Whenever I find myself in the company of other ham radio operators and we start talking about our various radio related pursuits, the subject of 11 meters (AKA "The Chicken Band") invariably comes up. When I admit that I spend a great deal of time there and actually enjoy it, I usually get a look of surprise, disgust, or utter bewilderment. And I can always anticipate what the next question will be. And like clockwork, this age old question erupts as predictably as Old Faithful; "Why do you waste your time there?" comes the $64,000 question. But what isn't so predictable is my answer. To be honest, I really didn't know exactly why myself. I mean, ham radio has far more privileges, the people there tend to be a bit better behaved, and the radio gear is quite a bit more advanced. So why then do I still play in that sandbox (or litter box as some would say) that is 11 meters? Well, there are a few reasons.......
One reason, which has become more apparent the older I get, is that I can roll the clock back and reconnect with my adolescent period and the memories of the CB radio fun which I enjoyed back in the 1970's, when I first started out on my journey of R.F. discovery. I make this nostalgic time warp trip even easier by my recent efforts to obtain and restore vintage period radios, which I had dreamt of owning back then, and added them to a few of my own original leftovers from that time period. Fire up an old tube classic and it's 1974 again. So yes, in many ways, talking on 11 meters is about the nostalgia trip for me..........
Another reason why I like 11 meters is that CB'ers tend to be more representative of a broader socio-economic-educational background. They're not mostly made up of design level engineers, computer nerds, or hygienically challenged radio geeks although, to be fair, many CB ops have their own set of psychological hang-ups and issues as well. Since the people on CB are from a more diverse background, the conversations tend to be far less predictable. With ham radio, the topic of conversation usually revolves around technical or operational subjects, mostly related to ham radio itself. While I'm a technical person who enjoys a good soup to nuts radio related discussion as much as the next guy, after a steady diet of it, it starts to become a bit one track and, need I say it, BORING! They say variety is the spice of life, and it's fun to talk about things other than just radio, and maybe once in a while letting the hair down and just acting a little silly. You don't see much of that on ham radio, except for maybe 75 meters. But unless you're a big gun station, it's hard to run with those guys (my 100 watt radio with a random length long wire won't cut it). And while most people like to talk DX, I find it more comfortable and far easier to relate to the local crew who I've gotten to know over the years. Besides the ease of making reliable local QSO's, the local crew are also known to have impromptu get-togethers, transmitter hunts or keydown competitions just for the heck of it, so there's never a dull moment. There's also something to be said for face-face camaraderie which doesn't exist in a strictly radio-only relationship.
But perhaps the biggest reason which keeps me glued to the 11 meter radio didn't become apparent to me until recently. 11 meters is loaded with drama. No, not the "Casablanca" or "Gone with the Wind" kind of drama, but more like the "Survivor" or "As the World Turns" kind of reality show, soap-opera drama. Sometimes it can even resemble a Jerry Springer show. Not a week can go by without some sort of little squabble or some other bizarre action going on. And it's always been that way since I've been involved in CB radio. In years past, some of the most memorable conversations, and those exchanges which usually earned their place in the audio recording archives were those full blown knock down, drag out channel feuds, or the conversations involving the investigating into, or plotting against, those who we suspected of wronging us in some way or another. Back then, I was only too happy to be an active participant, and I would jump into the middle of the fray with both feet. As a rambunctious teenager looking to make a name for myself, I enjoyed the opportunity to verbally dress down someone who I felt really deserved it. Today, I enjoy a more passive, voyeuristic version of CB drama, as I sit back and observe the issues as they unfold on the radio. But unlike the days of old, where our fights were usually with rival channel groups, today's local group frequently fights amongst themselves. Our local channel is like one big, dysfunctional family, and there are some very strong willed and opinionated people within the group, who don't seem to mind or care who's feathers they ruffle. There is a core animosity between a couple of key players, and there is a supporting cast of characters who add depth and spice to the situation. The number of people who side with one or another's support camp varies depending on the issue and who's being the bigger antagonist this time around. The channel dynamics are very much influenced by the concept of "the enemy of my enemy, is my friend". Guys who were arguing against each other two weeks ago, suddenly find themselves in a tenuous alliance against a 3rd person with whom they now have a mutual dislike. It's an interesting combination of personalities, and just when you think it couldn't get any stranger, all of a sudden it does...... It's a microcosm case study in human psychology. One which never disappoints.
Some of the local cast of characters includes one guy who, when someone rags on him, brags a lot about the amount of money and material possessions he has, much to the consternation of many of the others. Another guy has a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas, has nothing nice to say about the great majority of the locals, and also fancies himself to be the most powerful station on the channel. Another guy suffers from either bipolar disorder or severe substance abuse and can go from being friendly one day, to abusive another. Another lives in section 8 housing, runs an indoor antenna, and likes to play with noise toys and echoes. Finally, rounding out the list, is a fellow who thinks everyone's on drugs, buys into every government conspiracy, and believes our country's been taken over by commies. You just can't make this stuff up. The rest of the crew are more or less normal, and we deal with the daily banter as it comes.
No, the rigid, no-nonsense, strictly-by-the-book hams probably don't understand my fascination with the reckless CB drama, or they at least feign ignorance to it. Although I suspect there are more than a few closet CB drama addicts among those same hams. They just don't have the guts to admit it in public..........