Freebanding and Amplifier? Think twice.

[WB4CS]

Transmitting out of the standard 40 channels or running more than 4W AM/12W SSB? It doesn't happen often, but sometimes the FCC issues a checkbook smackdown. It could happen to you too.

Helping to alleviate concerns that it rarely polices the Citizens Radio Service (CB), the FCC has fined an Alaska CBer $500 for “willfully and repeatedly” operating a non-certificated CB transmitter with an RF linear amplifier which, the Commission said, violated federal law and its rules and “voided his authority to operate his CB station.”

The Commission said its agents had identified Yamada as the source of a signal that the Commission’s High Frequency Direction Finding Center “observed interfering with safety of life operations on the frequency of 21.965 MHz [sic]” in January and February 2012.

FCC Fines CBer for Operating Illegal Transmitter With Linear

 

[n9mxq]

One down, one million to go.. I don't think this will deter many people..

 

[krokus]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (Android 2.3.4; Linux; Opera Mobi/ADR-1309251116) Presto/2.11.355 Version/12.10)

We could hope it is the start of a trend.

 

[n9mxq]

We could hope it is the start of a trend.

I agree wholeheartedly.


No bits were harmed in the posting of this message.

 

[KF5YBZ]

"Interfering" with something more important than bleeding over to nearby CB channels... It's not that hard to track down that strong of a signal. Surely a network of HAMs who are offended by these guys could easily track down locations and turn them over to the FCC. Of course the FCC doesn't care so neither do I.

 

[milkman21218]

"Interfering" with something more important than bleeding over to nearby CB channels... It's not that hard to track down that strong of a signal. Surely a network of HAMs who are offended by these guys could easily track down locations and turn them over to the FCC. Of course the FCC doesn't care so neither do I.

Where do you get the FCC doesn't care? If a group of Ham reported it. They will respond.

 

[KD0PEZ]

Where do you get the FCC doesn't care? If a group of Ham reported it. They will respond.

I think he's implying that for the average Joe who calls about his neighbor's dirty radio set up bleeding into his phone, stereo and messing up the picture on his TV, it takes multiple complaints before the FCC takes action.

Now if there's a complaint of someone interfering on the aircraft band or a search and rescue band/emergency communications band, it's a different story.

 

[KF5YBZ]

I am saying 27.025 (CB channel 6) has been filled with literally insane folks for as long as I can remember and this is the first bust I have ever heard about.

"the interfering signal to 21.964 MHz was determined to be on 21.965 MHz, which correlates to CB channel 6 on 27.025 MHz; apparently, faulty equipment on CB Channel 6 produced a spurious signal on frequency 21.965 MHz, the source of the interference to frequency 21.964 MHz"

I flipped over to 27.025 yesterday afternoon after reading this article and yup, still a madhouse of nonstop babble way over the 200 watts the perp in the article was busted for. Broadcasters proudly stating their location over and over and over... Could be a nice part of the HAM hobby, rounding these guys locations up for the FCC. I wonder if Crime Stoppers would pay cash for tips?

 

[n9mxq]

I flipped over to 27.025 yesterday afternoon after reading this article and yup, still a madhouse of nonstop babble way over the 200 watts the perp in the article was busted for.

You think one enforcement action by the FCC posted on a website that the operators in question would never view will make all that stop?

Broadcasters proudly stating their location over and over and over... Could be a nice part of the HAM hobby, rounding these guys locations up for the FCC. I wonder if Crime Stoppers would pay cash for tips?

Nope, crime stoppers cares just as much as most of the Ham community.. If it doesn't bother me, well, who cares?

I have a vested interest in CB. As a truck driver it can be part of my daily routine. Do I run power and an import radio? Nope. Do I care if others do? Nope

Do I believe the FCC will continue to ramp up enforcement on the Citizen Band? Nope

Do I believe the FCC will investigate complaints from other services when ANYONE interferes where they are not licensed.. Yup

 

[krokus]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (Android 2.3.4; Linux; Opera Mobi/ADR-1309251116) Presto/2.11.355 Version/12.10)

I think he's implying that for the average Joe who calls about his neighbor's dirty radio set up bleeding into his phone, stereo and messing up the picture on his TV, it takes multiple complaints before the FCC takes action.

Those items are malfunctioning, recieving a signal not intended for them.

 

[Dawn]

You have to read between the lines on this one, as it's not what it appears on the surface as there are several irregularities in the formal press release.

1. Operating a CB without a valid CB license in the ULS system? Huh? Last I recalled, licenses were history quite a while ago.

