Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Citizens Band vs Amateur Radio Equipment

I heard this on the ARRL Audio News.
The story brought me back to the days of my youth when CB Radio was cool.
I remember the days we spent modifying our radios, buying power mics, and shooting skip. That is the equivalent to working DX.
I'm happy to say I am far beyond those days. I have a CB radio but it no longer works. I have a few Hand Held CB radios I bought several years ago to keep in touch with my wife while camping and taking walks on our 100 acre property.
--------------------

ARRL Comments in FCC Review of CB Rules

In June the FCC opened a proceeding -- WT Docket No. 10-119 -- “to simplify, streamline, and update the Part 95 rules to reflect technological advances and changes in the way the American public uses the various Personal Radio Services.” The Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service is one of several Personal Radio Services regulated by Part 95. Three of the CB-related issues raised in the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) are of interest to the Amateur Radio Service. On September 3, the ARRL filed comments limited to these issues.

Citizens Band vs Amateur Radio Equipment

In the NPRM, the FCC sought to consolidate the rules pertaining to the modification of certificated CB equipment. The Commission noted that CB equipment that has been modified by the CB operator -- or persons other than the manufacturer -- to operate on unauthorized frequencies or to operate with higher power than authorized often causes interference to other radio services. “Indeed, there are many recent instances of the operation of modified CB equipment (or equipment imported or manufactured domestically with the inherent capability of operating outside the HF CB channels) by unlicensed individuals in the Amateur Radio Service bands,” the ARRL agreed, saying that this interference most often occurs in the 28.000-28.500 MHz segment of the amateur 10 meter band.

Long Distance CB Communication

In the NPRM, the Commission discussed the current prohibition on CB communications between two stations located more than 250 kilometers apart. The rule, Section 95.413(a)(9), is intended to discourage CB skywave communications. This rule, the NPRM states, is necessary because of the need for frequency reuse (what the Commission refers to as a “commons” band regulatory structure). The ARRL supports the existing Part 95 rule against long-distance CB communication.

Click Here to read full Article


My Stamp Collecting Blog

Counter Added January 1, 2011

free counters

HOW TO READ PROPAGATION NUMBERS

The A index [ LOW is GOOD ]

  • 1 to 6 is BEST
  • 7 to 9 is OK
  • 11 or more is BAD

Represents the overall geomagnetic condition of the ionosphere ("Ap" if averaged from the Kp-Index) (an average of the eight 3-hour K-Indices) ('A' referring to amplitude) over a given 24 hour period, ranging (linearly) typically from 1-100 but theoretically up to 400.

A lower A-Index generally suggests better propagation on the 10, 12, 15, 17, & 20 Meter Bands; a low & steady Ap-Index generally suggest good propagation on the 30, 40, 60, 80, & 160 Meter Bands.

SFI index [ HIGH is GOOD ]

  • 70 NOT GOOD
  • 80 GOOD
  • 90 BETTER
  • 100+ BEST

The measure of total radio emissions from the sun at 10.7cm (2800 MHz), on a scale of 60 (no sunspots) to 300, generally corresponding to the sunspot level, but being too low in energy to cause ionization, not related to the ionization level of the Ionosphere.

Higher Solar Flux generally suggests better propagation on the 10, 12, 15, 17, & 20 Meter Bands; Solar Flux rarely affects the 30, 40, 60, 80, & 160 Meter Bands.

K index [ LOW is GOOD ]

  • 0 or 1 is BEST
  • 2 is OK
  • 3 or more is BAD
  • 5 is VERY VERY BAD

The overall geomagnetic condition of the ionosphere ("Kp" if averaged over the planet) over the past 3 hours, measured by 13 magnetometers between 46 & 63 degrees of latitude, and ranging quasi-logarithmically from 0-9. Designed to detect solar particle radiation by its magnetic effect. A higher K-index generally means worse HF conditions.

A lower K-Index generally suggests better propagation on the 10, 12, 15, 17, & 20 Meter Bands; a low & steady Kp-Index generally suggest good propagation on the 30, 40, 60, 80, & 160 Meter Bands.

Terms of Service

[In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit, for research and/or educational purposes. This constitutes 'FAIR USE' of any such copyrighted material.]
I am not responsible for any thing that happens to your mental health, computer and all personal property because you visited my site.
This site is a collection of some things sent to me by e-mail, obtained from other blogs and the internet. If there is a picture or quote that is copyrighted to you let me know and I will remove your item .
Thoughts expressed in my blog are just that . I give My Opinion on the many events, products and how too, reported by the media and other web-sites.
Do not use this blog site to obtain weather events or disasters information. What I post may not be correct. Always get information from the proper media, weather (NWS)(NOAA)
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and USGS sites