I have been reading this site for some time now and it has thought me a lot.
I got tired of dumping good money after bad on my mobile set up so I went out and got a Cobra 200 GTL on Saturday. With a few little tweaks and the channels added it is sounding good. This brings me to my question.
I have never had this many channels and I need to know where to stay away from.
I think anything over 28.000 is a NO NO, without a license but I want to be sure.
1. How low under 26.965 can I go? The radio will go from 26.065 up to 29.695.
2. What about FM?
“Legal” Frequency Question
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BigBopper
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fireball894
- Skipshooter
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The only "legal" frequencies you can use are the regular 40 channels. You are legally unauthorized to use any others. But............ if I were you I'd stay WELL below 28Mhz, and also be careful where you go on the lowers... there are 2 freqs on the lowers that are civil air patrol frequencies and also some military freqs down there. I found a site that listed these, I'll try to see if I can find it for you.
Channel 32, or sometimes 33 and or 34......
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fireball894
- Skipshooter
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Tango 7
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bigtwinlvr
Legally you can only run the 40 channels for CB. If you venture into the 28mhz range, its the 10m band for hams, and typically people end up on the CW channels and the hams go hunt you down, and stick pine needles under your toe nails,lol. Going lower is illegal, but will probably draw less attention since not as many operations in that range.
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fireball894
- Skipshooter
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Yup, I think there is a couple of them that get used around here from time to time too.
Keep in mind that many of these were/are used for for low power point to point type comms. Just because you don't hear anything on an AM/SSB receiver doesnt mean you aren't interfering with other types of transmissions out in dx land when you key down with power. I believe that most of those frequencies were used in the past and now are more or less abandoned, but they still have the allocation and the right of way if they want to use them.
But then again, I bet they avoid the busiest freqs such as 26.915 to avoid the interference.
Keep in mind that many of these were/are used for for low power point to point type comms. Just because you don't hear anything on an AM/SSB receiver doesnt mean you aren't interfering with other types of transmissions out in dx land when you key down with power. I believe that most of those frequencies were used in the past and now are more or less abandoned, but they still have the allocation and the right of way if they want to use them.
But then again, I bet they avoid the busiest freqs such as 26.915 to avoid the interference.
Channel 32, or sometimes 33 and or 34......
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231
Nope. But used reasonably you'll be fine. I doubt your antenna system would be that broad banded...but hey, with some work you'll be okay. Try to stick closer (or rather between) to 26.5xxx-27.8xxx MHz and you'll have fun. Just don't abuse it. The people who abuse it end up in trouble...one way or another. Just my opinion...not representitive of the management's philosophies. :DTango 7 wrote:So I could use from 26.065 to 27.995 and not be breaking the law?
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Gadfly
Um, yer gonna run into a problem down there around 26.5 to 26.7. You see, the military has become re-interested in a techology called Automatic Linking Establishment (ALE). Basically, this is a frequency-hopping protocol that allows the radios to sample THOUSANDS of frequencies in nano-seconds. It will sound sort like a burst of Pactor or RTTY. This is the "polling' mode of the radio where the radio checks to see if this is the frequency to use at the time. The operator doesn't know which frequency is on; just that he picks up the mike and calls. The other radios in the network then respond according to their PLL tones and channel setting. IF they find unauthorized stations there, they are going to get curious and come looking! 
The problem is not so much "freebanding" as it is those frequencies have been assigned to US Gov and military by NTIA, an agency that trumps FCC. As certain agencies--and that includes Civil Air Patrol--begin to re-use these "old" frequencies, there will be a conflict simply because "freebanders" will now be noticed where they might not have been before! *Your* operation will be noticed simply not so much by listening to actual "bandits", but because of degraded performance. Such radios (Motorola) keep an electronic log (shows as a computer file) in the radio as to the status of a frequency at a given time and how it reacted to the poll. When reviewed, the managers would then say, "hmmmmm, what's up with 26XXXXX". Then it will be monitored to find out what's the deal. THEN you get a little letter. *Some* of this stuff is Search and Rescue and it is NOT a good idea to interfere with those operations. YMMV!
