Would I be asking for trouble from the FCC by running a small linear amp on a home base station because I'm always sitting in the same place?
Thanks!
Running a linear at home - FCC risk?
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Big Guns
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Looney
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Drifter
The FCC isn't the problem much anymore. It's the local police. It's happened a couple times in out area where people will get a court summons from the local PD for a noise complaint. If you bother the neighbors TV's and cheap computer speakers it can be a real problem. Not so much like they will do a station inspection, but there could be fines and a day in court. One operator was banned from using a CB radio in the city limits a few years ago. Try to keep your language clean cause if one of your neighbor tapes it with your mouth running strong it really looks bad.
Anything you can do to reduce TVI is highly suggested. Get the antenna up high, try to avoid fiberglass antennas, buy a high quality coax, etc.
Each area around here seems to have it's own views on what to do about it. Some agencys it just takes one complaint to get into a hassle with the law. In another case 2 local operators were having a war. So the one operator went down and filed a complaint on the other
He was told if he got 75 signatures on a petition that the guy was a problem to the community they would act on it. So... be nice to your neighbors and try and help them out if they complain. 
Anything you can do to reduce TVI is highly suggested. Get the antenna up high, try to avoid fiberglass antennas, buy a high quality coax, etc.
Each area around here seems to have it's own views on what to do about it. Some agencys it just takes one complaint to get into a hassle with the law. In another case 2 local operators were having a war. So the one operator went down and filed a complaint on the other
He was told if he got 75 signatures on a petition that the guy was a problem to the community they would act on it. So... be nice to your neighbors and try and help them out if they complain. -
Gadfly
It depends. It's not quite like it *used* to be. They have waked up a bit in recent years. It really depends on how "clean" your station is and how close you are to surrounding homes, etc. On arrrl.org there is a regular list of hams who've been given various notices and also CBers who got in dutch with amps and "10 Meter" radios.
It's a toss-up. YMMV!
Gadfly
It's a toss-up. YMMV!
Gadfly
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centu2000pr
thats all you need, if the police go to your house and starts asking questions all you need to do is show your ham radio license then they have to leave right there they lose juridiction.
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Runin-N-Gun
was gettin on my neighbors cheap TV, I offered to split the cost of a NEW GOOD one.
Offered to open it and put filters in line with speakers. No doin.
He's a @#%! head. He tried to get Petition on me..NO Way, other neighbors like me. I am a HAM..Nobody but him and his cheap TV is bothered, unless I pump it ALL the way up. Don't do that til later a night...
Offered to open it and put filters in line with speakers. No doin.
He's a @#%! head. He tried to get Petition on me..NO Way, other neighbors like me. I am a HAM..Nobody but him and his cheap TV is bothered, unless I pump it ALL the way up. Don't do that til later a night...
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SparkysCBShack
My current view of the FCC and the subject of linear amplifiers and 'free baning' is this, just like good scotch and french chocolate (and french women..another story!) is EVERYTHING IN MODERATION!! The guy that is blowing 3KW in a congested neighborhood of course is more prone to numerous complaints to raise some eyebrows. However, a couple of hundred watts or so, going into a GOOD ANTENNA, WITH GOOD COAX, AND A GOOD GROUND shouldn't cause too much hassle. Freebanding the same way..the idiots that talk on anything past 27.900 are just giving the Amateurs something to complain about. Not that I'm bad mouthing the hams..a lot of my customers are amateurs as am I, but lets face it some of those guys get a little carried away!
A good point was brought up, a lot depends on the local authorities..varies from location to location as to who enforces the law. If you are interfering with a commercial broadcast station, Radio or TV, or blowing enough heat that your are screwing with monitoring equipment in a hospital you better believe Uncle Charlie will be involved. He isn't nearly as active as he was in the heyday of CB when there were lots of field offices around the country and agents to man them, but he isn't dead either!
Also, they don't drive around in 'Vans with big loop antennas' as the old story goes. like everything else technology has evolved. Their Ford Taurus' have all the equipment they need with no antennas to be seen. You'll just have to trust me on this one!!
There is a story about 6 agents busting in on a small mom and pop CB Shop a few ears back in Oklahoma, that admit tingly sold a few amplifiers. 6 Federal Agents in a little CB Shop. guess what was going on at the same time the 6 agents were raiding the CB Shop???? Remember the Oklahoman City Bombing?? 6 Federal Agents for Amplifiers?? The rumor is that was the REAL turning point for the FCC, but what the hell do I know.
