imo it should stay separate. Cb'ers act a fool too much. They are always fighting, arguing, talking over each other...we dont need them on ham. Thats what the license system is for,, to keep these lower IQ people off the hf bands... Another thing, cb is 4watts,,period. It is actually illegal to attemp a contact over 150 miles away. The top of your cb antenna cant be over 12 feet off the ground. If you follow the law, a cb isnt worth it.

I have been a Extra class Ham since 1991. I still love to get on 38 LSB they are probably more ham operators on 38 LSB Than 11 m operators. They are nothing wrong with Amateur operators talking on 11 meter that’s where over 3/4 of amateur operators come from.If your local club Gave you the cold shoulder that’s their problem not yours. Keep the good work up

There's a good reason we're seeing an uptick in CB sales again in the U.S.. For me it's like this: 1. It's free to use. 2. It's uncensored, open public communication. 3. No third party infrastructure, making it more dependable in the long run. 4. Emergency preparedness. 5. It's fun. As a hobby one learns radio application and antenna theory, but some history along with the technology... as you say, there's nostalgia to it. Coming up on 2 years since I got (back) in to the radio hobby. Would like to see more folks get back on the air. Studying for my Tech, but honestly only to be a better 11 meter operator in the long run. I like having options.

Radio is radio. Yes, there are idiots on CB, but there are idiots on amateur radio, as well. CB is another tool in the toolbox for emergency communications. I heard that during Katrina, truckers provided valuable information to first responders. I am sure that has happened in other disaster situations, as well. EmCommers need to have as many avenues of communication as possible. Also, It can be fun to be on CB, too.

I chuckled when you called CB the “gateway drug” to ham radio. Same thing happened for me. I was in the middle of the CB craze in the 70s when I got my ham ticket in 1976. The rift between ham and CB radio came about when the FCC removed any license requirements for CB. I always had a CB in my vehicles (still do) and have recently started putting together a CB in my shack. 38 LSB has quote a bit of activity and the operators do take it seriously using Q-codes, etc. I think the only concern I have is the amount of CBers that are using ham radios on CB. I believe, and I might be wrong, that CB still has the 5W power limit, and we all know most ham rigs are 100W. Anyway, great idea for a video. Instead of a fireside chat it’s a roadside chat!

You hit the nail on the head when you said pizzaz. I graduated high school in 1981. My Dad was a polio crippled TV Radio repairman who built really powerful linear amplifiers for his buddies back in the 70s. First talked on a cb when I was 13. You’re right about the nostalgia and the chrome and the gateway! Ham is not better. But rather it’s different. Their is no reason to be a snob. It’s merely a different starting point into this fascinating hobby. Yes I did like the video. And who knows? When I get my base station set up, you may be hearing from Chattanooga TN !

I agree with you....amateur radio is a radio communications hobby, which I feel includes CB (and GMRS)

I started off on CB in the early 80s when I was a kid and they were a craze in the UK. I still have my old radios in a storage unit. CB was the first mass social media! I would not have eventually got licensed without it. We were fortunate in my area that quite a few of the hams used CB too and passed on some of the knowledge. There is still some activity on 27MHz and I still talk to people on there.

Absolutely, I started in cb radio in the late 70s . Hell I used to hand create my own QSL cards and exchanged them as a young boy. I am afraid some of the older guys did not have that kind of fun experience when they were young, or just dislike people who like fun. No different then fishing. Many fly fishermen dislike shore fishermen. It's just a thing, who cares. Do what you love and share it. Life is to short to bother with anything else. Great video 741. 73

Bravo!! I am 100% behind you on this one. I see reasons to be active in both Ham and CB, and I am. In fact, I got into CB after getting my Ham license - because it saw it as the cheapest and quickest way to get into HF before getting pricey Ham HF gear. I learned how HF signals propagate by using my CBs. And I love listening to skip during the day. I used CB as a teen in the 1970s but hadn't touched it since. Now I'm hooked again. You're right about the way the old radios look, and I've been collecting a few from the 70s because they're fun and cheap. Generally speaking they're simple in and out, and a guy like me can even do some of the repairs. I really don't like the "rift" of CB vs Ham. Comparing them isn't fair; they are distinct culturally and both have relevant uses today. I'll add GMRS into that mix too, and I'm also licensed for that. Culturally it is also different from the other two - more emergency response and less rag chew in my area. Being involved in those three types of radio services brings variety to my own hobby. I steered myself away from a local club partly because of the reaction most of the members had to my use of CB. Pretty sad. But I've found MANY Hams who have been interested in CB and have started asking me questions about my radios etc. A lot of them have started to - or returned to - using CBs on the side for fun because of my involvement. We have Nets on Channels 16 and 40 LSB on Saturday nights locally, and many of the participants are also Hams. Some aren't, and 99% of them are great radio hobbyists who know a lot about electronics. I have heard the divisive commentary, about how one service is this or that - or using demeaning terms to describe the operators. Not fair, not cool. CB isn't Ham. CB isn't GMRS, or MURS, or FRS. All services and all users are different. I have my fair share of CB stories with arguments, drunk tirades etc, and it's funny to talk about them. But I will never use those to describe all CB operators! That just doesn't make sense, right? And on CB there are 40 channels - which means someone can CHANGE THE CHANNEL if they don't like what they hear. That's freedom. My oldest son is not the kind of person to get a Ham license, but he LOVES CB radio. I've been able to share that with him. In my mind, there are far more reasons to get involved in all types of radio services, than to focus on just one of them. Thank you for this video, and for your commentary! 73s from Kurt in Seattle - 993 / Checkpoint Charlie

KO4KAD here, great video and I just bought my first CB in 30 years and use both! Keep up the good videos!