2. Google map the local Kanai airport and look up mr. Yamada. also note the size and remoteness of Kenai which is three hour drive to the southern end of AK on a penisnula that has a hole in the wall airport and mostly a fishing village. They list a total population of 6k, 30 sq miles of land, and the most they do there is use the airport for tourists from anchorage to see the wilds. Finding mr. Yamada with his handly clearly heard would be like a cop trying to find an open dunkin doughnuts rather then a field operation and a spur from his barefoot radio probably would have been picked up by their LDOC airport receivers.

Then the matter of linear proximity. This is an odd one. While the FCC will certainly consider an attached linear to a CB as visual evidence of it's use especially along with a full confession. Unlike the press release claims, mere posession of the amp is not illegal, the act of usuage and the fact that he admitted and it was still hooked up was the issue, not the posession or on premises as the press release claims. They may claim that, but it doesn't hold up under the CFR's.

Considering this was unintentional, 200W, they monitored him many times at site which itself is troubling if this 21mc daytime LDOC freq. is so vital they waited several months to approach him with a local police officer? The fine is excessive under similar circumstances as well. Locally, we have pirate broadcasters running some big power that get away for years, even with formal studios before they finally move in, usually confiscating the equipment and a token fine that's often reduced to nothing after negotiating the fine...and this is for years of operatation and it was a commercial enterprise.

This was less a matter of getting tough with illegal operations and more of a matter of cherrypicking and easy mark that was like shooting fish in a barrel. Out islands of HI or areas of AK are extremely sparse and if there are any FCC folks there, they must be well read and rested compared to their mainland brethren. The possiblility of this happening on channel 6 in an urban area, would be remote, even the local cops would blow the FCC off for such a trivial situation and probably refer this to an off-duty officer for extra duty, providing the FCC would pay his union's rate to accompany them. Unless you were near a sensitive mil or outpost/radio silent telecommunications installation, an action like this would have essentially gone dismissed.

Guy was just at the wrong place for this to happen and they're making a token enforcement effort seem like they're actually doing something.

 

[2FB071]

I am saying 27.025 (CB channel 6) has been filled with literally insane folks for as long as I can remember and this is the first bust I have ever heard about.

"the interfering signal to 21.964 MHz was determined to be on 21.965 MHz, which correlates to CB channel 6 on 27.025 MHz; apparently, faulty equipment on CB Channel 6 produced a spurious signal on frequency 21.965 MHz, the source of the interference to frequency 21.964 MHz"

I flipped over to 27.025 yesterday afternoon after reading this article and yup, still a madhouse of nonstop babble way over the 200 watts the perp in the article was busted for. Broadcasters proudly stating their location over and over and over... Could be a nice part of the HAM hobby, rounding these guys locations up for the FCC. I wonder if Crime Stoppers would pay cash for tips?

Sir Mix Alot (yes, the guy who rapped, "I like big butts"), is 'Prime Minista' on channel 6. The guy even showed himself doing what they all do there, on a VH1 doc about a decade ago.

This guy the ARRL ran the inverted pyramid about, was busted for 21MHz. Trust me, I have a few guys around here who run the superbowl, guess what, no one has busted them yet, and it has been going on for a decade.

And no group are the biggest offenders of freebanding between 27.4100 MHz to 27.7000 MHz locally than local hams. They often use the freeband SSB to talk long distance with no interference, and make DX contacts. My favorite was back in the '90s one local ham would key up on the freeband and yell at CBers for being someplace not legal, guess what goofball, so are you. lol

 

[Dawn]

@2FB071:

That's pure, unadulterated BS. No ham in their right mind would go down in that region and risk their license. Besides, there's not only no hams down there, for the most part, 10M is pretty unused. The novice and tech regions below 28.4 that's the nursery room for graduated CB'ers probably sees more usage in voice then the area above 29.5 reserved for general and above. Why would they go down there when they have all of this resource, nearly 2 megs above to use legally? and then down to 12M with similar propagation? I'm tired of hearing this and this crap about the hams regularly go down to cb channels and freeband areas to agitate and throw carriers to disrupt communications they consider illegitimate. The very old hams may have a beef with what they feel was stolen from the amateurs in 1958, that contingent is for the most part dead or in their late 80's. The later hams may be angry that they're constantly conflated with CB'ers. They've paid a terrible price in regulation, interference complaints, and zoning restrictions because of the misdeeds of the handful of CB'ers that now the public can't tell the difference and blames them. Sure, those guys have a beef, but most let it go as many of them now have graduated from CB ranks at one time and don't have anywhere the same antipathy as older hams did over what they felt was the weakening of amateur license regquirements and the legitimacy of the newer crop of amateurs. Either way, especially with the old timers that despite their issues with CB'ers, they still have an old time respect for the rule of law that many younger hams don't. You can see that immediately when younger hams start talking about modifying amateur transceivers to go out of band. Trivial,but to many of the older guys, something they would never think of doing simply because they feel it's not only legal, they would never put their licenese in jeporday and harbor an illusion that the FCC is still this potent watchdog agency that regulates with an iron hand. Wishful thinking on their part and the reason for much of their disillusionment, but they of all people aren't going to be the ones to go out of band or agitate.

