Ham rules questions, USA and Canada. (1 Viewer)

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So I did a few loads to Canada in my 18 wheeler, and in a few spots because of the hills and distance we used Ham with the pilot vehicles. He lent me a handheld so I could communicate with him and make sure we had the all clear to proceed up the road. Seems lots of them there prefer the ham stuff to the CB stuff.
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So after using the handheld and talking to pilot cars a bit, they said you need a license just like in the US. So my question is, do you need to get a license in both countries? Or is there overlap? And is there a limit to how many units you can have depending on your license. This way I can stick a Ham in my 18 wheeler, and carry a handheld, and then get a ham and a couple handhelds for my landcruiser/personal vehicle. Only the 18 wheeler would frequent Canada.

I like the clarity, and it did avoid the static and transmission issues that we get when you have obstacles in the way like CB.
 
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So my question is, do you need to get a license in both countries? Or is there overlap?

You only need one license; with few exceptions it is good the world over.

And is there a limit to how many units you can have depending on your license. This way I can stick a Ham in my 18 wheeler, and carry a handheld, and then get a ham and a couple handhelds for my landcruiser/personal vehicle. Only the 18 wheeler would frequent Canada.

No, there is no limit to the number of radios you can own or operate (within the band privileges of your license class). The license is for you, not the radios per se.

I like the clarity, and it did avoid the static and transmission issues that we get when you have obstacles in the way like CB.

Welcome to the world of amateur radio! Getting your Technician license is easy and your first step. Good luck with it!
 
Your call sign/license is good all over the world. There may be some exceptions.

I recall reading that it is a courtesy to check in with someone (not sure who) when you go to another country and transmit from there with your foreign call sign.Although I have not done that when I am in the States.
 
Note that Ham Radio is not intended for commercial use. While chit-chat amongst you and your pilots would not be considered commercial use, I suspect that actually coordinating the haul would be... as there's a pecuniary interest there.
 
I am not to concerned about the legality while coordinating a load since safety is priority number one and I am required by the State/Province/Municipality/Permit to be in radio contact with the pilot! When we comunicated we chose channels that were not being used, to avoid chatter and make sure that no important info was missed and that we were not interfering with others. I just want to have the option of having the CB or ham incase we need to switch for whatever reason. Hauling a 2 lane wide load into residential areas in the hills on 2 lane roads some times for many miles can get intetesting.
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I just figure if I am gonna have some ham equipment I might as well get the license and make sure its all good, especially while crossing borders. Wouldn't want to have an issue with something being considered contraband if I am not licensed to have it. But I appreciate all input related to these matters.
 
One question, did they radio they asked you to use had channels or frequencies? Channels could have been GMRS radios, which come ready and pre-programmed off the shelf, but you still need to get a licence from FCC ($65 now I think) and no exam. Another channels only radio is the commercial ones, like Rugged Radios, which operate in pre-established frequencies and many 4WD clubs are using more because they dont need license, like a walkie talkie.

I am all for amateur license, as a General Class myself, it will give you the most flexibility and can make your trips more interesting by connecting to repeaters along the way, using APRS so others (if you want them to) can track your route, and join local nets while traveling and make connections, specially if you do similar routes. But be careful, you are not supposed to operate on commercial bands with your amateur radio, or use the GMRS bands either.

And just like in the US we have a band plan to be followed by amateur users, Canada has a band plan to be followed when you are there. Of course, radio waves do not recognize borders, but better to know so you dont interfere with the Mounties, eh?

Canadian Amateur Radio Bandplans
 
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This is good info there. He just gave me a handheld that had all these knobs and buttons. I have no idea what model it is. Kind of like going from a cellphone Camera to a professional camera. All the buttons and options seem overwhelming at first. That is why I want to learn, and I want to make sure I dont get in any big trouble.
 
Ok so I took the plunge and bought a starter radio. It has a remote mount faceplate and should be good for a while. It will be a bit before I install it. I still have to figure out one how to mount the antenna, and what kind to get.

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I have my CB antenna on the front bumper, so I would imagine I want to keep this one away from that one. But if I stick it on the rear p/s corner it will be more suceptible to getting hit by branches and such.

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I am not to concerned about the legality while coordinating a load since safety is priority number one and I am required by the State/Province/Municipality/Permit to be in radio contact with the pilot! When we comunicated we chose channels that were not being used, to avoid chatter and make sure that no important info was missed and that we were not interfering with others. I just want to have the option of having the CB or ham incase we need to switch for whatever reason. Hauling a 2 lane wide load into residential areas in the hills on 2 lane roads some times for many miles can get intetesting.
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I just figure if I am gonna have some ham equipment I might as well get the license and make sure its all good, especially while crossing borders. Wouldn't want to have an issue with something being considered contraband if I am not licensed to have it. But I appreciate all input related to these matters.

