How do we save CB???

[Guzzy]

CBers have always been 'secondary users' of the CB bands (more specifically the frequencies they occupy). The MOD is the primary user and always has been. So when you hear that digital chirp or encrypted whistle on a channel, maybe it's a division of tanks rolling past the front door.

Ofcom has decided in it's infinite wisdom (oh, and it did ask us as well - at least it asked 25 of us, no I'm not kidding, look it up, they received 25 responses from 'interested CB users') that we will now share the 'CB CHANNELS' (all 80 of them - the UK40 AND the EU 40) with CADS users.

Of course, the interesting thing about the Ofcom proposal for CADS was that even though there were 20,000 licensed CBers (each having paid £15 a year for the privilege to use CB) they didn't actually send any letters to any of the licence holders asking for their opinion. No, they just posted the announcement on their website and if you didn't know to look for it, tough.

So when you hear someone BROADCASTING a live event on a CB channel or hear live singing or anything that isn't people holding a "CB conversation", it's probably a CADS BROADCAST.

How do you tell the difference between a CADS BROADCAST and an idiot pretending to be 'Radio 1' on channel 19?

I don't know, and Ofcom don't care, they have washed their hands of the CB channels. No licence, no interest in policing it anymore.

Ofcom had considered revoking the original UK40 channels, but since the CADS users have been introduced this is no longer certain. They may well still revoke the UK40 channels around about 2012. In which case we can look forward to sharing 40 EU channels with all of Europe (including the SSB crowd) and the UK CADS BROADCASTERS.

Something to look forward to then.

Jon

http://www.citizensbandradio.org
27MHz.org.uk

[ellitanthalas]

What is CADS?

Only 20,000 licenced users?
So all those trucks I saw (and still see) with CB antennas on their rooves were unlicenced? Or did their company have something like a single licence that covered all employees?

[Guzzy]

Prior to the 8th of December 2006, each and every single CBer was required by law to obtain a CB Licence prior to operating their CB equipment.

Most CBers ignored this. It is estimated that there were twice as many unlicensed CBers as licensed ones.

20,000 licensed operators. 40,000 illegal CB operators. So as many as 60,000+ in total perhaps?

From the 8th of December 2006, there is no CB licence. You just have to purchase legal equipment. So no 100W SSB gear I'm afraid, still just the same old 4W FM.

There have been many forum topics on CADS, look them up for details, but to summarise:

CADS is Community Audio Distribution. It is the open permission from Ofcom for an individual, group or organisation to transmit information on the CB channels for a period not in excess of four hours at any one time. No written permission or formal declaration of intent to broadcast is required. Just do it. This information is supposed to be 'live', So for example, you would be allowed to broadcast a church service, a local council meeting, a 'party in the park' a local amateur dramatics 'play' or anything that is performed 'live' for the purpose of broadcast.

Originally, it's purpose was to allow Muslim 'call to prayer' over the CB channels and for home bound users to listen into live church (of any religious denomination, obviously) services. Ofcom expanded its remit to cover any live performance.

How you actually know if a received signal is being performed 'live' is beyond me. Ofcom aren't interested anyway, They have specifically stated that any user conflict must be resolved between the users and not involve Ofcom. The exception to this rule is if illegal equipment is being used. How do you know if illegal equipment is being used?

I regularly get Irish church services come in on skip to the Medway Towns, as do many others across the UK. Antennas mounted on top of church/mosque spires just doesn't bear thinking about.

Personally, I think it is an open invitation from Ofcom to every wannabe DJ in the UK to use the CB channels as a radio station.

Jon :

[stampman]

cb was open to small buisness's in 1981 when it became legal and you would know if it was an illeagle broadcast if you were listening on an uk set because if it was an am broadcast it would sound awfull preston has had a church broadcast on ch 8 midband for years with no problems and i think most promoters eould give a lot of consideration to using cb when it can be swo easely interupted by home town dj's plus they would not make money from it


idle thought's from a demented mind

[Guzzy]

Demented minds are the best...

... or is that fermented minds?

Anyway, CADS may or may not develop into a problem in your particular area. I guess it depends on who decides to make use of it.

