Simple questions for a simple mind.

[Red Rocker]

Hey folks, been using CB's for many years off roading. I bought a Connex 4300HP last year after my radio quit working & I definately stepped beyond my "know zone" with this thing, so here goes.
AM FM? What's the deal here, never had a choice before.
Band Selector? A through F, what's this, never had that choice either.
I'm adding a 10K antenna that mounts to the swing out tire rack on my CJ-7.


[/img]

[KI4MSJ]

AM/FM are different modes of operation. AM is what is normally spoke on for "CB" if you will. FM is normally used for UHF/VHF or used alot overseas, like in England. If you have a friend who has FM, you can talk to him on it. Just remember to set your squelch or all you will hear in between transmissions is static.
As far as the bands go... You have 40 channels normally, each one of those letters gives you another 40 channel. A/40, B/40,C/40 and so on. Hope this helps

[Red Rocker]

Thanks, that helps a lot. I'll get the hang of it, just gotta keep reading.

[buzzyt517]

Also D-1-40 is the standard 40 cb chanels

[dud muck]

Thanks, that helps a lot. I'll get the hang of it, just gotta keep reading.

Somebody sold you this radio without telling you what bands you can operate on?
You bought it used or something?

For a radio that can only do AM & FM, stay off of above 27.405, unless you can do SSB.
Stay off of above 28MHz unless you have a ham license. But anything below CB CH1 (26.965) have at it, am, fm whatever and have fun!

[Red Rocker]

I bought it new and it came with a owners manual, but it just tells you what everything is, not much on how it all works.

[KI4MSJ]

The Owners Manual won't tell you anything about the extra channels. It is only about the stock radio. Get yourself a frequency counter. According to the specs for the radio, you should have a plug in in the back for one.

[Loudmouth]

I'm also curious about the other bands (A through F). OK D is the CB channels 1-40, but how the heck do you know what the others are? I've been told a frequency counter is not necessary, so is there somewhere it tells you what the frequencies are on Band A channels 1-40, Band B channels 1-40, etc...??

[Gadfly]

I'm also curious about the other bands (A through F). OK D is the CB channels 1-40, but how the heck do you know what the others are? I've been told a frequency counter is not necessary, so is there somewhere it tells you what the frequencies are on Band A channels 1-40, Band B channels 1-40, etc...??

Actually, you might want to stay on Band "D" to be on the safe side. One of those "bands" is 28 MHZ and this is assigned to the Amateur Radio Service (10 Meters). The thing about that band (and I don't necessarily know which one is which other than "D"), is if you talk there, the licensed hams will track you and turn you in to FCC! The bands that go below CB belong to the US military and certain remote control applications. Contrary to popular belief, there ARE some agencies down there that are getting a bit ticked off about interlopers "freebanding" there.
If you get below 26.700 there's a Search and Rescue group (USAF Auxiliary) that has experienced something of a resurrection of usage of 26 MHZ due to something called Automatic Link Establishment (ALE). Their radios don't stay on ONE frequency, but "migrate" to the frequency that best carries the traffic. The radios "poll" one another on a regular basis trying to establish a "handshake". When that handshake is established, it may be on 2 MHZ or it might be on 26 MHZ. The operators don't necessarily know what frequency they are on; the radios take care of that. The purpose is to better maintain contact by taking advantage of atmospherics and to provide better security. For years, CB ops have been able to "freeband" without much objection from the legitimate users, but this, I'm afraid, is about to come to an end because of 9/11. The usage of 26 MHZ is being looked at by both FCC and the military (NTIA). Sooner or later, freebanders and the authorized users are going to knock noggins! This is something to be aware of--just info you might want to know!

73

Gadfly[/i]

[Loudmouth]

Thanks for the info Gadfly! I figured there were some legalities involved in wandering off the CB band, but I'm still curious what the other band frequencies are. Better to know than not know, then choose to use them or not. Perhaps I'll just have to spend $50 on a frequency counter after all, just to satisfy my curiosity.

