Beams used on CB?

I was monitoring 11m (CB) SSB this evening and some guy (664 in Louisiana) was claiming to have a HyGain 4 element beam about 55 feet in the air. He was using a Galaxy (unknown model). Is that legal using a beam? I just use an Antron A99 vertical and a Realistic TRC-448. That does me good enough. I am happy with my station, only like having QSOs with other CBers within 10-30 miles of my QTH. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif 73 de kc0tkb

[KC0NBW]

Quote[/b] (KC0TKB @ April 05 2005,21:25)]I was monitoring 11m (CB) SSB this evening and some guy (664 in Louisiana) was claiming to have a HyGain 4 element beam about 55 feet in the air. He was using a Galaxy (unknown model). Is that legal using a beam? I just use an Antron A99 vertical and a Realistic TRC-448. That does me good enough. I am happy with my station, only like having QSOs with other CBers within 10-30 miles of my QTH. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif # 73 de kc0tkb
since when has the cb gang ever cared about what is legal ?

very true!

[w8znx]

better they use a yagi
then dirty el crapo
amp that
wipes out 10 meters as well as 11

dit dit mac

[kd5rpo]

The CBers could use any sort of array of beams they wanted to when I was a 2 way radio tech 30 years ago. There was a height limitation of 20 feet though if memory serves me.

KD5RPO

[w3sy]

Waaaaay back when I was on CB in the late 1960's, a local friend had a pair of STACKED 5 element vertical beams on CB. This thing was a monster by CB standards. Unfortunately, the damn thing was up less than 20 feet in the air, mounted on a roof tripod! Oh, they got much better performance than a vertical at the same height, but hard to say how much more awesome the performance might have been at at good solid 60 feet.

Tore the hell outta their roof, if I remember right....

[kb1ils]

Here in MA, beams used to fly out of the local CB shop as fast as they arrived in the store. The most popular was a simple three-element that could either be horizontal or vertical. They also had mammoth horizontal "quad" beams probably in the neighborhood of 8 elements, with booms about 20 feet long or more. There was a guy in Milford, MA, in a neighborhood I used to drive through who had one such beam on the roof of his home. I did stop by one day and speak to him and it was indeed for CB. Nice older gentleman, running barefoot, mainly into SSB work. He did not have a ham ticket and I wish I could go back there and speak with him today to see if I could convince him to get licensed. He obviously knew what he was doing and understood propagation, he was a former Navy radio operator from what I recall.

[KG6YTZ]

Beams are legal for CB - as I recall, Part 95 does not specifically prohibit any type of antenna. #It does, however, mandate 4W RMS transmitter output in the AM mode and 12W PEP in the SSB mode [loophole: Gain is legal, there are no ERP restrictions], and communication distances of no more than 150 km.

Then again, as KC0NBW said...

Quote[/b] ]since when has the cb gang ever cared about what is legal #?
Judging the whole barrel by a few bad apples? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #Granted, the worst CB'ers do tend to be the most noticeable ones...

[k4ah]

Quote[/b] (KG6YTZ @ April 05 2005,19:26)]Judging the whole barrel by a few bad apples? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #Granted, the worst CB'ers do tend to be the most noticeable ones...
That goes for everything a few bad ones (hams or whatever) make everyone look bad.

[AB8TM]

I had a friend that had the famous Moonraker 4! Known commonly among the CB crowd as the Moonbuster, Moonwalker, Moondancer, and any other conceivable variation.

This was a second hand antenna but some guys fork out the dough for them new!

[KG6JTB]

I know a guy who advanced to extra, and when he operated CB had a 6 element quad. Yes, quad.

He also ran a SB-220 at 1,500 watts.

He was well known on 38 lsb all over the world.

Dave
KG6JTB

[kb9lor]

Well back in the day I ran PDL II's and had moonraker 6, for awhile, absolutely love SSB, but tired of the am bleedover and quit.

[w3sy]

KG6YTZ sez:

Quote[/b] ]Beams are legal for CB - as I recall, Part 95 does not specifically prohibit any type of antenna.

But I remember a conversation between two CB'ers where one said a collinear antenna was illegal because it was "like using a linear." http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[w2wtf]

Quote[/b] (w3sy @ April 06 2005,09:11)]KG6YTZ sez:

Quote[/b] ]Beams are legal for CB - as I recall, Part 95 does not specifically prohibit any type of antenna.

