David Pratt wrote:
In a recent message Goody K3NG <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
>>I'm not in favor of breaking the law, but I think the chances of
running into the FCC today are slim to none. If you don't identify
with your ham callsign while using a ham rig on FRS or CB
frequencies, it's unlikely anyone, even the FCC will know a
difference, or even care.
>It is the tendency these days for radio amateurs of all nations to
self-regulate. So let us do just that and use equipment which is
legal. A CB transceiver can be bought for just a few $, so let's act
responsibly and keep the hobbies separate without complicating the
issue any further. It is fortunate that the CB bands can be disabled
in K3 firmware.
My point is not that the K3 should be a CB transceiver, nor am I
encouraging someone to use it regularly on CB bands or "combine the
hobbies". The point is it would be prudent to have the capability there
if you need it. I'm not disputing that in normal situations "legal" CB
transceivers are cheap and readily available. The reality is in
abnormal situations (i.e. emergencies) they're not readily available.
It doesn't matter to me if I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere that
Walmart is selling CBs for $15, I don't have a Walmart that I can get
to. It doesn't matter that I own a cheap CB if it happens to be at my
house if I'm a hundred miles away. While we can preach with blue skies
that everyone should be prepared and carry a CB, the fact of the matter
is that we can't carry in our vehicles or on our person at every moment
every possible tool needed in an emergency. CB disabled on the K3 is
like the little saw removed on a Swiss Army knife.
Jim Cundiff KB3GFC wrote:
>If you can afford $3K for a radio and have the time and desire to
volunteer, spend a hundred bucks and buy the CB if you want to TX there!
<sigh> It's not about the money. If it was, anyone could buy a ham rig
already on the market cheaper than the K3 that can TX in the CB band and
amateur bands.
In summary (to the group), it seems the point of this no-TX-in-the-CB
band "feature" isn't to keep law-abiding amateurs legal, it's to keep
non-hams from using it for a glorified CB. As I've mentioned earlier,
the price point, appearance, marketing, and features of the K3 take this
so far out of the law-breaking CBer demographic, it's silly to think
there would be widespread use of K3s on CB bands in areas where it was
illegal. The potential benefits of having CB TX available far outweigh
the risks. Not to get mellowdramatic, but it seems often in amateur
radio today, we've thrown out common sense and practical reality for
legalistic and/or idealistic principles. That is what several of the
arguments here are doing.
Everyone (in the US) should keep a paper copy of Part 95 and 97 with
them for emergencies -- it makes a good fire starter.
73
K3NG
Goody
--
Blog: http://thek3ngreport.blogspot.com/
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