Solar/crank powered radio

Discussion in 'Functional Gear & Equipment' started by Huntinbull, Jun 9, 2011.


  1. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    I have used CB's since I was a kid, I love them. They are great (unsecured) ways to communicate. Of course, knowing the basics of what not to do helps. Quick Guide to CB Radio | Transwest Blog

    If you can get your hands on an older base station CB with sideband, that might prove useful. Of course, it adds to your ability to communicate, so I recommend it. The HAM crowd have their own uses, and HAM radio is also worth checking into if not to just own a basic model, to become licensed if that's your cup of tea. But, CB requires no license, lots of people use them, including truckers...and America has a lot of truckers.
     
  2. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    Wrong. LEGALLY, you must have a licience and call sign. My dad did, for all the years he used one. It has been many years, but I could still rattle off his sign. KJC5**6. ( this might have been relaxed or not in forced, but it was a requirement.
     
  3. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    NOT WRONG. You do NOT need a license to LEGALLY operate a CB radio. Seriously, man. Sometimes you provoke too much. Enforceable ordinances or laws or not, you will not get in trouble. Why do you post like this?
     
  4. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    I will double check locally. However, I KNOW it was a requirement.
     
  5. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Listen, I will be as civil as I can. Nowhere in my lifetime has anybody been in trouble for using a CB radio unless they were transmitting far too strong. With any basic setup, you will not exceed the limit. There may have been laws at one time regulating CB radio and licensing but they are not enforced. Period.

    People new to Cb radio probably want to get involved. The last thing they need to hear is how you need a license for something they actually do not need.
     
  6. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    You stated something I believe to be wrong. It is not a slap at you, but correct information. I said I will double check to be sure.
     
  7. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    You might want to stop and think before responding out of courtesy. Use the PM system for quick comments. Just a suggestion. You may have a valid point, but all you end up conveying is that you are trying to incite emotional responses.

    The Citizens Band (CB) Service is licensed by rule. This means an individual license is not required to operate a CB device. You can operate a CB device regardless of your age and for personal or business use so long as you are not a representative of a foreign government.
    The FCC service rules for the Citizens Band (CB) Service are located in 47 C.F.R. Part 95.

    Citizens Band (CB) Service | FCC.gov

    So there it is. Technically you are right, but not by the way you came across. I am absolutely right, and that's the most important point to consider. None of this had to even occur.
     
  8. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    [QUOTE="Brokor, post: 321788, member: 13 But, CB requires no license, lots of people use them, including truckers...and America has a lot of truckers.[/QUOTE]
    You might wish to pick your words a little more carefully. I picked up on mistaken notion, and pointed it out. You dicided it was somehow personal.
     
  9. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Originally in the days of AM, CB had to be licensed. It was a requirement, hard and fast, but poorly enforced. I was in it early enough that I was (and remain) a license holder. Somewhere along the way in the mid 70s, the requirement was lifted (like as not when enforcement became nearly impossible because of the number of radios sold and on the road) right around when the FCC opened it up to 40 channel and SSB was introduced. CB does not now require a license, BUT the FCC monitors things now and then, and out of control stations and operators can suffer legal consequences.

    And yes, a number of illegal operators were slammed with fines and gear confiscation in the 70s. Fines ran as high as 10K. There were some marginal trucking operations that lost a lot of business because they couldn't communicate on the road. Uncle Charlie (the FCC guys) sometimes followed them after the fines and hit them again. The biggest offense was higher than legal power. And yes, it still happens.
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2014
    kellory likes this.
  10. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    It's not personal, dude. It's just rude. I stated the facts for you. You could have checked before you posted this:

    And I posted this for you, which you could have ascertained in ten seconds on the web:

    The Citizens Band (CB) Service is licensed by rule. This means an individual license is not required to operate a CB device. Citizens Band (CB) Service | FCC.gov

    Now, I am not going to argue and be uncivil toward you, but helping new people out is best accomplished while being honest without complicating the matter. I believe you are a decent man, I hold no grudge. You old timers can probably remember back when it was enforceable or whatever, but it isn't today. Take care.
     
  11. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    FCC Rules ans Regulations for CB Radio 5

    Actually, I was soaking in a tub of hot water at the time, so research was not high on my priorities. Giving offense was not my intent. Correct info was.

    More helpful for newbees would be these.
     
    Brokor likes this.
  12. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Thanks. Now you are on the right track. :)

    And, not to be offensive, the FCC and United States Code operate under the Emergency of War and Admiralty Law, which a free sovereign citizen does not rightfully or lawfully belong. But, in times when Constitutional order and support places you on a watch list for terrorist activity, it might be best to play along.
     