But I remember a conversation between two CB'ers where one said a collinear antenna was illegal because it was "like using a linear." http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
Wow, that is funny!!!

if anyone still uses CB SSB look for me on channel 37 or 38 lsb. I use these various handles: beartracker, 279, or 2A79. I mostly use 279. will be on later this evening. Funny, 10m closes at about 4:00 pm Mountain time, while CB activity increases @ that time.

[KB9YCO]

What's up with that? Why isn't there as much activity in 10 meters as there is in CB? It just makes no sense to me, some wasted spectrum there, and it could be used locally amongst amateurs when there are no conditions, but it's nine times out of ten dead. Weird.
As far as using beams in CB, what's the big deal? If you're running the legal wattage why not try to maximize your signal potential. Makes sense to me.

[ai4ij]

Quote[/b] (kd5rpo @ April 05 2005,22:56)]The CBers could use any sort of array of beams they wanted to when I was a 2 way radio tech 30 years ago. There was a height limitation of 20 feet though if memory serves me.

KD5RPO
CB'ers could have antennas up as high as 60ft. back in the '70s when I was into CB (license was KRX-0219). I had a two element Avanti PDL-II Quad beam at about 35ft. myself. I was even able to work Australia on it - of course, that was at the peak of the sunspot cycle when 11M was open day and night, seven days a week.

73
Richard
AI4IJ

[ai4ij]

Quote[/b] (KG6YTZ @ April 06 2005,00:26)]Beams are legal for CB - as I recall, Part 95 does not specifically prohibit any type of antenna. It does, however, mandate 4W RMS transmitter output in the AM mode and 12W PEP in the SSB mode [loophole: Gain is legal, there are no ERP restrictions], and communication distances of no more than 150 km.
I don't recall ever having read any communication distance limitations in Part 95. I worked all over the country and into Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean and even as far away as Australia.

73
Richard
AI4IJ

[kb2vxa]

Hi guys,

Here's a funny one, I have seen CB beams on some pretty tall towers. The loophole in the 20' above the existing structure rule according to the way they see it is the tower went up first so it's an existing structure.

I remember that Moonraker quad and "going to the flat side" sure does get rid of a lot of QRM. They even discovered that switching polarization reduces deep fades, just keep the fingers on the rocker switch when "shooting skip".

Hmmm, wonder why poor old Skip never tires of being shot.

[KB9YCO]

Not that the FCC enforces much in CB these days, but here are what the rules state. (I've personally always thought the distance restriction was just plain stupid, it is an HF band, what did they think would happen?)

Title 47 - Telecommunication
Chapter I - Federal Communications Commission
Part 95 - Personal Radio Services
Subpart D - Rules for CB Service
Revised as of October 1, 1996

Rule 8 - Antenna Height...
{C} If your antenna is installed at a fixed location (whether receiving, transmitting or both) it must comply with EITHER one of the following:
[1] The highest point must not be more than 20 feet (6.10 meters) higher than the highest point of the building or tree on which it is mounted; or
[2] The highest point must not be more than 60 feet (18.3 meters) above the ground...

Rule 13 - Illegal Communications
{A} You must NOT use a CB station-...
[9] to communicate with, or ATTEMPT to communicate with, any CB station more than 155.3 miles (250 kilometers) away
[11] to communicate with stations in other countries, except stations in Canada (on General Radio Service).

[ai4ij]

Quote[/b] (AB8TM @ April 06 2005,05:57)]I had a friend that had the famous Moonraker 4! Known commonly among the CB crowd as the Moonbuster, Moonwalker, Moondancer, and any other conceivable variation.

This was a second hand antenna but some guys fork out the dough for them new!
As I recall, they were about $369.95 new in 1977. I paid $219.95 for my PDL-II two element quad. I wanted the Moonraker IV really bad; but, I got what I could afford. Then, there was the monster Moonraker VI. It was a six element quagi with a quad reflector, a dual polarization Yagi driven element, and four dual polarization Yagi directors, and a 36 foot boom. The advertised gain for that bad boy was 17.5dBi. Of course, you have to take such claims with a grain of salt. I now know better than to accept that one. But, still, it was an impressive antenna. I knew a guy who had one mounted at 40ft.; and, he always had the big signal in town.

