FCC Part 95 Rule Changes! FM LEGALIZED For CB Radio In The USA 

I don't own a Thomas , so I can't say how good they perform . I'm glad you let us know how you like yours . But I can say that the FM mode is DEFINITELY a big game changer . It's so much clearer than the other modes .

Although I like the older radios a lot better , I've also owned a lot of radios that have had FM mode in them too , and I've never really cared much for FM either .

Thank you Luke , and thanks for continuing to watch my videos .

I've thought for years that the FM mode should be included on the CB band . I don't know why they waited so long to add it . And I'll be honest about GMRS . I'm not a huge advocate for GMRS radios . I've researched them , and all they really are ... are ham radios for people that can't pass the Ham Exam , but think that they're better than CB'er's . They transmit in the 400 mhz range , which is pretty much a useless portion of the bands ... especially without the ability to use a repeater . If you can't access a repeater with one , then you won't be getting out very far , because they're only "line of sight" propagation . I know a lot of people believe in , and support the use of GMRS radios ... but I've never cared for the 440mhz portion of Ham Radio for the same reason I don't care for GMRS radios . I believe that in a REAL (SHTF) emergency situation , both of those forms of communication would be useless ... due to their inability to get out very far without the aid of a repeater ... and if something like that did happen for real , I think a large majority of the repeaters would be out of service .

FM being added to CB will be like when they first added SSB to the CB band . I'm sure that they'll eventually figure out what channel/s people will use to talk on FM on , just like they did when SSB was added . But I don't think it will be anywhere above channel 40 . Since , as far as the FCC is concerned , no one is suppose to be anywhere above channel 40 talking . That $35 fee *will not* be a one time fee , it will have to be paid *every 10 years* , and if anyone wants to upgrade their license , or they've moved , so they need to change the address on their license ... it will be *another* $35 EACH TIME . So say you've had a Technicians license for awhile , and now you want to upgrade to General . You have to pay $35 for that upgrade . Then you upgrade to Amateur Extra . That will be *another* $35 , and if you move in the meantime , that will be *another $35 .For a total of $105 , and then $35 every 10 years , and every time you move after that. In my opinion , I think that they are seriously soaking the Ham Radio community.

I do channel 41 to 55 were formerly control channels for RC aircraft. They were abandoned in 2000, and moved to 70 MHZ. The other channel belong to the Civil Air Patrol and the US military even though they are not used that much. The Old RC aircraft band is the new FM CB band. They new radios are set up factory only to operate FM in that band. Their is a total of 6 channels.

@James Babcock They have always had it. They just changed the name of the program. They used to be called OO's. Now I think they changed it to VM's or something.

Where can I get one ?

@@danielkinsman1964 I'm not sure if President & Cobra have began releasing AM/FM CB radios yet , or not . Because this was just ok'd by the FCC recently , but I'm sure it won't take them too long to get them out there .

I can't wait

They are making and selling them in the UK and Europe where FM is legal. They just have to tailor them for US FCC rules to gain the type acceptance they need. I would rather them add channels for FM use than maintain the same band plan.

@@davidbrock4104 I'm pretty sure that was Cobra & Presidents plan all along . Save a little extra money on production by having one less conversion to make to their equipment between the two continents . Americans just managed to get a gain from it .

Bionic Rooster , I agree 100% .... thanks for hanging out here at the Ranch , and for watching the video .

Thing is that the UHF cb band (gmrs) is having it's price dropped from 75(?) to 35 too.

Their always has been a Fee for getting a license. Their has always been a $10.00 exam fee per test and a $5.00 dollar filling fee. Their just raising them for a total of $35.00 the license is a lifetime license. That has to be updated every ten years.