I like this style of video you did. You made a lot of good points about CB radio. I have been using a CB radio in my pickup truck since i was 17 and still do to this day. I use it mostly for traffic info on my way back and forth to work. Sometimes I get informed before the GPS says anything. And you are right there are a lot of good people out there! In CB land I call it. lol

I was a kid in the 70's when I bought my first CB radio. i still have it here on the shelf. I had to have my father send in the form to get the CB license. Some of my friends ended up doing the same thing. We had a blast. I grew up on the Jersey Shore and in the early 90s we had a TON of people who lived in South Jersey and worked in North Jersey and we spoke to each other on the CB to and from work. I finally met a Ham in 1995 and in January of 1996 I got my Ham license. CB was sort of slowing down then and I was happy to find 2 meter repeaters to communicate. Many of the Hams I met looked down on "11 meters". For me, it was the excitement of two-way radio. I didn't understand the snobbery. Then you have Hams looking down on other Hams who don't get their General or Extra license. I heard one tell someone "You're only a 2 meter Ham." I am not sure how that was significant. Likewise, one old Ham would tell the other that "he" wasn't a real Ham because he couldn't work CW. Really? What happened to, "There is is something in this hobby for everybody"? Some hams only do CW, some only VHF. For those that do voice (phone) on 10 meters, how is that different than 11 meters? Having said that, yes there are bad actors on both sides. I finally put a CB back in my car (in addition to VHF) because a significant portion of my daily commute is on I-95 here in Southeast Georgia, near Savannah. There is not much going on on channel 19, but when road traffic is backed up, it is a tremendous help to take alternate routes. If one of my kids or friends wants to know more about radio (CB or Ham), I will absolutely help out. It is fun, you get to use a little math, a little physics and a little electrical theory for fun! And sharing that is even more fun! Thanks for the video.

Hello, been a ham since 1991. Last few years of my older age I have been taking up a bucket list of things I always wanted to do as a child and growing up, like metal detecting, rock tumbling, sling shot and now CB. Bought a President McKinley and Randy. Big reason for CB is Sun Spot cycle peaking in 2025, this means about 6 years of 11 meter skip. In any case for some reason I feel more at ease, comfortable CB'ng. I'll always be a ham, but CB is just plain funner! Love your videos, and I see K2CJB below me, he has good ones too! 73 K0TU and now StormRider 313

WoW!!!! So VERY glad you breached the Ham vs CB divide!!! YES!, there are more than enough HAMs whom look down their noses towards CB. They forgetting, (for the most part) they too started with CB. I had my Tech License, but let it expire. Tiring of the Ham, "We're better than you CB'rs". Both have their place. BTW... How far did you walk for this episode!!!???!!!

I have had my tech class license for 20 years but still do CB. I run a Uniden 980 SSB with a Wilson 5000

I’m not a Ham operator. I’ve always been a CB guy growing up in the 70’s. Me and my friends had em in our trucks and Jeeps when we were in high school in the early 80’s. The guys I hunt with all have em in our trucks and hear quite a few people on em over in eastern Ohio along the West Virginia boarder where there’s no cell service. The locals over there are pretty fun to bs with on Friday and Saturday night when we’re over there. Ham radios were something I never had any interest getting into.

Ham radio, CB radio, and GMRS operator here. I also listen to Shortwave and illegal pirate broadcasts. Radio is cool. Every community has toxic people in it, so you just dodge them. I guess be glad the club you were interested in exposed itself before you started paying dues, and move on to better stuff :)

Love these videos, keep them coming Rob!

When I was a kid in the 70's, everyone connected with my folks had CB's and I had my own handle as well. It's just another form of communication but the elitist snobs don't approve. Life is too short for that kind of negativity!!!

Thanks 741! Yep, I have many memories of CB radio from using it when I was a kid. We had a Johnson radio and it was a mobile and it went on trips with us. Fun stuff.

Dude just found your station. Love it and I'm from Connecticut too. Awesome. I live in utah now. I lived in Waterbury for 35 years

First part of the video you said you can get CB radios at hamfest. If she needs it so bad why do most ham operators have CB radios. I'm 55 years old and most hand radios are out of my reach still financially I wish it wasn't true but it is. So I'll stick with my hobby I've had for 45 years now good old Cb radio