Gadfly
The problem is not so much "freebanding" as it is those frequencies have been assigned to US Gov and military by NTIA, an agency that trumps FCC. As certain agencies--and that includes Civil Air Patrol--begin to re-use these "old" frequencies, there will be a conflict simply because "freebanders" will now be noticed where they might not have been before! *Your* operation will be noticed simply not so much by listening to actual "bandits", but because of degraded performance. Such radios (Motorola) keep an electronic log (shows as a computer file) in the radio as to the status of a frequency at a given time and how it reacted to the poll. When reviewed, the managers would then say, "hmmmmm, what's up with 26XXXXX". Then it will be monitored to find out what's the deal. THEN you get a little letter. *Some* of this stuff is Search and Rescue and it is NOT a good idea to interfere with those operations. YMMV!Gadfly
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231
What a bunch of crap!Gadfly wrote:Um, yer gonna run into a problem down there around 26.5 to 26.7. You see, the military has become re-interested in a techology called Automatic Linking Establishment (ALE). Basically, this is a frequency-hopping protocol that allows the radios to sample THOUSANDS of frequencies in nano-seconds. It will sound sort like a burst of Pactor or RTTY. This is the "polling' mode of the radio where the radio checks to see if this is the frequency to use at the time. The operator doesn't know which frequency is on; just that he picks up the mike and calls. The other radios in the network then respond according to their PLL tones and channel setting. IF they find unauthorized stations there, they are going to get curious and come looking!
Gadfly
You may get newbs to believe that nonsense, but not some of us that have been around awhile. Those are old scare tactics used time and time again. Back in the 70's was no different during the wind down of the Vietnam war. The only difference was there were less latino stations in/out of the US to deal with than there are today (and crystals were a PITA and expensive). This so called "re-interest" is ludicris to me and would have to be proven by someone other than the AARL (or ARRL if you prefer). I don't trust those old brown nosin' farts as far as I can thow most of them
. I simply find it hard to believe with the (literally) millions of frequencies available to the armed forces and other govermental agencies they'd be even remotely interested in anything even close to 10, 11, and 12 meters. 
Sorry, I don't buy that. 
Heck, our government can't even keep our borders secure
That is all...carry on.
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THUMPER
231 wrote:What a bunch of crap!Gadfly wrote:Um, yer gonna run into a problem down there around 26.5 to 26.7. You see, the military has become re-interested in a techology called Automatic Linking Establishment (ALE). Basically, this is a frequency-hopping protocol that allows the radios to sample THOUSANDS of frequencies in nano-seconds. It will sound sort like a burst of Pactor or RTTY. This is the "polling' mode of the radio where the radio checks to see if this is the frequency to use at the time. The operator doesn't know which frequency is on; just that he picks up the mike and calls. The other radios in the network then respond according to their PLL tones and channel setting. IF they find unauthorized stations there, they are going to get curious and come looking!
Gadfly
This so called "re-interest" is ludicris to me and would have to be proven by someone other than the AARL (or ARRL if you prefer). I don't trust those old brown nosin' farts as far as I can thow most of them
Heck, our government can't even keep our borders secure
That is all...carry on.
231 get er done!
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milkshake
It's very rare that any government pics up on transmissions, unless your sitting in one spot for a long period of time. There are two places that i have ran into this problem before. One was Edwards AFB in California and the other in Alamogordo,NM where there are alot of test facilities. Once they identify who they are, reach up there and turn that radio off. You keep talking and then that's when all hell breaks lose. These are just from my experiences.
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Gadfly
231 wrote:What a bunch of crap!Gadfly wrote:Um, yer gonna run into a problem down there around 26.5 to 26.7. You see, the military has become re-interested in a techology called Automatic Linking Establishment (ALE). Basically, this is a frequency-hopping protocol that allows the radios to sample THOUSANDS of frequencies in nano-seconds. It will sound sort like a burst of Pactor or RTTY. This is the "polling' mode of the radio where the radio checks to see if this is the frequency to use at the time. The operator doesn't know which frequency is on; just that he picks up the mike and calls. The other radios in the network then respond according to their PLL tones and channel setting. IF they find unauthorized stations there, they are going to get curious and come looking!
Gadfly
This so called "re-interest" is ludicris to me and would have to be proven by someone other than the AARL (or ARRL if you prefer). I don't trust those old brown nosin' farts as far as I can thow most of them
Heck, our government can't even keep our borders secure
That is all...carry on.
