Need advice on getting started

[cjruger]

New member here,
I dont have a Ham ticket yet, but may be interested in getting one. I have been in to 11 meter cb in that past and kind of have not touched the stuff in a while. mostly interested in talking skip, not the other crap on those channels. Im looking to get back in but want purchase a radio with ssb and attempt to start talking long distance, I dont have really andy equipment, just a makeshift base set up in my garage. i have done some reseash on diplole antennas, and made one from 14 gage solid copper, it is currently in my garage at the peak, but will be moving it out side, I have only tested it with my little uniden pro510xl and receve good reports from some local truckers, but thats it. i have a swr meter on the way. currently using a 12volt car battery as power supply. I am looking to spend around 150 -200 to get a decent new orused radio to attempt longer distances. I am considering a cobra 148 gtl, uniden pc122 (factory tech aligned, tuned and clarifer unlocked, or a Galaxy dx959 , and possibley getting channels added. all the models im looking at have been "professionaly aligned and tuned, and putting out legal power. any input or recomendations is appreciated. thanks. I know most of you guys probably dont use these channels but figured your the ones to ask

 

[W5LZ]

I think you may have a misconception of what ham radio is. I would suggest visiting the ARRL web site and read about it.
- 'Doc

 

[Turbo T]

If you like long range communication, you will definitely like ham radio. However you mentioned adding channels to a CB....that is illegal and as a ham you are held at a higher standard than the typical CBer plus the FCC has your name and address and can do an audit on your station at any time.

However, starting off as a ham (in addition to being able to work people on 2 M/70 CM/1.25 M/6 M) allows you to do USB from 28.3 to 28.5 in which you are allowed to do (as a tech) and a Cobra 148 GTL (the older ones) can be modded to work in the 28 MHz band, just as long as they can't also work in the CB band.

BUT....after getting your tech license, eventually you'll want to go up for general and then you get to really work people distances. But by then you'll have to up your dollar limits as most HF ham rigs run well north of the prices you have quoted.

 

[cjruger]

thanks for the input, im pretty sure i know what ham radio is, LIke I said, i dont have a ticket yet but am possibly interested in getting one, so for now that leaves me with 1 option that does not require a licence to operate. I guess i didnt realize there wasnt channels that could be added to the side bands on the the cbs, i see a lot of them for sale with "channels added". i gues im not sure what that is then.

 

[kd-5-bgt]

Both radios you mentioned are CB radios and nice radios at that if they havent been hacked up by someone that doesnt know what they are doing.....

doing any mods to them such as adding channels are a nono in the eyes of the FCC,even without a ham ticket just that alone can get you a nice little fine from them if you are caught talking on the added channels...and the fine will climb quickly if you have your ham ticket....

If it were me just getting my ham radio license I would go for the general class license ...believe me,it is well worth the time to do so


If you decide to stick with the tech ticket the VHF bands are also alot of fun.6 meter is starting to open up a bit and you can make some nice contacts to well over 1000 miles when the band is open. You will even get a sliver of the 10 meter band...28.300 to 28.500 and when that band is open the world is at your fingertips....back earlier this year I hit Africa early in the morning with a simple dipole and 100 watts ...not to mention contacts all over the states are very common when the band is open

2 meters and higher can be a challange to work DX (skip) but it can be done when all teh stars are lined up properly. I worked the space station a few years ago on 2 meter with a basic j-pole antenna and 50 watts and also worked the station out of my mobile not long after that,so fairly long range contacts can be done even on 2 meter


Research your radio options a bit more ,if you have no idea really what radio or radios you are wanting to look at,I am sure there are folks here that will give you a good idea where to start and a general price range.....

I wish all the best and hope to hear you on the ham bands soon !!

 

[mr_fx]

no offense to those who think otherwise, but it is PERFECTLY LEGAL to mod a cb for use on HAM bands, but it is illegal to continue to use that radio on the CB bands. it used to be quite common to modify a 11 meter CB for 12, 10, or even 6 or 15 meter operation

Just like how a Boafeng uv-5r is not really meant for HAM use, but it normally gets used for it

 

[roadrage]

I guess i didnt realize there wasnt channels that could be added to the side bands on the the cbs, i see a lot of them for sale with "channels added". i gues im not sure what that is then.