73
Richard
AI4IJ

[w6ez]

Wayy back when I was still rag chewing with a bunch of old guys on CB we all ran beams.
I had a Moonraker 6 and it was ok.
Just did local stuff in about a 75 mile radius.
Most of those old guys have died off now. I was the kid at 30 years old and they were all up in their 70s.
A very nice buch of guys and not the type one thinks of when they think about CB.

[kb9lor]

Okay, when I had the moonraker VI, I had it on a 40ft telephone pole with a 10ft top section of tower, so more or less 50ft, and talked to the blokes down under, the ardenne forest in europe, and even South Africa, but the real joy was every night at about 5pm local time talking to ol' 43 in wilhoit, arizona, on 37 ssb. Man just nothing better than SSB. and btw this was all LEGAL power. though I did own a Varmint xl 1000 back then, and could very well have used it but, what is the fun in that? I like the challenge of low power. So yeah I am a former CB'er, and right proud of it. But have moved on, and thanks for the fella who started this thread, brought back some fond memories for me.

[ai4ep]

" low power on cb " ?

Gee, what a concept !!

This is completely the OPPOSITE of what has been preached to me from around 1969 of " hit them with all the power youo have --- bend the S meter to the right as fer as it will go, and then a bit further " !!!

" low power on cb " ? It might be a challenge, but wouldnt that HURT the illegal amplifier sales & repair business ? That alone is possibly a multi-million dollar business nationwide every year.

Just look at how many supply places would lose business by folks using " low power " , and not ordering parts for older/broken units or whole new units to send a signal out in the atmosphere.

Man what a concept.

Now the idea of " beam antennas " has come along, too. Just imagine the idea of sending all of your signal in only ONE direction ( like a flashlight beam ) instead of splattering it around the other 359 degrees of the compass.
That is SOOOOO phonemomial (sp* ) to even THINK of doing such a stunt.

Here I have been preached / told again & again by so many different people that the main idea was ( almost ) to scatter your signal as LOUD as you could afford in all directions at all times so as many folks as possible could hear your great sounding station..regardless of other folks wishes and wants/needs to use that or adjoining channels.

What a concept...low power and beam antennas.

It just boggles the mind.

Who would have ever thought it, in the year 2005 that some one would actually THINK of doing such a thing.

Well...look now for prices of beam antennas, towers, rotors, guy wire, etc to skyrocket...faster than gas prices ( now that is really fast ! ) ever have.

It is just so hard to believe; low power & beam antennas for cb usage.

What will they think of next ?

[KC0NBW]

Quote[/b] (kb9lor @ April 06 2005,14:59)]Okay, when I had the moonraker VI, I had it on a 40ft telephone pole with a 10ft top section of tower, so more or less 50ft, and talked to the blokes down under, the ardenne forest in europe, and even South Africa, but the real joy was every night at about 5pm local time talking to ol' 43 in wilhoit, arizona, on 37 ssb. Man just nothing better than SSB. and btw this was all LEGAL power. though I did own a Varmint xl 1000 back then, and could very well have used it but, what is the fun in that? I like the challenge of low power. So yeah I am a former CB'er, and right proud of it. But have moved on, and thanks for the fella who started this thread, brought back some fond memories for me.
then the power was the only part that was legal !

[n8yx]

Anyone remember the Wilson Super Laser series of antennas?

Their biggest was an 8x8 (8 horizontal; 8 vertical elements) on an ~55 ft boom.

As noted by a previous poster, a local gent running this contraption also had the thing mounted on a roof tripod... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[N0KLT]

Quote[/b] (n8yx @ April 06 2005,20:38)]Anyone remember the Wilson Super Laser series of antennas?

Their biggest was an 8x8 (8 horizontal; 8 vertical elements) on an ~55 ft boom.