Sparky
A good point was brought up, a lot depends on the local authorities..varies from location to location as to who enforces the law. If you are interfering with a commercial broadcast station, Radio or TV, or blowing enough heat that your are screwing with monitoring equipment in a hospital you better believe Uncle Charlie will be involved. He isn't nearly as active as he was in the heyday of CB when there were lots of field offices around the country and agents to man them, but he isn't dead either!
Also, they don't drive around in 'Vans with big loop antennas' as the old story goes. like everything else technology has evolved. Their Ford Taurus' have all the equipment they need with no antennas to be seen. You'll just have to trust me on this one!!
There is a story about 6 agents busting in on a small mom and pop CB Shop a few ears back in Oklahoma, that admit tingly sold a few amplifiers. 6 Federal Agents in a little CB Shop. guess what was going on at the same time the 6 agents were raiding the CB Shop???? Remember the Oklahoman City Bombing?? 6 Federal Agents for Amplifiers?? The rumor is that was the REAL turning point for the FCC, but what the hell do I know.
Sparky
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36NJ
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Looney
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Stoneman
- Skipshooter
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Circuit Breaker
- Donor
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To be honest, why would one need to run an amplifier? I talked to whoever I wanted to with a good ol' Cobra 148GTL and a PDL II beam. Running a 300 watt amplifier doesn't do a whole lot. I used to have one in my mobile long ago. If I was hitting someone at 5 with it off, usually it only went up to 6 maybe 6 1/2 with it on. Not much of an increase.
Also, being licensed, I used to listen to Art Bell on the 75 meter amateur band at night on weekends. He believed he had to run 1500 watts all the time. And he had a good signal, usually coming into my San Diego location +20. One night I heard him without the amplifier running straight 100 watts out of his Yaesu. Guess what? He was a solid 9. Not much of a difference on the meter. It seems to me that those who run the amplifiers only do it so they can try to key over other people.
Anyway, that's just my opinion. You can do it if you want, but there are better ways of putting out a good signal without taking the risks.
Also, being licensed, I used to listen to Art Bell on the 75 meter amateur band at night on weekends. He believed he had to run 1500 watts all the time. And he had a good signal, usually coming into my San Diego location +20. One night I heard him without the amplifier running straight 100 watts out of his Yaesu. Guess what? He was a solid 9. Not much of a difference on the meter. It seems to me that those who run the amplifiers only do it so they can try to key over other people.
Anyway, that's just my opinion. You can do it if you want, but there are better ways of putting out a good signal without taking the risks.
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KI4MSJ
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I am a HAM radio operator but, started out with the so called "Free-Band" I had a President Lincoln converted to TX on 11m and used a number of amplifiers. At first I was Barefoot and came over one of my neighbors phones. I installed in line filters and bought a filter for there old outdated phone, problem fixed. I then bought a KLV550 amplifier and sure enough, same problem. I have since gotten rid of those pieces of equipment and bought a ICOM 706MKII, no amplifier and run 100w all day, all night with no problem. I don't think you can stop this with equipment bought and converted. If you are worried about Bleed-over, get yourself good equipment. If you use an amplifier you will only ask for trouble.
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peterbiltwyo
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Stroker
go to the FCC web site and type CB linear amplifier or CB radio and you will see allot of write ups and complaints .. It usually takes a few complaints for them to come out they send a letter asking to cease and assist then if they receive more complaints they act. I thought as I read in a book that local law was handed the issues of CB interference but as I have seen on there site they still act on CB complaints and sales of amps on web sites.. check it out..
If you run good equipment ground correctly and be kind to the neighbors if they approach you about bleed over you should be okay. I run a ameritron tube amp very clean piece and have not received any complaints but then again I don't interfere with anything in my house either.
If you run good equipment ground correctly and be kind to the neighbors if they approach you about bleed over you should be okay. I run a ameritron tube amp very clean piece and have not received any complaints but then again I don't interfere with anything in my house either.
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Gadfly
That law is Public Law 106-521 signed by Clinton in 2000. It permits the local cops to respond to complaints of interference by CB radio stations. For local jurisdictions to do this, they must enact an enabling ordinance that parallels, but not exceeds, the Federal statute. FCC is to provide guidance. Licensed amateur stations are exempt from local enforcement and must be referred to FCC for any action. This is the part that has always worried me; that some local yokel would take action against hams regardless of any restrictions. IOW, "Ah'm th' law 'roun h'yar, boy, an' ah don' keer 'bout no Feds. You gonna do whut ah say, ya heah?" That, of course, would result in legal action against the department and they would have to yield and restore the ham to whatever condition he was prior to their unlawful action. Lot's of trouble for both sides.
