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Posted: 9/13/2002 9:41:51 AM EDT
[#1]
btt
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Posted: 9/13/2002 9:47:09 AM EDT
[#2]
legally yes you have to have the license. in the real world i'd guess less and 1/10th of the folks that have them have a license to use them.
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Posted: 9/13/2002 1:16:26 PM EDT
[#3]
The people who are licensed are VERY GOOD at defending those licenses (i.e., calling the FCC about non-licensed transmissions). The FCC is pretty good about following up on these complaints. Fines are steep. Proceed accordingly.
-Troy |
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Posted: 9/14/2002 6:53:48 PM EDT
[#4]
If you were "pirating" in the VHF/UHF assigned freq spectrum? Yes, "Uncle Charlie" would be up your ass with a microscope....at least that's what they'd like you to think.
We have a handful of "power junkies" that hop up CB's using 2-meter ham amps...they used to come through the cord on my headphones when I was just laying on the couch tryin' to get a good buzz on. Pissed me off, boy. Then they started driving by work, and they would overload the VHF-high band FD receivers (mind you, we operate on 150 Mhz range...CB is 27 Mhz range). Called the FCC one day to complain...was told that "unless it was a constant or immediate threat to publis safety, they couldn't do anything. Gave me a line about consumer electronics "being required to accept interference". I countered with the fact that yes, my baby monitor had to listen to the kid down the street, but my computer speakers and headphones were not recievers. Got the runaround. Basically told that bleedover was acceptable, as long as it wasn't intentional, or being done with a pirate hi-band xcvr. Is it a federal crime? Yes. Can they prosecute you? Yes. Do GMRS licensees have a specific frequency allocation to complain about? No, just like CB, they've got to eat you if you're licensed... The FCC would say "pick another channel". So, Are you liable to be investigated if you're polite and don't cuss or actively disrupt regular commo? Probably not. Tango7 - never condoning illegal activity. |
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Posted: 9/14/2002 6:59:29 PM EDT
[#5]
Two way radio is a subject I know VERY well.
Don't try to pirate on GMRS freqencies. GMRS users in any given area are a tight knit group, and in order for you to use a GMRS repeater, you have to get certain data from the repeater's owner, and any unauthorized access will result in him shutting it down. They're watching, in other words. In UHF, the only license free channels are the FRS channels, which are limited to two watts and only FRS radios can be legally used on those channels anyway. You probably COULD get away with low key operations on a channel between 450 and 470 MHz if there is no activity on the selected frequency at all for a hundred miles in any direction. The itinerant business channels in UHF are pretty easy to license. It's a card you fill out and mail in. Search for Itinerant Business frequencies and UHF and you'll find out about them. VHF has some usable "license free" channels, though. Search it. CJ |
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Posted: 9/14/2002 8:40:42 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted: ... We have a handful of "power junkies" that hop up CB's using 2-meter ham amps...... I do believe most are 10m amps. I've got a Amateur Radio License (as many here do) and myself and others will do what they can to "protect" ourselves from those who are giving our hobby bad press with their illegal activities. I would expect simillar action with the licensed GMRS folks. I will go as far as to say that the FCC will/can/has called upon hams to assist with interferance/illegal problems. Get the license, it's cheaper in the long run. |
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Posted: 9/14/2002 8:47:06 PM EDT
[#7]
Just put them up for sale on Ebay or the EE here and get the ones that have a 2 mile range that don't need to be licensed.
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Posted: 9/14/2002 10:13:58 PM EDT
[#8]
Thanks for the replies, guys. I bought these at Circuit City. They are 1 watt "Talkabouts" made by Motorola.
