Switch Kit said:
Thank you C2 for the discription of it I suppose,I guess if I ain't talk'in ,it's just not the same. Could they or have they ever done a cb radio type repeater or is it even possible ? ....thanks again
The closest thing to a "CB" repeater would be the 10 Meter FM repeaters on 29 MHZ. They will, indeed, cover thousands of miles. On the other hand, the HF bands (1.8-29 MHZ) generally will provide worldwide coverage anyway. The trick is to know how to USE these characteristics to the best advantage and how to recognize the limitations such as atmospheric conditions and what is known as "MUF"---Maximum Usable Frequency. One simple way to know which frequency is likely to be "running" is to simply listen to WWWV on 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHZ.
One of the differences in CB and Amateur is learning not just how to talk, talk, talk, but learning how to maximize one's experiences in radio. With "ONE" band such as 27 MHZ, you only SEE one aspect of radio and only the behavior of THAT one band, it's occupants' habits and operations, and the ONE mode of transmitting. With Amateur Radio, you see and hear the behavior of MANY bands, learn a wider range of its occupants' habits and behaviors (because it is much affected by the wider range of bands, etc), and a multitude of transmitting modes such as AM, FM, SSB (upper and lower). Morse, RTTY, (teletype), Pactor, Slow Scan TV, and others not even foreseen yet.
Amateur Radio is a mini-education in itself! Certainly, it carries no 'degree', and likely not a lot of recognition. But it DOES give a certain satisfaction because learning about radio, frequencies, propagation, electronics, antennas brings
its own personal rewards. Today, a friend came into another friend's place with an Icom radio. It wouldn't come on. He had checked the thing out for voltage, checked the switch itself,
checked continuity--all to no avail. It meant that the radio would likely have to be sent back to an Icom service center. I had this problem previously and I suggested that it might be an internal fuse. Took the radio apart and VOILA! Fuse had blown.
Replaced fuse, closed up, turned on. Radio works! Like CBers, hams help each other. Experiences with equipment are built upon and passed on. I happened to remember this feature on ham radios and was able to save my friend some $$.
So seriously investigate the Amateur ticket. Don't just take the test with the intention being only to "talk". Use the Technician ticket as a stepping stone to learning more and more. Begin with the repeaters, experiment with SSB, play with Echolink (computer generated "radio" that provides voice
contact all over the world). Then take the Morse Code test--don't wait. It is not that hard. Expand into HF and learn how it behaves. Make worldwide contacts--some of which originate in places you will never hear a CB. ( not bragging, but have you ever talked to Israel or Spain on your CB? How about South Africa?) Build a library of reference material on "HOW TO" such as build your own antennas. Good fun and satisfaction in being able to say, instead of buying one, "Hey! I MADE it and it WORKS". Learn by failing, learn by succeeding. Only by beginning this "journey" that is Amateur Radio, can you really understand its advantages and gain an "education" that is unique and a heck of a lot of fun!
