[Kenwood] Modified VHF/UHF rigs

[Jay Eimer]

This just shows that the FCC didn't do its job.

I own a -420, and have tested it out of band.  On VHF to about 155MHz it's
not bad, but by the time you get to 170MHz, the spurious emissions are
terrible.  On UHF, it's okay to about 460, but in the 465-470MHz range the
deviation goes way wide.

Radio Shack (1) shouldn't have put the "soft mod" in the radio, (2)
shouldn't have put the soft mod in the manual, (3) got in trouble with the
FCC for doing same (not directly, but when a number of users, mostly
non-ham, who'd gotten in trouble with the FCC for using the modded radios on
business freqs, they threatened a lawsuit.  Radio Shack got it thrown out
(it's not their responsibility that the users didn't follow the manual's
instructions, as it also clearly states that you can't transmit out of the
ham bands, and that you must have a license to do so) but this lawsuit was a
contributing factor in RS getting out of the amateur transceiver business.

If RS had been smart, they would have done 1 and 2 above, and maybe they'd
still be selling ham radios.  If the FCC had done its job, then RS would
never have been able to get the -420 type accepted in the first place, as it
is clearly in violation of the FCC rules.

Jay 

-----Original Message-----
From: kenwood-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:kenwood-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Walter Daniels
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2005 23:46
To: kenwood at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Kenwood] Modified VHF/UHF rigs

I am sorry Fern, I didn't mean to get a flaming war started and didn't mean
to doubt your vast knowledge of radio electronics. All I know with the two
radios I have I do know the Alinco 600 series all you have to do is open the
case and cut the blue wire and put it back together and power it up and you
have all the commercial and public service bands. No programming, they are
in the chip but locked out. With the Radio Shack HTX-420 HT it clearly
states in the manual on page 9 how to do a soft mod by turning the radio
off, holding down the I believe 1 and 9 button and turning the radio on and
you have MARS/CAP and GMS/FRS, and UHF commercial. This is clearly stated in
the manual that was also provided to the FCC when the radio was type
accepted. No programming. They are in the chip from the factory. I am not in
any way saying I would use them out of band but that in no way makes the
point any less true.

If you doubt any of the information I stated in this email please email me
off list and I will provide you with sources to verify my data so we can
take this argument off list.

Thank You