.

 

http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-fines-cber-for-operating-illegal-transmitter-with-linear

 

Here is another good reason not to run a linear amp. This guy was just fined $15K by the FCC.

http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2013/DA-13-2243A1.html

 

I have a question about the wilson antenna. I've decided to buy it but I don't no which mount I want to go with. I like the look of the Wilson 5000 on the hood with a trunk lip mount but as you all know the first generation hood is slanted downward. I know it has an adjustable set screw to even it out to where it would be straight up and down but would it be enough for the hood? Any answers would be great!

 

Until it starts interfering with their stuff then they get real ugly. The FCC has listening stations all around the country and they have really nice equipment yes big brother can hear you. The biggest problem with over powered CB junk is the ignorance of the operators they figure more power is much better power mikes turned up to the max over modulating and splattering RF every where up and down several bands including P.S. and air craft and that is a big FCC no no.

 

Let me know what you decide to get. I like the Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB (

$154 Uniden BEARCAT 980 40- Channel SSB CB Radio with Sideband NOAA WeatherBand,7- Color Digital Display PA/CB Switch and Noise Cancelling Mic, Wireless Mic Compatible

http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-BEARCA...F8&qid=1386029987&sr=8-1&keywords=bearcat+980) since it covers most of the CB bands out there but I because of mounting issues I would rather have one that you have all your controls in the mike itself (one Cobra and a Midland have that functionality) and then it could be mounted under the seat with possibly an external speaker. Have a new truck and I am loathe to drill any holes into it.

 

The drilling of holes should not be a big deal. The interior parts of our vehicles are relatively inexpensive for the plastic. Matter of fact, at the junk yard, I could have pulled a whole center console for $5 the guy quoted me.

 

Quite right I guess although I still will look for any alternative to doing so. Probably items like that will be more readily available for a 2014 as I move on in the years.

 

It still happens - but, for the most part, it depends on whether the person using it is causing interference to someone else...like a neighbor's TV, stereo or phone. And then it depends on how often and how loud that person screams at the FCC. The squeaky wheel gets the grease as they say.

That said - Maineah has a point. An amp won't do what a lot of people think they will. Some people think that if they double their power, they'll double their signal strength. But that's not true. It takes a 6 dB increase in power to increase your signal by 1 s-unit on the receiving meter - which is doubling your power twice. So, if you're putting out 4 watts and your buddy receives you at S-5, then it would take increasing your power from 4 watts to 16 watts to get up to an S-6 (4+4=8, 8+8=16). To get up to an S-7, you would have to increase your power to 64 watts. So, yes, an amp can make a difference - but only the first 100 watts or so. After that, you start getting in to diminishing returns. But to be most effective, that amp needs to be run into the best possible antenna system possible - otherwise you're wasting all that power.

 

Most of the CB bands out there? I'm not quite sure what you mean as there is only one in the U.S. and the 980 covers all of it.