As noted by a previous poster, a local gent running this contraption also had the thing mounted on a roof tripod... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
There was a dumb*** in the town in Iowa where I lived prior to 1977 that had one of those monsters. For some reason known only to himself, when he put the monster up, he didn't hook up the boom supports. As I remember the thing had nylon ropes stretching from various points on the boom to a center up right that were drawn tight to keep the boom from sagging. I am not sure why he left them off but that thing sagged like mad and had a shape roughly that of a funny looking horseshoe. He always complained that he couldn't hear anything nor contact anyone that was any distance away with the beam. Guess there were guys with omni antennas and small yagi's that were way out talking him. I can't even imagine what that thing cost, or how much it weighed. Oh well. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[kb9lor]

Quote[/b] (KC0NBW @ April 06 2005,16:44)]Quote[/b] (kb9lor @ April 06 2005,14:59)]Okay, when I had the moonraker VI, I had it on a 40ft telephone pole with a 10ft top section of tower, so more or less 50ft, and talked to the blokes down under, the ardenne forest in europe, and even South Africa, but the real joy was every night at about 5pm local time talking to ol' 43 in wilhoit, arizona, on 37 ssb. Man just nothing better than SSB. and btw this was all LEGAL power. though I did own a Varmint xl 1000 back then, and could very well have used it but, what is the fun in that? I like the challenge of low power. So yeah I am a former CB'er, and right proud of it. But have moved on, and thanks for the fella who started this thread, brought back some fond memories for me.
then the power was the only part that was legal #!
Well the power may have been the only thing legal, but at least I wasn't splattering all 40 plus some! and truthfully i did not know they had a limit on talking distance, nor the antenna height, but maybe the fcc overlooked that part in order to go after the high power stations. but to be honest my house is 2 story and to go 20 ft above the nearest structure, i may have been a tad over the height. so whats worse, splattering or talking over the max distance/antenna height?

[KC0NBW]

Quote[/b] (kb9lor @ April 07 2005,17:14)]Well the power may have been the only thing legal, but at least I wasn't splattering all 40 plus some! and truthfully i did not know they had a limit on talking distance, nor the antenna height, but maybe the fcc overlooked that part in order to go after the high power stations. but to be honest my house is 2 story and to go 20 ft above the nearest structure, i may have been a tad over the height. so whats worse, splattering or talking over the max distance/antenna height?
to quote our legal system ''ignorance of the law is no excuse'', we find you guilty and sentence you to life on channel 1 with only 59 mw output into a rubber duck !
(bang of the gavel) next case ! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[kf4eyr]

in the late 70s i had moonraker 4 beam on a 40 ft tower in kentucky,,,when i went back in 1995 to visit my folks the tower had fell and the beams had broke in several places,,, i gathered up and diassembled it and brought it back with me,,, sold the boom a few years later to a cber who wanted it,,, the rest turned into the best looking 6 meter beam ,,,,the rest is still out where my other antenna supplies and stuff is,,,,that is what i like doing is building antennas,,,some day i am sure some of the moonraker will go into the making of a 6 meter vertical,,

does anyone know how I can build a beam (or yagi) for CB? How long would the elements (driven,reflector,director) be? The size of the boom? It would probably be easier to go out and buy one off of eBay. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[w6ez]

I keep reading about the mythical 60 foot max
cb antenna height. Now it's bee a while since
I did CB but I remembered the rules a bit differently.
So I did a search to see whats all this stuff about
antenna height?

You can be 20 feet higher that the buliding or tree you have your antenna on OR you can have a total of 60 feet if you are using a mast or tower that is not attached to your house or tree.

Got a 100 foot tree? 120 feet.. leagal too.

You get your choice of rule 8, section C1 OR C2 not both combined. The word is "or" not and.

RULE 8 - Antenna Height
{A} "Antenna" means the radiating system (for transmitting, receiving or both) and the structure holding it up (tower, pole or mast). It also means everything else attached to the radiating system and the structure.
{B} If your antenna is mounted on a hand-held portable unit, none of the following limitations apply;
{C} If your antenna is installed at a fixed location (whether receiving, transmitting or both) it must comply with EITHER one of the following:
[1] The highest point must not be more than 20 feet (6.10 meters) higher than the highest point of the building or tree on which it is mounted;
or
[2] The highest point must not be more than 60 feet (18.3 meters) above the ground.
{D} If your CB station is located near an airport, and if your antenna structure is more than 20 feet (6.10 meters) high, you may have to obey additional restrictions. The highest point of your antenna must not exceed 39.37 inches (1 meter) above the airport elevation for every 109.36 yards (100 meters, 1 hectometer) of distance from the nearest point of the nearest airport runway. Differences in ground elevation between your antenna and the airport runway may complicate this formula. If your CB station is near an airport, you may contact the nearest FCC field office for a worksheet to help you figure the maximum allowable height for your antenna.
WARNING: Installation and removal of CB station antennas near powerlines is dangerous. For your safety follow the installation directions included with your antenna.[B]

