Breaker, breaker 19... Bunch of old school CB questions?

Question

1) Does anyone remember CBs and linear amps?
2) Is eBay the only place left to buy these?
3) Are they legal now? I know they weren't back in the 70s but everyone had them (at least where I grew up).
4) If I get a multi-channel CB, will I even be able to hear anyone on them these days?
5) Do you need a license for CBs now?
6) Do you need a license for Ham? If so, do you need morse code?
7) Man I miss those days....

Answer 1

1. Yes
2. No, do a yahoo search
3. No, the amps are not legal
4. yes
5. no
6. yes to operate ham equipment. There is a no code technician license
7. I don't, went and got my ham license 25 years ago. (advance class)
See link below for additional info

Answer 2

1) Yes, I remember them. I used to work at Radio Shack.
2) You can get plans to make them, but even the ones on Ebay are home made or made out of a "chop shop" for electronics.
3) They are still illegal
4) What do you mean by multi-channel? The old 23 channel CBs can still be used. The 40 channel utilizes all the old channels in the "new" configuration. I find that the CB's today have a lot of chatter on all the channels.
5) You do not need a license for a CB
6) You do, in fact, need a license for Ham. You can get a "no code" license, but your frequencies are very limited, as is your legal power. To have any real fun with a Ham, or talk to very many people, you will have to learn Morse code.
7) Go to any Pilot store. Those days are back, and with the modern technology that goes into CB radios, the linears are really useless, as it will severely distort the reception on the new units.

Answer 3

Well, these are the answers I know offhand...

1. Yep!
2. No, I'm sure there are others. Heck, I've seen CB's for sale at almost every truck stop I've visited. Flying J's have them and tons of accessories...
3. Yes, up to 5 watts for personal use. Anything else requires a license.
4. Yes - 19 is still the main Truckers channel, there's almost always someone on. 5 watts will get you about a 10-mile range, depending on weather and terrain. Also, it's certainly not unheard of for truckers to have illegally powerful CB's with greater range - you can hear them, but they might not hear you replying... Channel 9 is still generally monitored by the state police, others are used as needed by anyone that wants to attempt a more private conversation...
5. No, like I said, not 5 watts and under. Just about anything sold at a truck stop is legal, out of the box at least...
6. Yes - I don't know about the Morse requirement though...
7 Me too!

Answer 4

#1 ... Yes
#2 ... No, you can buy them at Radio Shack, truck stops, www.scannerworld.com, etc.
#3 ... Yes. In the 70s you were supposed to have a license to operate them, but the FCC de-regulated the licensing requirements in the mid-70s and anyone could operate them.
#4 ... Yes, truck drivers (like me) still use CBs everyday.
#5 ... Nope, de-regulated in the mid 70s.
#6 ... Ham Radio is different than CB (Citizen Band) Radios. I believe there are two different licenses available for Ham Radios, one requires Morse Code and the other doesn't.

Answer 5

1 3 - 5 Watts
2 you can go to your local truck stop to buy yourself a CB radio
3 legal as ever
4 most likely you will be able to hear a lot of truckers and for
exception fun hang out at the truck stop
5 No
6 not sure about the ham stuff

Go down to the truck stop or the interestate and start an old fashioned CB radio Fight. Just don't tell anyone your 10-20

Answer 6

you may be able to hear the truckers on 19 but i doubt anything else is on now. the linear is still outlawed because of power output. you do need a license for a ham radio now and yes you need morse code.yes you need a license for a cb now also. i think the net killed cbs for ever.

Answer 7

Yes we remember them. You can buy at radio shack and truck stops. They are legal and alway were. you can hear people on them if you buy one. You need to get a call number. You can fill out paper work in the box to get one. For Ham you do need a license and morse code.

Answer 8

You can buy a CB at any truckstop. You don't need a license. You can hear all kinds of garbage on the radio if you live near an interstate highway or near a truckstop. HAM requires a license.