"1A thru the first 10 ohm resistor is 10W. 1A thru the second 10 ohm resistance is another 10W. 10W + 10W = 20W or 1A thru 20 ohms is 20W."

That would be true if the resistors were in parallel, but in series it is not.  In a series circuit, in effect you have a 20 ohm 1 watt resistor, not a 20 ohm 2 watt resistor.  In a parallel circuit you would have a 5 ohm 2 watt resistor.  

Sorry Bob, but you're not right.  In a series circuit the wattage rating is always limited to the lowest rated device because ALL the power passes through that device.  In a parallel circuit it is a total of the rated wattage of each device because the power is split among the devices.

W5ONV, I would say you are correct.  Resistors in series have a wattage rating of the LOWEST wattage resistor.  The power going through the circuit all has to go through that one lowest wattage resistor.

In parallel, the power is distributed to each path, so it stands to reason that each path (resistor) would dissapate some of the total power.  

>>"Even if a ham has one and is using it as a HF rig, the FCC still considers it a CB radio."
This is false.<<

I would advise you to look a little more closely--I said the FCC still considers those radios CBs, but I never said they would actually claim the radio IS a CB and confiscate it.  You can call the FCC yourself and ask--they consider these radios 'CBs' and the ones that have been reworked 'modified CBs'.  

These radios are not legal to sell and/or distribute in the US because they are not approved by the FCC for use on the CB bands--they are considered CB radios.  There is no mention of "unless the radio is used by a ham on the ham bands".  These units are two way radios manufactured to be used on CB bands--period.

On your backup supply, did you read the 15.83 volts at the terminals when under load or did you just meter the output terminals without anything connected?  If there is nothing connected to the output of the supply, you will read a higher voltage--but check the output under load to be sure it is OK!

Sorry, shouldn't have said during a contest--just listen any evening!

If you want a practical answer, wait till a contest and then just listen.  Where you hear the talking about prostates, latest operations, doctors visits, declining health, and the lamenting on the loss of morse code testing, you'll know you're on the band.

Sorry--couldn't resist!

KD8DQK,

You, sir, are a 'real' ham.  You know exactly what being a ham radio operator is about, unlike some of the people on this site.  As far as morse code testing, the ARRL will still hand out proficiency certificates.  You can get one of those to prove you 'know code'.

It isn't the end of the world because morse code testing was dropped, and even though you may feel cheated because you won't be able to take the test, you should still feel proud.

One other thing--these radios are considered to be "CB" radios by the FCC and therefore the FCC will deal with them under part 95, not part 97.

Even if a ham has one and is using it as a HF rig, the FCC still considers it a CB radio.  Better if we hams ignored these 'toys' and concentrates on amateur radio rigs.  

As for the older 'boat anchors' which have 11 meters on their bandswitch, these radios were manufactured as ham radios, not CB radios, and are fully legal as ham radios.  Just don't get caught using them on the CB frequencies.

Doug,

Jim is correct.  Double the measured spacing between the ladderline conductors, and keep both conductors of the ladderline away from ANY OTHER METALLIC OBJECTS by that much space.  RF coupling is a fact of life with ladderline hung too close to any other metal.  Not only could you induce stray RF into other electronic devices, you will not transfer maximum power to your antenna because of the effects of that coupling.  You may even find dangerous RF voltages building up in your shack and giving you a nasty shock/burn.

If you can't keep the ladderline separated from other metal, the best bet is to use the balun and co-ax method mentioned above.  Good luck and 73.

It may not be illegal to have or to own one IF you have a ham license, but what about the FCC confiscating and fining businesses for selling these AS "HAM" RADIOS WITH NO MENTION OF CB BANDS or even stressing the rigs are NOT for use on the CB band?  Simply because most of the time there is a little blurb on the packaging that states "With a simple modification it is possible to use these rigs on Citizens Band frequencies".  Even if that blub is missing, if there is no "FCC tested and approved" type sticker on the radio, it is assumed to be able to be modified.

Don't get me wrong, I think they're illegal to buy or sell because the FCC will NOT allow sales of any rig which can be used on AND outside the CB band.  The majority of these rigs are clearly marked that they can be used on 11 meters with a simple modification.

If any law enforcement official had a mind to, they could confiscate any one of these rigs from anyone whether or not that person was a licensed ham or not, then it would be up to that person to prove they were a ham and that the radio had been permanently disabled from any attempted use on the CB band.

It is far better to put the money spent on these 'toys' to better use by buying an actual, honest to goodness ham rig.  Leave these toys with their built in bells and whistles for those that WANT to break the law.

Why is it that those who claim the hobby is turning into the new CB band are the ones that have knowledge of all the CB slang terms?  Maybe it is because they use them so much themselves.

He is not making a joke---he IS a joke.

Troll, troll, troll.  Here we go again from the same inane idiot who claims to be an extra class licensee.

Poor baby--the FCC says you have to share your sandbox.  Here is some kleenex.........  

The best all around desk is one found at a 'used' furniture or office equipment store.  Usually you can get one fairly cheaply that has the setup (with drawers, room on top, etc.) you prefer.  You can modify the unit if needed without too much regard for the cost paid/newness of the thing (for instance, screwing a grounding bus on the back of it) and if it gets unintentionally damaged, so what?

I've got a particle board fake woodgrain desk I've modified in just that way.  With a formica top, the unit stands up to minor damages well and still gives me a fairly good looking unit for my equipment, even though the hutch I built doesn't look quite as good.  I got it for $30 at a used merchandise store.  The only downside was I had to get it to my house myself--those stores don't deliver.

Yes, you could go with a cable raceway in each end of the house, but it would be better if you located your shack in one room and ran a raceway just to that room or in addition to the other raceways.

Even in a finished home there are ways to establish raceways for feeding cabling.  It just means some planning and extra work.