CB RADIO / HAM RADIO (TO BE OR NOT TO BE)

[Switch Kit]

I really wasn't sure where to post this question so I'll try it here. I've been a cb radio operator for just over 20 years now , I have talked over the years with others about Ham radio and the extra allowed
benefits that go with it , I as well as many others in my area never took the leap over to Ham , most guys I grew up with on the radio didn't even use SSB , although they had the fine radios to do so. (it just seemed like most would just get lost in there clairifiers) So AM was pretty much it for most of them. I've met many Ham radio operators over the years and for the most part , there was just a negitive feel from them being a cb radio operator, as I always have been. IM still trying to get to my question here , although many Ham operators in my area ,for decades ,use the freeband on SSB to do much of there talking ? I've talked to many of those guys over the years and for the most part , they have been cordial (but the attitude was still there), although any questions about Ham and why they were there and not else where would always bring a death of silence ? (I think I kind of understand why) My question is this ......are there those that decided to get into Ham after being into cb for years and just decided that cb radio was more for them ? or would that be more so the opposite ? I would really appreciate some honest replies here. I've seen the tests and I don't think I would have a problem what so ever , but I just don't feel I need to prove anything to myself for something I know that's not going to happen for me in the first place. Especially after the Internet and cell phone invasions. I have realized for many years now that Ham gear can be so much more superior over cb radios and amplifiers , I have do beef about that , My personal opinion has been this , it's just a different type of attitude that people carry with them and that has been my biggest negitive about all of it. so the song remains the same for me. Thanks

 

[74IN]

Do it.

Many hams are afraid of being jumped on for going "out of band" and will be reluctant to admit it.

Look on ebay, many of the trancievers are modded to TX over the full range of the radio. You really think all of these guys are MARS/CAP?

The VHF radios I have sold on there went great, because I always added MARS/CAP modded.

Enforcement is a joke, I'm very surprised at the crap I see going on in the HF area whan I look at some recordings of some stations. Like the drunk on the video posted here lately attacking a man and woman with seasoning.

 

[74IN]

Not trying to be a critic, but your large blocks of text are hard to read.

Break it up a bit and it helps alot.

 

[Switch Kit]

it's just the way my mind works 74 , my grammer isn't the best and nor is my spelling , I look at it this way , you either get it or you don't . I appreicate your posts all the same. thank you

 

[74IN]

my grammer isn't the best and nor is my spelling

No big deal on that, just when you finish a thought, whack the enter key.

 

[Happy_Hamer]

Well here is my take

There are some assholes on the ham bands, there are some on the cb also, so it really doesnt matter if your a cber or a ham EXCEPT for one point,,,,

When 11 meter is dead,

There is ALWAYS a ham band that has activity, you can always go to a different band and do some talking,

That is the main reason of this forum, we are all already friends here, we can go to different bands and enjoy the hobby EVEN MORE

Just enjoy the hobby anyway you can

 

[W5LZ]

The biggest difference between CB and ham radio is the range of frequencies/bands available to them. One range for CB'ers, bunch of them for hams. To me, that alone if reason enough to get a license.
Like it or not, CB is a sort of 'dead end'. Don't expect much expansion, ever, for a number of reasons. If the manufacturors can't make a profit on something, why would they spend the money to make things 'better', or include features that they don't have to (and can't, legally)?
I think it's more a matter of if you -want- to get a ham license than if you -should-. That's up to you. Don't feel like it? Then don't. It's really easy now compared to what it was at one time. If you've got two "brain-pennies" to rub together, it's just a matter of learning a little bit. Huge difference between "can't" and "won't". (Aw, go ahead and do it! Don't wanna use it? Then don't. At about a $1.50 per year, it's sort'a cheap!)
- 'Doc

 

[SR385]

It's a lot about the type of conversation you want as well. You are much more likely to find intelligent conversation on the ham bands. People in the majority (there are some awful exceptions mind you) are much more courteous and civil on the ham bands as well.

I started on 11m, I never deny that and I'm on this forum because I had decided to get back into CB about a year ago or so. Some people told me that the ham exams were available on line and there was no code requirement to get General class now so I decided to take a look. I got my call last April.

I found out that in my area, CB has completely died from what it was even in the 90's when I was last active. What is left is mostly people name calling, looping delay units with recordings of other people and threatening people. Profanity is the norm on the local CB airways...and on and on.

I'm not 20 anymore and that whole mess of nonsense just doesn't sit with me like it used to. I just don't want to be around it anymore.

So the quality of the environment was a big factor for me.

Now that I have my ticket, the huge array of operating modes is something I wasn't even fully aware of until I got into the hobby. Not only are there many bands to operate in, but there are digital modes, cw, slow-scan TV, SSB, FM, AM and many many more to chose from.

I can talk simplex FM and cover a good 20mile radius for local chatter on 2m. I can be mobile and key up on the statewide repeater network and reach people from Atlantic City NJ through Westchester NY on a single 'channel'.

On 80m and 160m I can talk to 'locals' in the evenings that are in a 500 mile radius or more. I can do the similar to 2m range using 10m, or I can work the world when conditions permit on lower bands.

On the ham bands I run into RF engineers, broadcast engineers, sound engineers...the list goes on. I make friends with and have access to people with a huge array of knowledge. There isn't a project building or tinkering question I can't find an answer to on the bands.