Your Cruiser didn’t even blink pulling that trailer over the border.... did it?! Lol
 
So I got a handheld for meanwhile for the 18wheeler. So in canada they have to program in the frequencies for you. The local radio shops do all that. But for starters up there, especially on the roads up to Alaska, the vehicles run on the LADD or RR channels. Usually LADD1 or 2 is what I monitor. Here are some of the freqs for up there.
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ok. lots to step through here.

#1. you need an FCC licence for ham radio in the US to operate a ham radio. You'll need a callsign starting with either a K or W for the US.

all others you communicate with on amateur radio must have passed their exam and have callsigns.

#2. It is illegal to operate said radio in Canada or US without callsign and associated license.

#3. Using the amateur radio for big safety hauls or any commercial use is also against regulations. You might have safety related work that requires a non-ham radio. Aircraft control, Coast Guard, are also safety related, and don't rely on ham radio for primary guidance comms.

#4. Just because some other truckers are buying these radios, installing and using them doesn't make them legal.

#5. further information is available here Getting Licensed
 
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Just curious: the frequencies in the pic don't seem to be part of the Canadian amateur radio band plan - aren't those in commercial bands? Do HAM rules apply here?
 
in Canada, we use commercial VHF radios for commercial trucking use.

There are logging road channels commonly used here and on the highways. for this, one also needs to be licensed. it used to be a mobile radio paid a license fee of $45CAD/year per radio to Industry Canada, and was granted a frequency, and was permitted to use these road channels ( RR /LADD ). There was no limit of commercial frequencies allowed to be programmed in a licenced mobile radio

a base station or fixed station was $175CAD/year, per programmed channel

This is part of what they mean about "licensed mobiles". If you're doing a wide-load haul into Canada, you should enquire with Industry Canada as to licensing.

Ham radio is no shortcut here.
 
More freeqs
RR01 | 150.08000 | FMN
RR02 | 150.11000 | FMN
RR03 | 150.14000 | FMN
RR04 | 150.18500 | FMN
RR05 | 150.20000 | FMN
RR06 | 150.24500 | FMN
RR07 | 150.26000 | FMN
RR08 | 150.32000 | FMN
RR09 | 150.36500 | FMN
RR10 | 150.41000 | FMN
RR11 | 150.44000 | FMN
RR12 | 150.50000 | FMN
RR13 | 150.53000 | FMN
RR14 | 150.54500 | FMN
RR15 | 150.56000 | FMN
RR16 | 150.59000 | FMN
RR17 | 150.68000 | FMN
RR18 | 150.71000 | FMN
RR19 | 150.77000 | FMN
RR20 | 150.83000 | FMN
RR21 | 151.01000 | FMN
RR22 | 151.13000 | FMN
RR23 | 151.19000 | FMN
RR24 | 151.22000 | FMN
RR25 | 151.31000 | FMN
RR26 | 151.34000 | FMN
RR27 | 151.37000 | FMN
RR28 | 151.43000 | FMN
RR29 | 151.46000 | FMN
RR30 | 151.49000 | FMN
RR31 | 151.52000 | FMN
RR32 | 151.58000 | FMN
RR33 | 151.61000 | FMN
RR34 | 151.64000 | FMN
RR35 | 151.67000 | FMN

