10m radios

[Geek]

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I am seeing ads for 10m radios, that also seem to have CB channels built in.  Sounds handy for the car.  What are the pros and cons?

[gil]

They are illegal as hell... Only con I can think of.

Gil.

[KK0G]

They are illegal as hell... Only con I can think of.

Gil.

And they're also junk in my opinion.

[gil]

And they're also junk in my opinion.

These radios are basically CBs which have been extended to cover more channels. They are still channelized, so not really usable on Ham bands, on top of being illegal. It is actually illegal to have one on the premises.. I wouldn't risk losing my license having one of those in my house!

Gil.

[WA4STO]

I am seeing ads for 10m radios, that also seem to have CB channels built in.  Sounds handy for the car.  What are the pros and cons?

Wise of you to ask, Geek.  Here's a few pros and cons that I'm aware of:

1.  Anybody can have one in the car.  No law against having one to listen on.

2.  If you're a licensed radio amateur, you can also transmit on it, provided that you're operating on the licensed amateur radio frequencies that you hold a license for.

3.  They are not type accepted by the FCC, meaning that it's contrary to the regulations to key the microphone and/or transmitter by anybody, licensed or not, outside of the Part 97 frequencies.

4.  Ditto for anybody in the business of selling them commercially.  No Type-acceptance; huge fines for getting caught selling them, regardless of whether the customer is a licensed amateur or not.

One interesting point about all this is that I have two of them.  Had 'em given to me some years back and they're just sitting here.  I've had them both out on loan to various "Elmerees" but that frequency range is so very poor that they all quickly lost interest and sent them back to me.  As for me, I don't do voice modes anyway.

Since I'm not in the business of selling radios, I'm free to sell them as I wish, particularly to an already-licensed radio amateur. 

Now and then I get thinking about networking them together on Pactor, WINMOR, or maybe even 300 baud packet, maybe with a neighbor ham.  But as somebody told me earlier today, I already have too many pipes in the plumbing. 

73

Luck, WA4STO
http://wa4sto.wordpress.com

[KK0G]

And they're also junk in my opinion.

These radios are basically CBs which have been extended to cover more channels. They are still channelized, so not really usable on Ham bands, on top of being illegal. It is actually illegal to have one on the premises.. I wouldn't risk losing my license having one of those in my house!

Gil.

Actually they're perfectly legal to own, buy, sell, use on the appropriate amateur bands. What is illegal is commercially selling them, in essence they are CB radios with expanded coverage, a big no-no as far as FCC is concerned. As an amateur you're free to do with it as you please on the appropriate amateur bands as long as your transmitted signal meets spectral purity standards (which as a licensed amateur you are responsible for no matter what the make, model, etc of your transmitter).

[gil]

Maybe I am confusing them with CB amps.. I do own one, a President Jackson, from my CB days, way back. 200+ channels, 35W. It's in storage.. I'd be willing to sell it for $170 plus shipping. That model has a "legendary" reputation. I already have a Galaxy DX 979, which is perfectly legal and Ham radios, so I don't need it.

http://www.transmission1.co.uk/2004/05/president-jackson-cb-radio-review-2/

Gil.

[KK0G]

Same thing would apply to amplifiers. The thing you have to remember is there is no 'type acceptance' when it comes to amateur radio. We are unique in that we're the only radio service that is allowed to build, modify, experiment with and homebrew our equipment to our hearts content. As I said before though, with that freedom comes the responsibility of ensuring your transmitted signal is a clean one.

[Geek]

These are radios, not amps, sold as 10m radios, not as CB radios.  These are current production units from manufacturers like Galaxy.  It would appear that with my license I can use the 10m frequencies open to HAMs, and the same unit could be used for CB, basic advantage being that I have one box instead of two in the confines of my truck.

On the other hand if they are pumping out illegal amounts of power, or in some other way problematic, I'd like to know.  That is where my question comes from.  I fully intend to comply with all the regulations.

To see what I am referring to, check out http://www.walcottcb.com and click on 10m radios.

[KK0G]

These are radios, not amps, sold as 10m radios, not as CB radios.  These are current production units from manufacturers like Galaxy.  It would appear that with my license I can use the 10m frequencies open to HAMs, and the same unit could be used for CB, basic advantage being that I have one box instead of two in the confines of my truck.

On the other hand if they are pumping out illegal amounts of power, or in some other way problematic, I'd like to know.  That is where my question comes from.  I fully intend to comply with all the regulations.

To see what I am referring to, check out http://www.walcottcb.com and click on 10m radios.

Yes you can legally use that rig in the 10 meter band where you have privileges. No you absolutely can NOT legally use it as a CB on the 11 meter band. 

[Geek]

Thanks.  I would want a CB in the vehicle, so I would still need another radio with one of these in place.  My current plans for my vehicle are a CB and a 2m radio hooked up and anything else being in a box that could be deployed when parked.  These were causing me to reconsider, but I'm back to the original plan.

[KK0G]

Thanks.  I would want a CB in the vehicle, so I would still need another radio with one of these in place.  My current plans for my vehicle are a CB and a 2m radio hooked up and anything else being in a box that could be deployed when parked.  These were causing me to reconsider, but I'm back to the original plan.

No problem. Yours is a very common question that gets asked many times on ham radio forums, other than a few rare exceptions (such as programming amateur frequencies into the unused channels of your type accepted Land Mobile service Motorola issued to you by your volunteer FD) you can't combine amateur radio with another radio service in the same box.

[White Tiger]

I have two 10m radios - ironically, my first one is what got me into amateur radio.

...imagine one "box" that lets you go local, and global, at the same time!? Perfect for preps [he thought, before he knew anything about radio], check comms off my list of prepping needs, cool!

Then I met some one who knew what they were doing - that showed me:

A) While 10m IS an amateur band, it's not always,"there"...so it's not a good idea to use it as the backbone of any communications prep.

B) Even if you never use the CB until the SHTF/emergency - there's only 40 channels and several million people surrounding me on the only part of the radio that is "there".

C) The radio is extremely limited in power in its current configuration (15w) - so even if the band is "there" I could never be sure anyone could hear me!

I have two in a couple of metal ammo cans, along with two 10m dipoles, a coil of coax in each and some rope - and each ammo can also has a 2m HT. It is literally an item to be used as a "last resort" now.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[gil]

vThese are radios, not amps, sold as 10m radios, not as CB radios.

Yes, but they are CBs. The problem with these is that on 10m, you are still limited to channels. Some have a +/- 5KHz knob you can use to go between channels. If you get one, make sure it has that, and that it changes TX as well as RX, not just an RIT.
If you want 10m in your car, you might want to look at a used Radio Shack HTX-10 on Ebay. they sell from $70 to $100...

Gil.

[Geek]

vThese are radios, not amps, sold as 10m radios, not as CB radios.

Yes, but they are CBs. The problem with these is that on 10m, you are still limited to channels. Some have a +/- 5KHz knob you can use to go between channels. If you get one, make sure it has that, and that it changes TX as well as RX, not just an RIT.
If you want 10m in your car, you might want to look at a used Radio Shack HTX-10 on Ebay. they sell from $70 to $100...

Gil.

I didn't really want 10m in the car.  I was planning 2m and CB.  When I saw these my initial reaction was I could check off the CB and get 10m as a bonus.  I've scratched that idea and am back to my original plan.