Get real. When you actually have to aspire and work towards a license, you respect the system and resent those that go about doing freely what you had to work hard for.

 

[Craigmoe]

Some want hams to police the airwaves? You must be joking. Has anyone listened to 80 meters? Others ham bands? My gosh, from my location, I have continually heard hams that are 100 to150 miles away from me on the MURS frequencies. I know this as occasionally several slip and start to give their call signs, they chat about ham things, nets, 2meter, etc. You really believe their only using 2-watts, unmodified amateur equipment, commercial gear off Ebay? You would think with all the unused actual ham (amateur) frequencies available, why would they do that. I have (so called) hams south of me who regularly use profanity (s-c &f words). And oh, by the way, they happen to be white males. That must shock some of you. Personally in my opinion they are no better than some 11-meter folks I have heard. Heck I’ve heard and known several 11-meter operators who conduct themselves over the air much better then some amateurs. Those of you who seem to think that when one obtains an amateur radio license magically turns that person into some kind of pure radio god, has another think coming. Ham police, give me a break.

 

[2FB071]

Two things Dawn. First of all, do you live here? I already know the answer...NO!

Second, please learn how to hit enter, I grow tired of your run-on paragraphs. All of your points get lost in a cluster of letters.

Also, I might add. A ham ticket (which I am studying for, so I can talk to old men about the weather), does not make one a perfect citizen. You make it sound as if all hams are saints. Well, this guy debunks that: KD8BIG: Amateur Radio Operator Arrested for Impersonating a Police Office

Trust me, we hear these guys. When they slide between 38 & 39 LSB and talk about the local ham meetings, we know who they are. (And last I checked, 27.3900, also illegal to talk on per FCC's un-enforced regulations).

I said these local guys were hams, I never said they were bright.

 

[N8IAA]

@2FB071:

That's pure, unadulterated BS. No ham in their right mind would go down in that region and risk their license. Besides, there's not only no hams down there, for the most part, 10M is pretty unused. The novice and tech regions below 28.4 that's the nursery room for graduated CB'ers probably sees more usage in voice then the area above 29.5 reserved for general and above. Why would they go down there when they have all of this resource, nearly 2 megs above to use legally? and then down to 12M with similar propagation? I'm tired of hearing this and this crap about the hams regularly go down to cb channels and freeband areas to agitate and throw carriers to disrupt communications they consider illegitimate. The very old hams may have a beef with what they feel was stolen from the amateurs in 1958, that contingent is for the most part dead or in their late 80's. The later hams may be angry that they're constantly conflated with CB'ers. They've paid a terrible price in regulation, interference complaints, and zoning restrictions because of the misdeeds of the handful of CB'ers that now the public can't tell the difference and blames them. Sure, those guys have a beef, but most let it go as many of them now have graduated from CB ranks at one time and don't have anywhere the same antipathy as older hams did over what they felt was the weakening of amateur license regquirements and the legitimacy of the newer crop of amateurs. Either way, especially with the old timers that despite their issues with CB'ers, they still have an old time respect for the rule of law that many younger hams don't. You can see that immediately when younger hams start talking about modifying amateur transceivers to go out of band. Trivial,but to many of the older guys, something they would never think of doing simply because they feel it's not only legal, they would never put their licenese in jeporday and harbor an illusion that the FCC is still this potent watchdog agency that regulates with an iron hand. Wishful thinking on their part and the reason for much of their disillusionment, but they of all people aren't going to be the ones to go out of band or agitate.

Get real. When you actually have to aspire and work towards a license, you respect the system and resent those that go about doing freely what you had to work hard for.

What brand of cool aide are you drinking? I know more than enough hams who Freeband. They love the unoccupied frequencies there for DX. I've even seen QSL cards proclaiming it.
Would I go there? Absolutely not. Most don't. Lots do. Some with a KW. You shouldn't be so naïve.
Larry

 

[Dawn]

It ain't the purple one and Jerry and Ken have been dead a long time.

