I would to like to opologize and explain how I got started off on the wrong foot, so to speak! When I first logged in the first topic I noticed was "radios and DOT". So I responded with the info that I know to be true.
Of COURSE, current DOT officers wouldn't know about any changes in their rules, but what I said was FCC is WORKING on some changes in rules in conjunction with DOT. It hasn't come about yet. Let me explain what I am talking about. Then we can close out this thread on a friendly and non-confrontational note! *IF* I understand the DOT rules correctly (and the way it was explained to me), US DOT rules say that you must obey ALL Federal and State laws (regulations) in order to operate a commercial truck in the US.
The problem that is causing this change is.
1. truckers are talking on 28 MHZ without the required license by flipping "band" switches on so-called "10 Meter, or "export" radios. In their defense, they *may* not know that they are WAY outside the CB band.
2. The radios are already illegal to sell, but are sold in shops and truck stops. Recently Pilot Travel Centers settled a case over these radios by paying a settlement of $90,000 (google "Pilot Travel Centers and 10 Meters")
3. The FCC rules say that you must operate only a 4 watt, 40 channel FCC-approved CB set unless you have license for other services.
4. So this means that if a truck has a "10 Meter 'Amateur' radio" with 'band' switches, and modifications, it is already illegal and the trucking company is already liable and it's trucks are subject to inspection anyway because it contains an illegal device. Same way as a radar detector. Or a CB amplifier. It would fall under DOT's current rules regarding equipment which must not be illegal in anyway. The radios AND their use by unlicensed people ARE against the law. That's just a fact.
5. So, there are some changes coming soon. This comes direct from the FCC's counsel for Amateur Enforcement and they are WORKING to get this change into force. It has not come about.....................yet. But one must never say "never". Once upon a time, a radar detector was legal in a commercial truck. Now they are not. How this change will be put into place WRT funding and personnel, I don't know.
I was only trying to add some info that, according to the person in charge of Amateur Enforcement (and it came direct in a phone conversation) I thought was germaine to the conversation. I didn't mean to stir up trouble. I just saw the thread and lept right in! For that, I am sorry. Besides, we ALL have opinions and beliefs that we hold dear based on what we are told by others who, to us, are reliable and accurate. I would, in my case, tend to believe what an FCC attorney told me! If I am wrong, then, what the hey. It's all good and will all work out in the end. I just believe that *something* is up. And, yes, I am hoping so! It is not fair to have a group of people just grab up radios and start talking anywhere they like; it causes interference to the incumbent group. But I am sorry I came off wrong! I do opologize!
73 to all
Gadfly
Apology?
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Phaze91460
I can understand your point of view but I just dont agree with it. I cant say what my father does for a living ( or did before he became a contractor for the Federal Gvt. ) and even I dont know just how high his clearance is ( and I am 46 ) but he has had to apear before congress and address issues dealing with more funds for the security of our country.
With that in mind I understand a lot of whats involved for an agency like the FCC to ask for and recieve money to expand a division to police CB radios or 10 meter radios. Right now they have had to deal with cutts and forced to lay off employees because of financial needs of our govt. as most federal agencys have.
It may be that the FCC will watch freqs more closely with automatic equipment already in place but as far as stepping up assets to police 10 meter or CB at this time is unlikley.
As far as the DOT is conserned, same problem. No mater what agency is there on the scene, they still have to follow the law weather local, state, or federal. Just because an enforcement vehicle see's an antenna on a truck, they can not search with probibal cause to see if a radio is legal or not. also the scope of the charter which founded the DOT is not in conjunction with the FCC. Just like the CIA operates outside of the US and the FBI operates inside. One agency can ask for help on a case but they are not interconnected.
And as far as a 10 meter radio or broadcast therein disrupting the airwaves, well, at 25-50 watts pep you arnt going to get very far and not powerful enought to effect much.
