[ICOM] 60 Mtr Operation with ICOM 746

[Gary P. Fiber]

KD7JYK DM09 wrote:
> Although that may be a concern with some older radios of certain design,
> Icom's excuse was:
>
> "told by ICOM if I had a MARS license and sent them a copy, they would
> supply the information on how to make the tuner function."
>
> indicating that Icom accepted and supplied modifications allowing the radio
> to function within or near licensed amatuer bands including 60m does meet
> FCC type acceptance requirements for that model (unless they are offering
> illegal modification information) but they wish to exclude their customers
> from the full capabilities of their equipment without evidence of
> requirements no licensed radio operator is under obligation to obtain.
>
> As I stated, quite accurately, "60m is a Ham band and does not require a
> MARS license".
>
> Maybe if somebody offered some corporate shmuck $50 for the mod...  Try to
> bypass their apparant fraud, intimidation and coercion tactic, go straight
> to bribery, see if that gets better results...
>
> Kurt
>
> ----
> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC: icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
> Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
> To support QSL/QTH.net: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>   
Kurt,

You are correct about 60 meters however the manufacturers have to play 
within the spirit of the law. Some rigs were not designed to operate on 
60 meters without opening up the entire range for transmitting. Newer 
designs they can limit those ranges with in the programming of the 
transceiver.
Those modifications are abundant on the web or available from the dealer.
When the IC-PW1 came out we had to be real careful of how we handled the 
10 meter enable requests. We would send the purchaser to the dealer.
The 10 meter modification was certainly allowed, one per year but the 
FCC took a dim view of a manufacturer just handing those out easily.
Maybe fines to the manufacturer, maybe some good through going over of 
the next new product causing a delay in shipping or manufacture..
Well it sure was not long before a scanned copy appeared on some of the 
mod sites. Have a look My hand writing is all over those sites on 
scanned and posted mods.
The manufacturer does notify the FCC about products being imported, 
actual numbers and models. Thats so if there is a problem, your 
IC-756ProIII receiver interferes with your neighbors TiVo or DVR etc,. 
then the FCC can see how many it might have to deal with.

So far as I know no Amateur HF only, 3-30 MHz, transmitter under goes 
any FCC Type certification or Acceptance testing.
If you go to the FCC equipment authorization site you will not find an 
authorization for the IC-718. Those who own the IC-718, no FCC ID number 
is on it nor the IC-735.
 The 756ProIII does have an FCC ID as it can receive and scan above 30 
MHz.but thats the receiver only is tested and that falls under FCC Part 
15 rules. Most are Granted an Equipment Authorization under Part 15B rules.
The 756ProIII  and the IC-7800 are granted as scanning receivers.  
Manufacturers have to follow the exact same guidelines as a licensed 
amateur does when building his own gear FCC Part 97 rules.
No amateur transmitter on any frequency is tested for transmitted 
spectral purity again FCC Part 97 guides this. The receiver when it 
operates above 30 MHz is tested for radiation under FCC Part 15 rules 
and that it can not scan the cellular telephone frequencies.

Commercial equipment, Aviation, Land Mobile, Marine transceivers both 
the transmitter and receiver is tested. FCC Type Acceptance applies to 
these products.
The Marine HF SSB transceiver also must be transmit frequency stable to 
20 Hz, .

Gary K8IZ