I still think Ofcoms method of introduction and the fact that they didn't think it worth while consulting the existing licence holders (how much do two stamps, a questionnaire and a couple of office monkeys cost?) was damn well inconsiderate.

Maybe it will re-promote CB, who knows.

Speaking of promoting CB...

Don't forget to dust off you CB's for:



Time to dust off those CB's and take to the hills!

Sunday the 5th of August 2007 is the next CB DX Super Sunday.

Operating on EU 25 FM and UK 25 FM, with 27.555 USB for those who like a bit of freebanding.

Jon

[gaspipe58]

I feel the need to add to this post but not sure how --- fermented mind I guess

I think CADS is a good thing and could be a very useful tool but not on a shared frequency. Thinking purely from a church mission standpoint - it's what attracted me to the CADS idea - it would be pointless. To receive the transmissions my listeners would need to invest in 'specialist' radio equipment. I wouldn't bother so why would anyone else? Quality is not up to much and we may get interruptions from all manner of people. Some might even use unholy words. From my position CADS on CB is a nonstarter.

However CB does have it's uses. Truckers, taxis, groups wanting cheap non-secure comms, as a hobby, the lonely or house -bound...... and so on. Oh yes CB has lots of value to lots of people. It's just a shame that some people are so utterly selfish that they wish to ruin it for everyone else.

It seems to me Ofcom are not taking either CB or CADS seriously.

Tim

[EarthWormJim]

ofcom couldnt take a funeral seriously.

ofcom will never beat us there are more of us than them

[stampman]

if ofcom had gone to the user's they would have broken a cardinal rule of any goverment never ask the people

[gaspipe58]

if ofcom had gone to the user's they would have broken a cardinal rule of any goverment never ask the people

Good point well made

Tim

[ellitanthalas]

So if they don't give a toss, why should we?

I say we just carry on using the CB frequencies anyway.

[gaspipe58]

We need to care because it's us and our families that are being exposed to the foul language and abuse that some idiots insist on launching at us.

We will continue to use CB frequencies as they have been allocated for that purpose - I just wish people would stop abusing it.

Putting CADS on CB frequencies is just plan daft. Even without the idiots it will cause problems for both sets of users.

Tim

[stampman]

people have a go because cb is an easy target and you get so many differant types of people on cb and swearing is second nature to some people and they do not realise they are doing it we can only lead by example

[Matt C]

We used CB to keep in contact while spending 6 months travelling around the UK with a motorhome and car .My wife and I have had experiences good and bad, depending on which part of the country we have been touring.

My wife had a nasty experience whilst on the M6. Some nutter heard her voice, and started demanding to know where she was going, and did she want to stop!! When she politely told him she wasn't interested, and was talking to her husband. After that we received abuse, and were 'chased' up and down the channels until he was out of range!

CB has also introduced us to proper 'gentlemen'. We once were caught by the snow-gates at Ballinluig, and had to overnight camp in the motorhome in a truck park. We were getting buffetted badly by the wind and snow, so two lorries came and 'boxed' us in from the wind!

(cheers 'smurf', if you're reading this!)

We found that when we were out in the countryside, CB was being used effectively, and you could ask for advice or just 'pick a window' of your own and not have any problems. When we passed through cities, that's when the abuse, dead-keyers or wannabe DJ's all started up. A real shame!

I think CB will only have a future if we find an effective use for it. I was into CB quite a lot when I was a kid. It was a great hobby and you could have a conversation with someone, just for the sake of it.

Nowadays, I only use it to chat with the wife, and rarely does anyone jump in 'just for a ratchit'.

CB nowadays isn't exactly 'inviting'. A handy tool maybe, but that's a far as it goes for me I'm afraid......It's a shame......

[boyscout]

However, like Tim said - Make it look cool and people will go for it.
How many people (be honest now) took up smoking and/or drinking because at the time it was considered cool?

Well I do both, smoke and drink. My Dads a truck driver and when he had a CB in the truck I used to think it was very cool. ooooooooooohhhhhhh Convoy the film, loved it all. The smoking and drinking came after the marriage to the first wife.

[randombod]

last time i said (this radio is never going to die )went out to the car and crossed wired the set DEAD

woops that would do it , not your finest hour then