Extra channels can be added to a CB. Just not legally. The only frequencies that are legal for a CB, are the 40 preset channels that come on the radio.
You can do what you want, but when you start interfering with the HAM bands without a ticket, it tends to make them upset. They study for their ticket and take their bands very serious. If it was me, I'd just use the channels that are allowed. Study up and get your ticket to open up more freqs for you. Good luck.

 

[Streetglideok]

thanks for the input, im pretty sure i know what ham radio is, LIke I said, i dont have a ticket yet but am possibly interested in getting one, so for now that leaves me with 1 option that does not require a licence to operate. I guess i didnt realize there wasnt channels that could be added to the side bands on the the cbs, i see a lot of them for sale with "channels added". i gues im not sure what that is then.

I think if you get the study guides, and learn the material, that you will find CBs are practically dinosaurs and severely limited. Merely learning to answer the questions to the ham tests will get you your ticket faster, but if you study and learn the stuff, you'll likely become bored with CBs and move up the ladder.

 

[Turbo T]

...it used to be quite common to modify a 11 meter CB for 12, 10, or even 6 or 15 meter operation

When/what model CB's were ever converted for 6 meter use? Or 15 meter use?

I guess i didnt realize there wasnt channels that could be added to the side bands on the the cbs, i see a lot of them for sale with "channels added". i gues im not sure what that is then.

The CB's with the "added channels" are illegally done. CB only has 40 channels. However some vendors of single side band CB radios try to say that you "get 120 channels" when in fact, you don't. It's still 40 channels, just different modes. Then you have the export radios that look like CB radios but they're not legal CB transceivers; they often have a "band" switch on them that gives you access to several frequencies off the CB band; some of which are ham bands that can land you in trouble.

I think if you get the study guides, and learn the material, that you will find CBs are practically dinosaurs and severely limited. Merely learning to answer the questions to the ham tests will get you your ticket faster, but if you study and learn the stuff, you'll likely become bored with CBs and move up the ladder.

True...CB is ancient technology that has not evolved much since the beginnings. Ham radio is also considered ancient technology but the radios have evolved much as well as the different modes of operation. Today you can do all sorts of cool stuff with a ham radio and a computer. But then again CB does have it's place as it's still a good tool to have in your car when traveling along the interstates to find out from others on traffic conditions, etc.

 

[cjruger]

When/what model CB's were ever converted for 6 meter use? Or 15 meter use?



The CB's with the "added channels" are illegally done. CB only has 40 channels. However some vendors of single side band CB radios try to say that you "get 120 channels" when in fact, you don't. It's still 40 channels, just different modes. Then you have the export radios that look like CB radios but they're not legal CB transceivers; they often have a "band" switch on them that gives you access to several frequencies off the CB band; some of which are ham bands that can land you in trouble.



True...CB is ancient technology that has not evolved much since the beginnings. Ham radio is also considered ancient technology but the radios have evolved much as well as the different modes of operation. Today you can do all sorts of cool stuff with a ham radio and a computer. But then again CB does have it's place as it's still a good tool to have in your car when traveling along the interstates to find out from others on traffic conditions, etc.

thanks for the input, im not putting anything in my car execpt maybe my uniden pro510xl, im interested in have some sort of base that i can play around with trying my hand at skip on the legal channels for now without putting a ton of $$ in to it. What started this is i dug out an old uniden pro510xl and hooked it up to see if it worked. i made a dipole antenna, and now looking for something with side band or some more power because im not getting out at all.

 

[dragracer]

When/what model CB's were ever converted for 6 meter use? Or 15 meter use?

Look all over the web. There is even a yahoo group that converts cb to other bands. Even look on you tube where the one guy has converted some to 20 meters, 40 meters and 80 meters.