What’s the actual point of having to learn all that for the license? What’s the actual point for the license in the first place?
The electromagnetic spectrum is a limited resource; an amateur radio license is a license to do certain kinds of experiments in the spectrum. The kind of activity that makes up these experiments when done by someone who doesn't know what they're doing has the potential to cause harm which is hugely disproportionate to the amount of effort it would take to do it. While it's possible to pinpoint individual offenders, if unlicensed activity was widespread then the ability to do so would be overwhelmed.
But I agree this was never the intention of the license.
Aside: 4W is for AM. You can do a little more (12W iirc) on SSB because it's spread more evenly across the bandwidth being used.
Slightly depends on the specific country: in Germany some channels also allow AM and SSB.
The main technical restriction is simply that at the frequencies that CB typically operates at an FM modulation mode would use too much bandwidth. Enter the UHF version of CB which allows for FM modulation.
No, FM is not allowed, see below.
SSB is basically AM with a suppressed carrier. (i.e. In SSB, Frequency deviation is the demodulated frequency, whereas with FM frequency deviation is the demodulated amplitude.) (You're not wrong in calling it improved, I'm just expanding on how for anyone else reading.)
FWIW, You're not allowed to broadcast music on CB, but that doesn't stop people either.
§ 95.971 CBRS emission types.
Each CBRS transmitter type must be designed such that its capabilities are in compliance with the emission type rules in this section.
(a) Permitted emission types. CBRS transmitter types may transmit only AM voice emission type A3E and SSB voice emission types J3E, R3E, or H3E.
(b) SSB requirements. Each CBRS transmitter type that transmits emission type J3E, R3E, or H3E must be capable of transmitting only the upper sideband with suppressed, reduced or full carrier, respectively, but may additionally be capable of transmitting only the lower sideband, with suppressed, reduced or full carrier, respectively.
J3E - SSB speech communication, used on HF bands by marine, aeronautical and amateur users
R3E - SSB with reduced carrier (AME) speech communication, primarily used on HF bands by the military (a.k.a. compatible sideband)
H3E - AM, single sideband, full carrier
But yes, even narrow FM would be too wide at 10-15kHz.
§ 95.973 CBRS authorized bandwidth.
Each CBRS transmitter type must be designed such that the occupied bandwidth does not exceed the authorized bandwidth for the emission type under test.
(a) AM. The authorized bandwidth for emission type A3E is 8 kHz.
(b) SSB. The authorized bandwidth for emission types J3E, R3E, and H3E is 4 kHz.
which you just did, by quoting US law. FM on CB is normal in other places.
Then pointlessly expounds. It's like the person that doesn't listen because they are so concerned with what they are going to say
If we want to nitpick, it's pointless to talk about cb outside the context of a country. The frequency ranges, power, and allowed modulation are all different. You can do any modulation you want at a cb frequency, whether that's allowed is entirely specific to the country.
Technically yes, but these requirements are pretty much the same globally, because they're copy-pasted from the ITU. Ham radio is practically governed by international law and quite possibly the field with the least diverse regulations in the world.
You need to consider the big picture. Ham radio is just one of several radio services. They have different licensing requirements depending on their purpose and/or who is meant to use them.
For services that are aimed at people who just want to communicate, getting a license won't involve anything like schematic diagrams--if a license is even required.
The ham radio service's target is radio geeks. Hams are given considerably more leeway in what they can do with radio than are users of most other services, and so the licensing requirements include more things concerning the underlying technology than you need to just operate a radio reasonably.
For people who might be interested in what those 'unlicensed' services are, they include:
- FRS (the Family Radio Service[0]), which is typified by the sort of $20 bubble pack radios you can buy at a sporting goods store;
- MURS (the Multi-Use Radio Service[1]), which is common in commercial radios used by e.g. staff at big box stores;
- CBRS (the Citizens Band Radio Service[2]), which is probably familiar to most from "any movie involving truck drivers".
These services may have licensing/approval rules for equipment, but not for individuals using them.
[0] https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-divis...
[1] https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-divis...
[2] https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-divis...
The FAA private pilot's license is often described as a "license to learn", for example: it gives you the technical permission to fly aircraft that are entirely unsuitable for someone who has as few as 40 hours flight time; even the right to be the test pilot for an aircraft that you built for yourself!
Both licenses are intended to help you with the foundational framework for success, like: what are the regulatory limits? how should I think about my personal limits? what's potentially dangerous? where and how can I learn more than the basics?