Just a note: The FCC IS starting to re-enforce the regulations which control citizen band operations. I know for a fact that Pennsylvania has authority to enforce, fine and confiscate modified radio equipment.

So you guys running radios with those big can antenna's and linears sitting in plain site on the dash need to pay attention to RadioRay, if nothing else to find a better way to hide your precious modified equipment.

And for common sence sake, do not be griping about the weigh station being open on your big radio at the entrance to the scale in PA. They have monitoring equipment that will trigger an inspection of your radio equipment, and will lead to fines and confiscation of the radio/linears.

I have noticed tracking antenna in scale houses in Florida and Illinios also.

Good luck.

Horseman

 

Why is it "sad" OR "funny"? It is a FACT that drivers are at the forefront of the illegal filching of radio spectrum that is lawfully assigned to others.
Another aspect of it is, each time a driver does this, he disrespects established law that is designed to protect other radio users. Hypocritical, too, the SAME drivers who laugh at this would scream bloody murder if a gang of thugs broke in their houses and stole their property, took their money, made off with their big-screen TV. Then these same people want respect for themselves while THEY themselves are disrespecting and breaking the very laws of our land THEY want enforced for THEMSELVES. IOW, if someone STOLE a driver's tractor and load, he'd be cussing and yelling for the cops to DO something about it. Yet, there are regulations in place that state that one is to follow and obey the LAW that YOU expect to apply to YOU when there is an issue of protection of YOUR property, rights, or even your ability to use a radio without interference from interlopers. But NO! :evil: "I'm spay-shul cuz ah drive this h'yar big truck, so I deserve to steal them thar extree channels thar." But you sure won't sit still if somebody steals your digital TV out of your sleeper, now would you. But yet you think it is "funny" when CB operators barge right in where they are neither welcomed, nor do they belong (unless they FOLLOW the law of the land, study the material and become licensed)!

It is a FACT, and all the evidence shows, that the BIGGEST enforcement problems faced by FCC today, and IF Congress had the foresight to see it, ARE those caused by 11 Meters. IF CB offenses were rigidly enforced as they should be, the numbers of infractions and finds would EXCEED
the combined TOTAL of ALL other regulated radio services put together!
For example, there are approximately 600,000 licensed Amateurs in the US. In a given month, there are 5-8 warnings, citations, and fines given to that service each month. IF the unruly CB band were watched as it should be, the numbers of fines would PALE in comparison, not JUST to that group, but to ALL radio users combined. :evil:

SO those of us who have been forced to put UP with this crap don't think it is a BIT funny. And IF the fruits of our labors pan out, a LOT of CB types are going to think its not so funny, either. Already there are a goodly number of $10,000 fines that have been issued in Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, and Oregon. The dealers of this "10 Meter" crap have paid up to $150,000 for selling the excrement. And if you think it is funny, well, it ain't over til the fat lady sings, cuz we are doing our dad-durndest to have the LAST laugh! :evil:

RR

 

so there is only one route between these 2 towns? and how does he know they dont have a license and why wouldnt he stop them and fine them or arrest them, the company usually doesnt supply the radio.

 

Hypocritical, too, the SAME drivers who laugh at this would scream bloody murder if a gang of thugs broke in their houses and stole their property, took their money, made off with their big-screen TV. Then these same people want respect for themselves while THEY themselves are disrespecting and breaking the very laws of our land THEY want enforced for THEMSELVES. IOW, if someone STOLE a driver's tractor and load,

this is EXACTLY the same as transmitting on 10 or 11 meters. heck, you might as well murder someone, after all, you are already a hardened criminal.

 

[quote="Fredog"][quote="RadioRay"][quote="Jackrabbit379"]If they were licensed to operate on 10 meters, they would identify with their callsign at the beginning, during (once every 10 minutes), and at the end of their conversation.

Licensed ametuers as a whole follow the reg's with high regard. 11 meter (CB Radio) does not require a license, but the equipment must be type approved and not modified or amplified.

As far as tracking and identyfing illegal transmissions, it is not hard or complicated. A small yagi tracking antenna and low power receiver is all that is needed. Heck, I can even find those irratating morons that like to hide behind the curtains of their trucks. Simple, just disconnect the antenna at the back of the radio, and drive around the lot until the offenders radio pegs the meter. Many of a driver has had knocks on the door that shut them up in a hurry by using this method.

Licensed Ametuers are also as a whole self policing. Whereas a slight correction on the air is typically all that is needed to bring an offender back in line. Also, being federally licensed, the license info can easlily be tracked and turned in.

If someone wants to run 10 meter, fine, read the material and get a technician class license and have at it. Otherwise stay off the band you are not legally licensed to be on.

 

"so there is only one route between these 2 towns? and how does he know they dont have a license and why wouldnt he stop them and fine them or arrest them, the company usually doesnt supply the radio."