If I'd known I was going to have to get a license to use them, I might have re-thought the purchase. |
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Posted: 9/14/2002 10:27:38 PM EDT
[#9]
Quoted: We have a handful of "power junkies" that hop up CB's using 2-meter ham amps..., or being done with a pirate hi-band xcvr. Getting a two meter amplifier to work on the eleven meter band would be a pretty good trick. CB is 27 MHz, while two meter amateur is 144 -148 MHz. The people powering up their CB rigs are using [b]Ham Amplifiers[/b], or illegally manufactured 11 meter amplifiers. And if it is a base station, they may just be using a Amateur Xcvr, such as the old Yaesu FT101. Bill, N6EXD |
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Posted: 9/14/2002 10:36:52 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted: Quoted: ... We have a handful of "power junkies" that hop up CB's using 2-meter ham amps...... I do believe most are 10m amps. I've got a Amateur Radio License (as many here do) and myself and others will do what they can to "protect" ourselves from those who are giving our hobby bad press with their illegal activities. I would expect simillar action with the licensed GMRS folks. I will go as far as to say that the FCC will/can/has called upon hams to assist with interferance/illegal problems. Get the license, it's cheaper in the long run. In Southern California there was an amateur operator with the call sign WB6JAC. Good old Richard, lost his license from jamming other amateur operators transmissions. Uncle Charley prosecuted him and Richard did 18 months in the Federal pen at Lompoc, CA. Old Richard gets out of the pokey and now, using the call sign N6, starts bootlegging again. Right on the repeaters where every body knows, and dislikes him. In comes Uncle Charley, and off Richard goes to the Club Fed slammer again. He's out now, again, and I will bet you, he is bootlegging again, somewhere. Bill |
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Posted: 9/15/2002 6:17:37 AM EDT
[#11]
I have helped track down a few illegal ops myself... it usually starts when a hams neighbors start experincing interference, and of course blame the ham. Once we determine it is not the amatuer operator (and only in one case out of 30 or 40 was it) we start tracking down the source of the intereference. 90% of the time it is coming from illegal CB operaters, but we have tracked it also to a recently relocted municipal base station, a state trooper who just moved in and caused his neighbors TV to cut off whenever he transmitted from his drivway, and some other interesting cuases.
If it is an illegal operation, we document it and send the data to the FCC. The FCC is much more likely to investigate and take action if you foward all the info done for them. Just a compliant of interference is unlikely to get any action, but a complaint that is accompanied by recordings of the offending station, logs of activity, and the location of the transmitter with pictures of the building many time will. Interestingly enough, if the station is legal and conforms to good engineeriing practices, the law says that the person who owns the equipment being interefered with is responsibe for fixing or upgrading thier equipment. So if my amatuer station causes your home alarm to go off, if my station meets FCC requirments than it is up to you to fix your alarm (most hams will work with people to fix any issues, but legally they don't have to). Tango7, if you are still having the trouble look up your local amatuer radio club and ask if they want a real-life fox hunt.... they may be willing to track down the source of the problem for you. If it is CB operaters, the FCC has extended authority to enforce laws applying to CB's over to local LE, so you may be able to get them off the air without the FCC. |
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Posted: 9/15/2002 6:23:06 AM EDT
[#12]
While we're on the subject, maybe you guys can help me solve a problem:
A few months ago, I started hearing "voices" coming from my AV system speakers. Not loud, but muffled, fuzzy voices that I could hear even when the volume is turned all the way down. I see about 4 HAM radio antennaes in my neighborhood, could these guys be the problem? How can I get rid of it? |
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Posted: 9/15/2002 6:45:53 AM EDT
[#13]
The easiest way to find out is ask them to help... but do so nicely and non-confrontational. It may be them, or it may be a CB op.
If need be, purchase this book [url]www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=6834[/url] it will tell you all you need to know to eliminate the interefernce. Can you undestand the voices, or do they sound real distored like a drunk Donald Duck? |
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Posted: 9/15/2002 7:15:49 AM EDT
[#14]
Look for the radios that have the new MURS frequencies. I've seen some that have both FRS and MURS in the same radio. No license and greater flexibility.
Here's a page with some info. www.provide.net/~prsg/murs_faq.htm |
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Posted: 9/15/2002 7:16:35 AM EDT
[#15]
They sound like the adults in the Charlie Brown specials. [;)]
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Posted: 9/15/2002 8:12:47 AM EDT
[#16]
It is most likely SSB and not AM then, still could be a CB'er but could be a ham also. Start by making a log of when the interference happens, then go to the local hams looking for help.
Most will be glad to help you resolve the interference issues as long as you approach them in a friendly manner. BTW, searching the database at [url]www.qrz.com[/url] will show you a list of all the amatuers in your town, match the list up with where you notice antennas. |
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Posted: 9/15/2002 8:13:11 AM EDT
[#17]
If the radios are Talkabouts, and they're on FRS frequencies (which are technically the GMRS splinter channels) then no license is necessary.
CJ |
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Posted: 9/16/2002 9:51:50 PM EDT
[#18]
Not quite. Motorola's GMRS radios are the "Talkabout [b]Distance[/b]" models.
-Troy |
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