[KYHAM] Right To Know?

[Bob Burns K4RXR]

> While buying some connectors etc. for a project today, I
> asked the local RS folks if they ever asked to see an
> amateur radio license before they sold someone one of the
> Amateur Radio transceivers that they sell.

Ron, this topic was the subject of much debate several years ago when Radio
Shack first started selling the HTX-202 2m handheld.

There is no legal requirement for a retail purchaser of amateur radio
equipment to demonstrate that they hold an amateur radio license. There is
no legal requirement for the retailer of amateur radio equipment to require
proof of an amateur radio license before selling equipment.

Radio Shack has sold thousands of radios capable of transmitting on the
amateur bands. My gut feeling, backed up by absolutely no facts whatsoever,
is that RS's market share of VHF-UHF amateur equipment still pales compared
to the big Japanese brands. I just don't see that many RS radios hanging
from the belts of the hams I see. And, the amateur radio news media has
_not_ been swamped with reports of people using RS equipment illegally.

I've bought a lot of radios in the 11 years I've been licensed. My first
radio purchase, a Yaesu 2m handheld, was made from a commercial dealer at
the Dayton Hamvention 3 years before I had a license. The salesperson asked
for my callsign. I told him I didn't have one. He sold the radio to me
anyway. Since then, I've been asked for my callsign several times when
buying equipment from a dealer. And there have been times when I haven't
been asked. But my impression was that the stores that asked used my
callsign more as a "customer ID" than as proof I had a license. I could have
made up a callsign just as easily as giving my real one. Money talks with
all sellers, not just Radio Shack.

Rather than beat up Radio Shack for selling amateur radio equipment to
potentially unlicensed people, a better approach would be to ask the store
manager to hand out flyers for the local amateur radio club, especially with
purchases of ham rigs. Let these buyers know what amateur radio is all about
and let them know that there are local hams who can help them get started.

Bob...