GEN 2 CB install

[Christian Johanneson]

They don't know any better...har har har!

It’s legit how loggers communicate on logging roads.


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[OriginalToken]

Question I've never found a certain answer to: is there a single radio out there that supports both amateur and CB bands? Pretty sure the answer is no due to fundamental incompatibility.

The certain answer to this no, there is no new production legally sold radio that combines any CB transmitter with a radio capable of transmitting on any other frequency or any other service. There has not been since at least as far back as the late 1970's.

From my laymens, non-lawyer, view of this the CB regulations are reasonably specific. The fact that a radio is capable of transmitting on any other frequency, no matter how much it conforms to the technical regulations for both services, probably de-certifies the radio for CB, and so it cannot be marketed or sold as new.

Even if a maker wanted to try and market something like that, otherwise completely legal and meeting technical requirements for both services, they would probably have to get the FCC to change the existing regulations before such sales could begin or the radio could be certificated for sale or CB use.

47 CFR Part 95 Subpart D are the primary regulations that authorize CB use and lay out all of the requirements (technical and procedural) for CB.

47 CFR Part 95.987(a) says "Each CBRS (CB Radio Service) transmitter type must be designed to transmit only on one or more of the channels listed in subsection 95.963." 95.963 list only the legal 40 CB channels, so the ability to transmit on any other frequency would violate this section.

However, there is another line in the same section that seems to indicate that if the radio meets the technical requirements for both services it could be certificated, and legal for sale and use. The two lines contradict each other.

If you are referring to the shortwave (HF) amateur bands then the issue becomes a legal one even though the technical issues get much simpler. The FCC has rules against operating HF amateur radio gear on CB frequencies, though this is technically possible without the limitations mentioned above for VHF. But you're not supposed to do that and some amateur gear is programmed not to allow it. The primary reason for this limitation is that HF HAM gear can transmit at much higher power, generally speaking, than the unlicensed CB limit.

My bold added above.

All legally sold ham radio gear is programmed to specifically NOT transmit on CB frequencies as originally delivered from the manufacturer, and has been that way since the 70's. By regulation it is illegal to offer for sale or to market new ham radio gear that is capable of transmitter operation in the CB band. The reason is multifaceted, but for example, the ham radio gear does not meet the channelization requirements, modulation mode limitation requirements, power output requirement, or the PA design requirements. There are probably a lot of other reasons, but those are the largest.

With all of that said, most modern ham HF radios are capable of receiving CB radio right out of the box. If you had a ham license that authorizes you for HF frequencies you could install an HF ham radio in your vehicle and use it legally to transmit on ham HF frequencies, and also use it to monitor (listen to) CB, and all would be 100% legal.

The next step is less legal. Read, not legal at all.

Almost all HF ham radios sold today can be quickly and easily modified to transmit on almost any frequency they can listen to, typically with the exception of MW spectrum (below 1600 kHz). In many cases this is just a few minutes effort to make happen, typically a single action, clip a wire, remove a diode or resistor, or remove a jumper. This is sometimes called a MARS / CAP mod, as those are services that might have a need to modify radios in such a way. And in every case I am aware of the modified frequency capability includes CB.

So you could have a single radio with full capability on CB and ham, easily and quickly. It is a pretty common practice. It is almost impossible to tell externally you are using a radio so modified, especially if you reduce the power to CB legal levels and use only CB legal modulation modes. But it is not legal, even when so limited.

But it is possible, and ridiculously easy.

T!

 

[SS308]

It’s legit how loggers communicate on logging roads.


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I know, I was trying to get a dig on the Jeep owners...