I no longer own any CB radios and have held a Extra Class ham radio license for 25 years now, but prior to getting my ham license I spent 20 years operating on 27.385 LSB on CB radio. It was exactly like operating on the 75 meter phone band on amateur radio with the exception that we didn't have to ID every 10 minutes. On CB SSB mode everyone went by their first name instead of using a handle like AM operators on CB radio do. We had an absolute blast talking on there, but after I got my ham license pretty much all of my friends went on to get their ham radio licenses as well and once I got my first HF radio I never went back to the 11 meter band again. I remember being in a sideband radio club called the 12 America Group (#12 because NC was the 12th state) that had 600+ members at one time and I used to publish a monthly newsletter for the group. I would buy stencil sheets at the local newspaper office and type them on an old manual typewriter and another member had a old crank handle memeograph machine that would run the newsletters off of my stencils and lots of members donated money for postage to mail the newsletters with. We also had a once per year dinner and get together at a lodge in Elk Shoals Methodist Campground along the banks of the New River in West Jefferson, NC. I had a lot of fun those 20 years I spent on 11 meter single-sideband. Since I got my amateur/ham radio license my most favorite thing is having the ability to operate on so many different modes. I enjoy CW=Continuous Wave a.k.a. International Morse Code, operating on SSB phone mode, as well as several digital modes I enjoy too. That's what I like the most about ham radio is being able to operate on so many different modes. I've made a lot of good friends the past 25 years on ham radio, but I'll always remember my roots and all the great friends I made on CB radio too. A lot of hams won't admit it, but there are a slew of hams that also got started in the radio hobby the same way I did and I'm not ashamed of it in any way! Radio is a hobby for our enjoyment so whether you enjoy CB, amateur radio, or a little of both the main thing is to enjoy yourself and have as much fun as possible and that's exactly what I do. Very 73 = "Very best regards from Cliff, KU4GW"

I love 11M! Just rollin down the highway last week, riding home late from a long trip out to Dayton to help a coworker that was down with C19, I had a great time talking to the truckers riding in the same direction. It makes the time fly and I really appreciate that, not to mention that you wont usually find out what the traffic jam is from listening on the 2M rig! Also, us hams have a Sat night gettogether at 8pm that is lots of fun. I am an Extra that realizes my 2-way comms started on CB!

Thanks Rob. Appreciate your videos.

I like cb radio. Most ham in my area is repeater 2m stuff, ie runs on 3rd party equipment, like cell phone. . I like stick to stick radio. If shtf I need local comms. I talk out 45 miles with a good radio/antenna. That is 1600 square miles of coverage locally. I like talking with people where I live. I have no need to talk the world. I get lots of skip so I do get the opportunity to do that for fun, and that is good fun. Why make it harder than it needs to be. I listen to hams on my shortwave and scanners. Doesn't seem any different than what I do on cb, and most of the traffic is 2m role calls with clubs. This has zero appeal. Cb is simple, easy going, fun. I just don't need anything more. If the powers down, my 12 v battery powers up my station for the whole day. No big power drain. I like setting up when hiking as well, I can get a 1/2 wave in the air on fish pole in 5 mins. Simple.

cell phones hurt CB. I drove truck for 40 years and never saw these 40-50-60 car pileups in the snowstorms back in the day. cars yes....trucks rarely

Hi. I bought my first cb ( Sharp small window) in 1976, it started a life long interest in " talking to people " I got my ham license in 1995/6 and have always used both.. I had a similar experience at my local radio club and if it wasn't for cb radio ( finding out the enrolling night) I would probably not have become a ham. At the end of the day it is radio pure and simple..it's all about communication. Radio mirrors life in general ie good/bad people..if you don't like what people are saying, move frequency / change band or switch off 🤔.. 73 Greg G7VAG.

CB Radio and Ham Radio both have good and bad actors. Thing is, Hammy Hams actually study for a license, get that "ticket" and still act bad. Admit it boys, most of you Hammy Hams started on CB Radio.. Taking a walk with 741:) Cheers.

I started dabbling in CB’s, UHF and also 27 MHz here in Australia before moving into Amateur Radio. I think there shouldn’t be any this vs them… there is too much of that in the world. Like you Rob, I don’t understand all the negativity, and I’m sorry to hear about the issues with the club you had. On another note you live in a beautiful part of the world and I enjoyed this video. Hopefully one day I can visit

I'm interested in getting my ham license so I watch ham radio videos on KZfaq and I read the comments from hams and **some** hams are just so snobby and "above the world" it makes me loose interest immediately. But then I watch your videos and other "good" hams and it makes me want to do it again. Maybe one day I will, but for now I'll stick to the CB and have fun with it.

I love cb radio an ham radio

Great video 741. I just saw this even though it was made two years ago. I took my CB out of my tractor back in 2002, because it was just so profane back then. I recently put one in, and I feel the same way you do, it’s nostalgic, I think a lot of the bad element maybe is gone. Thank You for this video.

Coming from CB radio since I was 14 iv now had my ham ticket for nearly 20 years. I haven't operated as an amateur in over 5 years now for one simple reason... The snobbery.. Ham operator's look down their nose I find and will shun you once they hear you are from a CB background, never has an 11 meter operator done this and the hypocrisy is alot of hams came from CB. When it comes to operating procedure I know loads of 11 meter stations could put plenty of hams to shame. Its been years since I bought an amateur radio but I still buy CBs... I know my place and I'm very happy there.