I'm going on my 41rst year of being an amateur. I also live in an area that's entirely Latin and has very little respect for communications law. Yet, I've never heard anyone down there groundwave and what I've heard in Freeband territory doesn't sound like the ops you'd hear on amateur frequencies. If they are, it's the contingent that have recently been allowed to play in the no-code novice/tech playground below 28.4 that still have their export radios and use them up there and can't resist using them below the band. My guess. Ever wonder why the FCC placed the cutoff at 28.4? That keeps the inexperienced, great unwashed down below the formal voice section of the band starting at 28.5. If anyone is going down there and concurrently holds an amateur license, it has to be the newely minted CB miscreants that haven't learned any respect or manners. Lets face it, their first purchase would be a vhf radio and then they still have their old export or modded radio that they can easily use. Again, I haven't heard it locally, I'm going to make a point of it next time I'm on 29.6 FM with the local crowd that are far more into working 10 and 6 cw and sideband then I would be. Many of those guys have been amateurs as long or longer then I have and participate in the local clubs and events that I don't. I'm sure that would hit a sore nerve and I'll get the 411 in short order.

 

[n9mxq]

Self respecting ham??? Oh Lordy. I know plenty of them.

Yep, there are hams on freeband, and guess what, there are Freebanders on ham.

Like the "self respecting ham" who had the common decency to sen 35wpm code at me and a fellow CB op when we were discussing getting our tickets on channel 17.

Just because you've never seen/heard/experienced it, doesn't mean it isn't happening.

In today's ham society when you can go from 0 to extra in one session. Well, I guess there is strength in numbers. If if some of them are nut jobs.


No bits were harmed in the posting of this message.

 

[gewecke]

It ain't the purple one and Jerry and Ken have been dead a long time.

I'm going on my 41rst year of being an amateur. I also live in an area that's entirely Latin and has very little respect for communications law. Yet, I've never heard anyone down there groundwave and what I've heard in Freeband territory doesn't sound like the ops you'd hear on amateur frequencies. If they are, it's the contingent that have recently been allowed to play in the no-code novice/tech playground below 28.4 that still have their export radios and use them up there and can't resist using them below the band. My guess. Ever wonder why the FCC placed the cutoff at 28.4? That keeps the inexperienced, great unwashed down below the formal voice section of the band starting at 28.5. If anyone is going down there and concurrently holds an amateur license, it has to be the newely minted CB miscreants that haven't learned any respect or manners. Lets face it, their first purchase would be a vhf radio and then they still have their old export or modded radio that they can easily use. Again, I haven't heard it locally, I'm going to make a point of it next time I'm on 29.6 FM with the local crowd that are far more into working 10 and 6 cw and sideband then I would be. Many of those guys have been amateurs as long or longer then I have and participate in the local clubs and events that I don't. I'm sure that would hit a sore nerve and I'll get the 411 in short order.

Dawn .... please use paragraphs in your posts?
It would make them much easier to read.

And yes hams do use cb illegally, as dumb as it is.

73,
n9zas

 

[SpectreOZ]

@2FB071:

That's pure, unadulterated BS. No ham in their right mind would go down in that region and risk their license. Besides, there's not only no hams down there, for the most part, 10M is pretty unused. The novice and tech regions below 28.4 that's the nursery room for graduated CB'ers probably sees more usage in voice then the area above 29.5 reserved for general and above. Why would they go down there when they have all of this resource, nearly 2 megs above to use legally? and then down to 12M with similar propagation? I'm tired of hearing this and this crap about the hams regularly go down to cb channels and freeband areas to agitate and throw carriers to disrupt communications they consider illegitimate.

I call BS on your BS... back in the 90's when CB was still in use locally, I tracked a deliberate carrier signal I was being effected by to a local ham operator's home, did they answer their door? Hell no but they sure did go to great pains to deny it had ever occurred and shift the blame to a mysterious neighbour who was running a hidden mobile antenna but achieved base station performance.

I had used my base and mobile radios to locate the source and my amplified field strength meter to accurately confirm my findings, I must have ruffled this guy's feathers because he called on another local ham we both knew mutually to provide an alibi during the time of the interference.

The mysterious neighbour (with base station signal from a hidden mobile antenna) was never heard from again, want to know the crux of the issue? Well this ham was using a modified 11m radio and because it had been broad banded and featured a PLL02A chip design my barefoot station punished him miserably, was he a freebander? Well I'll let you decide...

On another occasion a neighbouring station whose operator had recently achieved ham status openly admitted to jamming the local UHF repeater, this effected far more people than the couple of yocals mouthing off as the repeater had a 100Km range.