"gw" wrote in message
om...



Jerry

jerry didn't you used to be a truck driver when you were working? i
was just wondering because it does seem like you are always bagging on
truckers.....please explain....


Gladly!

Yes, I was a truck driver in the 70's for a private company that
manufactured filtering equipment for the
textile industry. I was laid off in 1976, decided not to
return, and eventually entered the railroad industry from
which I retired. It proved to be a good move for me.

WRT radio, I have been involved in radio since I was
10 years old. I was/am into several facets of radio and
got my license(s) at 16. Much of that experience was
in a structured environment--mostly military protocol--
and very little of that time was spend engaging in foolish-
ness. I got my first CB radio at 18 during the years when
there were callsigns, rules, and courteous operators. The
environment was very different around 1966-70. When
the Energy Crisis came along and CB erupted like a volcano, I was appalled
at the abandonment of the previous era's orderly, controlled way of
communicating
and was dismayed at the "outlaw" atmosphere that took its place. Therefore,
I did not install or use CB equip-ment in my own truck(s). By 1979, I had
moved away
from trucks and was fully engaged in the rail industry. I
also obtained my Amateur ticked in 1989 figuring that
since I already had much of the equipment in another legal service, I might
as well fully utilize it ! Please realize(inspite of the hopes to the
contrary)I neither even
picked up a CB mike, nor even listened to CB, much less
"interferred" with any communications whatsoever. Nor
would I ever interfere with truck drivers within the legal
boundaries of CB (or outside it for that matter for fear of
getting into trouble on my own). Only when I learned that
truck drivers (and others) were encroaching on 10 and
12 Meters, did I raise my periscope and take a peek.
These incursions beg the question, "OK, how long will it
be before 10/12 Meters are not enough and they then
begin using 17 Meters?" Certainly, this is not something
that would happen right away, but it could become an issue in the future.
Thus, I, along with many hams, began
to watch for these drivers and turn reports of what we
heard/saw. Many of them don't know that what they are
doing is illegal, and all that is needed is one gentle warning
from the Fed to cause them to stop. *Most* of them would quit it if they
knew they were intruding onto the
licensed ham bands. I have heard hams (when the band was open) actually talk
the drivers to warn that they weren't supposed to be there only to get told
to go "F**k
yourself" and other filthy things. Those hams that do that are actually
making it worse because they themselves would get a warning letter for
using AM on a band reserved for Morse and RTTY. I NEVER answer a call
from a driver; I only listen. I am not "bagging" on truckers. All they
have to do is not encroach onto bands
that they are not authorized. I know truckers work hard.
I know they are only trying to make a living. But they do not have to
"steal" frequencies to do that. They earned a
CDL, not a ham license (of course, they CAN do so and
many have!).

I know people don't believe me, but much of the things I
told you are coming true. FCC was, in effect, AWOL
WRT CB and Amateur Radio in years past.It is not
true now: witness the increasing instances of enforcement
actions (truckers, freebanders, and dealers like Pacetronics, Roper
Electronics, et al).

The solution is simple; just stay OFF bands and frequencies for which you
have no authorization. Have respect for that has been earned by others.
Nobody is
going to "bag" on anyone when they do that. I never
bother a trucker. Only when he keys up on 28 MHZ
does he trip my "radar". Otherwise, he won't hear from
me or most of the other hams that are being interferred with by those who
think they have a "rah't" to 'tawk on
this h'yar 10 meter reddio". Hehe.

Jerry