LD1 | 151.70000 | FMN
LD2 | 151.74500 | FMN
LD3 | 151.79000 | FMN
LD4 | 151.80500 | FMN
LD5 | 151.85000 | FMN

LGRANT1143.4150FMN
LGRANT2148.4350FMN
TRUCKSNWT149.8300FMN
RR01150.0800FMN
RR02150.1100FMN
RR03150.1400FMN
RR04150.1850FMN
RR05150.2000FMN
WEYHAEU5150.2150FMN
RR06150.2450FMN
RR07150.2600FMN
RR08150.3200FMN
RR09150.3650FMN
RR10150.4100FMN
RR11150.4400FMN
RR12150.5000FMN
RR13150.5300FMN
RR14150.5450FMN
RR15150.5600FMN
RR16150.5900FMN
WEYHAEU2150.6350FMN
RR17150.6800FMN
RR18150.7100FMN
RR19150.7700FMN
WEYHAEU6150.7850FMN
EMERGEN150.8150FMN
RR20150.8300FMN
LAKEMILE150.9550FMN
RR21151.0100FMN
MILLGILL151.0550FMN
FFI151.1150FMN
RR22151.1300FMN
RR23151.1900FMN
RR24151.2200FMN
SLATTON151.2650FMN
TANIZUL151.2950FMN
RR25151.3100FMN
SUKUNA151.3250FMN
RR26151.3400FMN
LAKELAND151.3550FMN
RR27151.3700FMN
RR28151.4300FMN
RR29151.4600FMN
RR30151.4900FMN
RR31151.5200FMN
RR32151.5800FMN
RR33151.6100FMN
BCF151.6250FMN
RR34151.6400FMN
L&M151.6550FMN
RR35151.6700FMN
STUARTLK151.6850FMN
LD1151.7000FMN
COTNWOOD151.7150FMN
LD2151.7450FMN
LD3151.7900FMN
LD4151.8050FMN
MURS1151.8200FM
LAIRDMNL151.8350FMN
BCFDBUSH151.8350FMN
LD5151.8500FMN
MURS2151.8800FM
HAULRD151.9250FMN
MURS3151.9400FM
POLAR2151.9850FMN
CARRIER151.9950FMN
BCROAD152.0300FMN
LADD32152.1200FMN
WHITEFISH152.1800FMN
GROUND152.2700FMN
KETCHEM152.3300FMN
TAKLADISP152.3600FMN
WFRASER1152.3900FMN
NTAKLA152.4500FMN
BOND152.9750FMN
CANFORT152.9900FMN
HAUSLER153.0200FMN
ALCANBS153.0350FMN
AB1153.0500FMN
ZIEDLER1153.1000FMN
TEARDROP153.1400FMN
CYNCREEK153.1700FMN
BLACKWATE153.2000FMN
McDERMID153.2300FMN
ATKINSON153.2900FMN
PAS153.3500FMN
CANFOR153.3800FMN
TAKAMA153.4100FMN
SWANBER153.5000FMN
NAZKO153.5150FMN
AB3153.5300FMN
LIKELY153.6350FMN
ARCTIC153.6500FMN
APOLLORD153.7700FMN
ANZAC153.9300FMN
LADD1154.1000FM
LADD3154.3250FM
STUARTLAKE154.3400FMN
TEMP1154.4900FMN
MURS4154.5700FM
MURS5154.6000FM
WCE154.8150FMN
ARROW1155.1900FMN
MARINE16156.8000FM
KOOTNEY157.2450FMN
CTP5157.4000FMN
ZIEDLER2158.1600FMN
ZIEDLER1158.4600FMN
ARROWNOR158.4900FMN
RUSTAD158.7900FMN
LADD2158.9400FM
MONKMAN159.6000FMN
BISSELL159.6300FMN
BOWRON159.7200FMN
GISCOME159.7500FMN
CFPBCWIDE159.9600FMN
MACGREGOR160.0800FMN
CARLISLE160.1250FMN
MULLEN160.1400FMN
AB2162.2100FMN
ARROW2162.2700FMN
WEATHER2162.4000FMN
WEATHER3162.4750FMN
WEATHER1162.5500FMN
BTLTRUCK162.6300FMN
MPO162.9600FMN
BLUPASS163.0500FMN
BCHWAY163.5450FMN
TWILIGHT164.0700FMN
DMI164.1750FMN
VANDEXL164.3100FMN
SLPULP164.5650FMN
MOSTOWI164.6550FMN
MULLEN165.0300FMN
MULLEN2165.0300FMN
MULLEN4165.4800FMN
ROAD4K166.1400FMN
BLUWET166.3800FMN
CANFOR166.4000FMN
ZIEDLER2166.4100FMN
DMTHWY166.6200FMN
MULL166.9200FMN
TEMP2167.7300FMN
AB6168.1200FMN
ARTIKOS168.6000FMN
BUCHANA168.6300FMN
WEYHAEU168.8400FMN
WEYHAEU4169.1250FMN
WEYHAEU3169.5450FMN
DMI2169.7250FMN
DMTYARD170.2050FMN
GP170.7000FMN
TEMP3170.9400FMN
ETARCO171.0000FMN
TOLCO171.3300FMN
DMIWEY171.5550FMN
AINSWORT172.0350FMN
MULLENNW172.8600FMN
LADD4173.3700FM
TRCKNWT2173.6700FMN
 

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