I'm in the UK and i use both.Ham Radio, full ticket, and CB Radio :)

I love and use both

My exposure to CB radio also came when I was a child. I had an 'Archer Space Patrol' Walkie Talkie, that I came to find out was crystal controlled to channel 14. Unfortunately, that was all the access I had to it back then. I do remember someone telling me that 'if you love CB radio, you'll love Ham radio even more, because you can talk with more power, and around the world!' Well, that intrigued me. Cut to middle age, and I finally got my ticket, and have enjoyed Ham radio ever since. But, I never forgot that excitement around CB radio when I was a child. I ended up getting a CB radio to play around with, and hooking it up to one of my Ham radio antennas, and trying it out. Unfortunately, not much to hear out here in the Intermountain West (Utah), except during Sporadic E, then LOTS to hear, for sure. So, at this point, I'll usually just tune up my HF rig on the CB radio frequencies from time to time just to hear what's out there. I usually like to listen more than I talk anyway. So, to your original question in the title - 'Can CB radio coexist with Ham Radio?' I see absolutely no reason why not. Yes, I've 'shot skip' when Sporadic E has been happening, and talked to a few people. After that, then I'll turn on the HF rig, and tune to 10 meters, and call CQ, and have a QSO or two. Why not? It all sounds like fun to me... DE K7RLN

Please take your time to read this. it may be long winded....but its what is at the end that counts So as a licensed operator for just over a year i feel i have experienced enough at this point to give some input. My first experience with any kind of radio was cb radio.Just out of high school and loved the idea of two way radio. Actually experienced a "skip" conversation at 19 years old that allowed me to talk to another person over 500 miles away. Other than that, there weren't many other cb'ers near me and most of my range was limited to around 5 to 8 miles because i was mobile. I'm sure that base stations are much more efficient than being mobile, however as the newer generation, i didn't have time to sit at home on a radio. Now, this brings me to the present. which now i feel my eyes have been opened. Even though i am a licensed operator i have not joined any clubs, because let's face it, i want to have fun on my terms. I don't want to represent an entity that may feel indifferent on how i use my equipment. That is up to me and the laws set by the FCC and government agencies. That being said, i do prefer ham radio over CB any day of the week. and here are my thoughts as to why. 1) Power output allocations are much higher on ham radio. 50 watts is just a whisper in the wind and is whats mostly used in the vhf uhf bands 2) The use of repeaters maximizes the effective range of your radio especially when you are mobile. CB bands on am do not use repeaters. i average 30 to 45 miles of clear effective communications while i am mobile with the use of repeaters. and there are repeaters across the entire country. 3) As a technician class license holder (the entry level ham) i am able with todays technology to talk to other operaters all over the world, and also have the capability to set up my own communications network 4) Ham radio allows for several different modes of transmitting Which includes am, fm ,single sideband, code, packet , and digital voice modes. 5) lastly, the people. the people are much more genuine than most of the cb'ers out there. less drama on the airwaves and after one year of doing this, i have only met one radio operator i can't stand. Now even after my preference of ham radio, i do believe that cb still can be useful in an emergency, but in my eyes that would be the last type of radio i would reach for. at least with my ham radios i can use up to 1500 watts of power legally without fear of breaking any laws. while cb radio, legally, is limited to 4 watts power output. all around fm communications are much more effective especially in a family setting or hiking scenario. Ok so, here is my final thought People need not worry about what others feel about what they use. Whatever type of radio or communication device you use, if it works for you , that is the only thing that ever matters. i do encourage people to get into ham radio. But i would never discourage what works for the individual. Ham radio is what works for me. And dude .....please do not .....for the love of god......join an amateur radio club. i haven't and won't because it just throws a wrench into a great hobby. Oh, and i still own a stryker 655 modded for cb radio. always need a backup. lol At this point seperation isnt even a thing. its what works for you. 73, KC3QPJ Aaron

I posted a lengthy comment the other day ,, now it’s not here 🤦🏼‍♂️. Good video 👍

I have no problem getting a license to operate a ham radio, I think the big turn off is how snobby and strict the operation of how the actual communication works. I think if the rules were more relaxed for some of the bands, more people would be interested in participating.

I operate both. No stigmas here. 73s from SixOneSeven Central Connecticut

I enjoy both , and like you , I get cold shouldered by most hams around here .

I love cb because there is normal people talking on it and I live by a truck stop and I talk to truckers from all across the country and you can have some interesting conversations

Great video, enjoyed your discussion. Unfortunately too many ham are too full of themselves. I got my license when the code test was a requirement, and I think they ought to go back to that requirement, because it filters out those idiots not really interested and serious about getting in the hobby and on the air. Its just as well the local club you speak of giving you the cold shoulder, they are telling you not to waste your valuable time and interest with those who don't understand what the hobby is really about.

I'm sure I'll get some hate for this but a lot of old timers hams back in 60s/70s never got over the fact that they lost the 11m band (27Mhz) to the Citizens Band service. Funny thing is at the moment I hear more operators on 27Mhz CB and very few hams if any on 10m 28Mhz. Most of the voices I hear on CB are voices I hear on the ham bands. It's a strange old world we live in.