LM

[EC 174]

Here are the allocated channels.. As you can see there are plenty of channels below 1 and above 40 to choose from that are not being used.


25.020...................................................................U.S. Army
25.035...................................................................U.S. Army
25.040...................................................................Oil Spills Cleanup
25.069...................................................................U.S. Navy
25.080...................................................................U.S. Coast Guard
25.085...................................................................U.S. Navy-Ships
25.090...................................................................U.S. Navy-Ships
25.095...................................................................U.S. Navy-Ships
25.100...................................................................U.S. Navy-Ships
25.105...................................................................U.S. Navy-Ships
25.110...................................................................U.S. Navy-Ships
25.111...................................................................U.S. Navy
25.130...................................................................U.S. Air Force
25.161...................................................................U.S. Air Force
25.198...................................................................U.S. Air Force
25.230...................................................................Inter-Military Freq.
25.240...................................................................U.S. Army
25.245...................................................................U.S. Air Force
25.333...................................................................U.S. Air Force
25.335...................................................................U.S. Marine Corps
25.340...................................................................U.S. Air Force
25.350...................................................................Inter-Military Freq.
25.360...................................................................U.S. Navy
25.365...................................................................Inter-Military Freq.
25.380...................................................................U.S. Coast Guard
25.390...................................................................U.S. Army
25.400...................................................................Inter-Military Freq.
25.410...................................................................U.S. Navy
25.412...................................................................U.S. Navy
25.415...................................................................U.S. Coast Guard
25.425...................................................................U.S. Army
25.430...................................................................U.S. Dept. of Energy
25.440...................................................................U.S. Navy
25.450...................................................................U.S. Army
25.470...................................................................U.S. Navy/Air Force
25.480...................................................................U.S. Navy
25.515...................................................................U.S. Navy/Air Force
25.525...................................................................U.S. Air Force
25.535...................................................................U.S. Army
25.550...................................................................U.S. Army
25.575...................................................................U.S. Navy
25.590...................................................................U.S. Navy
25.597...................................................................U.S. Air Force
25.845...................................................................U.S. Marine Corps
26.110...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.310...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.356...................................................................U.S. Air Force
26.389...................................................................U.S. Air Force
26.485...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.490...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.500...................................................................Inter-Military Freq.
26.510...................................................................U.S. Army
26.515...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.540...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.550...................................................................Inter-Military Freq.
26.560...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.575...................................................................U.S. Army
26.580...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.590...................................................................U.S. Air Force
26.610...................................................................U.S. Navy/Marine Corps
26.615...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.620...................................................................Civil Air Patrol
26.625...................................................................U.S. Air Force
26.630...................................................................U.S. Army
26.650...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.665...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.675...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.684...................................................................U.S. Air Force
26.700...................................................................U.S. Army
26.710...................................................................U.S. Air Force
26.725...................................................................U.S. Marine Corps
26.750...................................................................U.S. Navy/Air Force
26.775...................................................................U.S. Marine Corps
26.800...................................................................Border Patrol
26.825...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.835...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.850...................................................................U.S. Navy/Army
26.875...................................................................U.S. Navy
26.880...................................................................Border Patrol
26.900...................................................................Inter-Military Freq.
26.925...................................................................U.S. Navy/Army
26.930...................................................................U.S. Navy/Marine Corps
26.945...................................................................Federal Aviation Admin.
27.545...................................................................U.S. Navy
27.550...................................................................U.S. Navy/Army
27.565...................................................................U.S. Navy/Army
27.575...................................................................F.C.C.
27.585...................................................................F.C.C.
27.590...................................................................U.S. Coast Guard
27.595...................................................................U.S. Navy
27.600...................................................................U.S. Navy/Army
27.615...................................................................U.S. Navy
27.625...................................................................Federal Aviation Admin.
27.630...................................................................N.A.S.A.
27.650...................................................................U.S. Navy/Army
27.655...................................................................U.S. Navy
27.675...................................................................U.S. Army
27.700...................................................................U.S. Navy/Army
27.715...................................................................U.S. Navy
27.725...................................................................N.A.S.A.
27.745...................................................................U.S. Navy
27.750...................................................................U.S. Navy/Army
27.775...................................................................U.S. Army
27.785...................................................................U.S. Coast Guard
27.794...................................................................U.S. Army
27.800...................................................................U.S. Navy/Army
27.825...................................................................U.S. Army
27.850...................................................................U.S. Navy/Army
27.870...................................................................U.S. Air Force
27.875...................................................................U.S. Army
27.900...................................................................U.S. Army
27.925...................................................................U.S. Army
27.950...................................................................U.S. Navy/Army
27.964...................................................................U.S. Navy
27.975...................................................................U.S. Army
27.980...................................................................U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
27.995...................................................................U.S. Army
28.000 - 29.700..........................................................10 Meter Amateur Band
29.895...................................................................U.S. Navy
29.900...................................................................Air Force One
29.905...................................................................Inter-Military Project

[Mississippifrog]

All your frequency's are listed here in this link.You can print them out and keep them for future reference, but a freq meter would be nicer

[Please login or register to view this link]

[Loudmouth]

THANKS GUYS!!

That's some good info right there! Exactly what I was looking for.

As you can see there are plenty of channels below 1 and above 40 to choose from that are not being used.

Looks like they are ALL being used to me??

LM

[Red Rocker]

Oh Man, that's a lot of info, thanks again.

[Gadfly]

Some may not be being used---in the sense WE as CBers think of "use"! Some of it is data, some of it is remote control links, some are part of that ALE protocol I mentioned earlier. IOW, WE think of talking, working stations, basically keeping the radio jumping with chatter. Military comms don't work that way.It is sort of like what someone else wrote in another forum. Let's say you buy a lawnmower in the winter expecting to use it later in the spring. The machine sits there all that time not being used. OK, now here comes April and you go out to the barn/shed expecting to use the lawnmower and it is GONE! A "neighbor" has "borrowed" your lawnmower without permission. You call the cops, and when they come out next day, the mower is BACK! So what was the harm? For one thing, you were deprived of the use of that which belongs to you WHEN you wanted to use it! Mr neighbor did not get permission to USE it, he didn't "pay" for the privilege and got something for nothing by your own work to earn money to buy this machine. The concept is known to all of us as THEFT. Likewise, when you tread on frequencies to which you have no permission, it is treated under the law similarly to theft as a commodity that has benefit to the rightful user which has been stolen, or the benefit of such intangible commodity (a frequency) has usurped. The ownership of frequencies, or the privilege and/or the authorization to USE them, is given in the civilian world via license. In the military world it is an authorization, either written or verbal granted by the Frequency Management branch of the particular service. Also, btw, most of those frequencies outside the 40 CB channels aren't even governed by FCC, but by an even higher, altho little-known agency called NTIA ( National Telecommunications & Information Agency).
They can even tell FCC where to get off!

Freebanders use the excuse, "those channels ain't being used", so it's OK for me to talk there. True, people have gotten away with this for a long time. The rightful users are not REQUIRED to use their assignments on any regular basis, and, again, the uses to which they are put do not necessarily have to do with voice transmissions. The concept is the same as above. Is it OK for me to come in your house and make myself at home, eat your groceries, use your money, just make myself at home? :D :D LOL! I bet you'd scream bloody murder, call the law, beat me down, kick me OUT, right? Of COURSE, you would!!!