With all due respect, sir, I am a member of one of those agencies who DOES use those frequencies. In the old days of analog HF radios, your analogy of "how" certain frequencies might have been used would been true as the use of that range of frequencies DID fall off. However, I attempted to explain to you how ALE works and why it would now come into usage. It is easy to research on Google "Automatic Link Establishment" to find out what it is and how it is used to determine the viability of a given frequency and to provide a measure of security as these frequencies may change as needed and would even change as the MUF (maximum usable frequency) changed. These agencies are STILL assigned said frequencies and they are programmed into these $5000 apiece Motorola radios. What you "believe" about the usage of frequencies assigned by the US military under the auspices of NTIA is BS, and I respectfully suggest that if you want to make generizations about how the US government "uses its HF radio assignments, you then go to the appropriate agency and get TRAINED in such usage rather than relying on CB myth and legend for your radio "knowledge" about what you call the "freeband"--a myth unto itself as a "freeband" does not exist!
I cannot force anyone to accept facts. That is up to the reader. I am only trying to warn folks that THIS particular issue has nothing to do with ARRL or any "ham" agency as such does not apply to the US Gov't nor to
military communications operations. Things have changed WRT our security in this country and HF is a VERY large part of our total communications resources. The reason is that, often VHF will not support a mission each and every time. Facilities may fail, fixed plant may fail. And ALL resources must be used. Such things as HF NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence), V-beams, and this thing you don't believe in, ALE, come into play.
So you, sir, may "carry on" and go play with your CB while REAL radio technicians plan and use communications resources according to Plans and Programs laid out by actual communications professionals. :D This, my friend, is not a game or a CB shootout! This means that as things change and those "old" frequencies come back into play due to techologies some of us may not understand, go ahead and "play" on those "channels". *I* for one USE some of those frequencies; that, sir, is a FACT! (it is called, not license, but "authorization")and when I hear people "freebanding" there, I will be recording such activity and forwarding it thru channels to USAF Frequency Management as will be other communications personnel. Again, you don't HAVE to believe one thing I tell you. That is up to you! Sooner or later................................there will be a little surprise.
How you USE that info; mock it, ridicule it, dismiss it, it's up to you!73
Gadfly
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231
Gadfly is an FCC agent/snitch! 
He works for this young buck (which I don't know about you guys but he looks fresh out of college ready to kiss serious budy to get where he wants to be rather than serve the public)
who is young enough to be my son! Gadfly, you are an idiot and should go hang with your brown nosin' buddies. Our government can't even keep our borders secure and you are worried freebanders? Give me a break. You've been distracted and brainwashed by the above evil leader of the FCC.
So Gadfly, do they pay you or do you pay them for the privilage to be a snitch? Come on...you can tell us. Who knows...maybe you can convert a few of the newbs to your way of thinking? I know it's easier to conform than to stand firm, so I won't aggitate you further on this unless you press it.
He works for this young buck (which I don't know about you guys but he looks fresh out of college ready to kiss serious budy to get where he wants to be rather than serve the public)who is young enough to be my son!
Gadfly, you are an idiot and should go hang with your brown nosin' buddies. Our government can't even keep our borders secure and you are worried freebanders? Give me a break. You've been distracted and brainwashed by the above evil leader of the FCC. So Gadfly, do they pay you or do you pay them for the privilage to be a snitch? Come on...you can tell us. Who knows...maybe you can convert a few of the newbs to your way of thinking? I know it's easier to conform than to stand firm, so I won't aggitate you further on this unless you press it.
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LAGlocker
Personally I think if the Govt has nothing better to do than to come after me because I was broadcasting with a mobile on a "illegal" frequency then we have major problems. Hummm record and send in who was talking? Well thats interesting. Im never in the same city/state in two days in a row, so if they want to hunt me down, lots of luck. Going to go after every tom and harry with the same handle I have? Really wish em lots of luck.
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Gadfly
FCC has N O T H I N G to do with this issue. This is a matter concerning a little-known agency called National Telecommunications & Information Agency (or NTIA). FCC has NO AUTHORITY in the matter at hand. This agency is the one that governs government and military communications. To find out about NTIA, simply GOOGLE it.231 wrote:Gadfly is an FCC agent/snitch!
who is young enough to be my son!