I am in UK, 53 years age, on CB continuously since 1982, I love it, but yes, it has a small minority of problem operators, but they often either 'grow up' and calm down/start to value it, or get bored and disappear (with luck). My whole life would be ENTIRELY different without it, and the COUNTLESS social connections I've made over these many years. So so many fantastic, interesting, funny, helpful, friendly people, from ALL different backgrounds,,, and yes, a moron or two, but alot of whom were just made 'difficult'/'damaged' by life events often from a young age, so were hyper-aggressive as a pre-emptive defence mechanism(simplistic explanation). Shown patience (not always easy) over time, and spoken to/included, or their arrival on channel acknowledged with a 'glad'/welcoming voice, VERY often we would see those 'outer layers' thin down or come off, revealing somebody that was perhaps troubled, but actually good to have around (between flare ups if prone to them). So it's a Citizen's service, a social system, you don't need to be a 'doctor' of the science of it, it's at the technically simple end, hyper-affordable, all of which is what makes it so available. I am also a UK HAM, and I love the science of it. We have a fabulous spectrum to use, and again, I meet MANY great people on/through it, BUT, yes it's got to have high standards, regulation and licence conditions. It's a far more formal and scientific/serious radio hobby, with far more potential to cause harmful/serious interference to other services, if used incorrectly/poorly, and so it is a far more serious radio/comms hobby. They are quite different services, but both have validity, and both are fantastic in their place, (and the UHF GMRS/FRS/MURS etc.) IT'S ALL RADIO, 'keep the faith'!

As a kid in the late 60s and early 70s, I was around CB before it became a fad. It was even used by the local volunteer fire department. Before there was a central countywide 911 dispatch, there was a firehouse siren and CB's. I maintained a mobile and base into the early 90s, and cell phones. I hold a general class license, but no one else in my family does. Been thinking about CB, especially SSB, again for local family communications. Always had a decent range and much less BS than on AM.

Great video, I am a Ham operator and a Cb operator and I too hate how cb is talked down upon in the amateur community. 1. Cb is to many the gateway into ham radio. 2. In classes I've taken helping me get my first license I had licensed operators talking bad about cb then showing me modified kenwoods with cb capabilities. 3 i agreed with your prepping part of this video. Isn't it one of the main things as a ham operator to be able to or help with communications in times of disaster/distress? I know this will probably never happen but, what if ham bands were down and all you could get out on was 11 meters ie. Cb. 5. last what's it going to hurt when you have probably one or two thousand dollar radios in your shack to mount a used $20 or new $100-200 radio and maybe be that person that helps bring some into ham radio. 73

Great video, read all the comments. I'm a UK Ham, foundation level, maybe the same as your technician level. I'm in the process of firing up my old CB's and getting a modern mini one for my car just for the randomness of communication. We have a great community of very nice and polite operators on VFH/UHF and the UK protocol keeps the talk clean and informative. But sometimes I 'wanna go to the pub on a Friday night' and have a bit of banter...does that make sense?

The best radio is the one you have that works that reaches your intended audience

It's nice to see another Ham operator who loves radio. I have always been a lover of CB radio. I have been a Ham for 13 year's, I would have never become Ham operator if I had not been a CBer first. I think if Ham people where honest they would admit to taking the same path. I ran in to people that did not want me to get my Ham ticket, because I was a CBer. I think there is room for everyone out there. I think Hams should be more supportive and less insecure. I think if you done away with CB radios, you mite close the gate on a big portion of the people who becomes Hams. The Ham crowd is around 50 and above, who would there be to talk to in 30 years. Thanks for making this video.

I am a new HAM. I had a 18ch AM CB in the 80's. I have two UHF CB HT's and three HAM FM HT's. Still need to get a HF rig. Most HAM's start with CB but deny they used them. You guys have GMRS, MURS and FRS also. It's just another tool to have in your toolbox that may just save a life. The more the merrier, there are bad CB and HAM users, I just change the channel. I must say, I really like the old style of old CB chrome, illuminated knobs etc. I wish I kept my old CB's. 😢

I really enjoyed CB radio in the 70's. I do not participate today only because there's no one around here (in NJ) to enjoy a QSO with. The only activity seems to be folks who have converted 10 meter amps that have lots of bandwidth, and horrible audio. It's just not what I enjoy doing. I do know people who do and enjoy it very much.

I talk on the cb band and the ham band I'm a licensed ham operator I use a rci 2950dx mobile and I use an antron 99 and you can use an antron on 10 Meters

I am waiting for the FM mode to come out. I am guessing That President will market their European unit for the states. I want one and also want to add to my GMRS capabilities. Yes the two can coexist.

I have been in CB since I was 14 in 1981. The local cb chatter in my city used to thrive. Plenty of people on there. Now unfortunately in my city it has gotten very thin. Very early morning 5am or so there’s 3 people me and a few old retired guys. We went from at least 40 local Cb players to maybe 10 if we are lucky. I started studying and listening to ham to see if I like it. The goal is to at least get my General license. On 3.850 I hear plenty of cussing arguing and fighting. And I have heard operators say that after 10pm cussing is ok and if people didn’t like it to F off. On 7.200 I have heard the same. The Dx aspect is what attracts me to ham. As a person who can only listen at this point I can say the only difference in ham and cb in my opinion is the amount of power needed to talk dx it doesn’t take as much and the license. I personally know ham operators who use double the legal limit on ham and always say they are running legal. There are renegades and bad apples in every hobby. I will be testing soon and have taken it very serious but I don’t think being able to memorize the answers to 35 questions on a multiple choice test makes anyone any smarter than anyone else. Some people aren’t interested in building or repairing but just love operating. I’m sure after being licensed many people have forgotten everything they studied.