I hope and would like to see the FCC back away from 10 and 11 meter completly and stop wasting tax payers money on something that is not hurting or interfearing with the citizens of the United States. We have so many other needs for that money.
Welcome to the forum
With that in mind I understand a lot of whats involved for an agency like the FCC to ask for and recieve money to expand a division to police CB radios or 10 meter radios. Right now they have had to deal with cutts and forced to lay off employees because of financial needs of our govt. as most federal agencys have.
It may be that the FCC will watch freqs more closely with automatic equipment already in place but as far as stepping up assets to police 10 meter or CB at this time is unlikley.
As far as the DOT is conserned, same problem. No mater what agency is there on the scene, they still have to follow the law weather local, state, or federal. Just because an enforcement vehicle see's an antenna on a truck, they can not search with probibal cause to see if a radio is legal or not. also the scope of the charter which founded the DOT is not in conjunction with the FCC. Just like the CIA operates outside of the US and the FBI operates inside. One agency can ask for help on a case but they are not interconnected.
And as far as a 10 meter radio or broadcast therein disrupting the airwaves, well, at 25-50 watts pep you arnt going to get very far and not powerful enought to effect much.
I hope and would like to see the FCC back away from 10 and 11 meter completly and stop wasting tax payers money on something that is not hurting or interfearing with the citizens of the United States. We have so many other needs for that money.
Welcome to the forum
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Rex_foxhound
Excellent info Gadfly. Welcome to the forum!
I have just 1 question. How many ham operators actually talk on 10 meters? I for one, have never heard any and very rarely hear many cbers on those channels. My best friend (a member of this forum) and his dad are ham operators and he has no problem with my set up and he has told me on more than one occasion that there just isn't really many hams guys that talk on 10 meters anymore.
But you provided excellent information to think on... but I'm not worried about it.
I have just 1 question. How many ham operators actually talk on 10 meters? I for one, have never heard any and very rarely hear many cbers on those channels. My best friend (a member of this forum) and his dad are ham operators and he has no problem with my set up and he has told me on more than one occasion that there just isn't really many hams guys that talk on 10 meters anymore.
But you provided excellent information to think on... but I'm not worried about it.
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231
Well first off you are right. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It's nothing personal as you clearly believe what you are sharing.
First off I believe strongly in our country. I do not however have similar feeling towards all it's branches of government...the FCC being one of them. I think anyone who doesn't take whatever any governmental employee says with a grain of salt is a fool as well. Agenda's change regularly according to policy (politics), and to expect any DOT employee to go beyond their specific job would be like expecting an illegal alien to go back to their home country and apply for US citizenship correctly. It isn't likely to happen. Government workers already have their hands full trying to follow the all imposed stupidity of their superiors constantly as it is. I see it regularly in the industry I'm in. What little bit over and above they are forced to do is done reluctantly and with resentment.
Wrong foot? Nah. You believed in what you shared. The thread got locked because it's a sore subject with many of us older operators. I for one resent any scare tactics imposed...and especially manipulation tactics by wanna' be enforcers (namely elite Hams). Heck the ARRL can't even police themselves...who are they to complain about a few stupid truckers who can't operate their tranceivers and mistakenly pop on to 10 meters?
I do find it quite ironic (and hypocritical to say the least) that almost every Ham I've ever known has run (and continues to run) their modified Kenwoods, Icoms, Yaesus, etc. on the 11 meter band with impunity. Yet to this do you here us complaining? Absolutely not. Why is this? Simple; We've grown accustomed to millions crammed into to a single band. It's all good to us. But to the ARRL it's about control. The funny thing is all I see them doing is brown nosing the FCC. That's about all I've seen them do as well. Yea, they have special privilages...but no Ham ticket allows more than 4 watts (AM) on 11 meters. To say "special licensing allows more" simply isn't true.
Yea, I can argue these fact until the end. I tend not to follow the crowd, and the old timers at the ARRL need to pull their heads out and take a good hard look at themselves before they play "radio marshals".