As for this statement, the trucking company can and will be held liable for communication equipment found in company trucks that are found to be out of compliance. Thus the reason the warning letter was sent to the company.

 

why dont they stop the driver and find out if he has a license? I have one but no one has ever asked me, they just assume that I am operating illegally

 

Like I said earlier, Amatuer Operators are self policing. So more than likely what has happened here, is that a licensed operator that was having issues with these individuals interfering with legal transmissions set up his equipment to find the source of the interference. Once the licensed operator located the source, he turns all information and facts over to the FCC to follow up. Then the FCC, acting on verified information sends the letters, in this case, to the company whose vehicles were identified as causing the interference. If the company does not respond to the letter, then the FCC proceeds to the next step of actually fining the company for failure to act and/or comply with the request.

License Amatuers many times locate sources of interference easily, with simple equipment. I personally have some simple fox hunting equipment used for various events in our area, contesting per se. The equipment can also be used for locating power line interference, erratic TV signals and Search and Rescue missions were low power equipment is sending a distress signal. Many many uses.

You must remember that many Ametuer operators train constantly to provide emergency communications in disasters. Most recently the tornadoes in Kansas, flooding events in the central part of the country that has knocked out power to conventional communication modes, and remember back to Katrina, the first emergency responders in New Orleans were licensed HAM operators on portable equipment that is not effected by the power grid.

When unlicensed operators and illegal equipment are used on these bands, it interferes with the licensed operators from contibuting and training for these situations.

You also need to think, some of the middle frequency's used by these boot leg radios are also used for military operations. Interfere with these and the consequences are much higher.

Thoughs to ponder, enjoy and absorb.

Thanks

 

You said:The single reason they are not licensed is the frequency they were using (28.115 MHz) which is a CW, RTTY and data only frequency. No AM, SSB, or FW is allow.

You said:While your theory sounds good. It is doubtful you would be able to determine which truck the signal is coming from. Having done some Fox Hunting in days past I found it took several different signal paths before you can determine a signals location. Even after the signal path was determine finding the exact transmitter's location was still hard to find.

You said:I can see you haven't been on 75 meters much. A lot of these "hams" seem to have never learned the amateur rules and regulations. I'd also say look at 20 meters at the number of transmitters that exceed the 2000 watt limit. Just look at the Henry 3K and 8K linear amplifiers that can be found on 20 meters.

Over the years I have watched the "hams" becoming more and more like the CB'ers. And I see it getting worst instead of better. Now with the no code requirement what will that lead to?

I doubt the number of illegal CBer are much worst than the number of illegal "hams". And when you look at the number of CBer vs the number of "hams" CBer comes out looking better.

Now to answer Fredog question:More than likely this was turned in a "ham" that was on the same road as these two truckers and then reported to the FCC with the company name.

Had it been by the FCC directly they would have contacted the highway patrol and had the truck stopped and did a inspection on the trucker(s).


kc0iv

 

More than likely this was turned in a "ham" that was on the same road as these two truckers and then reported to the FCC with the company name.

Had it been by the FCC directly they would have contacted the highway patrol and had the truck stopped and did a inspection on the trucker(s).
(quote)

Pretty much accurate. And this is the way it usually happens. Amateur drives along the highway listening to the trucks on 10 Meters. The most popular frequency is 28.085 AM. Amateur equipment will also scan an entire band and can be selectively set up to scan that OR specific frequencies that may be more likely to have drivers on them. The Amateurs often have several antennas or antennas that may be unfamiliar to drivers. Often drivers just cannot resist commenting on the number or the unusual nature of the antenna(s). So they will sometimes say, according to hams who have actually turned drivers in for this, "Hey, dri-vah, I got this car beside me with about 6 antennas on it, and one is about 10 feet tall! Reckon he can talk to the moon?" BINGO! Car with antennas "beside" me. Signal meter PEGGED even with full attenuation or antenna disconnected. Um.......................driver? You're CAUGHT! :shock: Monitor station copies down the information off the truck and sends it to the Special Counsel for Amateur Enforcement. A letter is generated to the company, such as the one(s) that appear above.
Anytime an official correspondence is sent regarding requests for information, citations, offenses, etc. the correspondent MUST reply and answer each point, and/or call the signer of the letter. Failure to respond will then cause a fine to be generated and/OR agents will be dispatched to inspect the trucks at random. However, this has proven to be mostly unnecessary as the companies have been VERY cooperative . They are then told how and why the radios are illegal, what the drivers are doing with them, and the invariable question is, "How can we comply?"
They are then told to have the radios REMOVED from their entire fleet of trucks and it is strongly suggested that the company send out a memo to drivers PROHIBITING so-called "10 Meter" radios from their trucks. FCC then will supply a list of the radios that are illegal, the company complies with the prohibition, and thus avoids a fine. IF one of their drivers are ever caught AGAIN, then it gets sticky! So far, I'm told there is only one company that got caught twice.

And that's the way it works as it was related to me.


RR[/u]