Just thot I'd shed some light. I would think this thread belongs down in the "FCC" section.. Just an opinion.
73
Gadfly
That, of course, would result in legal action against the department and they would have to yield and restore the ham to whatever condition he was prior to their unlawful action. Lot's of trouble for both sides.Just thot I'd shed some light. I would think this thread belongs down in the "FCC" section.. Just an opinion.
73
Gadfly
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King Mudduck
Some one posted about if your a ham op and the cops come to your door just show them your ham ticket and they will leave you along. If you are a ham and you are running your ham equipment on 11 meter ( 26.965 to 27.405 ) they will fine you into the poor house! That's even worse than not having a ticket and using big power.
If you want a good setup and something that you will not have to worry about peeing off your neighbors then try something along these line. A good (pill amps are really bad about TVI interference ) tube amp, something around 600 watts. A radio that does not have the swing kit/mod kits/clipped limiter that most people run. This is one of the reasons that some people bleed all over and cause TVI interference. Get some of the best coax you can afford, do a little research on the net to find some with the lowest loss. You can check out my site, it has a lot of info that can help you. Get your antenna as high as you can. That in its self will help a lot to prevent interference and help you talk and receive further. Get a clean amp, a clean radio and a good antenna and you can talk all you want with out a care in the world.
If you want a good setup and something that you will not have to worry about peeing off your neighbors then try something along these line. A good (pill amps are really bad about TVI interference ) tube amp, something around 600 watts. A radio that does not have the swing kit/mod kits/clipped limiter that most people run. This is one of the reasons that some people bleed all over and cause TVI interference. Get some of the best coax you can afford, do a little research on the net to find some with the lowest loss. You can check out my site, it has a lot of info that can help you. Get your antenna as high as you can. That in its self will help a lot to prevent interference and help you talk and receive further. Get a clean amp, a clean radio and a good antenna and you can talk all you want with out a care in the world.
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FordPSD60
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King Mudduck
Before i raised my antenna i could come across my neighbors TV, phone and stereo with a 20 watt Cobra 29. It was clipped and it also had a mod kit installed. Very dirty radio.FordPSD60 wrote:How much power is required to make that happen? Years ago we used to get it through our speakers for awhile and then it stopped. It was also very loud.Big Guns wrote:I would say no as long as your not bothering anybody. IE coming over peoples tv's and telephones.
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Triple5
- 4 PILL USER
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I found over the years if you actually talk to your neighbors and see if you are bothering them, they are more likely to let you help to resolve any issues, I had to simply use my radios at a different time of day to accommodate their lifestyle, so I didn't interfere with their TV time etc. no big deal, it really CAN keep ya outta trouble
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Ind Bellybutton
Once I was accused of coming over a microwave oven! The guy across the street from where I used to live made a complaint about that. Funny thing was, he ranted up and down that it was me doing it, while I wasn't even in the COUNTRY at that time! Another thing he failed to remember is that microwaves don't have speakers in them, as far as I know... Especially not ones produced 10 years ago! Turns out it was the guy down the block coming over his 49 MHZ cordless phone.
Thank goodness phones have gone into the high bands, no more cheap low band phones to come over
Thank goodness phones have gone into the high bands, no more cheap low band phones to come over
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SR385
It is all a matter ofFordPSD60 wrote: How much power is required to make that happen? Years ago we used to get it through our speakers for awhile and then it stopped. It was also very loud.
1) Clean radio output, don't overmodulate, run a properly aligned and quality radio. If you are sending out dirty signal before it's amped, game over.
2) Grounds, grounds, grounds. If your shack, rig, antenna aren't all grounded properly, game over.
3) How you drive the amp, and a tube will generally be cleaner than the cheap transistor amps. Don't overdrive the amp, again balance your modulation and the actual carrier output.
I had a totally dirty, clipped Uniden 520XL that would come over phones and TV's just driving down the street barefoot running. Add power to that and it got a lot worse. You could understand every word I said, clear enough people knew it was me talking.
With a much cleaner rig (Kenwood HF) running much more power out the back, I would throw off maybe a little bit of interference but people wouldn't be able to make out what I was saying.
I never ran a base because my neighbors were always too close around here.
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carl
keep the radio clean and don't worry about using big power. truth is that it hardly makes any difference on the other end. i ran a kenwood ts440s and an ameritron 811h for years with no issues. it made a nice clean 600 watts on ssb and was neighbor friendly. the local antenna was a maco v5/8. i liked than antenna, it was great at reducing rfi and worked a little better than an imax2000 i bought to test. the maco was cheaper even! (harder to install though)
