So, are we gonna get legal FM on CB? Should we? If so, on what channels will we use it?
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FM
- Thread starter WECSOG
- Start date
https://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/fm.262222/
Sounds like FCC has determined it wouldn't create any huge problems and they now agree with the addition. So barring unforeseen circumstances we should have FM fully approved in the US in next couple of months. I think they have one more meeting in August where it will be finalized/approved.
Now - it would be great if we as a CB community decided where FM would use would make the most sense similar to the way we use 6, 11, 19, 28, 38, etc.
Sounds like FCC has determined it wouldn't create any huge problems and they now agree with the addition. So barring unforeseen circumstances we should have FM fully approved in the US in next couple of months. I think they have one more meeting in August where it will be finalized/approved.
Now - it would be great if we as a CB community decided where FM would use would make the most sense similar to the way we use 6, 11, 19, 28, 38, etc.
How to use FM...
Go to the channel with the most "pinched up audio" - audio that sounds Nasally - and switch mode to FM.
If you're a Registered User of the radio equipment, (Silly boy, you filled out your Registration Card!) you just might receive a Sticker to add in to your owners manual with steps written like above...
I've had to do just that, use FM - on EXPORT radios just so I can hear the ones trying to shoot skip with overdriven Modulators.
Go to the channel with the most "pinched up audio" - audio that sounds Nasally - and switch mode to FM.
If you're a Registered User of the radio equipment, (Silly boy, you filled out your Registration Card!) you just might receive a Sticker to add in to your owners manual with steps written like above...
I've had to do just that, use FM - on EXPORT radios just so I can hear the ones trying to shoot skip with overdriven Modulators.
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
AM will never die.
We will never get anyone to agree to use FM on any channels as all the channels already have locals who use AM or SSB. If we really, really needed another mode then USB has always been available and nobody uses it. FM is neat and all, but it only works if the other people on the channel use it too. We have a hard enough time keeping AM stations off of 38. I wonder if Cobra is going to make a whole new radio, or are we going to get the Cobra 29 FM? Maybe we will get the 40 upper channels like the UK?
We will never get anyone to agree to use FM on any channels as all the channels already have locals who use AM or SSB. If we really, really needed another mode then USB has always been available and nobody uses it. FM is neat and all, but it only works if the other people on the channel use it too. We have a hard enough time keeping AM stations off of 38. I wonder if Cobra is going to make a whole new radio, or are we going to get the Cobra 29 FM? Maybe we will get the 40 upper channels like the UK?
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Can't wait for all the old radios butchered by people trying to add FM.
All the current "exports" would still be illegal for use so it will be up to the mfg's to produce legal FM radios.
How about opening the "A" channels to FM?? That would almost be a no brainier.
Those are allocated for RC use, and seeing as there are devices out there, they won't change the allocation.
It would make more sense to add range either above or below the band, but they won't do that either, especially for the wild west of 11M.
Nothing is going to change as far as channels go, still going to be the regular 40.
First thing that's going to happen is people ( meter baters ) are going to talk on FM, look at the meter and say
" ain't got no swing "
Next thing will be the same guys ripping the lid off and twisting the FM deviation control around to the right, only to find that there friends can't understand them because the have adjusted it so wide that it is out side of the channel spacing.
The final thing will be that they will not understand duty Cycle and heat.
FM at high carriers is brutal , just ask the guys across the pond.
If users can get past all of that, I think they will find FM useful for local com's.
Only time will tell.
73
Jeff
First thing that's going to happen is people ( meter baters ) are going to talk on FM, look at the meter and say
" ain't got no swing "
Next thing will be the same guys ripping the lid off and twisting the FM deviation control around to the right, only to find that there friends can't understand them because the have adjusted it so wide that it is out side of the channel spacing.
The final thing will be that they will not understand duty Cycle and heat.
FM at high carriers is brutal , just ask the guys across the pond.
If users can get past all of that, I think they will find FM useful for local com's.
Only time will tell.
73
Jeff
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
Its not ham radio. Its a frre band. Use any mode on any ch. There are no rules. I ssb wherever i want. ch 17, ch 1, ch 29. AM ch 40, 35, 38. It doesn't matter. I will fm where i want as well.
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I still see RC trucks and cars that run 27mhz around here.
https://www.liveabout.com/27mhz-measurement-definition-2862538
To be honest this and dropping the 155 mile restriction are the most progressive things the FCC has done for CB in years.
It would be great if they would allocate the UK FM band plan, but that was not even on the table so I really don't see that happening.
73
Jeff
https://www.liveabout.com/27mhz-measurement-definition-2862538
To be honest this and dropping the 155 mile restriction are the most progressive things the FCC has done for CB in years.
It would be great if they would allocate the UK FM band plan, but that was not even on the table so I really don't see that happening.
73
Jeff
I think if we could determine a channel as a community similar to the way 6 is AM and 38 is LSB that would be nice. If we could get some of the blogs and shops to say "channel X is the unofficial FM calling channel" then we could create a defacto FM channel. I could promote it on my channel and we could tell Simon to do it on his and talk to Bells and FineTune etc and we could spread the word pretty quick that "channel X" is the FM channel. No it wouldn't be official but I'd rather that we at least had a starting point for where FM might be found.
Not that it will matter but kind of funny that no current AM/FM radio (CB or export) will be legal for use on FM though since they weren't certified. Only new CB radios with FM will be certified and legal. It will be very interesting to see if any shops start selling FM boards but I doubt most people will bother paying $100 to get one installed on an older radio.
I wonder if we will see any FM only CB radios or if they will all be AM/FM.
Would be a good time to be a amp repair guy - I have a feeling a lot of amps will go poof when people start using FM.
My concern is that CB has gotten smaller and it's hard to find people to talk to sometimes so if some people start using FM and others are on AM will that make it any more difficult to make contacts (locally or DX)?
Not that it will matter but kind of funny that no current AM/FM radio (CB or export) will be legal for use on FM though since they weren't certified. Only new CB radios with FM will be certified and legal. It will be very interesting to see if any shops start selling FM boards but I doubt most people will bother paying $100 to get one installed on an older radio.
I wonder if we will see any FM only CB radios or if they will all be AM/FM.
Would be a good time to be a amp repair guy - I have a feeling a lot of amps will go poof when people start using FM.
My concern is that CB has gotten smaller and it's hard to find people to talk to sometimes so if some people start using FM and others are on AM will that make it any more difficult to make contacts (locally or DX)?