I am back off the CB airwaves, this is because the antenna fell off the window at some stage, I have decided that due to the difficulty in siting it without assistance and the possibility that the antenna will fall off the window again, to remove the matching box as well.
I can still be found on the Free Radio Network and my gateway is still on air.
I will soon push ahead to get a new antenna system built for the CB.
73 de 26CT730
I was doing my regular read up of the Ban PLT website and it’s associated Facebook group, when I stumbled across this, the article is a 3-page article about “souping up” your network, and recommending PLT devices as a third, and best option to do this “despite the inevitable outrage from radio hams”. The author of that article is very misinformed, he assumes that only Amateur radio operators are the one affected by PLT, this is not the case because these devices cover a wide range of spectrum, parts of which include broadcast band, airband, safety-of-life systems, and CB radio.
Let’s look at it another way, someone in the neighbourhood is using those PLT devices, and the emergency services are unable to contact their control center, and don’t think that digital transmissions are immune from interference, they aren’t. Or what if your neighbourhood is within a few miles of an airfield or airport, the control tower would not be able to contact the pilots both over short and long distances, this would result in you being tracked down by the Civil Aviation Authority for causing disruption to the activities of air traffic control, you are also putting lives in danger, which could include loved ones going on holiday for a while.
So it’s not just amateur radio operators (to give them their full and correct title), or 11-meter band operators, using these devices will wipe out a lot of spectrum and could put lives in danger.
I urge you to unplug and dispose of these devices NOW!
I also urge you to click the Ban Power Line Technology banner at the top of this page.
As for the author of the article I linked to, he should be thoroughly ashamed to be a purveyor of lies
73 de 26CT730
And a bank holiday means more DXing, on Sunday I will be headed to the racecourse with my PMR446 radios, and on Monday afternoon after I get back from the annual parade I’ll be doing some DXing on the CB, however I am still using the on-glass antenna on CB at this time and unless the skip is really good don’t stand much of a chance, but I shall give it a go regardless, and see how many contacts I can log thaf day, and of course on Sunday on PMR446, for which I will be checking the conditions for.
A Bank Holiday such as this one, as it is not only the annual Richmond Meet, it is also the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, meaning the likelyhood of the PMR446 Free Radio Network gateway will be hard to access, and may have to be put into “Not available”, the “Not Available mode prevents the gateway from receiving however it still transmits, this will not have any kind of affect on the stream though, as transmissions are still received by the radios, just not passed through to the gateway.
I shall update again very soon
73 de 26CT730