CB rules as if we really cared (http://www.reactintl.org/rules-cb.htm)[B]

[kb9lor]

Quote[/b] (KC0NBW @ April 07 2005,20:22)]Quote[/b] (kb9lor @ April 07 2005,17:14)]Well the power may have been the only thing legal, but at least I wasn't splattering all 40 plus some! and truthfully i did not know they had a limit on talking distance, nor the antenna height, but maybe the fcc overlooked that part in order to go after the high power stations. but to be honest my house is 2 story and to go 20 ft above the nearest structure, i may have been a tad over the height. so whats worse, splattering or talking over the max distance/antenna height?
to quote our legal system ''ignorance of the law is no excuse'', we find you guilty and sentence you to life on channel 1 with only 59 mw output into a rubber duck !
(bang of the gavel) #next case ! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
You still did not answer my question You Honor! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[ai4ep]

That is ok...I think I once talked to ALASKA on 5 watts on 28.065 ssb while 2 truckers were using the AM side for their " dirty story telling "....or did I ?

We have 2 local chip hauling truckers who use that frequency to tell each other dirty jokes...they USED to be fairly loud at distances as fer away as 5 miles or more ( still in the red on the s meter )...heard them again yesterday--they were not half as loud as they USED to be...must be lousy srw and they are slowly burning their radios up...do ya think I am going to try to find them and let them know ( in a nice & polite way ) what I have printed above this line ? Nah !http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

Why for ?

I know they are local, since they keep using local landmarks as they travel up/down the road ( oops, I aint supposed to notice that !! )..plus the fact that they " love " how the local 4 wheeler population seem to NOT be able to do any thing right ( &^%$ 4 wheeler pulled out a half mile in front of me, or turned left after making ME slow down..waa/waa/waa ).

Sometimes there are as many as 4 - 5 on the frequency ...using GALAXY radios...hauling chips ( tree bark ) from somewhere in Walker county, up ala highway 195 to Double Springs, then go up highway 33 all the way through Moulton to Courtland, then going along hwy 20/alt 72 to the RKM gas station in North Courtland, then county road 150 to the INTERNATIONAL PAPER mill, where it is dumped off on a very high and powerful lift, which lifts the ENTIRE truck up in the air and lets the chips fall out the back !

They have told this so many times no one else in the area cant help but have heard it at least once about the " truck lift " { whoopeedoo }

Do you mean, that ( with all your vast knowledge ) did NOT know of this ?

Man, some of these trucks make the same trip 3 and sometimes 4 times per day..5 - 6 days per week...and they are SO overworked !!
waa/waa/waa

mo latr

[KC0NBW]

Quote[/b] (kb9lor @ April 07 2005,17:14)]so whats worse, splattering or talking over the max distance/antenna height?
if this is the question you are referring to, they are both about the same as far as violations go. splattering causes local problems, while talking too far takes up spectrum space that could be in use in the areas ''outside'' of normal range.

why get on cb at all, considering the total mess it is ?

violations on cb can and have cost some hams their ham licence, you have to make the choice what you want the most.

[kb9lor]

Quote[/b] (KC0NBW @ April 08 2005,11:10)]Quote[/b] (kb9lor @ April 07 2005,17:14)]so whats worse, splattering or talking over the max distance/antenna height?
if this is the question you are referring to, they are both about the same as far as violations go. splattering causes local problems, while talking too far takes up spectrum space that could be in use in the areas ''outside'' of normal range.

why get on cb at all, considering the total mess it is ?

violations on cb can and have cost some hams their ham licence, you have to make the choice what you want the most.
Your Honor thou have answered my question, and now I shall answer yours, I do not use CB anymore, I have moved on from the CB days, no use for all the trash and massive splattering. Though as in all things there are bad apples no matter where ya go. although sice I have been a ham, i have not run into one "bad" operator yet, in person or on the Amateur bands. They have all been gracious and kind. Nice chatting with ya, you have a great week-end, I have a quarter mile of trench to dig!

[KC0NBW]

Quote[/b] (kb9lor @ April 08 2005,11:20)]#Nice chatting with ya, you have a great week-end, I have a quarter mile of trench to dig!
a 1/4 mile trench ? ok, i'll bite, why ? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[kc7jty]

Saw a pair of stacked lazer 500s on a little 2 room shack in Luzianne once.
BTW: Right now is the time to be in Acadiana....I'm gonna miss it this year.

