posted on May, 19 2016 @ 07:47 AM
a reply to:
InTheLight
Thanks for your posts In The Light, I enjoyed the link to the Burlington Amateur Radio Club and the Ham Fest. I would assume that you are or know
people who are amateur radio operators. Personally, although the unlicensed frequencies are limited in bands, output power, and uses, I like the
anonymity of not being on the F.C.C.'s call sign listing. I can get a lot of information on Hams by looking up their call signs to find who and where
they are. I have been giving some consideration on getting a license for the general mobile radio service as many stores carry units that operate on
those frequencies and you can use your own repeaters in a private network. You have to pay for the license, but it really isn't that much
considering.
Because of the CB craze back in the 1970s, many people have CBs gathering dust in their garages or basements, plus the price is low and availability
high for such equipment. I had enough equipment laying around to put together a base and mobile along with a few handhelds. The base antenna I have
was brand new in the box and sat for many years without use until I put it up a couple years ago. CBs are commonly found at garage sales and flea
markets for cheap.
My neighbor is involved in the township trash collection days and does a lot of metal scraping. I was looking at his pile of junk and he gave me (for
free) a working Uniden 40 channel SSB CB, an Astatic modulated base microphone and a tube-type amplifier. I also have a number of units in need of
repair. I had enough equipment in storage to get a friend of mine setup with a mobile unit as well. CBs are a good way for people to get into two-way
communications without going into Ham radio operation. The unlicensed frequencies seem like a good way to start a local, open source communications
network in spite of the limitations.