Some of the comments here show why ham radio is more of an old man's hobby that's on the wane as far as new hams are concerned. I was a CBerin the 1970s before "shooting skip" was a thing. We all had our FCC permits and callsigns (though no one used them unless someone asked, we used our handles as was customary), we had local clubs we belonged to, we learned about antenna installation and testing SWR,we met and made friends with like-minded radio hobbyists in our area. It was basically 11 meter QRP without requiring the technical knowledge and CW ability to get on the air and start having fun with radio. We were basically entry-level hams but y'all discouraged rather than encouraged us to progress in the hobby. I ended up majoring in electronics in college and at almost 65 years old am starting to prepare to take my exam and get on the air (HF) hopefully before the end of this year.

I am more active on cb than on amateur bands. Most the people I know personally aren't hams and are within 15 miles away from my location so cb works well. But I do love the amateur bands as well. Radio is radio , Good and bad on both.

Not a CBer myself, but I don't see why it should be excluded. I wish radio clubs would embrace 'having fun with RF'. That would probably also revitalise clubs. There's a lot of people playing with radios, but not necessarily as hams.

It's kinda like telegraph vs fax machine...they are both dying rapidly...but it only takes 2 to have a conversation...

I too started on CB in the 70s like a lot of hams. I'm an over the road trucker and I always have a CB on, 2 meter, on and My HF radio on. There all fun and CB is a safety tool for me. The hams that put down CB generally do because of the language used on CB and its very true, a far change from the 70s. However I've heard the same far to much in ham radio, and these guys are even using there call signs. It's a sad thing of this day and age. But I too still enjoy CB, and 11 meters is capable of extremely long range in good conditions.

Ive been a General Class Ham for 25 yrs, I also use a CB in my big truck, nothing wrong with it, I can VFO up to 14.313 and hear some of the most vial crap in the world, same thing on 7.200 lsb hey bad apples in everything.

I'm with you there, CB's are fun, you're right, old cb radios are highly collectible now a days. Lastly, I don't believe that guys on cb radios have low IQ like the other guy commented below. A lot of cb'ers have creative brains technically speaking. 73's.

It's the same origine, Nicola Tesla, Guglielmo Marconi and others that make radio communications a real thing. So I'm started in 80s with Cobra 148 GTL, learn the english in the radio that's come true in the school. The CB radio give me the opportunity to make a lot of fun thing's, home made antenna's and other's. So it's fun make the contacts exchange the QSL and exploring other forms of Digi comms. Thank you fer the nice explanation. 7351. During 43 years still active in Portugal, making what I like is exploring the comms, well it's only 11 meters, no problem I could do everything with good form's in comms, Id call every 10 minutes in CB it's possible and for me it's real, so we could do the better thing's in CB or in other's meter's wave, like amateur's. But I'm still amateur's since I use the CB radio, why not? For me the other band's will be better when could be used by everyone without exception. Guglielmo Marconi made it to the world, so let's use it with clever brain.

Sure, I have a CB radios and I have a HAM license and radios. As well I have regular FRS walky-talky. I also have GMRS radios and license and MURS radios. And I use all of the licenses and radios. As for the clubs, unfortunately clubs created not for helping people. I was a member of several different clubs. The important word WAS here…

Sorry this happened to you brother, I’m only a technician, but I find cb is way more relaxed to talk on, and the people I’ve talked to on 10 meter and 2 meter, 70cm are to serious and have no personality, I feel like ham operators in general, not all treat it as a business rather than a fun hobby. Just my thoughts.

I have to chuckle. A lot of hams have concerns about using ham gear on CB like K2CJB below. 50+ years ls a long time to be concerned. CB'er have been using ham gear since the 1970's if not longer. If a CB'er is going to use "Power, and a lot do" I would rather see them uses a good piece of ham gear then a CB radio with a "CB Amplifier/Spatter Box". I have been a ham radio operator since the 1980's getting my first call WL7AKW in 1980. I was introduced to CB radio in the 70's by my uncle and have been hooked on radio ever since. My first base CB radio was a Realistic Navajo 457 with extra channel. You wanted to get your CB radio modified with extra channels just so you could find a clear channel to talk on. I got into CB radio at the height of the CB craze and every channel from 1-40 well were just crazy. So I "Free Banded" for awhile before getting into ham radio. All these years later I still have a CB radio in the shack. I don't talk on it much because there is not many CB'er around here anymore. I leave it running in the background so when I hear "skip" starting to "Roll" I know 10 meters is opening. 741 I like the format you are trying out here. Keep up the great work. 73 Joe KN4IFI

"This is 853 in the coconut tree florida;;; waving a hand;; reading the mail! 853 just GOT DOWNN!" I mean i hear that nonsense and i want to stop my semi, and jump off the nearest bridge!! I cant take it no more! I turn off the cb and listen to 'rape me' by nirvana because i feel so violated!!!

