A Legal Alternative for 11 Meter Ops.
Mark Pearsal (MPEARSAL) on March 29, 2001
View comments about this article!
http://www.eham.net/articles/1841

I thought I'd include this since so many of you choose to make
derogatory remarks about CBer's rather than stick to the topic. (Code
vs. No-Code, Restructuring, etc...) I personally like the code but you
guys use the issue to take cheap shots at 11m ops. You should realize
that many 11m ops visit these forums seeking to learn about ham radio,
NOT be insulted. 73.

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. 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. 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. 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.
Your vote no longer opposes theirs, it REPLACES it.

The kicker is that if you plan to be as vocal as I am, you need to run
legal. I'm NOT preaching. I freebanded for over 10 years and LOVED it.
However I send letters to my representatives and the FCC, so my house
must be in order. Riley Hollingsworth himself can come to my QTH for a
surprise visit. 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. 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. (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. Well, sometimes you have to defend
yourself with the weapons the opposition gives you. The ARRL rates
recently went up, you should hear the hams crying and threatening to
cancel...go for it I say!

73 de Mark

wrote:
A Legal Alternative for 11 Meter Ops.
Mark Pearsal (MPEARSAL) on March 29, 2001
View comments about this article!
http://www.eham.net/articles/1841

I thought I'd include this since so many of you choose to make
derogatory remarks about CBer's rather than stick to the topic. (Code
vs. No-Code, Restructuring, etc...) I personally like the code but you
guys use the issue to take cheap shots at 11m ops. You should realize
that many 11m ops visit these forums seeking to learn about ham radio,
NOT be insulted. 73.

Hello fellow 11 meter enthusiasts,

cuting for brevity

interesting thought and much more on topic than most of the stufff we
see here

the problem ois that ARRL will take your money and still deny you your
place Ask Carl stevenson about that one

an_old_friend wrote:
wrote:
A Legal Alternative for 11 Meter Ops.
Mark Pearsal (MPEARSAL) on March 29, 2001
View comments about this article!
http://www.eham.net/articles/1841

I thought I'd include this since so many of you choose to make
derogatory remarks about CBer's rather than stick to the topic. (Code
vs. No-Code, Restructuring, etc...) I personally like the code but you
guys use the issue to take cheap shots at 11m ops. You should realize
that many 11m ops visit these forums seeking to learn about ham radio,
NOT be insulted. 73.

Hello fellow 11 meter enthusiasts,

cuting for brevity

interesting thought and much more on topic than most of the stufff we
see here

the problem ois that ARRL will take your money and still deny you your
place Ask Carl stevenson about that one

Hello an_old_friend:

I knew from reading your posts that we thought the same. Are you into
phone? Post your phone number and I pick up the tab for the call. We
can talk about how much smarter we are than stupid CB'ers. Then maybe
we could jack off together on the phone and giggle about ham radio! I
just knew we were the same!

Just when you thought it was going to be an intelligent thread

From: (JRK)
Just when you thought it was going to be an

intelligent thread....

-
.....you felt not only the need to equate intellect with a view of which
you apparently disagree, but the need to let it be known.

Interesting point on the ARRL. I'm towards the belief that the ARRL's
membership decline is a mirror to the radio hobby in general. I'm
lumping Amateur Radio, CB, SWL and Scanner listeners together. Our main
compitition seems to fall into the ever growing technologies on the
home PC and the internet. As a new and more inviting technology that
doesn't bother neighbors and still accomplishes the fun of talking with
others, it poses as a major competitor to radio.
As we become more and more a plug and play society, the technologies of
past will slowly disappear. Look at our selection of "Legal" CB's. They
are becoming few and fall between compared to 15, 20, 25 years ago. I
see Amateur Radio following in the same path. We see far less inovative
approaches to communications as things are handed to us from a major
manufacturer.
I personally don't buy into the Ham is better than CB routine often
seen and heard about. Each has it's own value and contributes towards
hobby enjoyment and public service. But since we really haven't changed
much as an active community for the last couple of decades, we are
slowly marching towards the way of the dinosaours.

JRK wrote:
Just when you thought it was going to be an intelligent thread

of course it can be allowed likely just another of Stevie or dave
annymouses certianly however the gay themed hijack is K4YZ fault

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.