I do not intend for this post to rekindle any sort of Ham vs. CB (or vice versa) argument.
I am simply throwing my "2 cents" in to provide food for thought.
I have been both a ham and cb'er for decades, and have had an opportunity to view the hobby from different "angles". Having said that, It doesn't make me smarter, wiser, better, or more right than anyone else in our hobby. O.K. , with all the disclaimers out of the way, now a few observations.
Ham ops have made a "contract" with the government. They agree to obey all the spectrum rules and in turn, gain "legal" and exclusive access to specified frequency bands.
CB'er have made no such "contract" with the government, and thus have no access to the exclusive frequency bands. They generally operate on the "40 channels" the government says they can have. Some operate outside the "40", many run more than the allotted power, many operate equipment that interferes with other CB'ers and sometimes other services.
I wanted a ham ticket as a young man, got it, and obeyed the rules while licensed. After many years, I thought about the situation of having to be licensed to use a radio, and that it didn't seem to be something that sounded like freedom, so I gave them back my license. I no longer have access to those bands, and that's ok. I accept "what is"... right or wrong.
I believe in a concept, a place called "the commons". In this radio situation, I'm refering to the fact that there should be a "commons"... a place where a free man can use a radio without asking permission from an "authority". That exists now in what we know as the "citizens band". Yes, the "band" is out of control. I don't mind it at all. It is what it is. I just "jump in" and extract what "fun" I can have from making contacts with the meager equipment I use. Do I wish more people would grow up and clean up their act... yes. It would be more fun for all then. But it is what it is, and I don't want the commons to go away. People are always going to act like people... sometimes irrational... they're very diverse... sometimes "good"... sometimes "bad". I like freedom. Having freedom sometimes entails risk, and unpredictable and/or negative outcomes. That's ok, I can live with it. Freedom is good.
To my ham friends:
Don't worry so much about what goes on outside your given "realm". Allow others to have the freedom to use other spectrum. Don't try to "sic" the FCC on non-hams. Let them be. If you wish to play policeman, you can hold each other to the rules you were given, and aggressively "root out" the offenders. Or you can relax, realize that people will be people, and just try to have as much fun anyway... even if your realm is imperfect because people are imperfect. If a CB'er operates in your bands, or causes interference to you with improper equipment, then that is wrong... you have a legitimate case against that one individual.
To my CB friends:
We can all have more fun on the band if we operate our stations in a manner that doesn't decrease the enjoyment of others in our "commons". Stay out of the licensed ham bands, you don't belong there. Make sure your equipment doesn't cause interference to those using the amateur bands, and only transmit "energy" where your signal belongs. Some of you won't do that. I have no control over that. I know, and all I can do is simply try to improve the commons and not contribute to the problem, even if some of you won't.
Yes, I can hear the "rumblings" now... dreamer, idealist, Pollyanna, foolish, rose-colored glasses, etc. ...
Again, I'm not trying to start another "war" of words. If it starts in this thread, I'll just "move on". After all, mine is just an opinion... nothing to get upset about. I just thought I'd try to find a little "common ground" between two groups that have a great hobby (radio) in common.
I am simply throwing my "2 cents" in to provide food for thought.
I have been both a ham and cb'er for decades, and have had an opportunity to view the hobby from different "angles". Having said that, It doesn't make me smarter, wiser, better, or more right than anyone else in our hobby. O.K. , with all the disclaimers out of the way, now a few observations.
Ham ops have made a "contract" with the government. They agree to obey all the spectrum rules and in turn, gain "legal" and exclusive access to specified frequency bands.
CB'er have made no such "contract" with the government, and thus have no access to the exclusive frequency bands. They generally operate on the "40 channels" the government says they can have. Some operate outside the "40", many run more than the allotted power, many operate equipment that interferes with other CB'ers and sometimes other services.
I wanted a ham ticket as a young man, got it, and obeyed the rules while licensed. After many years, I thought about the situation of having to be licensed to use a radio, and that it didn't seem to be something that sounded like freedom, so I gave them back my license. I no longer have access to those bands, and that's ok. I accept "what is"... right or wrong.
I believe in a concept, a place called "the commons". In this radio situation, I'm refering to the fact that there should be a "commons"... a place where a free man can use a radio without asking permission from an "authority". That exists now in what we know as the "citizens band". Yes, the "band" is out of control. I don't mind it at all. It is what it is. I just "jump in" and extract what "fun" I can have from making contacts with the meager equipment I use. Do I wish more people would grow up and clean up their act... yes. It would be more fun for all then. But it is what it is, and I don't want the commons to go away. People are always going to act like people... sometimes irrational... they're very diverse... sometimes "good"... sometimes "bad". I like freedom. Having freedom sometimes entails risk, and unpredictable and/or negative outcomes. That's ok, I can live with it. Freedom is good.
To my ham friends:
Don't worry so much about what goes on outside your given "realm". Allow others to have the freedom to use other spectrum. Don't try to "sic" the FCC on non-hams. Let them be. If you wish to play policeman, you can hold each other to the rules you were given, and aggressively "root out" the offenders. Or you can relax, realize that people will be people, and just try to have as much fun anyway... even if your realm is imperfect because people are imperfect. If a CB'er operates in your bands, or causes interference to you with improper equipment, then that is wrong... you have a legitimate case against that one individual.
To my CB friends:
We can all have more fun on the band if we operate our stations in a manner that doesn't decrease the enjoyment of others in our "commons". Stay out of the licensed ham bands, you don't belong there. Make sure your equipment doesn't cause interference to those using the amateur bands, and only transmit "energy" where your signal belongs. Some of you won't do that. I have no control over that. I know, and all I can do is simply try to improve the commons and not contribute to the problem, even if some of you won't.
Yes, I can hear the "rumblings" now... dreamer, idealist, Pollyanna, foolish, rose-colored glasses, etc. ...
Again, I'm not trying to start another "war" of words. If it starts in this thread, I'll just "move on". After all, mine is just an opinion... nothing to get upset about. I just thought I'd try to find a little "common ground" between two groups that have a great hobby (radio) in common.