Being new to the ham community I haven't experienced any snobbery and am not sure why it would ever exist. But then again the worst part of any endeavor is the fact the other humans are also a part of it.

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Why not?? i hold Ham license use hamradio every day at Home, in my truck and at my cabin. have also CB radio in my truck, sadly here in Norway CB is nearly dead.. 30years ago many had it at home and in their cars and it was lots of chatter during the evening and in the morning, because not everyone had cellphones like today. and back then not everyone had phone installed in their house

I am a old Cber that got a ham license way back when they first came out with no-code... My amateur radio experience was mostly on packet... I never felt really welcome when I went to the local amature radio club... I really find the weekly (daily) net check-ins very disheartening... Just knowing that their are that many people that could talk/chat but don't as the local repeater never gets used except for the nets... 🤔 Ham radio is boring and may I say... a bit pompous...

I have a love/hate relationship with CB radio. Just think if there was no CB radio, all the black sheep would be on the Ham bands so count your blessings even though there are a few bad operators on the Ham bands. I don't have a lot of time for CB radio but I use it when traveling out of state. Amateur radio have ham communities that are biased or miff at other modes so you can't make every one happy. I say have fun and enjoy any or all modes they have their place. 73 ..

I am a ham and a CBer and I wouldn't join a club that was anti either way.

Its radio and its just an opinion as to your radio preference, my uncle is a ham radio licience has been for as many years but still goes on 11mtr side bands, they acceptably do other things

Hams should not look down on CB. There is sometimes more activity on CB than on the ham bands!

i will give you an eye opener about ham radio v cb radio and why alot of hams despise cb IAm a ham operator in uk but i also operate cb i have done since late 70s i grew up with it i passed my amature quite a few yrs ago and operate amature bands to specs and i use cb becouse its so unpredicictable where i can get to in the world But theres the age old issue even in uk with a certain generation of ham operators they have worked hard to gain their licences thats fair to say alot started with cb but after passing their ham they then become what id call elletists they think there better than cbers other old school hams came up the ranks of ham radio through the forces air sea land they came out of forces did the exam gained their ticket had no experiance of cb so think that cb radio is below them and treat them with content others and i do agree with their reasoning to an extent have had the miss fortune of cb radio operators using the ten meter amature band probably alot moreso now than back when i was a kid as more and more cb radios are being sold with 28mhz to 30 mhz already built in and sold AS AMATURE radios on the box you press a sequence of buttons your in the cb bands but also becouse these radios are programmed all over the place some 10 meter band frequencies are still there in so called cb bands and in experianced cb operators do not realize they are operating on amature frequencies and amatures obviously will get frustrated about this its the same with these beufeng handheld radios coming out of china for £20 that have vhf and uhf non amaturers by them can easily programme them with amature frequencies on 70 cm and 2 meters as well as some pmr channels a lady i know was given one by a person who programmed the EK3 repeater thats used very frequently by licenced hams she even went on the repeater trying to get a contact becouse the person who gave her it told her it was a PMR channel i corrected her informed her that she was actualy breaking the law and that she should never do it again unless she passes her ham licence but at the time it happened she had no idea she was on ham repeater as she had been told it was a pmr channel so yes ham operators do have reasons not to like cb becouse of a variation of reasons it not just one thing or one mindset except for a very very few hams i for one love cb radio but IF A CB RADIO IS TO BE SOLD AS A CB then Manufactures should not put the frequencies above and including 28.000.00 mghz in them and that does include older radios my old tristar 727 had 28.000.00 to 28.345.00 all ready in it as part of high high band so manufacturers are just as much to blame for cb breakers either knowingly or unknowingly operating in amature 10 meter band becouse the radio is set in bands that include amature frequencies in them if they didnt mistakes could not be made alot of people buy second hand amature radios off of ebay to use as cbs if the radio has been widebanded only once ever has the seller said that they want proof of licence before they sell to make sure the radio goes to a licenced ham operator and ham radios can be picked up as cheaply as a new and in some cases second hand cbs becouse people are asking redicules prices for a cb ham operators pay out an awfull lot of money to enjoy their hobby buying equipement costing thousands pounds yet joe bloggs can pay few hundred and pirate those same frequencies becouse certain sites allow it to happen becouse they are not properly govened there just intrested how much cash they get so ham v cb is alot more complext than most people realize i operate both cb and ham and enjoy both very much but i can see why some hams get annoyed about cb

That's okay buddy I'll ran for you yeah I've been an amateur for over 20 years And I don't like the hatred toward CB either Don't like snobby stuff shirt people

ZL3ALF yes a ham radio operator who uses CB. I don't use UHF because of the idiots that use it. Over here in New Zealand 27mhz ssb is great.

I talk to many hams on 10 meters that started as cb'ers. Some of them still do some 38 lsb , but by far most of them gave up on the idiots that make cb what it is. Most guys on 10 vertical ( local ) got licensed to get away from the 11 meter jackasses. This same group I talk to did the very same thing on CB nightly. Most say they will never go back. I never did cb, and I feel I have not missed anything except idiot operators.

