There is still a difference
Ham:
Have call signs, identify themselves and do so proudly
Have standards of operation and rules that must be followed
Have system of monitoring and reporting problems with behavior or equipment
problems (Official Observers)
Are licensed ( which is a contract that states that they will abide by the
rules and regulations set by FCC
Do not have problem with illegal sales of drugs or prostitution on their bands.
Do not promote the use of vulgar language
Those hams that do have technical knowledge help others to improve their
knowledge and skills
Provide public service
illegal CB operators:
Disguise their identity
have no concern to follow any standard of conduct, operations
Have no way to maintain quality standards in their ranks.
The bands are full of vulgar speaking operators and illegal solicitations.
etc etc
Just opposite of ham radio.
Also to quote Mark is a real mistake.
First of all Mark is a fraud.
"mark" <mark@sandlabs.com>
is Alex Sandbrand N2NNU (Alex@sandlabs.com)
and Alex Von Yonkers
and probably several others as well.
He is also a disgrace to the ham community as well. Just check the FCC
enforcement logs.
Someone suggested checking out his two MS and his PhD credentials but he
will not give you his real name anyway.
Before you get started poring the fuel on the flames you may want to check
out the person you are quoting.
As far a code goes, you don't have to learn code to operate above 50 MHz
And if your hearing is sufficient to understand any language you can learn
code at least at 5 WPM.
The code exam is even multiple choice. Not so hard the answers are A,B,C,
D ........Z 0,1,....9 and . / ? , and prosigns.
I teach code and theory to students and many who come to the class and say
they can't learn code
discover that they can.
Building and experimenting is returning mostly in the form of QRP.
Hopefully the FCC will upgrade the exams to make them more relevant as far
an real knowledge goes.
I am also disappointed in the exam situation. But that can be corrected.
CB can not.
73
Bill wa4lav
At 09:24 AM 12/6/02 -0500, Steve Cloutier, 978-597-3311 wrote:
>Hmm..
>
>What *IS* the real difference between a modern "Amateur" operator and a
>CB'er, anyway. Yes, back in the old days (before the dumbing down of the
>amateur radio test) there was a real technical difference between *most*
>(but not all) of the CB'ers and amateurs.
>
>However, I have met many CB'ers who are VERY technical - can design (not
>just assemble) equipment, but did not become hams because of the code
>test. Some people just can't do code.
>
>However, many times - at least on 75 meters, I see VERY little difference
>between many of the so-called amateur radio operators and the CB'ers that
>so many chastise for existing. I have personally administered the General
>class test as a VE, and I will say that virtually ANYONE can pass this
>test who has better than an 8th grade education.
>
>There is *no* technical distinction between the CB'ers and many modern-day
>amateurs. Most amateurs today are appliance operators. They pass a
>simple test, buy an expensive piece of equipment, plug it in and get on
>the air. What *is* the difference between this and what a CB'er does -
>except that the CB'er doesn't have to pass any test at all. The
>difference is rather thin, if you ask me.
>
>Just as background, I designed and built virtually every piece of radio
>equipment in my station - including converting an old BC1004 receiver to
>solid-state (basically, a complete rebuild). To *me* this is what Amateur
>radio is all about - being technical, experimenting, building. But I
>would not ever accuse someone who enjoys a different aspect of the hobby,
>or is here for different reasons as "lesser". Personally, I include the
>CB'ers in this category. Why are they less than us? They just want to
>communicate and have fun, so let them. Plenty of hams do the exact
>thing.... No one of us is "better" than anyone else.
>
>(Sorry about the old-buzzard transmission :-).
>
>Regards,
>
>Steve WA1QIX http://www.netway.com/~stevec/ham
>
>
>
>
>
>At 08:55 PM 12/4/2002 -0500, you wrote:
>>Not sure why being a CBer is such a stigma :) I have seen bad apples in
>>every circle including this one
>>but this does not make the entire segment bad :) Perhaps a CBer with a
>>Chimney trigered this atitude but most of them, and this includes me, are
>>honest to the teeth guys :) Or are we to arogant to alow
>>them to live too ?
>>
>>Mark, "The Butterfly" when on the open road :)... Long Before Microsoft :)
>>
>>
>>Mark
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Alek Petkovic" <vk6apk@eon.net.au>
>>To: <amps@contesting.com>
>>Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2002 5:50 PM
>>Subject: [Amps] Not
>>
>>
>> > It is now evident that _ -_-Bear is not a derivation of CBer. I guess I'm
>> > guilty of doing too many cryptic crosswords. I'm always looking for hidden
>> > meanings.
>> >
>> > Once again, my apologies to Randall, WB2GCR for any embarrassment I may
>> > have caused him.
>> >
>> > 73, Alek
>> > ..._ _._ _.... ._ ._ _. _._
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Amps mailing list
>> > Amps@contesting.com
>> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Amps mailing list
>>Amps@contesting.com
>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Amps mailing list
>Amps@contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
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