So Gadfly, do they pay you or do you pay them for the privilage to be a snitch? Come on...you can tell us. Who knows...maybe you can convert a few of the newbs to your way of thinking? I know it's easier to conform than to stand firm, so I won't aggitate you further on this unless you press it.
It is not a matter of "snitching" anything. It is an issue of a very REAL communications need where certain requirements have changed for certain of those agencies that are using ALE. In a more simple explanation of what ALE does, let's just say that it *could* happen that when the military radio "polls" the frequencies, it could find that the one that is viable is 26.**Censored** MHZ and others are dead. It is a matter of something called Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF). If it is high, the ALE protocol may select that band for the traffic at hand. BUT, there is somebody "freebanding" (there IS no such thing as "freeband"). The traffic could involve a rescue, a downed military aircraft. or a lost child. But the traffic can't be passed because somebody is occupying the frequency that is ASSIGNED to the agency. The radio keeps a computer log not of the station doing the talking, but of the fact that at the time of the need, there was unauthorized station(s) there. The communications people will then begin to look for the reason why. It gets passed up thru the military channels (not radio) to USAF Frequency Management where the interference is tracked. When the interference is found, and YES, they CAN find the mobiles folks think "can't be found
, the perp would be charged with interferring with a live mission and made to pay the ENTIRE cost of the operation!Now, I stated earlier that I am a member of one of the agencies that used the military frequencies down below 27 MHZ. I am NOT a "snitch" for FCC, a convenient name for anyone who may object to another's illegal activities. As a member of that organization, I am bound to report ANY interference to communications by the regulations of that group and USAF regulations as well.
I am TRYING to tell people the ACTUAL facts concerning the use of those so-called "freeband channels". It is up to YOU how you use that information whether you deride, mock, or ignore what I am telling you. At no time did I resort to name-calling or derision. After all, SOMEBODY is authorized to USE those frequencies; how do you KNOW it isn't me--or anyone else for that matter? When you begin to interfere with those operations because of the "new" (it is not new, but has been around since the 1940's in one form or the other) ALE, why be shocked if you find that you were NOT permitted to be there contrary to the legends of CB radio?
Things just have changed, that's all and an old frequency (s) has been mated with a new/old method of using it! :D
Gadfly
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jessejamesdallas
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With all the modern technology the US Government has now days, I would find it hard to believe, that they would even consider using frequency's that are readily available to anyone with a 10 meter radio!
True. The military may still have these channels available to them, or rather assigned to them. But that does not mean they would ever use them...Just like old law's that are still on the books in every city of the country.
Like in Dallas. There is a law, that is still on the book's, stating that before you can drive a motor vehicle down Main Street, you must first honk your horn, then proceed slowly...
This is just old scare ta-ticks that Ham's keep bringing up from time to time, for no real apparent reason.
One more point...He said "He can use these channels, simply because he has a ticket"....Hummmm....Looks to me like if the military was really interested in these channels, then he also would not have access...Just because he has a Ham ticket, would not make him "OK" by the military to be chatting in on their channels! Or even listening to them...
This is like saying, that someday, the US Military may decide to start using kid's Walkie-Talkie's. Maybe the GI Joe one's!
True. The military may still have these channels available to them, or rather assigned to them. But that does not mean they would ever use them...Just like old law's that are still on the books in every city of the country.
Like in Dallas. There is a law, that is still on the book's, stating that before you can drive a motor vehicle down Main Street, you must first honk your horn, then proceed slowly...
This is just old scare ta-ticks that Ham's keep bringing up from time to time, for no real apparent reason.
One more point...He said "He can use these channels, simply because he has a ticket"....Hummmm....Looks to me like if the military was really interested in these channels, then he also would not have access...Just because he has a Ham ticket, would not make him "OK" by the military to be chatting in on their channels! Or even listening to them...
This is like saying, that someday, the US Military may decide to start using kid's Walkie-Talkie's. Maybe the GI Joe one's!
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
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LAGlocker
Well according to its own website, it is not a governing agency, simply one which advises the Executive branch. So the statement about governing military frequencies just seem, well wrong. Sorry Mr Gadfly, but I for one do not believe you, and as I said, if the Govt wants to try to track down me or my mobile radio, they are more than welcome to do so.
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231