Enough said. Your input is appreciated and as usual taken with a grain of salt. If what you posted is indeed true and knowning governmental agencies as I do the FCC is building a hurdle they cannot get over.
First off I believe strongly in our country. I do not however have similar feeling towards all it's branches of government...the FCC being one of them. I think anyone who doesn't take whatever any governmental employee says with a grain of salt is a fool as well. Agenda's change regularly according to policy (politics), and to expect any DOT employee to go beyond their specific job would be like expecting an illegal alien to go back to their home country and apply for US citizenship correctly. It isn't likely to happen. Government workers already have their hands full trying to follow the all imposed stupidity of their superiors constantly as it is. I see it regularly in the industry I'm in. What little bit over and above they are forced to do is done reluctantly and with resentment.
Wrong foot? Nah. You believed in what you shared. The thread got locked because it's a sore subject with many of us older operators. I for one resent any scare tactics imposed...and especially manipulation tactics by wanna' be enforcers (namely elite Hams). Heck the ARRL can't even police themselves...who are they to complain about a few stupid truckers who can't operate their tranceivers and mistakenly pop on to 10 meters?
I do find it quite ironic (and hypocritical to say the least) that almost every Ham I've ever known has run (and continues to run) their modified Kenwoods, Icoms, Yaesus, etc. on the 11 meter band with impunity. Yet to this do you here us complaining? Absolutely not. Why is this? Simple; We've grown accustomed to millions crammed into to a single band. It's all good to us. But to the ARRL it's about control. The funny thing is all I see them doing is brown nosing the FCC. That's about all I've seen them do as well. Yea, they have special privilages...but no Ham ticket allows more than 4 watts (AM) on 11 meters. To say "special licensing allows more" simply isn't true.
Yea, I can argue these fact until the end. I tend not to follow the crowd, and the old timers at the ARRL need to pull their heads out and take a good hard look at themselves before they play "radio marshals".
Enough said. Your input is appreciated and as usual taken with a grain of salt. If what you posted is indeed true and knowning governmental agencies as I do the FCC is building a hurdle they cannot get over.
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Drifter
Kinda reminds me of holidays in the Detroit area. The local police departments always start rumors where there will be stepped up enforcement and especially targeting trucks, etc. What actually is happening is all the police are off on some kinda vacation and they try and scare everyone into being good till they get back 
I'm sure the FCC would like to get DOT to do some of their work for them, but if it ever happens or not is another story. The DOT would want more budget money to do the work, the DOT is probably not excited to get any extra work in the first place (and sure don't want the blame for a program that is pretty much doomed to fail), so it ever happening I see as rather slim.
The FCC in a government sense would be crazy to give away some of it's work, as it would weaken their department, normally government departments don't want to be giving away their work. It leads to them not being able to justify a higher budget, and takes away from some of their power. In a normal situation an agency would never give away any of it's work, unless the work is something that is nothing but a nightmare, and any other agency picking up the work would be well aware of that. But it's always interesting to hear what is being kicked around, and I appreciated hearing about it. While I can see this idea being kicked around, I give it a slim chance.
I'm sure the FCC would like to get DOT to do some of their work for them, but if it ever happens or not is another story. The DOT would want more budget money to do the work, the DOT is probably not excited to get any extra work in the first place (and sure don't want the blame for a program that is pretty much doomed to fail), so it ever happening I see as rather slim.
The FCC in a government sense would be crazy to give away some of it's work, as it would weaken their department, normally government departments don't want to be giving away their work. It leads to them not being able to justify a higher budget, and takes away from some of their power. In a normal situation an agency would never give away any of it's work, unless the work is something that is nothing but a nightmare, and any other agency picking up the work would be well aware of that. But it's always interesting to hear what is being kicked around, and I appreciated hearing about it. While I can see this idea being kicked around, I give it a slim chance.
