Any CB lovers??

[sexobon]

Lola Bunny is a licensed HAM operator; but, she hasn't posted since the end of last year. While it's illegal for hams to use CB channels, many of them also have CB equipment since it's relatively inexpensive. I don't know whether she does CB too or not. You can ask her if she pops in.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I'll ask her.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by sexobon

While it's illegal for hams to use CB channels...

How does holding a ham license make it illegal to use cb channels?

The only thing I can think of is if the ham op is over the (what is it ~4 watts?) power limit for citizen's band.

But that goes for anybody, not just hams.

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

How does holding a ham license make it illegal to use cb channels? ...

My understanding is that with HAM, the operator is licensed; but, the equipment doesn't have to be certified. With CB, the operator isn't licensed; but, the equipment does have to be certified. Since ham equipment is not certified, it cannot legally be used to broadcast over CB channels.

It would be possible to certify that part of ham equipment which can be modified for use with CB; but, it's economically impractical...cheaper to buy additional CB equipment.

[tw]

Originally Posted by sexobon

My understanding is that with HAM, the operator is licensed; but, the equipment doesn't have to be certified. With CB, the operator isn't licensed; but, the equipment does have to be certified.

Ham radio was created by and encouraged people to innovate. One needed technical knowledge to do that in a responsible manner. License was proof of that knowledge. CB radio operators need not have that knowledge. And so correctly defined are those guidelines.

A license then defined which frequencies and other parameters (ie modulation, wattage) were permitted in each band. So that interference with others was avoided.

Using CB to talk to other continents is quite unlikely. But strange weather has created unexpected surprises.