  13. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    We will disagree on the merits of Sovereign Men. As well as being well off topic. I will drop out here.[OT]
     
  14. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    All Comm Gear is good to have..... If you have room for it..... CB is good for what it is, as are most of the other Consumer Radio Services. (FRS/GMRS/MURS) Use what you got, and learn what is available, then decide what you need..... .....

    Actually, the Citizens Band Radio Service IS an FCC Licensed Service, and does REQUIRE a License, to operate, as per International Agreements (ITU) that the USA is signatory to. What the FCC did, to satisfy this International Agreement, is to issue a Blanket License, that covers ALL US Citizens, and Landed Immigrants, residing inside US Territory. This is also what they did for non-Comercial Marine Vhf Radios, Family Radio Service, (FRS) and Multiple Use Radio Service. (MURS) Such Blanket Licenses are authorized in the ITU Conventions.
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2014
    kellory likes this.
  15. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    Okay my radio doesn't have a short wave, didn't know that was a good thing to have.

    I do have a CB that I picked up at a yard sale for a buck. No, I have never used it. I know- make sure your equipment works. I did print off power and hook up instructions and those are taped to the radio. CB's seemed to become popular after Smokey & the bandit movie. The CB looks easier then the HAM. I bought a HAM, looked at the instructions, looked at all the buttons and put it in an ammo can. I know, bad Monkey--- learn how to use your equipment. I know some day I will run into a live person who has one. They have a RMHAM org and I am hoping they can help answer all my questions and hands on go over the equipment or at least point me in the right direction.

    Basically I want to be covered if things breakdown. I want access to hearing if things are breaking down and becoming violent in my area. It was suggested in earlier pages that AM/FM may not stay on for long in civil unrest and that SW could be better, is that correct?
     
  16. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    I suggested SW capability because it adds to your ability to listen in on communications from a global network. Yeah, the government can control every aspect of AM/FM, at least all the official stations, and in the event of an emergency, like SHTF, we can only speculate here, but it is commonly found to be sound to conclude that the .GOV will keep folks from actively broadcasting without authorization and leave only official channels open. Every station is tied into the "black box" network, which requires little effort to nullify broadcasts. Although, I am not an expert in this field, and I do believe we have more qualified people here in this area, namely BTPost.

    Regardless, AM/FM are still vital because you can receive alerts and such. The same goes for the NOAA weather radio channels. By having SW capabilities, you can pick up a more broad spectrum. Of course, folks with HAM can already receive most, if not all communications they may need.

    I just like to keep things simple and have redundancy where it is most important. Radios, especially bug-out and portables, I like to have all my receiving in one unit, that being AM/FM/SW and emergency bands if needed. I also have a portable, hand held HAM radio and the iDen phones we have talked about frequently on the forums. A CB radio in the bug out vehicle or even your daily use vehicle is also a good idea, and I have that added capability as well.
     
    Motomom34 likes this.
  17. DKR

    DKR Raconteur of the first stripe

    AM/FM will be up during any kind of disaster(maybe not local), from storm damage to civil unrest. Why? To control the message. There is a reason the first thing most 'rebels' do is to seize the local TV or radio station, to get their message out....
     
  18. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    The problem for a US based Rebel Force taking control over a local Radio or Tv Station, is that the BlackBox for FEMA Messages is at the Transmitter, and that is very rarely at the Studio, where they try and put their Messages on the Air..... The FEDs can just interrupt the Feed from the Studio, and block any such transmissions, at the Transmitter. Unless you know exactly where the BlackBox is in the Transmitter Building, and how to get around it, it is a Useless exercise, in futility.... .....
     
    Brokor likes this.
  19. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    bump
     
  20. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    I'm not aware of a crank radio that includes SSB reception. A lot of crank radios include AM/FM and the popular SW bands. I have a few battery SW radios. When they include all SW bands and SSB; they lack weather.
     
  1. JA40
  2. ED GEiN
  3. Southbound
  4. hitchcock4
  5. Bandit99
  6. Bandit99
  7. DKR
  8. DKR
  9. BTPost
  10. scpn
  11. Hanzo
  12. DKR
  13. Asia-Off-Grid
  14. ED GEiN
  15. hitchcock4
  16. 3M-TA3
  17. 3M-TA3
  18. AD1
  19. hitchcock4
  20. Imasham
survivalmonkey SSL seal        survivalmonkey.com warrant canary
17282WuJHksJ9798f34razfKbPATqTq9E7