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231
Well I for one don't buy it for a minute. You said some contridictary stuff in there. Interferring with the "Rights" but then said we had none (including hams) to transmit. 
Then you say you have an old RS 10 meter radio that has 11 meters in it...but you only listen? Please, don't insult our intelligence by that statement. And as far as the law goes, it is selective and likely always will be. Why is it so called minorities never get busted??? I don't care what anyone says, the proof is in the puddin'. Example: Many (perhaps many thousands) of legal or illegal Mexicans run close to 10 meters...yet I cannot ever recall anyone ever getting busted. Oh but wait, maybe they aren't splattering on 10 meters? Hardly. I've seen first hand what at least a few are running for equipment. I find it rediculous to suggest that the law applies to us all, when in fact it does not. And until it does, then you're dang right...it shouldn't apply to any of us. This selectiveness has gone on long enough.
If what you have posted about your own actions is 100% true, then you are the exception. I hate to inform you and your friend at the FCC but most Hams are not 100% ligit as you have suggested. Many of the licensed Hams don't even own equipment anymore, have died, or simply lost interest in the hobby. I'd be willing to bet half of the number you posted even has or uses their equipment once in awhile.
11 meters feels free, and you know what it is. Few kiss "the man's" budy there. I like that about it. I've never felt that around Hams. It's ashame that the enitire radio community can't come together on some issues like this as one body. We could (and perhaps should) be dictating to the FCC what the rules should be...not the other way around. "We the people..." not "them the government..." is how I read the constitution. We've allowed this nonsense to go on too long. Next it will be gun control (which has already begun and shooting deaths aren't down). Yet people still live in a fantasy world that non-violence can be achieved. In fact our enemies are counting on that thinking (and so far haven't been far off).
Your rake senerio is hilarious BTW. I was with you, and read everything you posted. What I see and heard was someone living in a fantasy world not the reality of how it is now. Sorry, but I just couldn't bring myself to rat out anyone simply running radio equipment. Now if they shot even my enemy, your dang right I would. But not without my side arm. Oh but wait again, we have no rights here.
Kinda' sounds like the anarchists back in the 1770's we now call patriots. Few remember it was the Ham community that stood between the 23 channel - 40 channel expansion on CB back in the 70's. Hams were all in an uproar about splatter from 11 meters.
And it happened anyway. As always we sit back and pretend to be "better than that" by following treaty and law blindly no matter how stupid they are/were? Screw that! 
That thinking is for suckers...which we as a country have been doing long enough IMO. Grow some nads man, and look at the facts. Quit kissin' your friend's budy and tell him how many of us feel. Not that it would ever matter, but last I remember we were at war. I hardly think 11 meters matters to that effort. FCC do much better to focus on foreigh communications enforcement rather than domestic IMO. We CBers and Hams can have an all out brawl and then shoot some DX together. 'Cause remember, we are Americans first and formost. Our enemies would like nothing better than to help distract us and fight among ourselves.
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521 Houston
Re: Apology?
Actually, the rulings giving authority to local law enforcement agencies to enforce FCC regs has passed. Problem is that the local LEO's don't know enough about radios to be able to enforce them. They have the jurisdiction, yes,... but the knowledge and understanding - NO!Gadfly wrote: Of COURSE, current DOT officers wouldn't know about any changes in their rules, but what I said was FCC is WORKING on some changes in rules in conjunction with DOT. It hasn't come about yet.
Gadfly[/i]
I was talking to a couple of guys in California in a chatroom the other day, they informed me that the California Highway Patrol had stopped them on numerous occasions just to look at their systems simply because they had big antennas on their vehicles. When they inquired as to why they were being stopped, they were told it had something to do with Homeland Security. Imagine that! LOL!
Perish the thought that you get stopped by a LEO officer that is also a licensed ham operator, you just MIGHT have a problem there! Especially if he is aware of the lengths of their jurisdiction pertaining to FCC enforcement.