But some things have changed in the last few years, and like the Feds before when we NEVER heard of a CBer or a CB dealer getting popped for $10,000, NOW they ARE, and they are about to start going after the outbanders BELOW 27 MHZ! OTH, there are some frequencies that *may* be unused, but WHO makes that determination so long as the agency holds them? YOU? ME? What we aren't being told is, some of those agencies/users have begun complaining about interlopers on their frequencies and have asked the Feds to do something. The only restriction they have is they don't quite have enough money to make a big push. And when those stern old Feds start white-eyeing YOU , it suddenly gets very personal if that $7,000, $10,000, or $21,000 NAL shows up certified mail! "Bu-bu-bu-but, sir, I ain't got $10,000 (sniff)"

"Based upon the evidence before us, the Commission finds that a reduction in the forfeiture is not warranted................................!"

(sniff again!)

So the question would be: is it WORTH the gamble? REALLY?


Nine Eleven has caused a lot of changes, and that, I'm afraid, is one of them!

Just food for thought and info we *may* be able to use! IF *I* were going to "freeband", (NOT!), I would do it between 27.405 and 27.900, keeping the power down so as not to splatter into 10 Meters. Not totally devoid of risk, but maybe not as much as going "downstairs"!


73

Gadfly

[Bulldog]

lol... that last one was great. I have had more cops, search and rescue, etc. ask me about these radio's since I've been talking about them than anyone. Mostly where can I get one?

[Loudmouth]

WOWZERS!!

Geesh Gadfly, That almost makes me want to cancel my order for the Gen Lee ...................... almost.

LM

[Gadfly]

AS the old sayin' goes, YMMV! :D It is up to each of us to decide and up to us to take the medicine if it is delivered! ME, I'm staying OUT from down there. Only one proviso: On one of the search and rescue frequencies I mentioned, *IF* you should happen to interfere with a live actual search, it would pretty certainly mean you will serve jail time! Not to mention a hefty fine! For grins and giggles, google "Jack Gerritsen" who recently went to prison. He *did* have an amateur license which was promply revoked after discrepancies were found in the application (and other things). He, OTH, insisted he had a "right" to use a radio and that his license was good inspite of FCC's threats and warnings. He would get on some of the LA area FM repeaters and hold "court" for hours explaining his "constitutional rights"! Among other things, there was a real emergency at sea where several hams were attempting to assist Coast Guard in finding and rescuing a foundering vessel (at CG's request). Mr Gerritsen went on the air, refused to yield the frequency, declaring that there was NO emergency. BAD, bad move! LA police arrested him and he was charged and convicted of several offenses---the worst being interferring with a live emergency. Those "low" 'channels" are seeing use because of the A.L.E. radios. The agencies are hearing non-authorized stations and have begun to complain.

But, again, this is info we can use, or not use as we see fit. YMMV!~

73

Gadfly

[Loudmouth]

Well, I don't know Mr. Gerritsen at all, but from what you have described it sounds like he's either not a very nice person, or not the brightest bulb in the circuit. I dare say most people would not go to those extremes. Of course I do not know all the circumstances surrounding his situation. So I am not in a position to point fingers.

Knowledge is power. As a resurrected newbie, I had no idea about any of this. That's why this forum is so great! Differing opinions and even conflicting information all help us each to form our own opinions and choose our own path. That being said, you have made your point.

Thanks man,

LM

[Gadfly]

The whole Gerritsen thing is posted in the "FCC" section farther down if you'd like to read it. The guy was a real TRIP!!!

[Bigpimp347 [UK]]

'D' in AM is the US CB, 'D' but FM and it's the european CEPT band, good for DX into europe..
'E' channel 16 to 40 and 'F' 1 to 11 is the UK 27mhz FM band..but with a finishing frequency on 1.25khz or 0khz so channel 33 'E' with a Kc shift set to quarter to the hour will give you 27.780 the UK's channel 19..!!

also 'C' is the europeans newer FM band or the lowband below CEPT, also used in AM in some other countries..

'F' channel 12 to 40 is a no no, as this is indeed the amateur 10mtr band..

[Bigpimp347 [UK]]

Just one more thing...
the rig might have a switch inside,
my SS-3900GHP (dirland) has a switch when switched the rig is just 40 channel, no matter what band i'm on..

if i switch it, it's export 6 bands of 40..!!