[kb9lor]

Quote[/b] (KC0NBW @ April 08 2005,11:33)]Quote[/b] (kb9lor @ April 08 2005,11:20)]#Nice chatting with ya, you have a great week-end, I have a quarter mile of trench to dig!
a 1/4 mile trench ? #ok, i'll bite, why ? #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
Okay being you took a bite, we are in the process of building a new firehouse, and before construction can begin we have to put up a erosion barrier along the small creek running along the build site, it has to be a 18inch deep trench, and then put the stakes with the vapor barrier,held in place with wooden stakes, btw the barrier is 3 feet wide and 18 inches has to be buried, go figure, alot of hoops to jump through. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[ai4ep]

What is he gonna FILL the trench with...old /used cb radios ?

never mind... I found out how to make a beam for CB. I was wondering, why do they use LSB instead of USB??? For 10 meters, I know it is USB (but CB is twisted around anyways)

[ai4ep]

Get on the radio and ask them.

( but you already knew that )

actually, when I started CB that is what mode they were using. I will try to call CQ later this evening, since CB likes to work better in the evenings (strange, very strange)

[AC4BB]

Quote[/b] (AB8TM @ April 06 2005,05:57)]I had a friend that had the famous Moonraker 4! #Known commonly among the CB crowd as the Moonbuster, Moonwalker, Moondancer, and any other conceivable variation.

This was a second hand antenna but some guys fork out the dough for them new!
Bought my moonraker 4 brand new 1974 $ 119.95 without rotor. Works great on 10 and 12 meters with adjustment.

[W2ILP]

I had a neighbor who had a vertically polarized CB beam. I think that CBers were supposed to standardize on vertical polarization. They tried to use only 5 watts to propagate beyond the horizontally positioned layers. His antenna looked like the letter "H". I see that he took the antenna down and probably doesn't use CB radio anymore. He gave up the H phone for a cell phone.

w2ilp (Internet Lacks Polarization)

[n0jaa]

Quote[/b] (KC0TKB @ April 05 2005,21:25)]I was monitoring 11m (CB) SSB this evening and some guy (664 in Louisiana) was claiming to have a HyGain 4 element beam about 55 feet in the air. He was using a Galaxy (unknown model). Is that legal using a beam? I just use an Antron A99 vertical and a Realistic TRC-448. That does me good enough. I am happy with my station, only like having QSOs with other CBers within 10-30 miles of my QTH. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif # 73 de kc0tkb
Well, technically, using a beam on a CB base station IS legal (at least I can find no regulation prohibiting it), providing the station puts out no more than 4 watts carrier power on AM or 12 watts PEP on sideband (FCC rule 95.410), and the total effective signal range is no more than 155.3 miles (FCC rule 95.413). The antenna and mast can be no more than 60 feet tall (FCC rule 95.408).

Of course, we all know that everyone abides by the CB rules... right?!?!?!?



http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

73, Paul.

[ai4ep]

...yep I can almost hear it now...

gonna sell my 5 kw amp and get myself a set of beam antennas & rotor and a 40 foot tower ( dont want to get too high up ).

.................................yea...suuuure ! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ai4ep]

wow...6300 posts and still going strong !!

I finally made a long distance contact today! at a distance 149.8 miles away on Channel 38 LSB. Veru cool!

[ve2nsm]

Use to have a Hy-gain 5 elements on a 24' boom on top of a 60 tower... pretty powerfull antenna, around 13dBi if I remember well.
I also built a dual 5 elements (H/V) on a shorter boom, (22') with equal coax runs to the switch box, I was using dual polarization for DX work, keeps the fading minimal.

I must have pictures somewhere...

[ve2nsm]

There ya go...

The home brew dual 5 elements on a 20' boom
http://eaulive.free.fr/photos/5elhv.jpg

And when I got tired of CB, the 24' hygain 5 elements was recut to 10 meters and put horizontal, the home made dual 5el was turned into a very performant 6 elements for 6 meters and on top of all this I add a vertical 5el for the high end of 6 meters and a vertical 8 for 2m FM
http://eaulive.free.fr/photos/stack.jpg

The ham IV rotor passed the test http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif