Well I didn't realize until recently that the crystals in my CB are all socketed. I thought for sure they were soldered in but lucky me I wiggled one to unsolder it and it popped out by itself lol. The IF crystals, the 14MHz and the 23MHz crystals are all swappable. I found that replacing one of the 23MHz crystals with a 20MHz crystal puts my CB right at the freeband channels from 27.685 to 27.725 which are channels 23, 24, 25 and 26 band "E" on export radios.
Now I know 27.700 MHz is used often for SSTV in SSB, but I was thinking about trying SSTV on one of the channels I now have which are close to that frequency. It's an AM only radio so would it be advisable to try SSTV on AM and on lets say 27.705 MHz?
Not sure if anyone would even be monitoring that frequency since I read those channels are mostly spanish related but I thought maybe being so close to 27.700 that someone would pick it up by accident?
Only problem with the free band channels is having a Ham operator that uses 10 meters close by and contacts the FCC.
I often look at the FCC data base for citations and see quite a few related to none FCC type accepted radios. That includes any CB that can transmit below 26.965 to 27.405 MHz. In some cases it was a licensed HAM operator that filed a complaint. A lot of CB and Ham radio shops were raided for having radios such as Ranger which can be easily modified for 11 meters.
As long as you do not get the attention of a licensed HAM you're good to go.
The real issue is that 11 meters was originally designated for ham radio usage...that is before it was decided to designate it as a public usage band for home to mobile communications. In the 1970's CB was very popular as the cell phone is today. GMRS Killed CB off, then cell phones became the latest form that finished it off completely.
Now to my point. Ham radio operators put down Citizens Band to begin with because to them it is a kiddie band--users of it, are no longer required to obtain a license and even when there was a license required for Citizens Band, no test was required. To serious ham operators, a license means a lot more if you have to work hard to get it.
Now in my days of using a Ranger 3300 or Uniden 2510, Ranger 2950, I never found anyone local on 10 meters. They often used 2 Meters. However, because CB is so close to 10 meters, harmonics from a CB radio often interferes with 10 meters--specially if the CBer goes up to around 27.505 MHz and above. Whether a Ham uses 10 meters or not, they feel a CB operator needs to stay where they belong---26.965--27.405 MHz and leave their turf alone.
Now because CB radios can over modulate, this causes that harmonic interference and what CBer does not want to be heard above the QRM, so more audio equals more harmonics.
And next thing you know, here comes Uncle Charlie to the rescue.
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