Cb is dead in my area. Back in the 80s it was alive but quiet now. I hear NewEngland is alive and popular. But I also hear of a few Mobile rigs pumping out 5kw driving around to locate people and blasting out front ends. People yanking down towers and cutting coax. I feel like the are people who don’t respect and to be quite honest that behavior kinda keeps me personally from even tuning up 11m 😬😳 I kinda feel like it’s a bunch of unregulated hacks. To openly build amps that put out well more then the allotted 4w limits ? I prefer to associate with law abiding hams who got licensed and follow rules so it’s possible for the qrp thru QRO to make contacts. Last thing I need is hacks fox hunting my qth and messing with my antenna or feedline, I have a hard enough time challenging Mother Nature keeping my antenna system up and flat topped 😉

HAM hates CB because it demonstrates that you don't need to understand Ohms Law to operate a radio. A CB radio (especially export rigs) are the same as any other radio. HAMs want to feel exclusive and special and CB pokes a hole in that fascade.

ham radio snobbery is real, your thoughts on this mirror my own. KY4IT

I think ham radio culture and cb culture is widely different. And I’m glad that it is . I have a cb in my car and listen to ham at home. Cb is more fun and less serious, but overall less useful unless using for work or on the interstate. Cb has a higher amount of racial and economic/class diversity which is appealing to me. Ham is more for function, but cb is all for fun. I don’t have my ham license yet but have been studying and have taken many classes while studying in college that transfers over such as physics 2. I hate the idea that cb users have “less IQ” than ham users. It is an elitist perspective. Whoever says that needs to get smacked in the face. The only difference is race/class which transfers to the quality/amount of education one can get. In conclusion, ham has its place and will likely outlive cb in the years to come as it is used by government and recreational entity. That being said it is bland and everyone ive heard on ham sounds like they either working as an accountant/financial analyst or live in a nursing home and have the last name “smith”, “Johnson”, or “Brown”

i have met my share of ham operators in the past 20 years some i talk yo on 11meter and in person some i have met when the find out i talk on 11 meter there remark is ooo your a cber with a nasty tone so i will stay 11 meter and talk to the ham operator ho still talk there

CB and Ham operators are the same. The abuse Ham's get from some die-hard CB'ers, and the snobby attitude that CB'ers get from some Ham's, is only from a minority on both sides. There are good and bad people in every hobby. I started on CB in the late 1970's and eventually got my Ham licence. I thought it would be really strict and operators would stick to the rules on Ham bands, but how wrong I was. There are just as many absolute plebs on Ham radio as there are on CB bands, and just as many dedicated, sensible, and professional CB op's as there are Ham's. Personally it was more exciting here in the UK when CB was illegal. UKFM was ok but the EU band has made it boring for me. Internet and social media has killed the hobby for the younger generation, CB was our social media.

Ham radio is better than cb because the FCC does monitor the ham band the cb band you can hear a of cussing on the cb band the ham bands you don't hear all that cussing

I don’t understand why you have to be a scientist to get a ham license. It’s. Huge disincentive

No problem with CB… just don’t understand the jive lingo. Nobody talks like that in a public. It’s like some weird make believe world.

I don't want to hurt your feelings but a raw, unedited talking head video is not very entertaining, especially when it takes over three minutes to get to the point. A well thought out, edited video that has one or two points with supporting video that is recorded in a controlled environment without noise from passing cars, outside noise, etc. is much more engaging. Live video is OK if it directly supports the topic and is shot to illustrate a point. Slow pans, closeups of what you're describing with a stable camera are crucial to the watchablility of your video. I am by no means a video production expert, but I have worked in broadcast TV and radio for many years. I offer the following as suggestions to you so that you can increase your viewership. 1. Pick the topic or main focus of your video 2. Make an outline or shot list in chronological order that supports your topic 3. Write a script for each scene in the video. Winging it wastes time and isn't entertaining 4. Gather video clips or shoot B roll video that can be edited over the scene script to illustrate the point you are making 5. Hold the camera still or put it on a tripod. Make your pans slow and allow the viewer to see the context of the shot. Zoom in to show detail. 6. Make your edits smooth and avoid sudden chops in between scenes. 7. Use music as a transition or mood changer. Playing music behind a scene narration, in most cases, is a distractor. 8. Let your personality show through, but avoid the lengthy talking head segment. I hope you won't take this as a hateful criticism. Quite the contrary, most of your videos have really useful information and have helped me solve a problem or make a decision. Have a look at those videos from Your Own World Books that I mentioned before and see what your think of those presentations. Thanks again for your efforts! I will continue to subscribe and enjoy your videos! 73, Jeff

I was traveling years ago needed some local info. I tried all the repeaters and the simplex channels, not a word turned on cb tuned over to ch 19. Break one nine how about some local information someone came back on the first try and I got what I needed. CB radio has its place and I will always have one.73 kc5qxy.

Hit the nail on the head it’s radio , enjoy it that’s what I say , made many radio friends since I started in 1990 , I do both 11metre and ham. Your get bad apples in any hobbie sadly looking down on cbers , Ive had the cold shoulder at a club due too talking about cb radio 😂have a great weekend from Tenby wales , the Scotsman in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 163op110 Mw6hnn