It's what you make of it, radio, any radio. I find that ham radio opens a much broader horizon. Speak to people on the ham bands like you would at the office and you'll be fine. It's mostly an issue of operating etiquette and courtesy that gets people into hot water. If you are a heavy CB'er with a lot of habits in using the CB lingo, drop those habits when you get your ham ticket and you'll be fine.

There are jerks that will give you a hard time for pluralizing 73, but you can ignore them. However, if you get on the air saying 10-4 and what's yer 20, a lot more people will come down on you.

I say get your ticket. If you find it to be uncomfortable for you, just go back to CB. For me, CB makes me uncomfortable now and I won't be looking back.

 

[Switch Kit]

I appreciate the thoughts on this so far . So my question being , If there were cb radio operators that went to Ham (got there tickets and the gear) and found themselves back on cb radio more often ? seems NOT to be the case with most whom have posted here thus far.

I personally have factors at this point in my life . 1. CB has been my nature for a long time now. 2. Condo living has limited my ability to enjoy my hobby as I once did. (minus the TVI problems and bothering my neighbors over the years) 3. The Internet plus cell phone operations. 4. "Which SR385 mentioned" a new kind of ettiquite (which I was already aware of) trust me , those hammer's on the freebands gave me that idea dozen's of years ago. I got away with just talking ,(I learned the hard way) for me it was just a "whatever" 5. The extra money it would cost me for better gear ect. ect. 6. The willingness on my part to make a change that I would find appealling to me in the first place. (Which I haven't over the years. 7. A somewhat different attitude and outlook.

CB radio , IM just free to be me with the ettiquite of my choice. I've met good ones and bad ones , I've been able to be good or bad weather one liked it or not ? I could play a game like the next guy. I've talked all over the world on 5 watts as well as 500 watts. Freebands galore ! I've been known as a outlaw , but aren't most cb'ers ? I basically treat others the way I would want to be treated , so I have accepted the unexpected from others for decades now without losing my composure to very often. It is what it is. It either works for me , or it doesn't. It's just cb radio no matter how much it has changed over the years or how much I have changed over the years with it. I can still entertain myself and be entertained. (even with my own limited operations)

I say your never to old for change if you have the burning desire to do so.Mans got to do what mans got to do. IM just a cb radio operator , the good the bad and the ugly of it all. I realize it has been a dying breed since the day I picked up a microphone many years ago , I've come to believe , I will die with it , if and when that should totally ever happen ? I realize my limitations are what they are compared to Ham radio , my personal challenge has been what it's always been , to do what I do with what I got and it has seemed to work for me for a long time now.

 

[KI4MSJ]

I got involved with CB back in the mid 70's and slowly over the years transitioned into 11 meter SSB.(I really dislike AM) Starting off with a Robyn radio. In the middle of the last great Solar Cycle I bought a President Lincoln and talked all over the world with 25-45 watts and a Super Big Stick. When the Solar Cycle died down, I got away from radio altogether. In 2002, I decided to give it a try again and bought another Lincoln. After not hearing much but AM, I decided to go and get my HAM License. I have one of these personalities that likes to make friends and talk to people so, the transision seemed natural to me. All this being said, I started with CB radio and FreeBanding. Will I do it again? sure when conditions are right. I will not go to a Club Meeting and mention CB or 11 meters even though alot of them carry CB's in there cars or have them in there shacks for local emergencies. Everything has it's place.

 

[Sonwatcher]

Switch, I started in CB back in the 70's also. I remember when my uncle got a new Washington base and told me he was talking skip. I would listen and try myself. Back then the skippers would give a PO box # for a QSL card. I was naive and would give my regular address. Didn't know better LOL ! It was fun and you had a license you had to get and use your callsign ( still have mine). I remember when I got married we moved to KS. I bought a RS CB for the trip. It kept me awake the whole trip. It was funny the next morning after we got there my wife said I sat straight up in bed and said "Breaker 19 for a 10-36 " LOL !But I remember visiting some people that had some Heathkit radios. They were Hams. I would listen to them talk all over the world. They would make scheds and they would meet and talk seemingly at will. I thought then that that would be cool ! It wasn't until I was in my 40's that I finally did it. I slowly over the years picked up a radio here and there mostly off Ebay to be able to talk on different bands. It is a whole new world as Hamer said you can find conditions somewhere on the bands to make contacts and new friends. I still talk on the CB. Something I have always enjoyed. I have made contacts on the Ham frequencies with some forum members and that's been fun. Like others have said it is worth the ticket to give it a try and you don't have to give up the CB.

 

[mackmobile43]

No big deal on that, just when you finish a thought, whack the enter key.

I concur.

 

[Highlander_821]

I can't think of a better place to be, here on this forum, if you do decide to give it a go--you have access to people here that can probably help with anything you have questions about.

Look at it this way--even if you end up not really liking Ham Radio, you will still learn alot in the process that will surely be of benefit in some way, sometime.

If you never have, go to eham.net and check out the practice tests just to see what kind of stuff is in them. I'll bet you could pass the tech test after just a few hours study time, if not sooner. Hell, take a practice test and see how you come out!

 

[park]

Lots of good post.

CB'er for 33 years and ham for 12,,,get your license and have fun with both!

73,
AC5PS

 

[Slim]

Try it and see if ya like it or not. If not,then you're only out $14 or so for the testing fee. I bet you would be surprised! You can just go back to 11 meter if you don't like it.
I procrastinated for 30 years and have been kickin' myself for that. I should have listened to my father after all. Look at what I've missed because of that!?
Slim