Proposed changes to CB regulations
Submitted: Saturday, Feb 26, 2011 at 16:36
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Mike DiD
In conjunction with the change to 80 channels for UHF CB, the government is also working on changes to the regulations that will affect all users.
1. Station identification and position information can be sent on any channel e.g. a 1 second data burst at the start of a transmission, but limited to maximum 10 seconds in any 60 minute period.
2. Selective Calling willl not be allowed on 5 or 35, to ensure all emergency transmissions are heard.
3. It will be illegal to use a Repeater Input or Output Channel for direct communications, when in range of a repeater.
4. Linking Repeaters together will not be allowed.
5. It will be illegal to operate a wideband 40 channel radio after July 2017.
6. Telemetry stations may not use a gain antenna if transmitting 5 watts. 1 watt transmitters could use a 6dB antenna.
Comments on the draft changes will be accepted up to March 4th.
Reply By: Darrynrj - Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 at 09:48
Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 at 09:48
Hi Mike,
All very interesting and point 3 is the most important but how will they enforce it? As CB licensing was abandoned in 1994 and all the old Radio Inspectors and Regional Offices are long gone what are they going to do? Most people with a UHF have no idea what they are doing or couldn't care less (Truckies are the worst) as evidenced by the amount of jammed Repeaters due to use of the input channels, including Emergency Repeaters.
I hope the extra channels reduce the problems there are now but I think existing Repeaters are in for even more interference when 80 ch sets start to be used as the existing hardware might not cope.
I'd like to know how they will enforce point 5, physically
check anyone with a UHF antenna on their vehicle?
Cheers Darryn
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Follow Up By: P and JM - Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 at 14:23
Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 at 14:23
Hi Mike,
CB Radio licences were abandoned in 1994, but so the Government did not loose out financially they more than doubled the license fee of the Amateur Radio operators.
CB Radio operators still come under a "Class License" and must still operate according to the regulations set by ACMA. The Inspectors are very rare now days but are available when needed.
Yes I agree, a lot of people don't give a rat's a--e about their language and how they use their radio. How will it ever be policed? that's been a joke since 1994.
Cheers P&J
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Follow Up By: Dion - Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 at 21:56
Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 at 21:56
An observation of
mine.
I hear it a lot at
home, Truck Drivers that break out over our ch08 repeater. In their defence, there are next to no signs about the place that tell you what/where repeater stations are. This particular Ch08 repeater, because of the prevailing
geography can be accessed in some
places from as much as 250+ km away.
Ch08 is on top of Mt. Arden, in 1997 with a crappy handheld UHF, I accessed it from
the summit of St. Mary's Peak. I was pleasantly surprised when Dad in
Quorn answered. (and also much to the disgust to the guy carrying a Raven HF backpack tx at 25W)
From
well past
Pimba, Ch08 can at Mt. Arden be accessed.
Quite often, when on Hwy 1, you hear Truck Drivers on Ch40 say go down 2, ie, to Ch38. The problem I see is there is no ongoing education on UHF ettiquite. Articles need to be placed in all of the journals/newspapers that Truck Drivers are likely to read to begin the process.
Cheers,
Dion.
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Reply By: Bazooka - Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 at 21:00
Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 at 21:00
Mike
Wrt point 5, GME website says 'ACMA may revoke the use of wideband radios
some time in 2017.' Is it a given?
Good news for (some) GME users though:
User Upgradeable
Your GME user upgradeable radio is capable of being upgraded to the new 80 channel narrowband plan by entering a code. This code will be a series of button presses which once entered correctly will upgrade your radio from the current 40 channel wideband plan to the new 80 channel narrowband plan. If the code is entered incorrectly simply turn the radio off and back on and re-enter the correct code.
The code will be released on this page of the GME website once the new class licence comes into effect. Please revisit this page of our website at this time to access the upgrade code.
Dealer Upgradeable
Your dealer upgradeable radio can be returned to GME or selected retailers for a free upgrade once the new 80 channel class licence comes into effect. At the time of the release of the class license if you would like to be directed to a dealer in your area who will carry out the upgrade please contact your local GME branch.
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Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 at 22:50
Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 at 22:50
Bazooka,
"GME website says 'ACMA may revoke the use of wideband radios "
That is GME marketing speak for
"'ACMA WILL DEFINITELY revoke the use of wideband radios and they will be 100% illegal to use from that date, but we don't want you to fully understand that until we have completely run out of stock of the wideband 40Channel ones we still want to sell"
That is the fact of the matter according to ACMA, but it's a bit of a spoiler for dumping the current old stock.
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Follow Up By: Mike DiD - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 05:48
Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 05:48
There are two dates affecting 40 Channel radios
1. ILLEGAL TO SELL
One draft suggested it would be illegal to sell 40 channel radios after July 2011. One manufacturer said it would take them three years to chage all their models over to 75 channels.
2. ILLEGAL TO USE
An early draft mentioned it would be illegal to use them in two years. The current draft says July 2017.
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