wrote:
Hello fellow 11 meter enthusiasts,

I have a new idea. So much has been made of
the fact that we (11m ops) have no real

representation in DC while the amateur

community has the ARRL.


I haven't heard that position argued in many years. Most cb'ers I know
are in it for the fun and here and ow, plug and play thing and aren't
serious at al as far as any real organization.


The USCBOA was a nice idea but seems to

lack the organizational skills to get airborne. I

got this idea while reading a ham forum thread
where many amateurs were complaining

about the ARRL allowing "chicken banders" to

infiltrate the ham bands and vowing to cancel

their membership.



What they meant by "invading" was the advent of the nocode tech license.
The ARRL has no authority regarding ops, licensed or otherwise.


Well, here it goes.

JOIN THE ARRL! That's right; make them live

up to their name. The AMERICAN (NOT

Amateur ONLY) Radio Relay League. In the

mid 60's, the number of CBer's outgrew the

number of licensed amateurs. The price is

$39.00/yr. and you need NOT be a licensed

amateur to become a FULL member. You DO,
however, need to be licensed for voting

privileges though. I know that $39.00 is steep,

but I've spent more on a power mic and this

money REALLY does makes my voice louder.

If you're not an ARRL official making a desperate, dying plea for more
members, I can understand your position, but the ARRL's position
regarding many things are so far removed from the majority of amateurs,
just think how far removed they will be regarding cb'ers. Besides, the
league has been reduced to representing just into another stripe in the
geek patrol's badge and patch collection. In other words, some may think
the league looks and sounds good, but they are largely impotent and
represent the interests only of a select minority of ops. Besides, the
league takes away what cb is all about, anonymity on the air. While I
have heard many hams complain about this to cb'ers (as if it was their
fault), how many do you think actually wrote letters to their officials
to let them know their feelings?


The 35 multiple choice Technician exam takes
approx. 5 minutes to complete and the

practice exams can be found on www.qrz.com
as well as other popular ham sites. I'm sure

there would be a bit of resistance in the

beginning but the ARRL is made up of hams

who are basically...politicians. That's right

folks, let the first official lose "a close one" at

the hands of an 11 meter "swing vote," and

see how our "concerns" take on a little more

importance. Here's a bonus, when you hear

an old stodger cry "I'm canceling my

membership," rejoice...that's called a

two-for-one sale.


One wold think the majority who are parting company with the league
simply let their membership expire
and do not renew.

Your vote no longer opposes theirs, it

REPLACES it.

ONLY if one has a license. Right off the bat, you lose much of your
target audience..cb'ers.

The kicker is that if you plan to be as vocal as

I am, you need to run legal.


I've been vocal all my life. I still violate the bull**** 150 mile dx
rule on a regular basis. What I don't do, is blow bunches of watts.
Operate smart and always be courteous. No problem.

I'm NOT preaching. I freebanded for over 10

years and LOVED it.

Many of us still do love it.

However I send letters to my representatives

and the FCC,

So do I. So do thousands of people.

so my house must be in order.


Depends on your actions and letters.

Riley Hollingsworth himself can come to my

QTH for a surprise visit.


(shrug) He can come to anyone's house for a surprise visit. It doesn't
mean the person will be home and it doesn't mean one can't have his
house in order and still dx. Here's a tip that's worth its weight in
gold to illegal ops,,,,the FCC enforcement officers do NOT operate on
weekends in regards to cb and ham radio operator complaints.

I sent a letter to my reps re. RM-9807 and

asked why the FCC admitted that the

MAJORITY of CBer's were in favor of

dropping the 155 mi. limit rule, yet the ruling

was swayed by "private interests," namely the

ARRL and NAB.


There is a perfect example of what I said about the ARRL taking
positions far from cb'ers views.

Not only did I receive a reply, but it included a

reply from the FCC to an inquiry by my rep.

Did it really make a difference?... maybe,

maybe not, but I know at least three more

souls know about this "voter's" displeasure.

(An election year to boot!)

I sent a letter to Radio Shack (Tandy) in Fort

Worth, TX re. their HTX-10 and its inability to

be modified at their (RS's) request. I explained
that there are some who may want the

capability to "monitor" (;-P) the 11 meter band

as well. I returned mine and told them that I

would gladly pay the extra $50.00 to RF Ltd.

for their Magnum 257(the modifiable version

of the same rig) and will now purchase all my

ham study material and 2m h/t elsewhere due

to their policy. Again, did it make a

difference...perhaps not, but at least they

know that they've lost approx. $450.00 in

sales plus restocking costs.

Remember, to be this vocal, you need to fly

right. I miss freebanding and it gave me many

many hours of pleasure over a ten year

period, this is the best way I can give back to

11 meters. If you don't plan to quit

freebanding, don't be too vocal and run a

"common sense" set-up. Your ARRL vote still

counts! I never ran amplifiers and worked the

world with a Clear Channel Ranger AR-3500

(30 watt model) and a two element yagi. I also
successfully encouraged many of fellow 11m

ops to do the same.


There ya' have it. A sensible approach.

(Tech license, ARRL membership, & write

reps.) It kills me when I hear hams flame us

and there's little we can do because we don't

want to attract the unwanted attention.


Only if one is balls out illegal with amps and **** like that.


Well, sometimes you have to defend yourself

with the weapons the opposition gives you.


I like what we have now. The freedom to tag and run with a dx contact
utilizing only numbers is way cooler without sending your personal
identity out to the world. If desired, QSL cards can confirm the
contact.


The ARRL rates recently went up, you should

hear the hams crying and threatening to

cancel...go for it I say!

73 de Mark

The ARRL has been suffering declining membership for years. She's not
quite ready for the fork, but the pleas for membership crossed with the
increase in dues and the declining membership says it doesn't take a
keen nose to smell the main course is about done.